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Here's the Mancunian Way for today:
Hello,
It's officially the last day of November - how has it come along so quickly?
If you're anything like me, the panic and anxiety of having Christmas all arranged by now is hitting you hard, but that's nothing new. It's the same every year, but it generally tends to all work out well in the end.
I'm covering for Beth today, and we'll be looking at the impact of having baliffs knocking on your door, the fight for the return of a valuable bus service, and price hikes at the Christmas markets.
Let's get right into it.
28 a day
I’m just as guilty as anyone for indulging in a few episodes of ‘Can't Pay? We'll Take It Away!’ back in the day, but the reality is that bailiffs turning up at your door can be a very scary prospect.
With the cost of living crisis continuing to impact people, many families have found themselves falling on hard times. The number of cases referred to enforcement agents by Manchester council almost doubled last year, with bailiffs calling on more than 10,376 households - the equivalent of 28 a day.
Officials say the rise in numbers is largely based on the backlog of cases which built up when all debt recovery was suspended for the first six months of the pandemic back in 2020. According to its own data, fewer cases are being sent to Enforcement Agents than they were ten years ago (54,000 in 2009/10).
Vivian Joseph, who lives in Hulme, was visited by bailiffs back in January 2019 after she failed to pay her council tax on time and 'refused' to respond to some letters. Working as a childminder at the time, she claimed the bailiffs 'threatened' to take away her children's toys if she didn't pay.
"I had to ring my brother on the phone and he transferred the money to me," she told Local Democracy Reporter Joseph Timan . "In my case, I had someone to loan the money from. But some people don't have that."
Community union ACORN says that using bailiffs is not the answer when it comes to claiming back council tax, and they are urging Manchester council to try new methods. Jake Johnson, a teacher who is the secretary of ACORN Manchester, said: “It’s infuriating to learn that while people struggle to make ends meet all over the city, the council are wasting valuable time, money, and resources harassing and intimidating people in debt. Manchester should follow the example of other councils and invest in more humane debt management practices, which have actually improved payment rates elsewhere.”
Louie Herbert, Senior Community Organiser from Debt Justice, also argues the use of enforcement agents should end, saying: "Bailiff use is cruel, outdated and ineffective. Manchester residents forced into debt during this latest cost of living crisis are now coming together to say enough is enough."
In its defence, Manchester Council said it would ‘always try and work' with people in arrears to agree a plan, but that there's 'very little' they can do to recover money owed when people refuse to engage.
"If a resident is struggling to pay their council tax, we would urge them to speak to us at the earliest opportunity so we can discuss how we can help,” Labour councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, who is the executive member for finance at Manchester council, said.
He added: “Where the council does not hold any information on a household’s financial status and they do not engage with us, there is very little that a council is able to do to recover council tax that is owed other than go through an agreed legal process. Residents are also given numerous opportunities to speak to us before an agent visits a property.
"And, far fewer cases are now being referred to debt recovery agents than previous years as we look to work with residents to work through their arrears directly before deferring to the legal route - and we've improved our processes for deciding which cases go to enforcement agents where information indicated vulnerability."
(Not) On The Buses
Atherton residents fighting to revive a 'crucial' bus service which was dramatically reduced earlier this year have faced a further blow to their campaign.
The area used to have four direct bus services to Manchester, but now it has none - except for peak times. Due to a 'lack of usage', the V2 bus service, operated by First, has been left in a reduced capacity - despite local businesses hailing it for bringing people to the town centre.
To gouge interest in the service, the council ran surveys with the local community in October which found that there was still 'low demand'. As a result, it was decided that the V2 will continue to run at peak times only. A shuttle bus will take people from the centre of Atherton to the nearest guided busway stop.
Councillor Stuart Gerrard, Independent Network’s representative for Atherton, said demand for the service is low because it is regarded as being 'unreliable'. He has been campaigning for the return of the full V2 service and believes another company should be brought in if First aren't up to it.
“From my experience if the service isn’t frequent and unreliable then people will use the car,” he told reporter George Lythgoe. “The issue is the V2 replaced four direct services to Manchester with no need to change buses.
“This has forced more users to use their own car which adds to congestion. Before Covid the service was well used, in fact we were asking TfGM for a dedicated park and ride as so many were using the shoppers' car park for the V2.
“The only way we will find out if the service is still well used is to bring it back to full service as per the contract both TfGM and first have. If First can’t deliver that, then a different operator who can run the service at full capacity should be found.”
TfGM’s Head of Bus Services and Commercial Development said that while he acknowleded 'some frustrations', the timetable had been slashed due to 'low demand'. TfGM said it will continue to monitor the service.
'Typical of people who love divisiveness'
People from across the North gathered at the People’s Powerhouse conference in Manchester today to discuss some of the biggest challenges facing the region and how to create a fairer future for citizens.
University of Manchester chancellor Nazir Afzal, former Chief Crown Prosecutor for the North, said the conference is about 'amplifying' the voices of those who are not heard.
He said: "You asked about power, power technically sits in Westminster it sits in the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, as the mayor walks in, but no it belongs to you. You the citizens have to act it's just that you don't know how to use it, or there are barriers in your way to prevent you from using it."
Afzal also spoke about walking out of a reception at Buckingham Palace when he saw Priti Patel and Suella Braverman arriving.
Speaking of the Home Secretary and her predecessor, he said: “They are typical of people, I’m afraid, who just love divisiveness.
“I knew if I stayed any longer I would get into a row with them in front of the Queen Consort.”
He added: “They wouldn’t know what the word integrity was if it hit them in the face. And they don’t know what principles are.”
'It's no different for us'
Walking down the Christmas Markets every year, it’s hard not to find yourself squinting at some of the prices as you wonder if your eyes are deceiving you. Ultimately, it's somewhat understandable: many traders come from all over the world to sell their local delights and they still have to pay out rent for the stalls themselves.
But some visitors this year have found that the prices at one stall in particular have risen since the start of the market event this month. Customers indulging at the Dutch Mini Pancakes stall have seen prices increase by 50p - from £4.50/5.50 to £5/6. It’s a small hike, but still a noticeable one.
"I know everyone has overheads and you don't expect the markets to be cheap, but I don't think it's right for them to be putting the prices up a few weeks into the event,” one parent said.
But the harsh reality is that things really are more difficult this year round for stallowners. Bram Dreijer, whose father owns the business, told reporter Emma Gill that they had underestimated the increased costs of stock and transporting essential items from the family’s home base in Bunschoten-Spakenburg, a small village about 30 minutes from Amsterdam.
Bram said: "When we came back we noticed that everything we get from the UK, the stock, has increased, so we had no choice to raise the price unfortunately. I think everybody has noticed that a lot of things have increased during the last year. It’s no different for us."
The family business has been affected in the past, but has been able to hold out on increasing prices until now. Bram added: “Because of Brexit there has been a lot of extra costs for us to bring the stuff over, like the Christmas sheds, people, stock, visas and the like.
"Last year we took our loss, but this year that wasn’t possible anymore."
Weather etc
- Wednesday: Cloudy. 6C.
- Road closures: A560 Stockport Road in both directions closed due to water main work between A627 Dowson Road and Hill Street. Until December 8.
- Trains: Special timetable operating on Transpennine Express due to shortage of train crews. Passengers are advised to check their journey before travelling.
- Trams: Revised service on Manchester Metrolink due to over running engineering works at Piccadilly Gardens. Some Metrolink services are operating with changes until the end of November when the works can be finished.
- Trivia question: Today marks 20 years since Girls Aloud were formed on Popstars: The Rivals. The band, which featured Stockport’s own Sarah Harding, was initially managed by which TV judge?
Manchester headlines
Banned: Hoverboards, e-scooters and e-skateboards will be banned from the Northern's 345 trains and 500-plus stations across the north from Thursday. The move comes after the company identified potential fire risks posed by the transport devices. More here.
Lowry Hotel: Bosses at the five-star Lowry Hotel in Salford have said it's returned to profit after losing more than £3m during the pandemic. Over the years the hotel has hosted the likes of Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Homeless housing: Chiefs are planning to house homeless families in private rentals in Tameside for the first time, but fears have been raised over the looming threat of ‘no fault’ evictions. More here.
Worth a read
When England football legend Jill Scott was crowned I’m a Celebrity’s Queen of the Jungle on Sunday night, there were inevitable cheers around the country. But one little cafe in south Manchester perhaps celebrated the loudest for the ex-Lioness.
Along with her partner Shelly, Jill runs the BOXX2BOXX Coffee shop in Northenden. The pair have been regarded as a ‘big part of the community’ and staff and customers have been telling reporter Nicole Wootton-Cane about the duo.
"She'll be straight back to work once she gets home," manager Lois Ryan said.
Regular customer Mikaela added: “She’s salt of the earth. I've loved watching her, but I'll be happy to see her come home."
You can read the full piece here.
That's all for today
Thanks for joining me. If you have stories you would like us to look into, email beth.abbit@menmedia.co.uk.
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The answer to today's trivia question is: Louis Walsh.
