This article is part of an occasional series concerning the activities of Manchester City Council Scrutiny Committees. This one covers the August 27th Community Scrutiny Committee, chaired by Councillor Tracey Rawlins, which considered reports on: English for Speakers of Other Languages; and The Implications of Manchester as a 24hr City.
Report on English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
The lead speaker was Michaela Salmon from Manchester Adult Education Service (MAES) with additional input from Manchester College and Wai Yin.
One of the critical issues discussed was the huge level of demand as compared to supply. People want to learn English and understand it is the gateway both to employment and wider integration. Huge numbers of people are trying to enrol at colleges but funding is being cut again next year. In response MAES has set up a large volunteer tutor scheme called Talk English, that has many tutors who are former learners and many additional benefits to community cohesion. This will also soon need refunding. With continuing cuts in Central Government funding many agencies, including MAES and Manchester College are hoping to gain funding through European Social Fund and are beginning o build coalitions with other organisations to put i collective bids.
Another issue raised by councillors was the teaching of ESOL in schools. Children are making excellent progress up to the age of 10 but for many their progress stalls at high school and this is not picked up again until year 9 when they have to make choices about GCSEs. Manchester College, MAES and Wai Yin all are working with schools.
Report on The Implications of Manchester as a 24hr City
Approximately 150,000 people visit the city centre every weekend to enjoy the nightlife. There are considerable problems with extreme behaviour, drunkenness and violent incidents which lead to strain on the resources of health services and policing. In response a City Centre and Night Time Economy Steering Group has been established, comprising MCC Members and Officers, and Officers from GMP and CityCo.
When the idea of a 24hr city was first developed the idea was to transform Manchester city centre from a dark dingy area where no-one lived to a vibrant cultural and leisure hub, the model being Barcelona and now, over 30,000 people live in the City Centre. Councillors representing city centre residents suggested that there was a need to rethink the model of Manchester as a 24hr city as the original intention to create a “continental” atmosphere has failed.