Journalism Matters: How Local Democracy Reporters keep you informed and hold our leaders to account

It was only at the beginning of October that bars, restaurants and many other business were allowed to reopen in Bolton after struggling through weeks of some of the harshest local lockdown rules in the country. Conservative Bolton Council leader, David Greenhalgh, has slammed the government, saying he feels the package being proposed by Greater Manchester was 'justified due to the disproportionate way Bolton businesses had been affected over the last months'.

Greater Manchesters' leaders have been given a deadline of noon tomorrow to reach an agreement on the terms of a Tier 3 lockdown.Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said in a statement that he has written to local leaders to warn them about the deadline, saying they must take 'action urgently'.Leaders in Greater Manchester have been in tense discussions since last week over the terms of an agreement to introduce stricter measures.The region's mayor Andy Burnham has so far resisted calls to

The government is looking into the next steps for Greater Manchester after failing to come to a lockdown agreement this afternoon.Leaders in the region met with Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick to discuss moving from Tier 2 into Tier 3, however no resolution was made.The meeting comes after days of back and forth discussions as pressure grows on both sides to find a solution.Due to the region's high Covid rates, hospital admissions, and rising infections among those over 60, Downing Street

Whalley Range, also suffers from cerebral palsy as a result of complications at birth, which affects his mobility and means he has to use a wheelchair.While the condition affects his balance and posture, his parents, Simon and Dawn, say he has never let the condition stop him from reaching his goals.“Oscar goes to a mainstream school and is cognitively as bright as a button but the cerebral palsy affects the physical side of things for him,” dad Simon, 42, tells the Manchester Evening

hereInstead he was pushed repeatedly on both the science behind the move - and why it is more effective than a national circuit break - and the lack of an acceptable financial package, although he made clear that discussions were not over.At the end of the meeting, according to someone in the room: “Ed Lister is saying it has to be sorted today, but the decision is to made by others.

Manchester Evening News can reveal.

VenGent however has come up with the ingenious solution to make finding the right estate agent a much simpler task - and it won't cost you a penny extra.Founded by 32-year-old Bobby Gee, VenGent is an estate agent comparison site allowing sellers to upload their details and images of their home online.

today announced a new three tiered Covid Alert Level system in England, with areas designated as being at either medium, high, or very high risk.Despite fears to the contrary, Greater Manchester was designated high risk and placed in tier 2 meaning all mixing of households indoors will be prohibited but hospitality can remain open.Although he urged Labour MPs to "prevail on the authorities in Greater Manchester to come into Tier 3.""I would hope is that we can work together to bring down the

People in Greater Manchester will once again be able to meet other households in the garden after being placed in Tier 2 of the government's new local lockdown system.Millions breathed a sigh of relief as the region avoided being placed in the highest Tier 3 category which would have required a blanket closure of hospitality venues.

Johnny Marr has praised Sacha Lord, the Night Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester, for leading legal action against the UK government over the detrimental impact that a local lockdown would have on the hospitality sector in the north of England.News of this legal challenge comes ahead of Boris Johnson’s expected announcement today (October 12) of a three-tier lockdown strategy for England in order to prevent a further rise in coronavirus cases.

coronavirus status amid new tiering rules being announced today.

it has been reported tonight but restaurants could be allowed to stay open. Merseyside Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram tonight tweeted no deal had yet been reached, and suggested measures could still vary from those which are expected.

A Manchester councillor who was hospitalised with coronavirus at the peak of the pandemic has been awarded an OBE for his services to local government.Luthfur Rahman - executive member for culture, leisure and skills - has been awarded in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.It comes during a difficult year for the father-of-four, in which he lost his mum and found himself in hospital with Covid-19 facing the prospect of intensive care.He has dedicated the award to his mother and father and tweeted

straight to your inboxThe agent of Sevilla defender Jules Kounde has discussed Manchester City's failed attempt to secure a transfer in the summer after the Spanish side blocked a move.City 's approach for the 21-year-old was addressed by Sevilla director Monchi, who also doubted claims that Kounde had reached an agreement with the Premier League side regarding personal terms.

unable to confirm whether restrictions in Oldham were stricter than in other areas of Greater Manchester.

unable to confirm whether restrictions in Oldham were stricter than in other areas of Greater Manchester. But, as anyone who's tried to decipher the region's various and ever-changing local lockdown rules over the last few months can attest, the situation is pretty confusing.

a drive-by shooting outside a pub in Monsall.The victim, a man in his 30s, was taken to hospital where he remained in a stable condition on Monday morning.A long stretch of Pinehurst Road and St Augustine Street was taped off around The Clarendon pub on Sunday night.Police descended on the north Manchester estate shortly after 6pm, after reports that a man had been shot.Local sources have confirmed to the M.E.N that the attack was a drive-by shooting which is understood to have been targeted.The

crowded and chaotic scenes on public transport and in off-licences at kicking out time.

Journalism Matters is a campaign that highlights the vital role trusted news media journalism plays in a democratic society. To mark Journalism Matters Week, we've looked back on how we've served the communities of Greater Manchester over the last year.In the year we faced a global pandemic, local journalism matters more than ever.The spread of coronavirus has turned everyone’s lives upside down, bringing death, ill health, personal strain and financial hardship with it.

coronavirus cases in both boroughs continuing to rise. The latest figures today show Manchester's rate at 335.9 cases per 100,000 - one of the worst in the country - and Oldham's at 177.1.