The meeting of Manchester City Council on 1 October 2025 addressed several key issues, including accessibility of council information, celebrating Manchester's identity, and housing initiatives. Councillors also approved budget changes to the capital programme and discussed reports from various scrutiny committees.

Making Council More Accessible

The council discussed and agreed a motion to make council procedures easier to understand for people from all backgrounds. The motion included requests that officers:

• ensure all published papers give the full meaning of any acronym, initialism or technical term at the first use in that document
• include a glossary for acronyms and initialisms in each paper that is included wherever that paper is published
• ask committee chairs to remind speakers at all meetings to explain acronyms, initialisms and technical terms on first use.

The motion, proposed by Councillor Rob Nunney and seconded by Councillor Astrid Johnson, aimed to remove any ambiguity around the meanings of acronyms and initialisms, allowing anyone taking part in or observing meetings to understand the discussions and decisions made.

Celebrating Pride in Manchester

A notice of motion, proposed by Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of the Council, and seconded by Councillor Pat Karney, Chair of Constitutional and Nomination Committee, focused on celebrating Manchester's identity and community spirit. The council resolved to:

• always stand up for and listen to all our communities, making sure everyone in this city has a voice, feels welcome and can play a part in making our city better
• work with communities to make their neighbourhoods better places, and fight for more investment into their areas
• build on the success of Harpurhey Together and launch a brand-new community events programme that celebrates every local area in our city
• call on all partners, businesses and community groups to an exciting new Pride in Manchester campaign
• launch a flagship Pride in Manchester Awards recognising champions in every ward of the city and calls on residents to nominate their local heroes or champions they think deserve special recognition
• dedicate 2026 to celebrating all that is good in our city culminating in Manchester Day in 2026 being the biggest celebration of Manchester we have ever seen.

Delivering for Manchester: Building Council and Social Homes

The council discussed the city's progress in building council and social homes, reaffirming its commitment to addressing the housing crisis. Councillor Sam Lynch, Deputy Executive Member for Housing and Development, proposed a motion, seconded by Councillor Veronica Kirkpatrick, highlighting the city's achievements in building affordable, low-carbon homes. The council resolved to:

• recommit that all Councillors in this chamber stand up for social and council housing, which Manchester residents desperately need
• welcome the Government's £39 Billion investment and support the Government to keep the focus on building council and social housing and to continue to support us through the likes of further brownfield funding and affordable grant
• write to the new Secretary of State for Housing and Local Government to invite him to Manchester to see firsthand our building programme and to commit to supporting it in the future including major schemes like Wythenshawe -2,000 homes, Holt Town – 4,500 homes, Strangeways – 7,000 homes, Victoria North – 15,000 homes
• following some of the regulatory changes already brought in to speed up building to continue to lobby to speed up external agencies like the Building Safety Regulator permissions and Environment Agency
• recognise that only a Labour Government working with a Labour Council will build the council and social housing Manchester needs.

Capital Programme Monitoring

The council approved a budget change to the council's capital programme, based on a recommendation from the Executive. This involved a £1.818m increase in 2025/26 and £1.162m in 2026/27 for Public Sector Housing (HRA) – West Gorton Youth Hub, funded by borrowing on an invest to save basis. The funding will deliver a scheme to redevelop the property into new temporary accommodation sites for homeless adults as an alternative to placing into B&B accommodation.

Scrutiny Committees

The council noted the minutes of the following scrutiny committee meetings:

• Environment, Climate Change & Neighbourhoods (22 July 2025 and 2 September 2025)
• Economy & Regeneration (22 July 2025)
• Communities & Equalities (23 July 2025 and 3 September 2025)
• Children & Young People (23 July 2025)
• Health (24 July 2025 and 4 September 2025)
• Resources & Governance (24 July 2025)

Proceedings of Committees

The council approved the minutes of the following meetings and considered recommendations made by the committee:

• Audit Committee (29 July 2025)
• Planning Committee (31 July and 28 August 2025)
• Licensing Committee (8 September 2025)
• Licensing and Appeals Committee (8 September 2025)
• Personnel Committee (9 September 2025)

Key Decisions Report

The council noted the report of the City Solicitor on key decisions that have been taken in accordance with the urgency provisions in the Council's Constitution.