The Economy and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee met to discuss the Living Wage City initiative, infrastructure resilience, and pavement policies. The committee endorsed the work of the Manchester Action Group and supported the continuation of the Living Wage City initiative for another three years. Members also reviewed the council's policies on pavements, including maintenance, licensing, and parking, and discussed ways to improve enforcement and public engagement.

Living Wage City Initiative

The committee endorsed the work of the Manchester Action Group to date, supported the continuation of the work for a further 3 years (2025 – 2028), and supported the ambition to increase the number of residents being paid a real living wage by promoting this work through members' own contacts and networks.

A report by the Director of Inclusive Economy detailed the Manchester Living Wage Action Group's work to promote the real living wage in Manchester. The report provided a summary of activity undertaken to support the Year 3 plan 2022 – 2025.

The report noted that poverty levels in Manchester remain high, particularly among children, with over 40% of children living in poverty. Increasing the number of employers who pay the Real Living Wage (RLW) can significantly reduce poverty by increasing disposable income, improving financial stability and reducing in-work poverty.

The report highlighted the difference between the National Living Wage, the legal minimum that UK employers must pay workers aged 21 and over (£12.21 per hour as of April 2025), and the Real Living Wage, which is voluntarily paid by employers and is independently calculated for the Living Wage Foundation, reflecting the actual cost of living (£12.60 per hour across the UK and £13.85 per hour in London).

The Manchester Action Group comprises champions across anchor organisations to include business, statutory, voluntary, and community sectors, including:

• Manchester City Council
• The University of Manchester
• Laing O'Rourke
• Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce
• Bruntwood
• KPMG
• Factory International
• Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
• MEDACS
• Manchester Community Central
• One Manchester
• Brightersound
• Thomas Kneale
• Unison Trade Union
• Citizens UK

The report also detailed the communications plan to promote the RLW, including the production of videos and support for key events such as Good Employment and Living Wage weeks. The work of the Manchester Living Wage Action Group has been recognised nationally, having been a finalist for the last two years in the Living Wage Champion Awards in the Campaign of the Year category.

The report set out performance data for the Living Wage City initiative, including the number of accreditations, uplifted employees, and those employed by a Living Wage employer. As of July 2025, there were 335 accredited RLW employers in Manchester, 91,536 people employed by a Living Wage employer, and 10,580 uplifted employees.

The report also noted some challenges, including the need to work with key sectors such as hospitality, retail and health and social care where low pay predominates, and the fact that Living Wage accreditations only capture businesses based in Manchester who have their headquarters located in the city.

The report set out the forward plan for 2025-2028, which includes a renewed commitment from the GM Living Wage action group and a new three-year delivery plan for Manchester.

Pavement Policy Framework and Use

The committee was asked to note and comment on the current policy framework governing pavement uses and maintenance, the roles and responsibilities of different council departments, opportunities for improving policy clarity, enforcement, and public engagement, and financial tracking in relation to pavement-related damage caused by vehicles parking on pavements.

A report by the Head of Network Management provided a comprehensive overview of the council's policy framework governing pavements, covering standards, licensing, obstructions, street furniture, non-pedestrian use, and pavement parking. The report also outlined financial implications and public engagement processes, with the aim of clarifying responsibilities and identifying areas for further scrutiny and improvement.

The report noted that pavement-related responsibilities are shared across several departments within the council, including Planning/Highways (policy setting), Highways/Neighbourhoods (enforcement), and Highways (operational delivery).

The report outlined UK national pavement standards and guidance, including the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB), Manual For Streets (2007)/Manual for Streets 2 (2010), Gear change: A bold vision for cycling and walking (2020), Inclusive Transport Strategy (2020), and Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works (MCHW). The Greater Manchester (GM) Streets for All Design Guide (2024) also sets out guidance for how streets will look, feel and function in the years ahead.

The report detailed the council's strategy for maintenance of footways and footpaths, as outlined in the Highways Asset Management Policy & Strategy. The council inspects all roads and footways regularly to spot any safety issues, in accordance with Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980¹. Reactive repairs are prioritised based on the severity and risk posed by defects, with a focus on public safety and accessibility.

Programmes for planned maintenance are determined using data from highway condition surveys, prioritising the worst condition roads and footways, as well as considering numbers of identified safety defects, requests & complaints, vehicle / pedestrian usage, cycle or bus routes and ward priorities.

The report noted that many new developments involve alterations to the existing adopted highways to ensure appropriate access and mitigate impacts on the network, and that Section 278 of the Highways Act 1980 is one mechanism that is used for developers to carry out works on the public highway.

The report also addressed the issue of street trees, noting that while trees play a vital role in urban environments, mature trees can also bring potential challenges, specifically footway heave resulting from root growth which can eventually break and significantly deform the footway surface.

The report detailed the council's management of utility activities in pavements, noting that utilities have a statutory right to work in the highway and the council has powers, duties and responsibilities to monitor and enforce those activities.

The report outlined the council's pavement licensing regime, which allows businesses such as cafes, bars and restaurants to obtain a licence to place temporary furniture on the public highway (pavement) adjacent to their premises, under the Business and Planning Act 2020².

The report also covered the use of pavements for temporary or permanent structures, noting that any scaffolding or hoarding which encroaches or projects onto or over the highway requires a permit from the council under Section 169 of the Highways Act 1980.

The report detailed the council's approach to street furniture, noting that street furniture refers to functional and decorative objects placed in public spaces like streets, parks, and other outdoor areas to enhance the environment and provide services. The council is developing Street Furniture Guidance which outlines key criteria such as minimum footway clearance and street furniture dimensions.

The report addressed the issue of pavement parking, noting that pavement parking can cause real problems for pedestrians, but particularly for wheelchair users, people with visual impairments and those using prams or buggies. The report noted that under current legislation, the powers to enforce pavement parking rest between Local Authorities (where Traffic Regulation orders are in place) and the Police. The report detailed three options for managing pavement parking: physical prevention, accommodation, and enforcement. A pilot scheme in Harpurhey is progressing to assess and implement the use of TROs to ban pavement parking.

The report noted that pavement maintenance is a significant cost to the council, with funding pressures exacerbated by historic underinvestment from Central Government and damage from misuse and overrun from vehicles.

The report outlined the council's public and stakeholder engagement mechanisms, including 'Our Manchester' Highways Week, consultation on maintenance programmes with neighbourhood teams and Local Members, and feedback via the Contact Centre and neighbourhood teams. Opportunities for improvement include a formal engagement strategy, publication of responses to public feedback, and greater use of digital tools for consultation and reporting.

Infrastructure Resilience

The committee was asked to consider and comment on the infrastructure challenges, opportunities, and resilience priorities set out in the report.

A report by the Strategic Director (Growth and Development) outlined the current challenges, opportunities, and resilience priorities for Manchester's critical infrastructure systems—including digital, energy, water, fibre internet, mobile networks, electric vehicle charging infrastructure (EVCI), and public transport—within the context of the newly launched 'UK Infrastructure Strategy', the GM Infrastructure framework 2040, Manchester City Council's Local Plan refresh and the ambitions set out in the Greater Manchester Strategy and Greater Manchester 5-year Environment Plan.

The report noted that the UK's infrastructure strategy sets out a long-term framework to improve planning, delivery, and outcomes, and aims to develop a more resilient, integrated, and inclusive infrastructure system that supports economic growth, advances net zero goals and enhances quality of life across the country.

The report detailed the role of the National Infrastructure & Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) in coordinating delivery across departments and regions, maintaining a transparent project pipeline, and monitoring progress against the Infrastructure Outcome Framework.

The report outlined the Planning and Infrastructure Bill 2025, which has been introduced with the aims of speeding up and streamlining the delivery of new homes and critical infrastructure.

The report noted that Manchester's Local Plan will set out to address more detailed and locally specific planning policies to sit alongside and compliment Places for Everyone, and that through the local plan process, the council has the ability to coordinate with infrastructure providers and assess development impacts.

The report detailed the Greater Manchester Strategic Infrastructure Framework 2040, which identifies 11 GM specific infrastructure challenges across 6 areas: energy, transport, water, green & blue, digital, and cross sector.

The report provided updates on each of these infrastructure challenges, including:

• Energy: The report noted that Manchester City Council declared a climate emergency in 2019, pledging to become a zero-carbon city by 2038, and that the electrification of both heat and transport is expected to double peak electricity demand, placing immense pressure on the city's ageing electrical infrastructure. The report detailed the council's efforts to deploy local renewable energy, deliver its own estates decarbonisation and retrofit strategy, and deliver a Net Zero Accelerator programme.
• Transport: The report noted that Our Manchester Strategy 2025–2035, sets out a people-first agenda for the next decade, and recognises transport as a key enabler of opportunity, health, and economic growth. The report detailed the Bee Network, a cornerstone of Greater Manchester's transport focused infrastructure strategy, and the council's efforts to align investment in new rail and Metrolink stations, bus stops, and transport interchanges, bus priority measures, integration of heavy rail into the Bee Network, new light rail (Metrolink) extensions and capacity enhancements, and active travel infrastructure.
• Water: The report noted that Manchester faces significant challenges in delivering resilient and sustainable water infrastructure, and that the Integrated Water Management Plan (IWMP) provides a transformative framework to manage water holistically.
• Flood Risk and Surface Water Management: The report noted that Manchester's flood risk is rising due to climate change and urbanisation, and detailed the council's efforts to secure funding for surveying high-risk areas, deliver the most significant update to the council's asset register since its legal establishment in 2010, and implement nature-based solutions.
• Potable Water and Efficiency: The report noted that United Utilities' long-term water management strategy supports Manchester's resilience to droughts and supply pressures, and that key targets include a 17% reduction in leakage by 2040, increased metering, and the promotion of greywater recycling and sustainable construction practices.
• Green and Blue Infrastructure: The report noted that an annual report is presented to the Environment, Climate Change and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Committee, reviewing progress on Manchester's award-winning Green & Blue Infrastructure (G&BI) Strategy, and detailed the strategy's vision and objectives.
• Digital Infrastructure: The report noted that despite Manchester's reputation as the UK's leading tech city outside London, its fixed connectivity lags behind the rest of Greater Manchester, and detailed the council's efforts to install small cell sites, explore a neutral host fibre network, and integrate the Digital Infrastructure Design Guide into the Local Plan.
• Adaptation: The report noted the critical importance of climate adaptation, and detailed the council's collaboration with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) on the development of a region-wide Climate Adaptation Strategy, and the production of the Manchester Adaptation Plan.

Overview Report

The committee noted the Overview Report, which contained the Recommendations Monitor, Key Decisions, and Work Programme.

The report provided an update on previous recommendations made by the committee, including:

• A recommendation that the Director of Highways advise whether there are any levers which can be used to discourage taxis licensed elsewhere from operating in Manchester, such as not allowing them to use bus lanes.
• A recommendation that the Council, working with partners, creates a webpage on this issue to assist affected residents, leaseholders and right-to-manage directors, including an FAQ section, information on the Council's role and signposting people to relevant support and information.
• A request that, when the Renters Rights Bill becomes law, a note be circulated to the Committee outlining the implications of this, with a particular focus on the roles and responsibilities of the Council.
• A request a breakdown by ward of the collision data in the table at 2.2 in the Road Safety Strategy report.
• A request that officers explore the possibility of data sharing agreements to enable advice services to engage with people in Council Tax arrears as early as possible.

The report included an extract of the most recent Register of Key Decisions, published on 22 August 2025, containing details of the decisions under the committee's remit, including:

• Apprenticeship Training and Assessment Providers
• This City - new scheme development
• Continuation of funding towards City Centre Free Bus
• Wythenshawe MATSIP
• Oldham Road (A62) Improving Journeys
• Rochdale Road (A664) Improving Journeys
• Stockport Road (A6) Improving Journeys
• Highways Accessibility
• Red Passageways Surfacing
• Moving Traffic Enforcement Cameras
• Annual Carriageway Surface Dressing
• Capital Expenditure - A34 Phase 1 works
• Capital Expenditure - Manchester Cycleway: Cyclops Junction Works
• TFGM Travel Hub
• Victoria North Movement Plan
• Annual Carriageway Microasphalt
• Annual Carriageway Resurfacing
• Annual Footway Resurfacing
• 210725T Etihad and Co Op Arena ATTRO

The report set out the committee's work programme for the coming months, including items on the Draft Local Plan, the Provision of Sites for Gypsy and Traveller Communities, Work and Skills Update, Work and Health, 2026/27 Budget Proposals, District Centres, Victoria North and North Manchester General Hospital, Update on Public Transport, Rail Update, Highways State of the City Annual Report, Parking Strategy, Budget Reports, Annual Culture Report, Visitor Economy and Evening and Night time Economy, Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID), Housing Consumer Standards Regulations, Growth Hub, and Green Economy.

The report also included the most up-to-date Economy Dashboard, which provided an overview of Manchester's economic performance, including data on inflation, employment, unemployment, economic inactivity, real living wage, council tax support & collections, fuel grants & free school meals, GVA, carbon intensity, unique job postings, business rates, business births & deaths, footfall, transport, airport passengers, residential rents, housing affordability, property sales & prices, homes under construction & planning permissions granted, affordable homes, housing need & right to buy, and temporary accommodation.