Pressure for new chief executive to help address Manchester’s housing crisis

A Lib Dem councillor has called upon the new chief executive of Manchester city council to help address its affordable housing crisis.

Councillor John Leech said the impressive record of Tom Stannard meant that he was in a position to create more social and affordable homes for Salford city council.

Councillor Leech said: “Housing is one of the areas that the council hasn’t been great.”

Mr Stannard delivered the largest affordable housing programme that Manchester has seen in the last 60 years and championed one of the UK’s most sustainable office building.

Mr Leech said Mr Stannard’s impressive figures ‘’speak for themselves’’.

Tom Stannard has served Salford city council as chief executive for the past four years and oversaw transformative regeneration. He is nationally recognised as a leading voice in local government.

Affordable housing

At an extraordinary meeting of the council, there was unanimous agreement over the appointment of Mr Stannard and a recognition of his ability to respond to the growing number of people on housing waiting lists.

The role of the chief executive is to successfully carry out the delivery of the strategy in Greater Manchester.

Opportunities

The new Our Manchester Strategy sets out plans to improve the future of Manchester.

Sir Richard Leese, former leader of the council, has stated that ‘‘Manchester must have aspiration to grab the opportunities … to improve the city for our communities’’.

The delivery of a fair economy, a positive environmental impact, safety for our marginalised communities, and advanced manufacturing, are at the forefront of the strategy.

Manchester council leader, Councillor Bev Craig, said: “Tom is already a well-known figure in Greater Manchester and beyond and we are confident that he will help us improve the city over the next decade.”

Mr Stannard is expected to officially join the council early in the new year.