The Levenshulme Christmas Lights Switch On is back this year. Friday 1st December on the Village Green.
Santa will be there from 5pm and the lights will be turned on by the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Cllr Yasmine Dar, at 6pm.
Levenshulme Community Association is a proud sponsor and we are grateful to Levenshulme Traders Association for organising the event.
The weather is dry and the night is spooky so why not pop down to the West Point Gardens Lantern Parade starting tonight at 18.00.
A team from Dowhigh Ltd has been on the Village Green today clearing overgrown shrubs, scattering poppy seeds and replanting. Some plants have been recycled but many new plants have been supplied by the marvellous Bud Garden Centre. The planters have been refreshed with new soil and plants and the whole area will be cleaned and tidied up. New murals are also planned. It is a big improvement already and we look forward to seeing how it develops and the final results. Hopefully the Bee will be repaired as well as we have previously reported the cracks and damage.
There’s a business support event on at Arcadia Library & Leisure Centre today, 10.00-13.00.
Apologies for the late notice, we weren’t aware of the event in advance.
Free NHS online training available to people working with children and young people with asthma.
Further information available HERE
Levenshulme Station Ticket Office is under the threat of being closed.
Northern Rail operates Levenshulme train station and is proposing to close Levenshulme Station Ticket Office and leave us with only a ticket machine. This would be a permanent closure of the ticket office.
Full details of the proposed ticket office closure are available HERE.
You can download a PDF summary of the ticket office closure proposals here:
Northern Rail says:
“We know that stations will play an important part of our vision, which is why we will make sure that they better serve all our customers as well as the local communities that live around them.”
Northern rail, july 2023
Northern Rail’s claim it will “better serve all our customers” by closing Levenshulme Station ticket office is nonsense. That is not better service. It is bad enough that we still have no step free access at Levenshulme Station. It is unacceptable to close our ticket office as well for reasons of safety, accessibility, information, ticket sales and advice.
Ticket sales at Northern Rail operated stations are almost 50% higher than the national average. People depend on the ticket office and the staff for help, advice and information. Ticket machines cannot provide the same services.
The consultation is open now but it ends very soon so please respond as soon as possible with your comments. The consultation is managed by Transport Focus, the independent transport user watchdog, on behalf of Train Operating Companies.
The deadline for responding to the consultation is 23.59 on 28 July.
Remember to name Levenshulme Station in your response.
If you would like to know more about the consultation process and what happens next please go to transportfocus.org.uk
Levenshulme Community Association has already committed to write to Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, Manchester City Council Leader Bev Craig, our MP Afzal Khan and our local councillors, Zahid Hussain, Dzidra Noor and Basat Sheikh to seek their commitment to oppose the proposed closure of Levenshulme Station Ticket Office. We will also be working with the Friends of Levenshulme Station to campaign against this proposal. We will also say that such a short consultation is not acceptable and must be extended.
Manchester Piccadilly Station Ticket Offices also to be closed
Please note that Manchester Piccadilly Ticket Offices are also threatened with permanent closure. They are operated by Avanti West Coast. You can out information and respond to that proposed closure HERE.
Please join us in campaigning to SAVE OUR STATION TICKET OFFICE.
Samuel Opokiti has appeared in court charged with a single count of murder following the death of Osagie Harrison Aimiyekagbon. This followed an incident on Rushmere Avenue on the evening on Sunday 9 July.
The incident is reported in the MEN HERE.
Sadly today is the last trading day for Levenshulme Market in 2023. The Market is taking a break after celebrating 10 years of trading and intends to return in 2024.
The Market has been clear that there are a variety of reasons for this unexpected pause but the main one appears to be Manchester City Council deciding to impose a new fee in addition to the site licence fee the Market already pays. A full explanation from Levenshulme Market is available HERE (June 7) with a further update HERE (July 13).
Levenshulme Community Association would like to thank everyone involved in Levenshulme Market and for making the Market such a big part of Levenshulme as well as such a success winning several awards and supporting traders, with several going on to open businesses in Levenshulme. We hope that Levenshulme Market and Manchester City Council can find a solution and that the Council fully recognises the value of the Market and the contribution it has made to Levenshulme as a Community Interest Company and social enterprise, and the value it adds to our community.
Even though the weather might be showery today go down and give Levenshulme Market a big send off at the last Market of this year. We hope to see Levenshulme Market back again as soon as possible.
Manchester City Council has announced today that there will be another consultation on final plans for the Levenshulme and Burnage Active Neighbourhood scheme. This follows the release of three sets of “final plans” over a year ago and one “final consultation”. The news release says:
“A consultation will soon take place on a proposal to include an additional crossing on the A6, expanding the provision of high-quality and safer walking and cycling routes, with the intention being that local people are better connected by safer walking, wheeling, and cycling routes with local shops and facilities.”
MCC news release, 12 july 2023
This would be helpful after well over a year of silence on the scheme from the council and councillors. The only works undertaken so far have been in Burnage Ward on Errwood Road and the installation of the permanent versions of the 14 modal filters / road blocks across Levenshulme Ward. Sadly the filters do not include any trees in the concrete blocks as was originally promised. There is still no news on the proposed modal filters / road blocks on Linden Park and Milwain Road.
The council says the latest “final plans” will cost £7 million:
“The cost, estimated at £7m in total, is likely to be split between MCC and GMCA. The proposed solution will allow the successful delivery of this project as part of the Bee Network in the local area as well as allowing specific Council-led design choices that respond to public consultation feedback.”
MCC news release, 12 july 2023
This is over 300% more than the original budget of £2.3 million. In 2022 Levenshulme councillor Basat Sheikh said the cost for the scheme had increased to £4.6 million. The vast majority of the funding was originally from the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Challenge Fund using money provided by the government and included a contribution from Manchester City Council of £100,000. The council has not said how much of the new proposed £7 million cost will come from Manchester City Council.
The original proposals included significantly more than last year’s “final plans” proposed so it will be interesting to see what the new “final plans” include and whether any more of what the Council and the now defunct Levenshulme Bee Network had promised has been reinstated. Levenshulme Councillors have recently said that the Council will not install any more modal filters / road blocks.
Levenshulme Community Association has consistently supported the idea of an Active Neighbourhood and made positive proposals throughout the several years of this project. If the new “final plans” include improvements to pavements and crossings and cycle routes that actually connect across and outside the area as this announcement suggests then that will be a big improvement on the previous “final plans” that only included one cycle lane that ran half way along Matthews Lane and did not connect to anything at either end. Pavement and accessibility improvements were also previously limited to only a handful of roads in the area.
The LCA will continue to provide further updates as information becomes available.
Manchester Evening News also has an article on the latest announcement from Manchester City Council.
The council news item is HERE
The MEN article is HERE
From humble beginnings in an early-Lockdown kitchen, Witch Kings Rum founders Maxi & Biz have finally secured their first bar location at 312 Slade Lane, Levenshulme!
Previously known & loved as community-hub The Gherkin, the site is now under entirely new ownership & management, with an ethereal & bohemian-themed renovation currently in development for the Witch Kings bar launch this August 2023.
The Witch Kings themselves are immortal creatures from the world between worlds, conjuring up delicious creations to suit the needs of their society. While roaming the forest one day, Maxi & Biz stumbled upon their magical portal, and traded their ukulele songs for a few fresh & fruity elixir recipes. Thus began the tale, and now the duo seek to share these potions with the world!
The brand has spent the last 3 years honing its fresh rum-based cocktail offerings in a range of pop-up events across Manchester, hosting over 100 local musicians and collaborating with other artisan brands to create beautiful and eclectic events.
The debut full-time Witch Kings space will continue to feed the fun-loving vibes, with cocktails, mocktails, smoothies and soft drinks all designed and produced in-house by their liquid flavour mages.
Maxi’s restaurant & menu design background will introduce an inclusive & balanced selection of light bites & social snacks, while Biz is expanding the musical offering to include DJs, making the most of the site’s soundproofing.
The existing 6 craft beer taps will be kept in operation, and extensive no-and-low ABV options (including in-house brewed live Tepache, home-made cola, and their famous hibiscus lemonades) will ensure there is something for everyone at Witch Kings!
The LCA Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 15th July 2023 in the Community Studio, Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre starting at 14.00. Everyone is welcome.
Levenshulme Youth Project are holding a Cultural Celebration Day at Levenshulme Inspire on Saturday 24 June 2023, 12.00-14.00.
Workshops:
Plus food from around the world.
Grounded MCR are fundraising to create a new cafe and much more in Cringle Park.
You can find out more and donate on the Aviva Community Fund page HERE.
The fundraising closes at 13.00 on 26 June 2023.
“We plan to renovate a 40-foot shipping container café, turning it into a community café and event space, with a barista training area for vulnerable adults. We want to continue to provide free, activity-focused and educational events in our local park – to benefit the diverse community.
We’ve got big plans. The new space will give us room to train additional vulnerable adults such as ex-offenders, create a mini allotment and gardening club, have space for sports/activities clubs to meet, support/peer-to-peer groups to hang out, an area for local makers to display their wares plus a small zero waste shop in the future. The café menu will consist of dishes created from rescued food, destined for landfill, which will help keep prices down and ensure inclusivity for those on low income.
Grounded MCR
Who are Grounded MCR?
Grounded MCR CIC is a social enterprise serving specialty coffee, hot and cold drinks and locally sourced treats from a bespoke trike. We employ vulnerable adults with poor mental health, training them in barista/hospitality skills. We support local bakers; buy our coffee from a local roastery who pay farmers properly, and offer local makers/crafters opportunities to grow their own businesses via our platforms.
“We have gathered a huge amount of anecdotal feedback about our multi-faith, multi-faceted community and how to understand their wants and needs.
My wife Kerry and I (founders), are experienced in hospitality, PR/marketing/advertising, charity work and have both suffered with very poor mental health, which puts us in a unique position to make our business model work. Redundancy, adopting a child and Covid gave us an opportunity to start Grounded MCR, in the hope that it would allow us to use our skills to help improve ours and our employees’ mental health. The last 18 months has proved the combo of (specialty) coffee, conversation and community can help solve anything!
We try to be as inclusive as possible when hosting events and have worked with:
Nat, grounded MCR
-Children with additional needs/SEN
-Parents and babies/toddlers
-Marginalised groups – LGBTQ+
-Non-English speakers
-Low income families
-Vulnerable adults (specifically those with long standing mental health issues
Levenshulme Square Residents Association has their Lev Square Fest coming up again on 25 June.
Sunday 25 June 2023 13.00-16.00 on Cuthbert Avenue.
We are sad to hear that Paul Colton has died. Paul did so much for so many people at Manchester Roller Hockey Club over many years. Our condolences to all Paul’s family and friends.
It seems only yesterday that we worked with Paul and so many others from our community when the old Arcadia building and site was redeveloped into the Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre. As part of that fight we insisted that a new home was found for the Roller Hockey Club and remember Paul’s absolute dedication to the Club and everyone who got so much from it. That was some years ago now but links have been maintained and both Paul and Manchester Roller Hockey Club will always have a place in the hearts of the people of Levenshulme.
The following tribute is reproduced by kind permission of Manchester Roller Hockey Club.
Continue readingLevenshulme Old Library is currently recruiting for a Finance and HR Manager.
This is a part time role within a small team, all of whom are local Levy residents who are working to restore our historic library building, transforming it into a welcoming and affordable space for the community where they can also have some high quality artistic experiences.
Levenshulme Old Library needs a special someone to help them grow, reaching more people and bringing them more activities and opportunities. They’re looking for someone who has some experience of managing finances and HR and is keen to support what Levenshulme Old Library does. For further information and to apply click HERE.
Deadline: 11:59pm on Wednesday 21st June
Timeout has included Bopcap Books in its list of the Best 14 Independent Shops in Manchester.
Timeout says:
Bopcap Books in Levenshulme sits inside the famous Levenshulme Antiques Village and sells a carefully curated collection of books and ephemera (posters, magazines etc) across art, photography, design, pop culture, children’s books and illustration, cinema, fashion, the occult and cult fiction, beat lit, crime noir, graphic novels and pulp fiction. Find books by local authors or order online.
Timeout listing of bopcap books
Absolutely well deserved praise for Bopcap Books. Congratulations to Suzy Prince and Ian Lowey.
Bopcap Books is open:
We have added new events listings and calendar to the LCA website. We will do our best to include events across our community.
Do email us HERE to have something added. Please include:
Jeremy Hoad, LCA Secretary
Levenshulme Pride is happening again this year 11-13 August. Since starting in 2017 it has grown to be the largest FREE local Pride in Greater Manchester with activities and events across dozens of locations.
Everything at Levenshulme Pride is FREE to attend. This is more important than ever as the cost of living crisis affects us all.
Get in touch. Get involved.
If you have an idea for something to happen at Levenshulme Pride get in touch. Everyone is welcome as Levenshulme Pride celebrates the people, groups and businesses of our community. The event operates on a devolved model so everyone has ownership and control of their own activities.
Levenshulme Pride is also looking for volunteers to support the event. You can get involved in any aspect of Levenshulme Pride. Volunteers are particularly needed to distribute publicity material, brochures and programmes, be marshalls for the Levenshulme Pride March and help stallholders setup.
Sponsorship and Advertising
Levenshulme Pride is supported by sponsorship and advertising with low rates to ensure every group or business can contribute to make the event happen. Without this support the event simply wouldn’t be possible. Thank you to all previous sponsors for their support and to everyone who took out advertisements in our brochure.
Acacias Primary School is holding its Summer Fair on Saturday 1st July, 14.00-16.00.
The school is accepting donations towards its tombola, toy and soft toy/teddy stalls. Please drop off any donations at Acacias school office, Alexandra Drive, Burnage, M19 2WW.
St Andrews Primary School Summer Fair is on today from 13.00-15.00.
Grounded MCR are holding CRINGLE BARK (raising money for @dogs4rescue ) on SAT 8th JULY 10-4pm
DOG SHOW 10-12pm
– no need to book on but it is first come, first served. 15 dogs max per category and all entry fees to @dogs4rescue. (Categories on poster.)
Doggie paddling pool
Prizes – rosettes and Dogimisu from @paradisoauthentic
FREE KIDS ACTIVITIES:
– bouncy castle
– glitter tattoos from @soul_sisters_universal
– entertainment 12.30-2 from Singalong Sally – we defy you not to love her!
FOOD & DRINK
– pizza, chips and more from @social_scranevents
– luxury ice cream from @exclusive_scoop
– brews and cakes from us
-hopefully a bar too
Plus traders @pumpkinandpeascrafts ; @jelly_mode and crackpots (ceramic dog and cat bowls)
Levenshulme Market organisers have announced the Market will close in July for the rest of the year as they face a series of challenges. The last Market this year will now be on 15 July then the Market will close until 2024.
This is dreadful news for Levenshulme as the Market, run as a social enterprise, has been developed through the hard work and commitment of people in Levenshulme over the last 10 years. In 2020 the Market won Best Small Outdoor Market at the Great British Market Awards 2020 organised by the National Association of British Market Authorities and was a finalist in the BBC Food and Farming Awards 2019.
The Market says increased costs, staffing challenges, and the cost of living crisis have all played their part as well as the impact of the pandemic. Special mention is made of Manchester City Council, though, as it seeks to increase the fees charged to the Market to operate. This comes after a “painful planning permission process” to renew the permission with the Council. The Market also states “We reached out on a number of occasions to our local Levenshulme Councillors for assistance to no avail”.
Levenshulme Community Association has contacted Levenshulme Market to show our support and ask how we can help Levenshulme Market.
Continue readingThe Levenshulme Players present Blue Stockings at Levenshulme Baptist Church. A play about love and learning and the love of learning. It is about the fight for women to graduate from Cambridge.
To buy tickets click HERE
Lev Square Fest is on Sunday 25 June this year, 13.00-16.00.
This Saturday (3 June) at Bluebell Green we’ve got the Big Bug Bonanza. Lots of activities for kids and it’s lovely picnic weather.
Bluebell Green is in Chapel Street Park.
Levy Choir are welcoming new members!
Come along for a free taster session on 11 June to see if this is for you! 18.00-19.30 at Levenshulme Old Library.
• No audition
• No previous singing experience needed.
• Highly inclusive
• Upbeat/uplifting repertior
• One of the friendliest bunch of people you’ll ever meet!
Levenshulme and Burnage Open Gardens are back again on Sunday 4 June, 11.00-17.00. Programmes are on sale from Trove on Stockport Rd and Bud Garden Centre on Omer Drive.
All proceeds will be donated to Growing Together Levenshulme.
Thanks to Brenda Smith at Bud Garden Centre for organising the Open Gardens.
Levenshulme artist Chloe White is hosting a painting workshop at Station South on 17 May. The evening costs £25.
*Levenshulme Allotments Big Plant Sale on Coronation Weekend: 11am-4pm Sunday 7 May *
Come on down to the Levenshulme Allotments Community Greenhouse, Highfield Road, M19 3JX, from 11am-4pm on Sunday 7 May.
We have a range of bedding and vegetable plants at low prices, alongside tasty cakes, chips, hotdogs – both meat and veggie!
Please note that we only accept cash payment. All welcome.
Available bedding plants:
Available vegetable plants:
The government has introduced Voter Photo ID for local elections this year. You MUST have valid photo ID with you when you vote in person at a polling station on 4 May. See below for a list of what photo ID will be accepted.
If you don’t have valid Photo ID (details below) you can apply for a free Voter Authorisation Certificate. You must apply before 17.00 on Tuesday 25 April 2023.
Here is a video explaining the new requirements.
You can use any of the following accepted forms of photo ID when voting at a polling station.
You will only need to show one form of photo ID. It needs to be the original version and not a photocopy.
You can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate, if:
You need to register to vote before applying for a Voter Authority Certificate.
Levenshulme Community Association is delighted to announce hustings for the local elections on Thursday 27 April 2023.
This is an opportunity for anyone to come along and ask questions of the candidates. The hustings will be held at St Peter’s Church on Stockport Road (opposite Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre).
18.30 Levenshulme hustings
20.00 Burnage hustings
All candidates (listed below) have been invited to attend personally or send a representative. The hustings will be chaired by Rev George Reeves.
Levenshulme is one of the few areas that still holds hustings. We hold hustings for both Burnage Ward and Levenshulme Ward because the Levenshulme community stretches across the Ward boundaries. The LCA has done so for many years and we believe it is an important event to enable residents to hold candidates to account and hear what their ideas are for our community.
Everyone is welcome. We hope to see you at the hustings.
Remember that you must bring photo ID to the polling station to vote. This is a new requirement imposed by the government. You can find out further information HERE. A full list of which forms of ID will be accepted is available HERE.
Levy Choir’s next concert takes place on Saturday 13th May @5pm. This gives you plenty of time to get back for your Eurovision party!!
Take a look at the link below for tickets and more info.
Uplifting feel-good pop songs through the decades – promises to lift your spirits! Funds raised will go to a local charity!
Find out more and book tickets HERE
Cringle Park, Friday 7 April, 11-4
300 free Easter eggs up for grabs, lots of local peeps selling their stuff, art, music, table tennis and hopefully SUN.
Madina Masjid on Barlow Road will be holding a Unity Iftar for the whole community on Sunday 2 April at 19.00. The invitation is below. You can reserve places via Eventbrite HERE
Madina Masjid Manchester has a tradition of welcoming people from all backgrounds to the Mosque. In the spirit of friendship and conversation, we hope to give members of the wider community an engaging insight into the life of a fasting Muslim.
Ramadan is an auspicious time for Muslims; wherein one reflects and contemplates much on the relationship we have with God Almighty. United Kingdom Islamic Mission (UKIM) is holding Unity Iftar nationally, We as part of UKIM, feel privileged, as a pillar of the Manchester community, to be able to provide facilities where we can help break the fasts of the local Muslim community. We would therefore like to, cordially invite you and our neighbours from all faiths or none, to share in this festive experience and join us for the annual Iftar Meal.
We would be honoured to have your presence to break the fast with us in the spirit of UKIM’s national initiative of ‘Unity Iftar’ on Sunday 2nd. April 2023.
Please arrive on-site at 7:00 pm for a meet and greet and to ensure you are seated and served on time for the breaking of the fast at 7:48 pm.
If you have any specific dietary requirements please do let us know in advance and we will endeavour to cater for your needs. If you have any questions or queries please do not hesitate to contact us.
PS: Please share this invitation with your family & friends and also amongst other members of your group.
Station South will be celebrating its first birthday on Friday 31 March.
To celebrate they are holding a big party.
School’s out for Easter – join the family party from 3-6pm
-bouncy castle (£1)
-cupcake decorating (£1)
-free party games, music and dancing
-hot dogs available
From 6pm
-Its open decks with DJ @djryanhughes Bring your best 3
vinyl party records and take your spot on the decks.
-Fab prizes on the tombola
-2 for £10 Birthday cocktails
-Massive cake!
A new website is being launched that will provide information on volunteering opportunities in Levenshulme. This has been organised by Levenshulme Old Library, Levenshulme Inspire and AllFM.
The launch event takes place on Saturday 11 March at Levenshulme Old Library, 13.00-15.00. Refreshments available from Grounded MCR and art workshop by Laurie Pink.
Here’s the schedule for the International Women’s Day takeover at AllFM on Wednesday 8 March. All women. All day.
You can listen to AllFM online via their website HERE or on 96.9 FM.
Gardening Sessions at Bluebell Green in Chapel Street Park start again today. You don’t need any experience and tools are provided.
Levenshulme continues to be blighted by litter and dumping.
The Great British Spring Clean is 17 March – 23 April 2023. Back for its eighth year, the Great British Spring Clean is the nation’s biggest mass-action environmental campaign. You can pledge to pick up a bag of litter – or more – from today.
Find out more HERE
There’s a Family Health Event at Madina Mosque on 11 March 2023, 13.30-15.30 organised with Manchester Local Care Organisation.
You can talk and find out more about:
Free blood pressure checks will also be available.
All welcome to this FREE event.
Manchester Adult Education Courses are available now with spaces still available for courses starting in April.
Find out more about the full range of courses available HERE
View or download the current prospectus HERE
The learning locations closest to Levenshulme at at the Gorton Hub and Longsight Library and Learning Centre.
A bulk one tonne bag of compost is available for free to community groups from Recycle for Greater Manchester.
The following organisations qualify:
If you are interested further information is available HERE
Arcadia Leisure Centre and Library has a new scheme available that means you can borrow a bike. Basically, take a bike on load the same way you would a library book.
Just pop along at the times listed below with ID and proof of address.
You can find out more HERE
Manchester City Council has changed its plans and now proposes to increase council tax by the maximum possible next year, 4.99%.
A consultation on the proposals is open until 7 February 2023. The council’s explanation is below. You can go directly to the consultation HERE
We still want to hear your views on revised council tax proposals for 2023/24.
Your views will help shape the decisions we need to take around council tax increases.
Our other budget proposals remain the same, so if you gave views on these in the earlier consultation, they still stand.
Make sure you have your say before Tuesday 7 February.
The Government’s Autumn Statement has moved the goalposts considerably. They have decided that council tax can now increase by up to 2.99% in the general charge plus an extra charge (called a precept) of up to 2% to help fund adult social care. This means there can now be a 4.99% increase without the need for a costly local referendum – 2% more than the original limit which is what we had originally proposed and consulted with you about.
The Government has put off making the most difficult decisions about funding cuts to address the black hole in public sector finances until 2025. It has also provided some additional funding to help us support the most vulnerable.
But while the immediate position is not as severe as we anticipated, we still need to plan now for tough times looming on the horizon to ensure our funding is sustainable and we can continue to provide support to those who need it most as well as the services everyone needs.
Our funding allocation from Government effectively assumes that we will increase council tax by the full amount now allowed. If we don’t do this it may impact on future funding settlements, with the Government assuming the Council has more money than we actually do.
From speaking to other comparable councils we know they have reached the same conclusion which we reluctantly have – that there is little choice but to look at raising council tax in line with the new limit.
We are therefore now proposing to increase general council tax by 2.99% plus a 2% adult social care precept – a 4.99% increase in total.
Putting up council tax is not something we do lightly when we are acutely aware that there is a cost of living crisis facing many of us.
But the extra money for adult social care will enable us to support the social care sector more, helping to relieve some of the well-documented pressures on the NHS. We will also be able to provide more targeted help for the most vulnerable people in our city.
Funding from the extra 1% on council tax will also be targeted at supporting our most vulnerable residents and the voluntary sector who do such valuable work in our city.
Even a 4.99% increase will still be well below inflation and less than the increase to other household bills. Our strengthened Council Tax Support scheme will also mean that Manchester residents on the lowest incomes will get more help with their bills.
The Council’s financial position remains challenging against a backdrop of high inflation (even higher now than when we first consulted), rising interest rates and a volatile economic climate.
This comes on top of more than a decade of central government funding cuts to our budget, even as our city and the need for our services grew. Manchester was one of the hardest hit places in the country by these cuts. Since 2010 we have had to make £428 million of savings to cope with cuts to our government funding and unfunded budget pressures such as inflation and a growing population.
We still need to make savings to balance the budget over the next three years and have consulted on proposals as part of the previous consultation. If you have given views on these, they still stand.
We remain firmly focused on delivering your priorities – from overseeing the building of 10,000 affordable homes over 10 years to leading the charge to become zero carbon by 2038; from promoting a healthier and happier city to creating vibrant neighbourhoods and investing in your parks and roads.
Your views in this consultation will help inform decisions about council tax levels.
Government rules currently allow us to charge a 100% council tax premium on any unfurnished homes that have been empty for over two years, doubling the charge absentee owners must pay. This is to encourage owners of long-term empty properties to bring them back into use. Planned changes to those national rules would reduce the period after which we are allowed to charge double to just one year. We are considering charging owners and landlords the extra 100% premium after one year.
In addition, national changes in the offing would allow councils to charge a 100% premium on empty, furnished homes (second homes and rental properties between tenants) as well. This will mean second home owners and landlords with furnished properties will pay double council tax for any period that their property is empty. We are also considering charging this higher rate of council tax for empty, furnished properties if we are allowed.
The consultation runs until 7 February 2023.
A murder investigation has been launched following the death of Ibraheem Ali who was critically injured in an attack on Stockport Road on 22 January.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “Over the weekend we have now launched a murder investigation after the victim has sadly passed away as a result of his injuries.”
News reports can be found here:
The Christmas Toy Exchange is on at St Mark’s Church, Barlow Road, today until 12.30.
Join Levy Community choir for an evening of festive entertainment held at St Peters Church – Levenshulme. 18.00-19.30 on Saturday 3rd December 2022.
This concert promisses to fill you with Christmas spirit and joy. Featuring unique arrangements of ‘Carol of The Bells’, ‘Somewhere in My Memory’, ‘I Believe in Father Christmas’ plus many more contemporary choral works.
The concert will also feature guest performers and the children’s choir from Fairfield Road Primary School.
Tickets can be bought via Eventbrite HERE
Levenshulme Artbeats will be happening again at The Talleyrand on Friday 2nd December from 18.30. Thanks to Siobhan Daniel for organising the event.
The annual Christmas Lights Switch on is happening today.
Santa will be at Fred’s Ale House from 16.30. Levenshulme Traders Association have raised funding for free presents for the first 200 children to come along.
The Christmas Tree Lights will be switched on at 17.30.
Levenshulme Community Association has arranged the Christmas Tree lights in partnership with the Levenshulme Traders Association with support from Manchester City Council. The whole event is supported by businesses and groups across Levenshulme. Thanks to everyone who support this event.
