Tag: Cllr Sue Murphy

Community News, News, Politics

Tributes for Manchester’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Sue Murphy who died today
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Cllr Sue Murphy

Tributes have been paid to Wythenshawe councillor, Sue Murphy who died this afternoon following an illness.

The Brooklands councillor, who was also Manchester City Council’s Deputy Leader had served the city since being elected in 1995, and had been had been Deputy Leader. She had also been Executive Member for Employment and Skills and Executive Member for Finance.

She had been suffering from an ongoing illness which was not related to Covid 19.

Cllr Murphy will also be remember for her work as chair of trustees for the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund established after the 22 May 2017 terror attack She was also on the board of Manchester Health and Care Commissioning Group and  and was also chair of governors of the LTE Group, which runs Manchester College based in Benchill.

Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Today Manchester has lost a great socialist and public servant who has dedicated her life to social justice and making the city, and the world, a better and fairer place for everybody – but especially those with the greatest needs,” said Sir Richard.

“Over the years she has taken on many roles locally and nationally, including some of the most challenging issues we face as a society – tackling homelessness and the scourge of family poverty being just part of her council portfolio.

“I have lost a friend and colleague who has been alongside me for over a quarter of a century, for the last ten years as my deputy leader.

“The loss is a devastating shock. I will miss Sue, Manchester will miss Sue, but we can only imagine the feelings of her husband Paul and her family at the moment and, above all, my thoughts are with them.”

Colleagues and friends joined Cllr Leese in paying tribute to Cllr Murphy.

 

 

 

 

 

Community News, News, Politics

Save Newall Green High School

The Wythenshawe Reporter is backing a campaign by parents, students and councillors to save Newall Green High School, earmarked for closure by the Government.

Parents were told this week that the Department for Education will close the school because of falling numbers.

A petition to save the school has been launched and students staged a protest calling on the decision to be reversed.

newall green school

And today, Manchester City Council’s executive committee pledged to fight the DfE’s decision.

The council’s deputy leader and Wythenshawe councillor, Sue Murphy tweeted: “We need to oppose the closure. Potentially devastating for young people in school there.”

Baguley councillor,  Tracey Rawlins led the calls for the council to fight the closure.

Dawn Fairweather, who started the petition which has already attracted nearly 400 signatures, says the closure will impact on other schools in Wythenshawe, by increasing class sizes and piling more pressure on teachers.

She said: “This is not acceptable for children in the Wythenshawe area who through no fault of their own may not get the education they rightfully deserve which could affect their future employment prospects.

“This could also mean that children have to travel further to and from school and cost more money that some parents do not have.Please sign this petition to stop the closure of this school.

“The education minister and Prime minister need to know that the people in Wythenshawe will do their upmost to stop the closure of this school.”

Sign the petition here.

Newall Green School was put in special measures following an inspection by the schools watchdog, OFSTED.

But following the school’s latest monitoring visit in November last year, inspectors said there had been improvements in their report.

Inspector, David Selby said: “Leaders and managers are taking effective action towards the removal of special measures.”

The report summarised the strengths in the school’s approaches to securing improvement as:

  • Leaders have continued to develop the wider opportunities that the school offers
    to pupils. These opportunities often involve local businesses.
  • Leaders have continued their careful focus on the urgent priorities identified at
    the previous inspection. However, they have now started to widen their view and
    to identify and enhance aspects of the school that were already working well.
  • Leaders are seeking ways for pupils to be more involved in their school. Leaders
    intend to find out more about what pupils think of the school. Staff have just
    introduced a prefect system and they intend that a pupil council will soon be reestablished.
  • The reducing role of the executive principal in supporting other leaders has
    allowed leaders within the school to become increasingly more confident and self reliant.

And the weakness was summarised as:

  • Despite the improvement in the school and the increasing number of things that
    pupils can be proud of, some pupils lack pride in what the school offers them and
    is achieving.

 

News, Politics

Manchester’s deputy leader meeting with EU’s Brexit chief

Manchester City Council’s deputy leader, Cllr Sue Murphy, is meeting with chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier today in bid to ensure the needs of communities are met after Britain leaves the EU.

The Wythenshawe councillor is among a delegation representing the ten UK cities at the heart of the biggest urban areas outside London, meeting the EU chief negotiator today (Monday, 19 Feb). Continue reading “Manchester’s deputy leader meeting with EU’s Brexit chief” →

Community News, Crime, News

Manchester stands with London in tribute to terror attack victims

WythenshawCllr-Sue-Murphy-2012-190x190e councillor and Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, Sue Murphy has announced a vigil will take place tonight at Manchester Town Hall in solidarity with the people of London and in remembrance of those who lost their lives and were injured during yesterday’s attack.

During the vigil on Albert Square, the town hall will be lit red, white and blue, and the flag will fly at half-mast in tribute. Continue reading “Manchester stands with London in tribute to terror attack victims” →

Community News, News

New milestone in bid to restore Wythenshawe Hall to former glory
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Pic: twitter/@manchesterfire

Work on driving forward the restoration of fire-hit Wythenshawe Hall to its former glory is expected to begin in the spring of next year following the submission of planning application.

If planners give the green light, work will begin to rebuild the clock tower, and repair the roof and the exterior walls of the hall, which was badly damaged by fire in March.

The planning application is expected to be referred to the government for approval . Manchester City Council has been working with partners with their advisors  Conservation Architects, Engineers, Surveyors and Historic England, who will will ask the Secretary of State to endorse their recommendations.

Planning approval is necessary to officially permit the repair work because some elements cannot replaced exactly like-for-like. This is because conservation guidelines and practices have changed since the last repair programme undertaken in the 1950s.

Damaged timbers that remain sufficiently strong will remain. Those that aren’t will be salvaged as much as possible with new timber spliced in or bolted adjacent to the original material.

The fire will become part of the building’s official history, in line with current conservation best practice.

If planning consent is approved, and once a suitable contractor with the appropriate heritage skills is appointed, work on the Hall is expected to commence in spring 2017.

The insurance company is working alongside the council to determine the detail of the works and who will be appointed to do them. Subsequent applications will follow in relation to the proposed interior repairs.

Wythenshawe councillor, Sue Murphy – deputy leader of Manchester City Council, said: “So much work has gone on inside the Hall to protect it and salvage anything of architectural value, but it’s so heartening to reach a point where the repairs to the exterior of the building can begin.

“This is an important milestone for the local community who rallied to support the effort to save the property and the visible signs of the repair work will be a comfort to those who thought the fire could be the end for Wythenshawe Hall.”

Richard Jackson, chair of Friends of Wythenshawe Hall, said: “The Friends of Wythenshawe Hall have been on a roller coaster of emotions since March when it seemed as if Wythenshawe Hall may have suffered terminal damage in the fire.

“Now with the path to full restoration already well underway. The Friends would like to thank all those who have put so much effort into making sure the Hall in the not so distant future will open its doors to visitors once again.

Charles Smith, Heritage at Risk Principal in the North West said: “We are delighted that Manchester City Council has acted so proactively and positively following the tragic fire at Wythenshawe Hall, one of Manchester’s last surviving timber framed buildings. We look forward to being consulted formally on the planning application ahead of major repair works starting next year.”