'Council tax is going up but we're struggling to survive. Where's the money going?'

The political area of Atherleigh in Wigan went out with a bang after a number of community groups were issued awards by their local councillors.

As we enter a new tax year, many things are due to go up in price, including taxes for cars, vans, and motorbikes.

Manchester is a city of firsts. The atom was split in 1917 at the University, the world’s first free library opened in 1653, and McDonald’s opened its first UK drive-through in Fallowfield in 1986.

Figen Murray, the mother of Manchester Arena attack victim Martyn Hett, has called on big music venues to add a 50p tax to tickets to improve security.

The small venue was threatened by a noise complaint in 2021 from a new resident who had moved to Manchester during lockdown. It came after the venue won a hard-fought battle against a separate noise complaint back in 2014.Amid months of petitioning and fundraising for the venue and messages of support from acts local to or with strong connections to Manchester including Elbow’s Guy Garvey and The 1975’s Matty Healy doing the rounds, Night & Day remains in danger of closure due to a planning file for the redevelopment of a nearby building.In November, a court heard that the closure of Night & Day Cafe would be a “national scandal”.Night & Day now return to court to continue to appeal the notice, with a two date hearing starting on March 21 at Manchester Magistrates Court.At this hearing, the judge will decide whether to uphold or drop the notice and the venue will hear the judge’s decision sometime after.Breaking!! Night & Day Returns to Courthttps://t.co/[email protected] @bevcraig @Sacha_Lord @joanneroney— Night & Day Cafe (@nightanddaycafe) March 16, 2023Venue owner Jennifer Smithson – who owns the venue alongside her husband Ben – said: “We believe that the source of this issue is that when MCC Planning approved the building of flats next to Night & Day there was no consideration to the neighbouring pre-existing music venue.“Consideration of noise was one of the planning conditions specified by MCC Planning department with the developer and is held on public record at MCC Planning portal.”She continued: “An initial acoustic report recommended that an additional second report be conducted that addressed any noise ingress from the venue into the flat.

Councils have been setting their annual budgets over the last few weeks. This includes the difficult decision of whether to raise council tax and by how much.

City's Cancelo stance

Barcelona could emerge as shock contenders for the permanent signature of Joao Cancelo this summer if Manchester City decide to sell him, according to reports in Spain.

Scarves, thermometers and heated blankets are being given out to vulnerable people struggling with the soaring costs of energy bills as the cold snap continues in the UK.

Joao Cancelo lost his place in the Bayern Munich side due to his performances in training and in matches.

City might get an unexpected Cancelo decision after Bayern change

It's bad news for Lewis Capaldi fans as the Scottish singer took to Twitter to announce some devastating news. Capaldi, who played Manchester in January as part of his 2023 tour, has had to cancel two of his upcoming gigs.

A community fridge aiming to help Greater Manchester families during the cost of living crisis has opened in Oldham, gaining the support of Andy Burnham and Oldham Council Leader, Amanda Chadderton.

Councillors for Wigan confirmed that tax will rise by 4.99 per cent after a majority vote came in following four hours of debate.

Councillors have agreed to hike council tax by nearly five per cent at a meeting where one Labour member described his Tory opposition as the ‘Tameside Trump’.

Manchester council is asking people to share their views on how it should spend £14m to transform Deansgate. The town hall wants to turn this city centre 'destination' from being a 'traffic dominated environment' to one that is safer at night with better air quality and more space for walking and cycling.

Calls to make council tax cheaper for some of the poorest Mancunians have been voted down. The Lib Dems' proposal to increase the maximum discount on council tax bills in Manchester from 82.5 pc to 85 pc has been rejected.

Supermarket Tesco has launched a scheme to help those struggling with the cost of living crisis, specifically for those who can't afford sanitary products.

People in Stockport will see their council tax bills rise by more than 4 per cent from April after town hall bosses passed a ‘robust’ budget for the year ahead.

Rochdale council has passed its annual budget unopposed for the first time in nearly 50 years - including plans for a 2pc council tax rebate to all households. Labour’s proposals were unanimously approved by members, with none of the three opposition parties tabling an alternative budget or amendments.The financial plan for the next 12 months will see council tax bills rise by 4.99pc - including 2pc ring fenced for adult social care - rising to 5.15pc with Andy Burham’s mayoral precepts. It means the average 'Band D' household’s bill will rise by around £9 more per month from April.However, to cushion the blow somewhat, every home will automatically receive a 2pc rebate regardless of which council tax band it is in. This will be funded by reserves. An extra £500k has also been put aside for targeted support to help the poorest households in the borough ‘weather the storm of the cost of living crisis’.READ MORE: Council smash huge £65m-a-year crime network after being led to single Manchester trader