The GMCA is completely separate from the 10 MBCs, it owns zero of the airport.The Gmca have a 62% shareholding. It is spilt 29% for the outlying concils the rest for Manchester City Council. I wasn't talking about the 18 months of covid, they have taken profits out of the airport for years, long before covid, but not invested in the infrastructure.
Each MBC has had their budget cut by over 50% in the last ten years, and any income would just go to help bridge the shortfall in respective MTFS.
Burnham has very little power compared to the GLA Mayor, and certainly no power to take money out of each LAs budget. He couldn't even get Stockport to be part of Places for Everyone.
If your budget was £1b 10 years ago, but now £500m a £5m or £10m dividend for each MBC didn't touch the sides.