Awarding of 250-year lease for controversial 'Shudehill Shard' did not need extra scrutiny, councillors hear

Sign up to the M.E.N.'s Manchester Family newsletter for all the latest from school closures to ways to entertain the kidsFew professions are as female-dominated as childcare.With women stereotypically viewed as the main care givers, it's a career few men would even consider.In fact, nationally, men currently make up just three percent of the early years education workforce - described as 'both a symptom and cause of gender inequality'.But one nursery chain is aiming to change that and get more

stay in to save lives.

direct to your inboxManchester council says that cuts of £41m will now be needed to balance its books for the coming year, though millions could still be wiped from homelessness spending.Council tax, seen as ‘regressive’ by council leader Sir Richard Leese, is still expected to rise by almost five per cent to prevent cuts to vital frontline services while demand is increasing.Extra government funding has meant that a worse case scenario of a £103m shortfall - caused by huge losses of income and

direct to your inboxThe former manager of Maggie's Cancer Centre has been awarded nearly £23,000 after an employment tribunal ruled she was dismissed unfairly by her employer.Sinead Collins, 55, of Audenshaw, was the centre head of Maggie's Manchester from November 2015, in the months before it opened, to April 2020, when she was dismissed for 'gross misconduct'.But the nurse has now been awarded £22,982.40 following a two day hearing after which judge Joanne Dunlop ruled Miss Collin's claim of

straight to your inbox every day for free Shola Shoretire could make his Manchester United debut this week after he was added to the club's Europa League squad. The 17-year-old attacker recently began training with the first-team and signed his first professional deal earlier this month, having shone with Neil Wood's Under-23s side this term.

Manchester Evening News : "I dropped my partner off at work and got back home at about 7.30am. I went in to feed him and he was just lying there.

Chinese New Year is celebrated later in the year, rather than the January 1 date observed by the Gregorian calendar.

direct to your inboxA cafe in Burnage found to have been breaching lockdown rules by allowing customers to dine inside has been closed down by the police and council.Police were called to Kate & Luc Cafe on Burnage Lane on Sunday afternoon after reports that '100 people' had gathered there, with 14 fines handed out by officers.Owner Lucjan Domanski, 38, has since been charged with assaulting a police officer.

We all swooned over Paige and Finn's romance in the villa, but one year on they are still going strong and celebrating a major milestone in their relationship.Take a look inside the luxe Manchester three bedroom apartment they share together, just for OK! VIP members. Now that the loved-up couple are settled in, we give VIP members full access inside their first home together and reflect on how far they have come as a couple in just one year.

direct to your inboxTimes are tough, aren’t they?No matter how positive you are, there’s no denying this latest lockdown, with schools closed and long winter nights, is a struggle.But for me, there are two amazing beacons that point to a much brighter future.First of all, the vaccine rollout has been wonderful to see, giving older folk a glimpse of the time when they can hug their grandchildren again, and real hope for the rest of us that one day, hopefully soon, all this will be behind us.I was

For the latest news from in and around Wigan sign up to the MyWigan newsletter hereDaily charges for the most polluting vans, buses and taxis which are due to be introduced next year are 'not a congestion charge' councillors have been told.The Clean Air Zone which will affect all roads in Greater Manchester, except for motorways and other roads managed by Highways England, is expected to come into force in Spring 2022, a scrutiny committee in Wigan was told.Vehicles which do not meet emission

hereThe current treatment slows down the progress of the disease, but doesn't halt the regression of sight.Medics at Great Ormond Street however can now administer the same drug directly into the eye of a child with Batten Disease, in a bid to slow or even prevent the loss of eyesight.The treatment isn't available on the NHS.Manchester's celebrities - and big-hearted businesses - have stepped up to help fund the treatment brave Amelia needs.But it's a race against time. A group of local home

reported earlier this week how there were calls from some families for children to start their current year from scratch in September.

straight to your inbox every day for freeBruno Fernandes' market value at Manchester United has skyrocketed in the year since he joined the club. The midfielder has become an almost talismanic figure for United in the 12 months since his move from Sporting CP thanks to his incredible form for the club, which has seen him score 29 goals and provide 20 assists in 54 just matches.

Manchester Family Facebook page after mum Nicola Makin got in touch to say she and other parents feel that repeating the school year is the only way of keeping it 'academically fair'. She said: "Realistically, our children will have missed the best part of six months of this school year if they return on March 8, which would leave them, at best, four months of ‘in school’ education.

LatestDeals.co.uk. "So the revamped bathroom, with its framed poster of an alpaca unicorn, was a source of amusement for them.”The bathroom renovation was just one of the projects on the list for Emily, from Manchester, who gave up her pottery painting shop to renovate an eight-bedroomed former church into a family home.

Know of one we've missed? Let us know in the comments below. If you've not heard of Gooey yet, you've clearly not stepped foot on social media this year.A total viral sensation, these enormous cookies and doughnuts have had people queuing down the street from their home in Ducie Street Warehouse.They're available for delivery across Greater Manchester, priced at £12 for a box of four with weekly changing specials - just heat them up in the oven for a melty middle.

direct to your inboxOn Friday morning, Director of Public Health David Regan and Dr Manish Kumar, Executive Medical Director and Manchester Health and Care Commissioning joined MEN Political Editor Jen Williams in a live Q&A session.Broadcast over Facebook, the pair fielded a host of questions from the people of Greater Manchester about Covid-19, the rollout of the vaccine across the region, and the efforts being taken by chiefs to keep the virus under control.The interview focused on questions