Politics in Manchester is never dull. At the final meeting before the local elections in May, councillors argued over education, housing and parks.
But in the closing moments of the meeting, there was an unexpected twist as a councillor pulled out a faceless mask from a plastic bag in front of him. The council leader sat nearby put her hand to her face as he performed the stunt.
Wearing the mask, the veteran councillor then continued to speak. Labour's Pat Karney was talking about voters requiring ID at polling stations this year.
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The new rules which affect all council elections in England on May 4 mean that people must have photo identification such as a driving licence or a passport to vote. Alternatively, people can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate.
However, according to Coun Karney, only 399 Mancunians have applied so far while the total number of applications across the country stood at 32,522 on March 19 – just five weeks before the deadline on April 25. It is estimated that up to 3.5m voters across the UK do not have an accepted form of ID.
Coun Karney has previously warned that police could be called to 'flare ups' at polling stations as people without ID are turned away. Speaking at a full council meeting on Wednesday (March 29), he said that this is creating 'real concerns'.
He then put a faceless mask on to 'illustrate' what people may face in May. He said: "If you come to the polling station and you haven't got facial recognition, if you don't bring your facial identity - and that's everybody in Manchester, every councillor here - if you turn up at the polling station and you haven't got a facial identity, you could be turned away and you won't be able to vote."
The comments came at the end of a council meeting which lasted more than two hours. Councillors were warned not to make any party political comments at the meeting because it was taking place during the pre-election period.
But this request was met with laughter. One councillor questioned the rule, arguing that it is 'perfectly acceptable' to make party political comments.
However, he was told that the meeting was being broadcast on the council's website and this platform should not be used for electioneering at this time. Nevertheless, many councillors did not heed the advice from the city solicitor.
This included Coun Karney himself, who said that every vote for Labour at the local elections brings the country closer to a Labour government which, he argued, would support the council's calls to improve rights for renters. It came after the Green Party called for a rent freeze and an end to 'no fault' evictions.
The motion put forward by the Greens urged Manchester's MPs to support calls for a freeze on private sector rents which mayor Andy Burnham backed by signing an open letter to the government alongside other groups. It also called for the town hall to take more action to prevent Section 21 evictions.
But the Labour group put forward an amendment, crossing out most of the original motion and replacing it in part with a list of action already taken by the council. The amended motion called for all private renters in Manchester to write to the Conservative housing minister and to work with the council to secure a Labour government 'to ensure a radical renter's charter' for the city.
The Greens and the Lib Dems rejected the Labour amendments with two of their councillors voting against the amended motion and others abstaining. But outnumbered by the Labour group's 90 members, the motion passed.
There was, however, cross-party support for a Labour motion on skills and education after the ruling group accepted amendments by the Greens. The motion called for further devolution and investment in skills and education.
It comes a week after local leaders signed the latest devolution deal with the government which will see Greater Manchester given more control over technical education – although it did not go as far as some would have liked. The opposition councillors agreed with the calls for further devolution, but the Greens criticised the motion for not mentioning that 'green skills' are needed.
They said more people must be trained in 'green jobs' if the city is to meet its carbon-cutting targets. Labour said this is already embedded into the council's work, but accepted the amendments and the motion was passed unanimously.
There was no agreement, however, over the future of Central Retail Park. The Lib Dems tried to force a debate about the plans for the site by submitting an emergency motion which called for a public park to be created on the land.
It comes after the plans for a huge office complex on the site with some green space was approved by the council last week. But some say this is not enough.
At the start of the full council meeting, the Lib Dems asked councillors to make an exception to the usual rules and allow for a motion to be tabled after the deadline. The Greens supported this, but the Labour group voted it down.
Commenting afterwards, Ancoats and Beswick Lib Dem councillor Alan Good said: "Labour's refusal to discuss residents' calls for a park is shocking. The last hope for a real park to be part of the strategic plans for the site has been extinguished. It is left only to the mercy of the planning committee.
"Our mental health, physical health and polluted lungs can't wait. Ancoats and New Islington needs a proper park as soon as possible. The Lib Dems are committed to achieving that."
Labour councillor Majid Dar - who also represents Ancoats and Beswick - said: "Myself and Coun Robinson have been working on getting more green space across the ward and we’re pleased that the new plans [Central Retail Park] will now be going ahead and seeing a wasteland transformed into something that connects green space and provides high quality jobs for Manchester. We’ve been working closely with the [executive committee] and residents so it suits the needs of the area."
Council leader Bev Craig added: "Manchester Labour is investing in more parks and green spaces across the city, but especially in the city centre. The city now has 145 parks and green spaces, and we are looking at creating more.
"The opening of Mayfield, the first city centre public park in 100 years, the building of river city park from NOMA to north Manchester, Castlefield Viaduct and the significant investment in Ancoats Green are good examples of this.
"Working with local Councillors Majid Dar and Irene Robinson, we have heard the views of residents in Ancoats, New Islington and Beswick. That’s why we are investing in Ancoats Green, creating more green space and a children’s play area, improving Prussia Street and the Rochdale Canal into Miles Platting, and also looking at investing in Medlock Valley.
"Original plans for the Central Retail Park development had no green space. The latest version has changed that to see meaningful green space and connect the area into Cotton Fields Park and the marina.
"This is alongside a high quality low carbon development that brings 8,000 new high quality jobs to the city. We want to see more green space as the city develops and are committed to working with residents to achieve this."
Read more of today's top stories here.
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