Mayor is set to go live for first question time

GREATER Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is to hold his first regular question time event next week – live on Facebook.

During his campaign, Mr Burnham pledged to hold such an event in a different borough roughly every month, looking at the key issues affecting that particular area and Greater Manchester as a whole.

He also vowed to update residents on decisions he has taken as mayor.

Next Thursday’s session will take place in central Manchester and will be followed by similar debates in the coming months across the region.

Free tickets are available for anyone wishing to attend the first event – which will be chaired by the Manchester Evening News – and ask questions of the mayor on the night.

Our sister paper the M.E.N. is also taking questions through its Facebook page ahead of – and during – the event.

Mr Burnham promised during his campaign ‘a new way of doing politics,’ including a mayoral question time in each borough at least once a year.

He described it as a ‘vital’ part of the new role, helping residents to hold him to account and encourage scrutiny.

The resulting question time sessions are planned to take place in whichever borough is hosting that month’s combined authority meetings, which are also open to the public.

Next week will give members of the public their first opportunity to quiz Mr Burnham on any topic, although those broadly ask- ing about issues within his remit are likely to be prioritised.

They could include queries on policing, the fire service, transport, long-term planning policy – such as the Greater Manchester spatial framework – or housing, as well as investment, homelessness and health.

The event takes place at the fire service training centre, Cassidy Close, on Thursday July 27.

Doors open at 7pm, with free tea and coffee available, following by an hour and a half of questions and answers from 7.30pm. To book a ticket and submit a question, visit https://www. eventbrite.co.uk and search for Andy Burnham question time in Manchester.

The event will be streamed live on the M.E.N’s Facebook page, where readers can also submit questions. ●●Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham with the M.E.N’s political editor Jennifer Williams during an interview broadcast live on our Facebook page