{"id":21697,"date":"2025-04-10T14:48:48","date_gmt":"2025-04-10T13:48:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/satellite.mmu.ac.uk\/northernquota-old\/?p=21697"},"modified":"2025-04-10T14:48:49","modified_gmt":"2025-04-10T13:48:49","slug":"councillor-joanna-midgley-shares-view-for-manchesters-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/satellite.mmu.ac.uk\/northernquota-old\/councillor-joanna-midgley-shares-view-for-manchesters-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Councillor Joanna Midgley shares view for Manchester\u2019s future"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In an interview with NQ, Councillor Joanna Midgley addressed some of the most pressing issues facing Manchester. From transparency in council decisions to the housing crisis and concerns over public safety, she shared her perspective on challenges she sees in the city, as well as the path forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transparency and public trust<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Councillor Midgley acknowledged the perception that council decisions are often made \u2018behind closed doors\u2019, but maintained that public input is valued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe do try and involve the public in some ways, wherever we can,\u201d she said. \u201cFor example, the budget we set recently underwent a statutory consultation, allowing residents to share their feedback. We acknowledged that feedback and acted on some of the priorities people highlighted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She emphasised the importance of local engagement, explaining that councillors work closely with their communities: \u201cIn my ward, one of the big issues is road safety. We\u2019ve secured funding to address this because that\u2019s what people told us they wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While transparency remains a challenge, Midgley pointed to initiatives like Making Manchester Fair as steps toward building public trust. \u201cThis program is about addressing systemic racism and health inequalities by giving communities more influence,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople need to feel they have a say in decisions affecting their neighbourhoods.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Joanna Midgley | Credit: Faraz Arian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Housing crisis: facing the challenge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Discussing Manchester\u2019s housing crisis, Cllr Midgley was frank about the scope of the problem. \u201cSuccess would mean that everyone has a safe, secure home that is affordable,\u201d she said. \u201cA home is the foundation for everything else \u2014 education, employment, and good health all depend on it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She placed much of the blame on national policies, criticising the lack of social housing investment over the past 15 years. \u201cThe previous government slashed funding for council homes. Their ideology favoured private housing, and councils like ours were left without the resources to build at the scale we needed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, she highlighted Manchester\u2019s efforts to push back. \u201cWe\u2019ve launched initiatives like Project 500<\/a>, which is about providing land to housing associations to build genuinely affordable homes. These will be rented at social housing rates \u2014 the lowest possible rents.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n \n

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