Salford City Council has huge ambitions for our city

I would like to welcome new councillors and congratulate those re-elected in May. Councillors play an invaluable role in supporting residents and their communities, through casework and championing their local areas.

The local election results from around the country provided a signal nationally, showing a shifting mood towards change and the type of policies we are seeking to pursue in Salford, reminding those in power that we need to put resources where they are help those most in need.

We were reminded of the importance of quality, freely available, health and social care to every family in the city and we are working with Greater Manchester colleagues to improve services including those that help keep people safe and well.

But UK growth is predicted to be just 0.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2023, with inflation at 10 per cent..

Our nation's infrastructure is crumbling. Large scale projects such as transport are over schedule and over budget. More people are falling into poverty and needing help.

Meanwhile local government is experiencing our twelfth year of austerity. In Salford, we have lost over 50 per cent of our core funding, 50 per cent of our staff and dozens of services in the last decade.

This is a strong council, and we are determined to do everything in our power to protect Salford people from the worst impacts of under-funded services and the state of the economy.

From our pioneering council-housing company Dérive which has now official registered status helping turbo charge our ability to build new affordable and social housing, to our incredible Welfare Rights and Debt Advice service which we have shielded from cuts. From the economic growth we have been able to harness at MediaCity and around Salford Quays, to the huge projects we have still in the pipeline including Port Salford.

We are bring back bringing back decent, well-paid employment which has created new opportunities for our residents, investing in developing skills and work opportunities whilst bringing new employers to the city. Recently 100 Embankment was named ‘Manchester and Salford’s best performing office’ for 2022.

We have a strong regeneration vision for our towns which has been rewarded with national funding for Eccles which will help attract further private and public sector funding to bring new life to the historic area and its local communities.

We are protecting the city’s green lungs including Swinton golf course which has survived challenges and has been recognised as a local community asset, and at the same time developing new sustainable partnerships.

Dennett