Lib Dems Call for New Year's Eve Celebrations in Manchester

12.09.59pm GMT Tue 29th Jan 2008

Manchester Lib Dems Call for New Year's Eve Celebrations in the City

Manchester's Liberal Democrats are calling for the Council to review its current policy of opposing New Year's Eve celebrations in the city. The city's 33 Liberal Democrat Councillors will push at this week's Council meeting for a full public consultation on options for New Year's Eve celebrations in Manchester this December 31st 2008.

Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Councillor Paul Shannon, who will propose the motion, said:

"Following the views expressed by 76% of Mancunians in a Manchester Evening News poll in favour of an organised New Year's Eve celebration in our city, Manchester Lib Dems have responded. We are moving a motion at this week's Council meeting calling for a public consultation to begin. We believe that any New Year's Eve celebrations must be safe, financially viable and have the support of the business sector and public."

Cllr Shannon concluded:

"Now is the right time to review the Council's previous policy of not holding a New Year's Eve celebration. Many big cities across the UK and Europe hold successful and enjoyable New Year's Eve celebrations. I'm sure here in Manchester we would do it even better than them! I hope for cross-party support from all Councillors to make Manchester's New Year's Eve celebrations on December 31st 2008 a reality."

End

Motion 30 January 2008 - New Year's Eve celebrations

This Council notes:

1) Significant negative media coverage earlier this month over the lack of an organised New Year's Eve celebration in Manchester.

2) That, according to a Manchester Evening News poll, 76% of those voting thought that the Council should have organized a New Year's Eve celebration in the city.

3) That many big cities across the UK and Europe hold successful and enjoyable New Year's Eve celebrations.

This Council believes:

1) That the Council has a good reputation for managing successful events.

2) That any New Year's Eve celebrations must be safe, financially viable and have the support of the business sector and public.

Manchester City Council resolves:

1) To ask the Chief Executive to launch a consultation with the public, police and city-centre businesses asking them whether they support the Council holding a New Year's Eve celebration in Manchester this year.

2) To ask the Chief Executive to report back the results of the consultation process to the Executive so that a decision can be made whether to hold a New Year's Eve event to celebrate the start of 2009.

Signed: Councillors Paul Shannon (proposer) Simon Ashley, Graham Shaw, John Grant, Jackie Pearcey, John Commons, Marc Ramsbottom and Iain Donaldson