Tributes have been paid to the former leader of Manchester City Council Sir Howard Bernstein who died aged 71 at the weekend.
Bernstein spent 45 years at the council working his way up from the role of town hall clerk in 1971 to chief executive in 1998. He stepped down as leader of the council in 2017 after overseeing the rebirth of the city centre following the IRA bomb in 1996.
During his time in charge, Manchester hosted the 2002 Commonwealth Games and billions of pounds of investment poured into the regeneration of the city
Leading the tributes, the current leader of Manchester City Council Bev Craig said: “Sir Howard served Manchester with remarkable distinction. He will be remembered as a driving force in the city’s turnaround from post-industrial decline to the growing, confident and forward-looking city we see today.
“He had boundless energy, strategic vision and a passion for Manchester. In 46 years at the council, serving as chief executive between 1998 and 2017, he played an integral role in the regeneration and economic growth of the city, from the city centre’s resurgence after the 1996 IRA bomb and the 2002 Commonwealth Games and transformation of East Manchester to the creation and extension of Metrolink.
“He was also integral in the establishment of strong working relationships between the 10 Greater Manchester councils, culminating in the establishment of Greater Manchester Combined Authority in 2011 and a series of historic devolution agreements which transferred power and resources away from Westminster and Whitehall to our region. He leaves an incredible legacy in the transformation of the city. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.”
Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester mayor, said: “All of us here in Greater Manchester are deeply saddened by the loss of Sir Howard Bernstein. It is no exaggeration to say that, without his vision and leadership throughout four decades of public service, our city-region would not be the place that it is today. I am privileged to have known and worked with Sir Howard since I was first elected to Parliament in 2001. I had total admiration for his tenacity in representing his city and its residents, and always valued his counsel and friendship during that time.
“Sir Howard was the architect of modern Manchester; the regeneration of the city centre throughout the 1990s owed much to his diligent leadership and ability to build partnerships with the private sector. The success of the Commonwealth Games in 2002 left a legacy that is still being felt today. He was someone who could get along with everyone and make strong connections at all levels. Working alongside Sir Richard Leese, he helped attract billions of pounds of investment while skilfully running one of the largest councils in the UK.”
Michael Ingall, chairman, CEO and founder of Allied London Group, said: “For me Howard was a close friend and so often that mentor. I knew he knew what we were doing and he knew that I knew what we were doing. We had a bond. That friendship enabled me to experience his real side and it was one of love, empathy, intelligence, determination and ambition.
“I never witnessed anger, only frustration, and when we needed to talk serious he always had the ability to listen and I would listen to him intently. I never witnessed politics only perception and intelligence. If it wasn’t his vision he didn’t care. If he thought it would benefit his city he would be very quick to get on board and he never ever took long to get it.
“Of course Howard was a politician, but he knew dabbling in party politics just wouldn’t achieve the bold and ambitious agendas. He understood the system – he just left himself free of all that so he could cross the house when he needed to. His agenda was to deliver the projects that would make a difference and that agenda is now a long list of achievements.”
Chris Oglesby, chief executive of Bruntwood, said: “Much will be said about Howard but possibly his greatest legacy is the culture he created in the city. Over the years we worked together, his commitment to strategy, belief in collaboration, and sheer hard work was unwavering. It left me and so many others with a personal sense of obligation to do our best to ensure that legacy continues to live on and is reflected in everything we do.”
