Our City Issue 22

OurCityStoke-on-Trent ISSUE 22: JULY 2011

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SEE FOUR-PAGEMANDATE FOR CHANGE

SPECIAL

Our City p1 12/7/11 14:31

2 Our City J U LY 2 0 1 1

COUNCILLORS face a historic four yearterm during which we are determinedto revise our city’s fortunes and driveforward its regeneration.

Stable leadership created by theelectoral system introduced in Maymeans we have an unprecedentedopportunity to achieve this... anddeliver on our promises.

We have not wasted any time. In thisissue of Our City we unveil our Mandatefor Change. It sets out four strategicpriorities which we believe are the keyto a better future for everyone wholives and works in our city.

We believe the actions contained inthe document will attract much-neededjobs to the city, and will supportexisting businesses to keep on growing.

We also believe that helping thepeople of Stoke-on-Trent leadindependent lives is the key to focusingservices to the most vulnerable, wherethey are really needed.

By delivering on promises andimproving quality of life, we will makeStoke-on-Trent the best city to live in.

We unveil these priorities against abackground of the biggest economicchallenge in living memory.

To meet this challenge we will focuson our number one priority:“To makeStoke-on-Trent a great working city.”

We want to work with the public andour partners to deliver this vision. InOur City we share this exciting visionwith you, and give you the chance tosay how you think we should moveforward.

Please read the document. Details ofhow you can get in touch and give usyour views are on page 14.

Elsewhere in the magazine is moreevidence of our commitment to realimprovements in the city. In just oneday of action we cleaned and greenedaround 18 important locations aroundthe city, cutting back vegetation andpicking up litter. We also feature aninvestment to clear our pavements ofunsightly chewing gum.

The point is that small things matterand we will always commit to theseinitiatives which make a difference tothe public. But at this vital stage in thecity’s history, we also believe the bigvision we unveil this week is asignificant step forward.

MEETINGS of the full council can now be viewed online. Tosee and hear the debates and decisions which affect life inStoke-on-Trent, visit stoke.gov.uk and click on webcasting.A list of dates and times of council meetings and committeemeetings can be found on our website atstoke.gov.uk/meetingdates

Live webcast of full council meetings Give us your feedbackon this issue of Our City by [email protected] or write to: FREEPOST Our City.

Our City is printed onrecycled paper. Whenyou have finished withthis publication pleasehelp the environmentby passing it on to afriend or recycling it.

Public urgedto have sayon vision forcity’s future

By City Council LeaderCouncillor

MOHAMMED PERVEZ PUBLIC health inStoke-on-Trentreceived a major

boost with news of the city’s best everperformance to tackle the UK’s biggest killer.

NHS targets were smashedwhen 2,457 people in the cityquit smoking, sailing past theiraim of 2,095. Smoking kills anestimated 500 people inStoke-on-Trent every year.

The city’s Stop SmokingService has been making hugestrides to support residents whowant to stub out their cigarettesfor good.

Support groups

Over the last 12 months aTobacco Control Alliance hasseen a range of partners workingtogether to tackle smoking andintroduce support groups atlocations across the city.

The city’s Acting Director ofPublic Health Dr Zafar Iqbalsaid: “To have a record-breakingyear is absolutely fantastic newsas the service does atremendous amount of work tosupport those people who wantto quit smoking.

“I’d like to say a hugecongratulations to all thosepeople who have quit andmanaged to stay quit.

“Stopping smoking can notonly improve your health butcan also help you save £2,000 ayear if you smoke 20 a day.

“The Stop Smoking Servicecan provide free support andmedicines to help you quit forthe cost of a prescription. Theservice will do all it can tofurther improve on these figuresso the hard work does not stophere.”

The NHS Stop Smokingservice offers:

● One-to-one and groupsupport.● Free, friendly advice onpreparing to quit, quittingand staying quit.● Stop smoking medicinessuch as patches or gum, whichare available for the cost of aprescription or free to thosewho do not pay for theirprescriptions.

Stop smoking support is alsoavailable in a range of places,including GP surgeries,

pharmacies and communitysettings, and even Port ValeFootball Club.

Councillor Olwen Hamer, thecouncil’s Cabinet Memberresponsible for Adult SocialCare, Health andCommissioning, said: “Thenegative effects of smoking arewell known and we are proud tobe working with the NHS tohelp reduce the number ofpeople in the city who dosmoke. To have this level of

response is outstanding andshows that the message ofhealthy living is getting out toour city’s residents.

“However, we cannot becomplacent and need to ensurethat this downward trendcontinues as we strive to makeStoke-on-Trent a smoke-freecity.”

To contact your nearest stopsmoking advisor please callfreephone 0800 085 0928.

Quit smoking targets surpassedto give health a boost

CHAIN-SMOKING over 30 years took its tollon Terry Lymer’s health and he knew hewould have to quit or suffer theconsequences.

He started smoking in his 20s and soonhad a 30-a-day cigarette habit with cigarsthrown in for good measure when he wasout with his mates.

The previously healthy 59-year-old onceworked as a miner and was forced to give uphis retail job about five years ago when hestarted getting short of breath and a foot

condition badly affected his mobility.Terry, who lives in Penkhull, said:“I couldn’t

get up the hill with the shopping withouthaving to stop every five minutes. It wasterrible. So I went to my doctor and she toldme I had all sorts of smoking relatedproblems I wasn’t aware of like high bloodpressure and high cholesterol.”

A referral soon followed and Terry foundhimself at Stoke Library for an hour a weekwith a group of other smokers on a 12-weekSmoking Cessation course.

“It was tough at first, but I used nicotinepatches for about eight weeks and thathelped. The support of the group around mewas brilliant and now I feel more alive,” saidTerry, who has not had a cigarette since.

“I celebrated my 59th birthday in June andmy brother Michael sent me a card whichsaid ‘Congratulations – You’re Still Alive’. Hedidn’t think I’d make it this far so I took italong to show the group. The course wasreally helpful and to be honest anything isbetter than smoking yourself to death.”

Former chain smoker Terry tells of the 59thbirthday he never thought he’d live to see

Terry Lymer,who quit smoking

in 2011 after 30 years.He said:“The supportof the group aroundme was brilliant and

now I feel morealive.”

COVER IMAGE: Pressure CastOperator Ray Nicklin at work inWade Ceramics’ state-of-the-artnew £7.5 million factory atEtruria Valley. The company’srelocation, which enabledgrowth in production andsecured jobs, wassupported bythe citycouncil.

Our City p2 12/7/11 16:26 Page 1

J U LY 2 0 1 1 Our City 3

STOKE-on-Trent’s newCabinet has pledged to driveforward the city’s

regeneration through tough timesahead after historic local electionsgave councillors a four-year term.

Council Leader Councillor MohammedPervez put together the group of politicianswho will create policies to develop andimprove the massive range of servicesoffered by the council.

Each of the ten members has their ownportfolio, or special area of interest, andwill work closely with other councillors,teams of council officers, and the council’spartners, to deliver the policies they set.

The Cabinet meets regularly and inpublic to make important decisions aboutissues as diverse as economic developmentand housing, regeneration and children’sservices.

Important business already completedsince the Cabinet was formed in May

includes engaging partners andcommunities to create the Mandate forChange vision for the future which willcreate a great working city.

The Cabinet is also working on toughdecisions to implement furtherGovernment cuts for the 2011/12 budget.

Councillor Pervez said: “Given thechallenges facing the council over the nextfew years I need a strong and decisive

Cabinet supporting me. I feel I haveachieved this.

“Cabinet members have diversebackgrounds and bring skills andexperience to help and support me inleading the city through the tough timesahead.The reality is the council needs tochange, rethink and remodel how wedeliver our services.

“We have started a revolutionary and

innovative change programme and we willcontinue this. Four years of political stabilitywill allow us to implement our strategiesand plans so the people of Stoke-on-Trentcan see actual physical change.

“This, combined with better qualityservices costing less money and focused oncustomer needs, will see Stoke-on-Trentwell on its way to becoming an excellentcouncil.”

Cabinet promises progress in

tough times ahead

Better services which cost less and meet customers’ needs are recipe for an ‘excellent council’

Council Leader

MO

HA

MM

ED P

ERV

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Deputy Leader andCabinet Memberfor Resources

PA

UL

SHO

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Cabinet Memberfor Finance

SAR

AH

HIL

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Cabinet Member forEconomic Development

MA

RK

MER

EDIT

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Cabinet Memberfor Transport andPlanning

AD

RIA

N K

NA

PP

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Cabinet Member forRegeneration

RU

TH R

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NA

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Cabinet Member forCity Services

JAN

INE

BR

IDG

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Cabinet Memberfor Housing andNeighbourhoods

GW

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ASS

ALL

Cabinet Member forAdult Social Care, Healthand Commissioning

OLW

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AM

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Children’s Servicesand Life Skills

DEB

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ON

Our City p3 12/7/11 14:39 Page 1

4 Our City JULY 2011

ANOTHER citywide clean up has taken place as part of

Stoke-on-Trent CityCouncil’s ongoing Cleanand Green initiative.

After the success of threeprevious one-day tidy ups, stafffrom the council’s environmentalservices team joined forces withvolunteers and residentsassociations to strim, prune andplant.

Teams started work at 7.30am,targeting overgrown hedges, treesand shrubbery while alsosweeping pavements, removinggraffiti and picking up litter.

They were out in several areasincluding Chell, Abbey Hulton,Bentilee, Fenton and Longton.Tree cutting and shrub plantingwas carried out on Parkhall Roadwhile an overgrown area on theA34 in Trent Vale was alsotackled.

Councillor Janine Bridges,Cabinet Member for CityServices, said: “Clean and Greendays have proven very successfulso far, not only in improving theareas where work is done, but alsoin strengthening links with local

residents and businesseswho have taken part.

“It’s about giving people asense of pride in theirsurroundings and makingsure that people know thearea where they live andwork is being looked after.

“We also need the public tohelp us.While we can do lotsof cutting back and planting,litter remains a seriousproblem. Our EnvironmentalCrime Unit does a tremendousamount of work in changing themindset of people who litterdrop.We need the public to thinktwice before dropping litter andto help us keep Stoke-on-Trent aclean and safe city.”

Packed day of citywide actiontidies up eyesorestidies up eyesorestidies up eyesorestidies up eyesorestidies up eyesorestidies up eyesorestidies up eyesorestidies up eyesorestidies up eyesores

It’s about giving people a senseof pride in their surroundings andmaking sure that people know thearea where they live and work isbeing looked after.

CountrysideTeam Leader

Helen Meharg andCountryside Operative

Andy Campbell fromthe Country ParksTeam hard at work

at Holden LanePools.

Palace datea birthdayday outRESIDENTS’ associationstalwart Ethel Harris,pictured, enjoyed aright Royal 80thbirthdaypresentwhen shewas a guestat a gardenparty in thegrounds ofBuckinghamPalace.

Ethel, part of theneighbourhood teamworking tirelessly forthe community in theCasewell Road area ofSneyd Green, wasinvited to the threehour summer gatheringby Her Majesty TheQueen.

She said:“It was alovely day out andreally special to see theQueen.”

Now the association’shard work continueswith, among otherthings, plans forChristmas visits bySanta Claus to localschools.

‘‘

’’– COUNCILLOR JANINE BRIDGES

Our City p4 12/7/11 14:41 Page 1

Amsterdam

Paris

Frankfurt

Brussels

Birmingham Interchange(Birmingham Airport)

Crossrail Interchange(Old Oak Common)Heathrow

Airport Euston

ore high speed rail network

Existing lin f

al core high speed work (Phases I &

Birmingham

ManchesterLiverpool

Edinburgh

Newcastle

London

Leeds

East Midlands

Glasgow

West Coast Main Line East Coast

Main Line

South YorkshireStoke-on-Trent


Great workingcity wouldbenefit all wholive here andput us on map

YOU will no doubt have seen the words“Mandate for Change” appear in the centre pagesof this edition of Our City.That phrase, at themoment, might not mean a lot to you, but overthe course of the coming months and years, itwill form the bedrock of how Stoke-on-Trent CityCouncil works and what it stands for.The cityfaces unprecedented economic challenges in thefuture, and we must be equipped to meet thesechallenges head on.To do that, we need tochange the way the city council, and the cityitself, functions.

We need to make Stoke-on-Trent a greatworking city, one where jobs are plentiful andthe city operates as efficiently as a Swiss clock.To enable this, we are promoting four strategicplatforms built on an effective and confidentcouncil. The four key areas are making Stoke-on-Trent attractive for new businesses;supporting existing businesses; promotinghealthy and independent lives and making thecity a great place to live.

The overriding factor in all of this is a goal tocreate more jobs in the city – from whicheverything else can flourish. More jobs meanmore income, better standards of living,improved quality of life and better choices ofplaces to live.The potential for an EnterpriseZone makes the city more attractive for newbusinesses to relocate here, but we need to domore to market the city on the internationalstage and offer support to firms that want tocome here. Existing companies will be able tobenefit from increased financial advice andsupport, access to business coaches andrecruitment. Helping to develop new localbusinesses is a key part of what we want to do.

Effective and confident

In creating and bringing new jobs to the city,we can make people more financiallyindependent, and that will allow us to make surethe resources we have can be targeted in theright way. We can then do more to help those inneed and help them gain a higher level ofindependence. In that respect, we also need tobuild an effective and confident council, makingourselves leaner and in a better position to putour resources to good use. By prioritising ourservices, we can ensure we get to help the rightpeople, while continuing to offer great value formoney.

The end result of all of this is making Stoke-on-Trent a great place to live. Creating abetter choice of housing, improving our openspaces, and maximising the attractions wealready have.We are the World Capital ofCeramics, home to the world famous StaffordshireHoard, we host Premier League football and theTour of Britain cycle race, and we will be a hostcity for the Olympic Torch Relay in 2012. All of thismakes us proud, but with this “Mandate forChange”, we will have even more to celebrate.Thiscity deserves no less. Help us make it happen.

By City CouncilChief Executive

Johnvan deLaarschot

THE council is puttingforward Stoke-on-Trent’scase to benefit from the

Government’s proposed HighSpeed Railway phase 2 (HS2)that would link London withthe Midlands and the North ofEngland.

An interest in securing anintermediate station in the NorthStaffordshire area as part of therapid rail link has been confirmedby Stoke-on-Trent City Council inits response to the Government’s HS2consultation. The council believes that asub regional station in or nearStoke-on-Trent would bring newbusiness opportunities and economicgrowth to the city.

The Government is proposing toconstruct a new Y-shaped high speed railnetwork, with an initial line betweenLondon and the West Midlands andonward legs to Leeds and Manchester.

It is forecast that the new network,expected to cost £32 billion to construct,would generate benefits nationally ofaround £44 billion as well as morebenefits totalling a further £27 billion.By expressing a strong interest in theHS2 project, the council is trying toensure that the city benefits from thatinvestment. If HS2 is approved,

construction could begin in 2017 withthe first trains running by 2025. Atpresent the only high speed route inBritain is HS1 – the Channel Tunnel RailLink.

Council Leader CouncillorMohammed Pervez said: “I believe thereis real potential for significantregeneration benefits if we are part ofHS2. If we had an intermediate station itwould open up national and internationalmarkets for businesses in our city.

Huge advantage“We know HS2 would bring

Manchester within 75 minutes ofLondon and we would beeven closer. Shorterjourney times to Heathrowwould be a huge advantage,

providing real sustainableeconomic growth for ourregion.”

Councillor Pervez added:“We must make our city theplace to bring business anda sub regional stationwould definitely enhancethe attraction of

Stoke-on-Trent and the rest of the

area forinwardinvestmentas well asprovidingrail

connectivity.“In a time

when demandon rail

networks issteeplyrising weneed to

ensure we arelinked intoprojects likeHS2.”

Make it

Easystoke.gov.uk

Click and

� Report a housing repair:stoke.gov.uk/housingrepair

Council presses forhigh-speed hub

EmilyRobinson, aged 21,

of Clayton, checks outtrain times to London

which could be slashed ifStoke-on-Trent were

linked to the proposedhigh speed rail

network.

A map showing the route of theproposed HS2 rail link whichcould bring massive benefits tothe city’s regeneration if thecouncil’s bid were successful.

Our City p5 12/7/11 16:34 Page 1


Love affair with barn owls isa publishing hoot for PaulA WORD to the wise... if you spota barn owl in North Staffordshireit’s probably due to the dedicatedefforts of Paul Hackney. Paul isthe Assistant Director of LegalServices, heading up the citycouncil’s legal services team.

Away from his eyrie in the CivicCentre, the legal eagle becamemore of a mother hen as he keptbreeding pairs of barn owls incaptivity in order to release theiroffspring into the wild.

Now Paul has burst into print torecount how his conservationefforts helped to re-stock the localenvironment with around 250 ofthe magnificent creatures thatwere once close to extinction inthis part of the world.

The title of his colour illustratedtome – Growing Barn Owls In MyGarden – nicely sums up Paul’swildlife crusade during which heset up ideal barn owl breedingfacilities in the garden of hishome. The book includes thephoto, below right, firstseen in City News –forerunner of Our City –15 years ago showingPaul with a tame femalebarn owl that becamehis close companion.

“I’ve always beenkeenly interested innatural history. It’s thanksto some naturalists inthe Lake District where Icome from, that I gotinvolved in efforts to re-stock the barn owlpopulation, and it justsnowballed,” recalledPaul.“Apart from mytame owl, I could notallow myself to becomeattached to the birdsbecause they had to bereleased. However, I still

monitor the release sites and itgives me great pleasure to seewild barn owls still in the area upto 10 generations later.”

Paul wrote the book over afour-year period in betweencommitments of work and raisinga family. As the city’s ReturningOfficer he is a familiar face on TVas the man who announces theresults at local and generalelection counts.

Now the city’s expert on barnowls is planning another swoopon the literary world. Paul haspenned the first few words of hissecond book he describes as a“prequel” about his passion fornature before the owls took overhis life – and his garden.

● Growing Barn Owls In MyGarden, by Paul Hackney,published by WhittlesPublishing £16.99. Availablefrom good bookshops andonline from Amazon orwhittlespublishing.com

RESIDENTS can playthe role of a citycouncillor to learn

how important decisionsare made in Stoke-on-Trentand how the public caninfluence them.

Fascinating sessions on how thecouncil works are encouragingresidents to get involved inimproving their neighbourhoodsand shaping Stoke-on-Trent'sfuture.

The free events, entitled ‘Whomakes the big decisions?’, aim toincrease awareness amongresidents and community groupsof how the council goes about itsbusiness, and how the public caninfluence it.

Residents will learn more aboutthe role of the Cabinet and other

councillors, including how thepublic are informed about whatdecisions the Cabinet will make,petitions and consultation.

After being given informationon the workings of the council,people who attend practice beingeither a cabinet member whosejob is to make big decisions, or acouncillor who is part of theoverview and scrutiny process,who must ask questions toexplore whether those decisionsare right.

The practical, role-playinghour-and-a-half sessions are basedon one of the actual big decisionsthe Cabinet needs to make.

The initiative is run by theauthority's Overview and ScrutinyTeam, which also supportscouncillors who monitor andchallenge what the council does,

to improve services and makesure they respond to customers’needs.

For a long time the team hasurged residents to get involved incouncil business by giving theirviews on consultation exercises orreporting any issues or concernsto their ward councillors.

Now it is hoped the ‘Whomakes the big decisions?’ sessionswill encourage more and morepeople to take part.

Overview and ScrutinyManager John Ross said: “Theyreally are fascinating sessions andthe people who take part leavewith a clearer understanding ofhow the council works.

“Often we are able to answerbasic, but very importantquestions and misconceptions.

“For instance, we aresometimes asked if residents canask their local councillor for helpif they didn’t vote for them, and,of course, the answer is yes.

“Some people also say they feeldecisions at the council are madein secret and without notice. Wesignpost them to the Cabinet’sForward Plan, which is publishedon the council’s website inadvance.

“It goes to show that you cannever take anything for granted,and that people who understandthe council’s processes are morelikely to get involved.”

Residents can becomea councillor for a day

STOKE-on-Trent’s new scrutiny committees have started meeting,and agendas are being posted on the city council's website atstoke.gov.uk

Chairs of the committees are Councillor Bagh Ali (Adults andNeighbourhoods including Statutory Health), Councillor AndyLilley (Business Services), Councillor Dave Conway (Children andYoung People) and Councillor Matt Wilcox (City Renewal).

Please check the current topics pages or updates on newreviews and ways to get involved log onto stoke.gov.uk/scrutinyor call 232956.

New committees now in business

HEATED DEBATE...

Overview and ScrutinyManager John Ross andsecretary Tracy Roberts act out the role of citycouncillors discussing a big decision in the

council chamber.

Paul Hackney with his book Growing BarnOwls in My Garden.

Our City p6 12/7/11 16:40 Page 1


Fraud team uncover 1,600 people

making false claims

PARENTS across Stoke-on-Trent arebeing reminded that free part-time earlyeducation places are available to allchildren before they go to school.

The places beginning in the term aftera child’s third birthday are provided in avariety of voluntary, independent andprivate childcare settings.

Full-time nursery provision meanwhileis provided by the city council at most ofits primary schools with applications forplaces for children born between 1September, 2008, and 31 August, 2009,being taken from October this year tostart nursery in September next year.

Parents can register their interest in anursery place at their preferred school,which will then send out an informationpack at the appropriate time. Onlineapplications can also be made from 1 October through the council’s websiteat stoke.gov.uk

Rowena Watkins, the council’s SchoolOrganisation Manager, said:“Parents

need to be aware that as nurseryeducation is not compulsory, not allapplications will result in a place inone of our nursery classes.

“So it’s a good idea to check thefree part-time places also availableand contact the Family EducationService for more information.

“Reception class admissions areentirely separate from nursery classadmissions so it’s worth remindingmums and dads that they will need tore-apply for a reception class place.Attending a nursery class won’tguarantee a place in reception.”● For more information about the freeEarly Education Entitlement and a list ofchildcare settings who deliver earlyeducation contact the Family EducationService on 0800 015 1120.

For more information of how to makean application, families can also emailthe council’s admissions team [email protected]

Don’t miss out on free early education places

RESIDENTS are being offeredthe chance to inspect thecouncil’s accounts as part of anongoing commitment toincrease transparency.

The period of publicinspection is arranged on anannual basis and lasts for 20working days. This year itbegan on Monday, 4 July andwill continue until Friday, 29July.

Individual inspections canbe arranged by calling thecouncil’s financial service teamto book a date and time.

Councillor Sarah Hill, CabinetMember for Finance, said:“Weare committed to increasingtransparency at the counciland we have already beenpublishing items of spend over£500 on our website sinceJanuary this year.

“I would encourage anyperson who has a questionabout our accounts to contactPeter Bates, Assistant DirectorFinancial Services on 232736to arrange their individualinspection.

“It really is a valuable wayfor people to question orunderstand better theworkings of the council andour accounts.”

FRAUD investigatorsat Stoke-on-TrentCity Council have

tracked down 1,616 peopleresponsible for false claimsworth £1.2 million over thepast 16 months.

And a special project set up inMay 2008 to tackle so-called“living together fraud” is nowbeginning to bear fruit with 46prosecutions and the discovery ofoverpayments of £1.5 million.One individual had falselyclaimed £63,626.

Housing and Council TaxBenefit fraud since April 2010alone has cost the council£712,181. More than 190 peoplefaced sanctions and cautionswhile 78 were prosecuted. Nineof them went to prison and afurther 13 received suspended jailsentences.

Overpayments

Another 1,421 people claimed£519,415 in Single PersonDiscount from Council Tax whichthey were not entitled to. Thesecases were not treated as fraudbut as errors.

Investigators turned thespotlight on housing tenancyfraud from March this year. Theteam is uncovering cases ofproperties lying empty whenthere are thousands on thecouncil’s waiting list who couldbe homed. There are also cases oftenants illegally sub-letting theircouncil homes for profit.

There are 55 on-goinginvestigations in this area and sixproperties have been recovered.Benefits overpayments of£17,000 have been identified aslegal proceedings are considered.

Direct payments have also beeninvestigated and a case uncoveredin which a man continued tosubmit expenses claims and receive

payments for the care of histerminally ill father even though hehad died some months before.

Corporate Fraud Manager PaulBicknell said: “My team of 10 isdoing a fantastic job ofidentifying the cheats andbringing them to justice. Benefitfraud affects us all because thecon artists are taking money we

as a council could be spendingelsewhere – so we have a zerotolerance policy. Our message tothe fraudsters is clear.

“We will find you and when wedo, we will prosecute you andbring the full weight of the law tobear, which may result inprosecution and even a prisonsentence.

“We can’t catch people on ourown so we’d encourage anyonewho has information about afraudster to get in touch with us.”

To report benefit fraudsimply call the hotline atStoke-on-Trent City Councilon 01782 236800 or [email protected]

SHOP THE CHEATS:Someone in your neighbourhood could be falsely claimingbenefits and discounts to which they are not entitled.

Chance forthe publicto inspectaccounts

PUBLIC NOTICE

STOKE-ON-TRENT CITYCOUNCILNOTICE OF NON-STATUTORYPUBLIC INQUIRY SECTION 15 OFTHE COMMONS ACT 2006

Application to register land as a new Town orVillage Green in respect of:–

• Land known as part of Park Hall CountryPark and Golf Course, Hulme Road, Park Hall,Stoke-on-Trent

• Land off Anchor Road, Adderley Green,Stoke-on-Trent

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an Inspector hasbeen appointed by the Commons RegistrationAuthority for Stoke-on-Trent to hold a nonstatutory Public Inquiry into the followingapplications made under section 15(1) of theCommons Act 2006. The Inspector will attend:-

The Council Chamber, Civic Centre, Glebe Street, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 1HH

On Monday 8 August 2011 at10.30am

To hold a non-statutory public inquiry into theapplications.

The inquiry for the application in respect ofLand off Anchor Road, Adderley Green isexpected to run for up to two days.

The inquiry for the application in respect ofland known as part of Park Hall Country Parkand Golf Course, Hulme Road, Parkhall isexpected to run for up to three days.

Any person wishing to view the documentsrelating to this application which the Applicantand Objector intends to rely upon may do soafter 29 July 2011 by appointment if theycontact Zoe Carr, Senior Legal Officer, CivicCentre, Glebe Street, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 1HH(Tel: 01782 233744).

Civic CentreGlebe StreetStoke-on-TrentST4 1HH

Paul HackneyAssistant Director (Legal Services)Dated: 15 July 2011Business Services

NURSERY FUN:four-year-old

Freya Cope and hermum Kath in the

Crescent pre-schoolnursery, Meir.

Our City p7 12/7/11 15:38 Page 1

LORD Mayor Councillor TerryFollows helped hand over the keys to the first resident

of a £2.5million eco-friendlyhousing development.

Mum-of-two Vikki Cave, 28, hasmoved into the scheme atGaribaldi Close, Etruria, which hasbeen built by Stoke-on-Trent

Housing Society.There are 21 two and three

bedroom properties – all well-designedwith eco-friendly features – 18 of whichare for rent and three for shared

ownership.The homes are being let and sold

by Newcastle-based AspireHousing, although Stoke-on-TrentCity Council has theright tonominatepeople fromits housingwaiting list

to live there.

Senior Housing Needs Officer HayleyPrime said: “We have a very close workingrelationship with the housing associationsdeveloping new properties in Stoke-on-Trentand the council has agreements in place tonominate customers from our waiting listinto those properties.

“This is great news as it not only enablesus to reduce the waiting list, but also givescustomers more choice.”

Stoke-on-Trent Housing SocietyChairman Trevor Jones said: “We haveregenerated a run down area, providingbetter quality homes for the localcommunity.

“The unique design of the properties hasmade the area more attractive as well asimproving insulation and reducing heatingbills.

“We hope to build on this and developmore new properties and increase social

housing in Stoke-on-Trent.”Vikki, who will live in the propertywith her children Daniel, seven,and Charlie, five, said: “I’m very

excited to be the first person tomove into this development.

It is so much better thanany other property I have

seen by a mile and issafe for the children.

“It’s in a goodlocation and I love the

design of the houses –especially the largewindows.”

Stoke-on-Trent Housing SocietyChairman Trevor Jones handsover the keys to Vikki Cave,the first customer at GaribaldiClose, with Stoke-on-Trent LordMayor Councillor Terry Followsand Lady Mayoress JacquelinePearson looking on.


It is so much better than anyother property I have seen by amile and is safe for the children. It’s in a good location and I love thedesign of the houses – especiallythe large windows.

DelightedVikki Cave withthe keys to her

new home in Garibaldi

Close.– VIKKI CAVE

‘‘

’’

New homes cutcity’s waiting list

Our City p8 12/7/11 15:44 Page 1


ANEW scheme has been launched that is designed to help people in Stoke-on-Trent

overcome transport difficulties theymay encounter when trying to accessemployment opportunities.

Home to Work – which is jointly funded bythe city council and the European RegionalDevelopment Fund – offers cost-effectivesupport and advice regarding the besttransport options.

The help depends on needs andcircumstances, but will include:● A travel information package – highly

individualised advice and informationgiving tailored door-to-door travelinformation

● Public transport tickets – if appropriate –for example those who apply could beoffered a bus pass.

● Car share – the Home to Work team will tryto arrange a scheme, which will allow those

using the service to share the cost oftravelling to work.The aim of providing the support is to

encourage people to eventually sort their owntravel arrangements while giving them anysupport needed in the meantime. Differentlevels of support are available depending onspecific needs.

Work with employersThe project will also work with employers

in the city and across North Staffordshire toencourage sustainable travel among theirworkforce.

To be entitled to support from the Home toWork scheme people must:● Live in Stoke-on-Trent.● Be applying for a job, have a job or a job

offer in the North Staffordshire area.● Be aged 16 or over.

Councillor Adrian Knapper, CabinetMember for Transport and Planning, said:

“The Home to Work team will work closelywith our existing staff to ensure the whole ofthe transport network is available to peoplewho are having difficulty getting to work, ordifficulty getting a job where they would needto travel.

“It will hopefully increase accessibility forpeople looking for work who are being limitedby their lack of transport, and help others findalternative, sustainable ways of getting to theircurrent job.”

Councillor Mark Meredith, Cabinet Memberfor Economic Development, said: “Givingpeople more ways to get to work, or helpingthem with transport so they can get a new job,is part of the city council’s role in helping localemployers maintain a reliable workforce.

“By encouraging people to use differenttypes of sustainable transport, we can open upthe job market to people who are restricted inhow they can get to work.”

For more details about Home to Work call01782 235367 or email [email protected]

£50 worth of vouchers to

spend in the city’s popular

markets are up for grabs for

people who help the council

to improve Our City.The magazine, which was

named the UK’s Best Council

Publication in 2008, aims to

include as many people as

possible in promoting

everything good about

Stoke-on-Trent and telling

residents how they can

access the public services

they need.

But in a bid to make the

magazine even better, and

help it reflect what the city’s

people want to see, Our City

wants readers to answer the

following questions:

● What do you like best

about Our City?

● Is there anything you

don’t like?

● What would you like to see

more of in the magazine?

Send your answers by email

to [email protected], or

write the answers on a

postcard including your name

and contact details and send

to Freepost Our City.

All answers will be entered

into a prize draw and the

first pulled out of the hat on

26 August will receive

vouchers to the value of £50

to spend in the city’s

markets.

SCHOOLCHILDREN and theirteachers have been exploringthe diverse contributionsrefugees bring to the UK as partof a week-long celebration.

Pupils worked with officersfrom the Narrowing the Gapteam within the council’sLearning Services.

They raised awarenessabout arts, music, food andculture and the difficultiesfacing asylum seekers.

The team also worked withschools to raise awarenessabout Gypsy, Roma andTraveller History Month.

Jo Softley of the Narrowingthe Gap Team said:“Stoke-on-Trent is a city rich inculture and the team supportschools in raising theachievement of children andyoung people from a range ofreligious, social and culturalbackgrounds.

“We have been workingwith schools to raiseawareness of Refugee Weekand Gypsy, Roma and TravellerHistory Month by deliveringworkshops to children andstaff.”

£50 voucher upfor grabs inmag survey

Learning aboutother cultures

Transport to workgives big jobs boost

BUSINESSES located in North Staffordshire’sproposed Enterprise Zone (EZ) will be entitledto a whole raft of incentives, which are aimedat stimulating the economy and job creation.

If given the green light, the EZ would bespread over three development sites locally –and companies situated in one of the areaswould benefit from tax breaks, relaxedplanning rules and superfast broadband.

The target is to create up to 14,000 jobs in anumber of different sectors by attractingpotential inward investors, offering a range ofready-made sites, all with something unique tooffer. The three EZ areas are based at Etruria

Valley, Hadleigh Business Park, in Blythe Bridge,and Keele Science Park in Newcastle.

The proposed EZ covers approximately 150hectares and the majority of the land is readyto build on.

Hadleigh Business Park is seen as animportant location for large logisticscompanies, while Keele is ideal for creatingknowledge-based and business service jobs.

Maitland Hyslop, Chairman of the LocalEnterprise Partnership (LEP) – which isbusiness-led and supported by the city counciland Staffordshire County Council – said:“Twenty one Enterprise Zones are being set up

by the Government as a way of encouragingdevelopment. They will benefit from simplifiedplanning rules, discounted business rates of upto £275,000 over five years and funding forsuperfast broadband.”

A total of 29 LEPs are bidding for the secondround of 10 EZs. However, the NorthStaffordshire site has received the support ofthe Prime Minister David Cameron.

City council Leader Mohammed Pervez said:“It is our intention to make Stoke-on-Trent aworking city again and this kind of majorproject is exactly the kick start the citydesperately needs.”

Enterprise Zone bid to kick start city economy

Cabinet

members Councillor

Mark Meredith (Economic

Development) and Councillor

Adrian Knapper (Transport

and Planning) with the Home

to Work travel packs which

will help people travel

to their jobs.

Our City p9 12/7/11 14:57 Page 1


cleans up on towncentre pavements

PAVEMENTS across Stoke-on-Trent aregetting a hot wash now a £100,000machine is working its magic as partof a new citywide cleaning regime.

The Schmidt Hotjet was being usedmainly in the City Centre whenEnvironmental Services ManagerAndy Chesworth took on the serviceand decided to expand it to transformall town centres and public areas.

He said:“The machine wasn’t beingused to its full potential so now it iscleaning more areas to make the citymore attractive for residents and

visitors alike. Three operatives havenow been trained to use the machineall year round unless frost stops us,and the hotjet can now be seengoing around the city giving a hotwash and scrub to all block pavedand paved areas.”

Town centres in Tunstall, Burslem,Stoke, Longton, Fenton, Meir andHanley are now on a rota for a regularclean from Monday to Friday whilethe area around Stoke Station is alsoincluded as a main gateway into thecity. Paved areas around all

monuments are also included.Andy said:“We were determined to

make the city a much more welcomingplace and the hotjet is playing a majorrole in that. Our main operative DeanParry, pictured, is bringing faded, dirtypaved areas back to their originalgleam and he has already started tobrighten up the city.”

● Do you know a pavement theSchmidt could clean up? Write to Freepost Our City or email [email protected]

BEFORE AFTER

Hot-stuff Schmidt Hot-stuff Schmidt Hot-stuff Schmidt Hot-stuff Schmidt Hot-stuff Schmidt Hot-stuff Schmidt Hot-stuff Schmidt Hot-stuff Schmidt Hot-stuff Schmidt Hot-stuff Schmidt

Pavementsin Burslem

town centrewhich were given

the Schmidttreatment.

Are you 19+?Claiming benefits?Looking for work?We’ll help you gain the confidenceand skills you need to get a job.

● Assess your skills

● Provide advice and guidance

● Training

● Interview skills

● CV preparation

● Sourcing jobopportunities

● Support withchildcare, transportand other costs

www.jet2work.org.ukemail [email protected] or call01782 233530 or 01782 232996for more information

Our City p10 12/7/11 14:58 Page 1

JULY 2011 Our City 11

Stoke-on-Trent is facing a challenging economicperiod and needs a clear plan focusing on“a working city”.

This four page pull-out sets out our mandate forchange, based on four strategic aims allunderpinned by an effective and confident council.■ Make Stoke-on-Trent the place to bring business.■ Support and develop existing business.■ Work with people to promote independence

and healthy lives.■ Make Stoke-on-Trent a great city to live in.

Working with our partners, we will deliver thisplan over the next four years and we are startingnow. We want to share this exciting journey withyou and we want you to get involved.

Stoke-on-Trent has a proudindustrial heritage of hardworking people producing first-class products to a world market.But the industrial landscape haschanged and the city is nowsuffering from a lack of jobopportunities.

More jobs mean: ■ More income for the city and

its residents;■ Better standards of living and

better quality of life; ■ Better choice of places to live,

and ■ More things to see and do. If we create more jobs inStoke-on-Trent, things will getbetter – it’s as simple as that.We need to make Stoke-on-Trenta GREAT WORKING CITY.

Distilling equipment,Ceram Research,

Penkhull

Cauldon CeramicsLimited, Tunstall

New housingdevelopment, Tunstall

Bringing skilled workto Stoke-on-Trent

Mandate for Change

Our City p11 12/7/11 16:10 Page 1

12 Our City J U LY 2 0 1 1 J U LY 2 0 1 1 Our City 13

Make Stoke-on-Trent theplace to bring business

The best way to create more jobs in the short term isto encourage businesses to locate here. The city hasa tremendous amount to offer.

We need to target big businesses and show themwhy they should come to Stoke-on-Trent. Thismeans improving the way the city looks, marketingourselves on the international stage and workinghard to develop a world-class Enterprise Zone withan attractive offer of incentives and support. Wewill continue to improve the City Centre, promotingour retail offer and the Central Business District.

We want to be a leader in the green revolutionencouraging businesses by promoting self-sufficient,sustainable low carbon energy across the citywith the aim of offering stable energy prices.

We will make the gatewaysto the city loud and proud -you will know when youhave arrived in Stoke-on-Trent!

We have a diverse range ofland and buildings availablefor development. Come andtalk to us. We want to dobusiness with your business.

Support and developexisting business

We need to support our existing businessesand help them to grow which will createmore jobs for our local people. This meansmaking it easier for businesses to operate byhaving an open approach to planning.

We will also support businesses by ensuringthey have access to good advice and financepackages as they look to expand and byoffering a range of different accommodationoptions, access to business coaches andrecruitment. We will also provide support topeople who want to set up new businessesand help those looking for work to developtheir skills to fit the needs of local employers.

Working closely with local agencies such asthe Chamber of Commerce, we will identifyand support fast growing enterprises byhelping to remove barriers to success.

We will boost the North Staffordshireeconomy by giving local businesses thesupport, information and contacts they need topitch for and win major contracts.

We need to ensure that businesses can reachtheir customers. We need to improve the flowof traffic through our road network and investin better linkages from our major railwaystation to the City Centre.

We need to focus on developing skills bysetting children on the right path, helpingpeople back into work and enabling thosealready working to grow to their potential. Thismeans aligning our schools and universities tofocus on the skills that local businesses want.

Work with peopleto promoteindependenceand healthy lives

With fewer resources available weneed to make sure that money andservices are targeted at those most inneed and to work with peopletowards greater levels ofindependence.

Creating new job opportunities willmean that more people can befinancially independent. By tailoringour care services we can help peopleto take more responsibility for theirown needs.

Our offer will include access topersonalised services which meetindividual needs and our aim willalways be to have people back intheir own homes as quickly aspossible.

Working closely with our partners,sharing information and resources,we will continue to protect the mostvulnerable in our communities.

Tackling child poverty and supportingour older people towards greaterindependence will remain keypriorities.

Through education and support wewill work with parents and families toensure that children reach theirpotential. A secondary schoolsmodernisation plan will deliver newschools and upgrades across the city.

We will work to ensure that familiesof all ages are encouraged to livehealthy lives.

Make Stoke-on-Trent a greatcity to live in

We want to make Stoke-on-Trenta great city to live in. We can dothis if we create a better choice ofhousing to suit everyone’s needs,improve our open spaces and thelook and feel of the city and ifthere are exciting things forpeople to do in their free time.

Stoke-on-Trent is home to twofootball clubs – the 2011 FACup finalists Stoke City FC andPort Vale FC, winners of theFootball League Trophy in 1993and 2001.

We are the World Capital ofCeramics and residents andvisitors can enjoy our factorytours, world class museums,shops and city parks. We arehome to the Staffordshire Hoard – the country’s largest and mostvaluable collection of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found.

In 2008 Stoke-on-Trent wasawarded cycling city status forits network of greenways andbeautiful countryside. Newcycle routes, bike hire centres

and training courses have beencreated to get people out on theirbikes. Our commitment to cyclinghas seen the city host the Tour ofBritain – the biggest free-to-viewprofessional sporting event in theUK – for the past three years, andwill be back in 2011.

In May 2012 we will be a host cityfor the Olympics Torch Relay andevening celebration – a wonderfulopportunity for Stoke-on-Trent.

■ An extensive and available workforce■ Plentiful brown-field land available for

development

■ Excellent connectivity to the rest of the UK –with quick and easy access to major motorwaysand rail networks

■ Green, low-cost energy provision■ A possible Enterprise Zone which provides

incentives for businesses to trade here

■ Antisocial behaviour■ Crime and disorder■ Benefit fraud

■ Council tax arrears■ Housing rent arrears■ Fly tipping

Stoke on Trent can provide: But we will need to get tough too. We will no longer tolerate:

Providing greenhealthy spaces

Regent Theatre,City Centre

Vodafone, Etruria Valley

Mandate for Change...the four strategic priorities

Mandate for ChangeMandate for Change

Emma Bridgewater,City Waterside

Steelite International,Burslem

Working towards ahealthy lifestyle

Supporting our vulnerable childrento reach their full potential

Enablingindependent living

Etruria Valley, potentialEnterprise Zone site

We need to help our communities worktogether to improve their own lives

A ‘red carpet’ approach to inward investment

Michelin, Trent Vale

Etruria Valley, potentialEnterprise Zone site

Our City p12-13 12/7/11 16:08 Page 1


Develop aneffective andconfident council

In order to deliver our fourstrategic aims and to support thefundamental changes to the city,the council itself needs to change.It needs to deliver more for less indifferent and innovative ways.

We have already begun to make thecouncil leaner and more effcient.We need to continue the journey bybeing careful about the way wespend every penny of public moneyand by using the right technologyto support our services.

Thank you for reading this Mandate forChange for Stoke-on-Trent.

We now have a four year period ofstable political leadership which willbe crucial in shaping Stoke-on-Trentand what the city can offer to itscommunities and its businesses.

Our aim is to bring the economy of Stoke-on-Trent alive again.

Our journey has begun and in the faceof significant financial challenges wehave successfully reduced our costswhilst protecting the most vulnerablein our society.

Work has started on the new city

centre bus station, our UniversityQuarter is expanding, a new sixth formcollege has been built anddevelopment continues at CityWaterside (new housingdevelopments). We also have a Centreof Refurbishment Excellence (CoRE – aunique scheme showcasing bestpractice in refurbishment) and we arealso creating a central business districtand a new shopping centre aligned tothe bus station.

Working in partnership with private,public and voluntary organisations, wehave a dedicated team of councillorsand officers in place to transform ourcity.

Stoke City FC fans atthe FA Cup Final 2011

Mandate for Change

Tour of Britain, Stoke-on-Trent 2010

Stoke City FC fans atthe FA Cup Final 2011

Working together withour partners our Mandatefor Change means wewill do the best we canfor Stoke-on-Trent

Now we need you. We have to getthis right and we need to knowwhat you think.

So tell us! Here’s how you can getin touch:

Please write to Freepost Our City,or you can email us at:[email protected]

You can fill in a form online at:stoke.gov.uk/mandate

Thank you for taking the time toshare your thoughts with us. Wewill publish your views over thenext few months.

Councillor Mohammed PervezLeader of the Council

John van de LaarschotChief Executive

Picture courtesyof Staffordshire

Sentinel News &Media

Cleaning and greeningStoke-on-TrentPicture courtesy of Staffordshire Sentinel News & Media

Section of the Centenaryoil painting of the Councilin 2010 by Rob Pointon

Port Vale FC,Burslem

Artists impression of EastWest Precinct, City Centre

Tour of Britain, Stoke-on-Trent 2010

Picture courtesyof Staffordshire

Sentinel News &Media

Picture courtesy of Staffordshire Sentinel News & Media

Port Vale FC,Burslem

Our City p14 12/7/11 15:57 Page 1


AN emergency response service that offers a lifeline toelderly and vulnerable people who fall ill or are injured intheir homes is now providing around-the-clock support.

The Response Service – which is part of the Telecareand Lifeline Service – is now accessible any time of the

day and night, including bank holidays.Clients are issued with pendants that they press if

they feel unwell. A responder – who is trained in FirstAid, moving and handling and fire and home riskassessment – can be with them quickly to get them

back on their feet and deal with the problem, withoutan unnecessary hospital visit.It is free to people who pay for the Lifeline Service

(which costs 51p per day), or who receive Telecare supportfollowing a social care assessment.

Telecare Manager Peter Ball said:“We have about 1,000clients registered for the Response Service and evenbefore going 24/7 the team handled at least 50 call outsper month.

“These were dealing with falls, carrying out welfarechecks and even administering first aid on occasions.

“Every month, the combination of telecare andemergency responder prevents dozens of hospitaladmissions and helps people to stay safe at home.”

● For more details about the Telecare, Lifeline or ResponseService log onto stoke.gov.uk/telecare or call 01782 234545.

AS an Investigations Officer for the city’sEnvironmental

Crime Unit, DominicGratty is used to his fairshare of verbal abuse fromangry and frustratedmembers of the public.

Issuing fixed penalty notices forlittering and dog fouling is notthe easiest job in the world –particularly as people do notalways see the bigger picture andunderstand why a zero toleranceapproach is necessary.

“People will ask me ‘What is theharm in dropping a cigarette butt?’or ‘There’s a lot worse crime outthere – why are you fining me forthis?’They don’t think they aredoing any damage,” he said.

“However, the fact is we haveto have a zero tolerance approach.People need to know that litteringand dog fouling will lead to a finein all circumstances. The vastmajority of people know that it iswrong and illegal and we willenforce this.

“Dropping litter soon adds uptoo – and then the cost to the cityin terms of cleaning up all themess really starts to rise.

“It eats away at preciousresources that could be betterspent elsewhere.

“That’s the message we are

trying to get across and that’s whywe work with the public to ensurethey know that littering and dogfouling is not just bad for theenvironment it also impacts onthe local economy.”

Being part of a small team,Dominic and his colleagues verymuch depend on the vigilance ofmembers of the public in order tohelp them carry out their job.

They are on the look out foreverything from people discardingcigarette butts in the streets tothose who unscrupulously fly-tiplarge amounts of waste.

Tip-offs are lifebloodHe said: “Stoke-on-Trent is a

busy area to cover for a team ofjust eight people so there is onlyso much we can observeourselves.

“That is why we work closelywith residents’ associations,businesses and individuals whoact as our eyes and ears.

“Tip-offs and calls from thepublic are our lifeblood and wealways welcome people calling usto give us information.”

Dominic’s role comes with thepowers to issue fixed penaltynotices of £80 for anyone foundlittering and £50 for dog fouling.

He also works closely withStaffordshire Police, the citycouncil’s CCTV control centre

and otherorganisationswhen the needarises.

He added:“Verbal abuse isa day-to-dayoccurrence andwe tend to dealwith that bytalking thingsthrough withthe personinvolved.

“Butsometimesmembers of thepublic will giveus false namesor details toattempt toavoid the fine.

“This in itselfis an offenceand by workingwith the policeand other organisations we areable to track them down and takecourt action.”

The partnership approach paiddividends earlier this summerwhen the team’s work resulted in22 successful prosecutions againstpeople who failed to pay thenotices for littering or dog fouling– totalling £6,300 in fines.

Where possible theEnvironmental Crime Unit try to

take a proactive and educationalapproach, by working withmembers of the community aswell as businesses andorganisations.

A good example was the Eco-School event held in June.This involved representativesfrom 100 schools around the citytaking part in an educationalworkshop at the King’s Hall,Stoke, highlighting the issuessurrounding dropping litter.

“Our role is two-fold,” addedDominic. “First it is to re-educatepeople and to get them tounderstand why littering and dogfouling can not be taken lightly,and secondly it is enforcement –where and if it is needed to issuethe fixed penalty notices toreinforce the message.”

● To contact the EnvironmentalCrime Unit with any informationcall 01782 232233.

Lifeline offeredall day, every day

Close team leadsthe battle against

litter anddog fouling

TLC Responder Paul Gallagher is oneof the staff available around the clockto help members of the scheme.

Working together to clean upthe neighbourhood... DorothyMatthews, of Tunstall NorthResidents’ Association, acts asthe council’s eyes and ears bypointing out a clean-up issueto Investigations OfficerDominic Gratty.

Our City p15 12/7/11 18:01 Page 1


COMMUNITYrelationships at thenew Sandyford Fire

Station really are growingin more ways than one –especially now localchildren have teamed upwith firefighters to tendfour allotments at the site.

The £4.5 million facility isalready proving a big hit after itopened as the city’s first ever full-time community station inOctober last year.

Several organisations andgroups use it for meetings, one-offopen days have been staged thereand local people even use thestate-of-the-art gym facilities.

Now four schools have joinedforces with the four differentwatches at the station to growfruit and vegetables in plots onthe site.

One and a half hour sessionsare staged for youngsters fromHaywood Engineering College aswell as younger pupils fromGoldenhill, Summerbank and

St. Joseph’s Catholic primaryschools.

Watch Manager Pete Hall, whois also Neighbourhood Co-ordinator, said: “We look atSandyford as a community facilitywith a fire station attached sowe’re trying to break downbarriers. In the past people justwalked past the bay doors.

“Now we get all sorts of peoplein. It really is the bees knees. Twoscout groups have their meetingshere, Approach staged anAlzheimers open day and theKidsgrove Wheelers are basedhere too.

“Our community room isfantastic. But for our latestinitiative we decided to go outsideand set up the allotments.

“The kids learn about roadsafety as they come down hereand all sorts of other things whilethey’re weeding, planting andgrowing, like measuring andmaths.

“We are also hoping to tie inhealthy cooking and cookingsafety, adding some simple firesafety messages.”

Children aged eight to 11 fromGoldenhill Primary School areamong those enjoying gettingtheir hands dirty.

Assistant Head Teacher SarahHowson said: “We’re trying to getour Eco Silver Award at themoment so we were looking at alarge initiative to help us do this.”

Two classes have already beento the station armed with seeds

and planted their L-shaped plotwith runner beans, lettuce, herbs,a pumpkin, courgettes and evenstrawberries.

Children take turns and goalong four times a term, thoughthe school is considering fivetermly trips instead.

“They love it and it’s beenreally useful helping them learnabout the life cycle of plants.Some children don’t know wheretheir food comes from so this is alovely experience for them.

“They also like getting theirhands dirty,” said Sarah.

“It’s a wonderful place and thefirefighters are so helpful.

“The community room has aninteractive white board so we’reable to take lessons down there.

“Altogether it’s been very goodand one of the watches looks afterour allotment in between times.

“They really do look after uswhich is great – just so long asthey don’t eat all ourstrawberries!”

Supportturns livesaround

Heads takeon UK rolesHEADTEACHERS RachelBeckett and Dianne Masonhave been selected forleading UK-wide roles insupporting schools inchallenging circumstances.

They are two of only 100 tobe appointed to the role ofNational Leader of Education(NLE) in its latest recruitment.

Rachel – Headteacher atSandon Primary School inMeir and ExecutiveHeadteacher at HollywallPrimary School – and Dianne– Executive Headteacher atSt. Wilfrid’s Catholic PrimarySchool, Tunstall and St. Peter’sCatholic Primary – will gaintraining to drive forwardimprovements in schoolsfrom the National College forLeadership in Schools andChildren’s Services.

A NEWLY-FORMED cycling club has very close linkswith Sandyford Community Fire Station and creditsStaffordshire Fire and Rescue Service with helpingthem to get started.

Members of the Kidsgrove Wheelers, formed in 2007,started staging their monthly meetings at Sandyford assoon as the station opened in 2010.

They use the community room for free each monthand up to 16 members attend ‘turbo training’ with theirbikes one night a week during the winter off-season.

Club Treasurer Pauline Wilkinson said:“The ladsattach their bikes to the turbo machine, which

measures their performance, and they get instructionsfrom a DVD on the community room’s TV screen.

“The firefighters at Sandyford are brilliant. Everyonetakes care of us and it’s a massive help to us that it’sfree. We didn’t have much money when we first formedthe club so it’s a real asset that we don’t have to pay.”

The club recently rook part in a family fun day at thestation and is using it as the start and finish point of itsHill Billy 50 mile challenge ride on 4 September.

● Partner and community groups can book the facilities by ringing 01785 898897during office hours.

Cyclists think station is wheely great

Pupils forge funlinks with local firefighters

EthanHoskins, 10, of St. Joseph’s at

Goldenhill, and KeeleyReynolds, 10, of

Goldenhill PrimarySchool.

HarrietHockins, aged

9 and Ryan Taylor,10, from St. Joseph’sof Goldenhill, tend

to the runnerbeans.

THOUSANDS of vulnerablepeople in Stoke-on-Trent areturning their lives around thanksto the city council’s SupportingPeople Programme.

Ex-offenders, people at risk ofdomestic abuse, older people,refugees, those with mentalhealth needs or drug or alcoholproblems, learning disabilities orpeople with HIV/Aids are justsome of those who receivesupport that helps them liveindependently.

A network of council services,agencies and voluntary sectororganisations are commissionedby the team to provide supportwhich is usually housing-relatedbut can also provide help inother ways like benefits adviceand access to training andemployment.

During the year 2010/11alone, more than 1,700 peoplewere supported with short-termservices, while many others arehelped on a longer-term basis.

Supporting People helpedpeople achieve more than 8,000outcomes in 2010/11 – includinghelping them move on toindependence, manage debt,maximise income, attendtraining or education and find ajob.

Samantha Williamson,Research and DevelopmentOfficer with the SupportingPeople Team, said:“The emphasison what we do is to helpvulnerable people to leadindependent lives, or to provideolder people with support tocontinue to live independentlyin their own home.”● For more information or toget involved in theIndependent Advisory Teamphone 01782 232123 or [email protected]

Our City p16 12/7/11 15:04 Page 1


MOST-WANTEDARRESTED INTENERIFE:It took two years butJonathan Lejman waseventually trackeddown to a beach onthe holiday island andextradited back to Stoke-on-Trent toface justice. The 30-year-old of no fixedaddress had gone on the run aftercarrying out a masked knife attackduring a break-in at a house in Tunstall.His victim suffered a fracturedcheekbone and knife wound to his face.Mobile phone records and bloodstainslinked Lejman to the incident and hewas jailed for six years and eight monthsat Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court foraggravated burglary.

STREET ATTACK PAIRLOCKED UP:Two men who kickedand clubbed anotherman with a metal barhave been sent to ayoung offenders’institution. JohnLeyland and CraigGaunt, both aged 20,targeted their victimamid claims he hadbeen at a party wherethere had been adispute over moneyfor alcohol. He was tripped up, kickedabout five times, struck with the bararound ten times and needed stitches inhospital. Leyland, from Carson Road,Stanfields, was sentenced to 30 monthsafter he pleaded guilty to woundingwith intent. Gaunt, of High Street,Tunstall, admitted unlawful woundingand was given eight months.

REPEAT CAUGHT ON CCTV:Burglar Mark Cookson,who has been introuble since he was14, has been jailed forthree years for hislatest crimes. Securitycameras captured the 39-year-oldclimbing a wall and trying to get into ahouse in Sneyd Green. Minutes later hestole gardening equipment from anearby garage.When neighboursconfronted him, he was wearing a jackethe had just taken. Cookson, of no fixedaddress, admitted four offences in courtand asked for a shop theft to be takeninto consideration.The court heard hehad 51 previous convictions for 149offences.

HEROIN DEALER JAILED:Police found more than£10,000 cash and 12wraps of heroin duringtwo car searches andtwo raids on DerekBeech’s home. He wasfirst stopped in May lastyear and his address inNewchapel Court in Tunstall wassearched. His home was again raided inSeptember and his car searched 12 dayslater. Beech, aged 56, was convicted atStoke-on-Trent Crown Court on threecounts of possessing heroin with intentto supply and was jailed for six years.Thecourt was told he was a prolific gamblerwith losses of £16,000 on bets placedtotalling £147,724.

Our City reports back onconvictions secured to make Stoke-on-Trent safer for us all...

THE hunt is on forStoke-on-Trent’s nextSchool Crossing Patrol

Warden of the Year.Parents, children and even

motorists are being urged tonominate their favourite as theevent, which recognises those whohelp pupils across roads nearschools, enters its sixth year.

Kath Steele, the council’s SchoolCrossing Warden Area Manager,said: “We have 84 wardens whocover between 80 and 90 schools,making sure our children stay safe,come hail, rain or shine.

“And we think it’s important torecognise their fantasticcontribution so we want you to tellus about the qualities of yourfavourite. Whether they’re reallycheerful and friendly, fantasticcommunicators or just really hot onroad safety, write in and tell us.”

Two wardens won last year, RoyBaggaley, of Norton PrimarySchool, who has been triumphantthree times so far, and 59-year-oldSheila Walker, who works at thejunction of London Road andRookery Lane in Stoke near OakhillPrimary School.

Sheila, who has been a warden for11 years, said: “I couldn’t believe itwhen I won last year. It wasbrilliant.

Big smile on face“I really enjoy my job. I know

most of the names of the little ones.Those I’ve seen through nursery areleaving this year so that’s a little sadbut mostly it puts a big smile on myface. I’ve got one little lad whobrings me bunches of privet leavesas a present.

“The other day he brought me astick!”

Nominations for this year’s awardshould include the name of thewarden if known, and the locationwhere they work.

The letter should say, in no morethan 30 words, why the nominatedwarden deserves to win.

Entries will close on 9 Septemberand a panel of judges will announcethe winner in October beforehanding over the winner’s shield anda certificate. Send your nominationto School Crossing Patrol Warden ofthe Year, PO Box 1855, CromerRoad, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 6YS.

Foster carers... our city needs you all year roundFOSTERING Fortnight is over for anotheryear but foster carers are needed in Stoke-on-Trent all year round.

So people interested in providing ahome and helping local children stay localare again being urged to come forward.

Did you know that:● There are around 400 children in care inStoke-on-Trent● There are 189 foster families.● There is no such thing as a typical fosterfamily – they are as diverse as the childrenthey care for.

Keeping children local is important.Paul Stokes, Principal Manager, Fostering,at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said:“Fostering for Stoke-on-Trent is not justabout working for an outstanding service,it is about working with the children ofour city.

“We need to encourage local people tocome forward to look after the youngpeople of Stoke-on-Trent so they canretain vital contacts with theircommunities, continue to attend the sameschools and see their friends and families.

“We want to help them live life asnormally as possible even though they’renot waking up in their family home.”

Stoke-on-Trent Fostering Service, whichwas rated outstanding by Ofstedinspectors in October 2010, provides fulltraining and support for its foster carers.

It also operates Friday morning drop-insessions so people can talk to teammembers about fostering.

● Interested? Call 01782 234555, [email protected] or visitstoke.gov.uk/fostering

Last year’schampion school

crossing patrol SheilaWalker, pictured at work outsideOakhill Primary

School.

Public asked to vote for their

school patrol champ

Our City p17 12/7/11 15:06 Page 1


A PROJECT is underway tosupport volunteers to tackleantisocial behaviour.

The volunteers have beentrained by North StaffordshireMediation Service to deliverrestorative justice and familygroup conferencing. This is anapproach that focuses on theneeds of victims and offenders,instead of punishing the offender.

Victims take an active role inthe process, while offenders areencouraged to take responsibilityfor their actions, repairing theharm they have done byapologising, returning stolenmoney, or through communityservice.

The volunteers encouragedialogue between victims andoffenders, leading to the highestrates of victim satisfaction.

Jon Connolly, who is theAntisocial Behaviour Lead fromthe Safer City Partnership, said:“Itis pleasing that we haveexcellent people who arecommitted to improvingcommunities.

“These volunteers are highlymotivated people. I am lookingforward to them working toresolve issues around antisocialbehaviour and being able tohelp resolve issues that affectvictims and communities.”

Volunteer Chris Smith hasbeen working with the Safer CityPartnership and StaffordshirePolice to tackle graffiti inBurslem Park.

He said:“I hope the project issuccessful in giving victims theopportunity to receive reparationand an apology.”

OFFENDERS took to the stage in aninnovative theatre project designed tooffer them a positive new beginning.

The group of 17 actors, who are or have beenunder the supervision of Staffordshire and WestMidlands Probation Trust, starred in the playFor Better or Worse, performed in front of a100-strong audience at the New Vic Theatre inNewcastle-under-Lyme.

Most members of the Chapter 2 theatregroup had a history of re-offending and at leasttwo of them were facing court appearances withthe risk of being sent to prison in view of theircriminal records.

However the courts were impressed with thepositive impact of the project – a partnershipbetween Stoke on Trent College’s City Breakinitiative and the New Vic Theatre’s BorderlinesTheatre Company community scheme. Both of

them supplied the courts with characterreferences with the result that none of theoffenders were given a custodial sentence.

Before going into the spotlight, the castattended a series of half-day workshops over 12weeks, during which, each participant made apromise which was played over loudspeakersduring the performance. At the centre of theplay’s theme of “new beginnings” was thewedding of two characters whose choices areaffected by the people around them.

Change their behaviourCity Break works with key companies and

organisations to support individuals with ahistory of re-offending but who want to changetheir behaviour. The award-winning Borderlinescommunity programme works with some ofNorth Staffordshire’s most disadvantagedcommunities.

The Chapter 2 project was jointly funded byStoke on Trent College and The ManchesterCollege’s On Trak project, with support fromthe YSS voluntary organisation.

Stoke on Trent College Project CoordinatorMike Thornley, who also acted in the play, said:“I’m so proud of the whole group. Theirdiligence, character and personalities shonethrough. For most of them this is just thebeginning. The New Vic say this was the one ofthe best collaborations they have had.

“We will shortly be looking to develop asimilar programme and use some of the originalparticipants to support the new group.”

One of the cast, 25-year-old offender JamieSherratt who is currently on probation, said: “Itwas a brilliant experience and one I will neverforget. It has had a positive effect and I feel thatwhat has happened will change my life for thebetter.”

THE Safer City Partnership isfunding a service that helpsmums-to-be who havesubstance misuse issues.

The Pregnant Drug UserClinic, which is run by CRI, isbased at the antenatal clinicat the University Hospital ofNorth Staffordshire’sMaternity Unit.

A team of communitynurses, midwives and otherhealth and wellbeing expertswork with women through allstages of their pregnancyoffering specialist advice andsupport.

They look at all aspects oftheir lives including healthproblems related to drugmisuse that might beaffecting the unborn babies,as well as the wider socialpicture.

Community Nurse KerriBates said:“We look at allaspects of their lives fromhealth problems to socialproblems and any issues thatmight be affecting them,such as domestic abuse.

“We also work with otheragencies such as Adsis andthe Womens Project, andwhere possible we refer thewomen into their services.”

Kerri added:“We haverecently encountered ageneral increase in thenumber of women referredto the clinic.

“They are engaging reallywell with us and in mostcases are focussed onmoving on putting their druguse behind them so they canlook after their new-bornchild.

“Our role is to aid them inthis recovery.”

● For more informationabout the Pregnant DrugUser Clinic call 01782 212800.

Mums-to-beoffered helpand support

Cast of ex-offenders start anew chapter in their lives

Actorstake part in one

of the innovativeChapter 2 workshops

at the New Vic Theatreand, inset, JamieSherratt with his

certificate ofachievement.

INTERESTED in being aqualified sports coachvolunteer?

The Safer CityPartnership is nowrecruiting for Tunstall,Burslem, Goldenhill andSandyford, JoinersSquare, Blurton Westand Newstead.

For more info [email protected] or tel 01782235001 or visit‘Streetgames Stoke-on-Trent’ on Facebook.

Helping victims and cutting antisocial behaviourare, left to right, Restorative Justice volunteers MarkCotton, Margaret Billingham, Emma Barbour, LauraPaterson, John Mosley and Amanda McDonald.

Volunteers help victims find justice Opportunityto sign up totrain as asports coach

Our City p18-19 12/7/11 15:08 Page 1


MEMBERS ofthe publicand

professionals attendedan informative openday which promoted anew integratedcommunity alcoholservice.

The new service – whichis funded by the Safer CityPartnership – bringstogether the work ofalcohol support agenciesincluding Adsis and NorthStaffordshire CombinedHealthcare Trust.

It provides seamlesssupport for people referredfor support for alcoholmisuse.

IntegratedThe launch comes after

the partnership significantlyexpanded its alcoholtreatment services last yearand secured a new centralbase in Havelock Place,Shelton.

Suzie Kelly, Safer CityPartnership AlcoholProgramme Lead said “Theopen day highlighted howthe new, co-ordinatedservice operates and how itworks with other supportservices.

“It also demonstrated thekind of training and carethat is provided. From aprofessional point of view itwas a useful networkingevent and showed agencieshow they could interlinkwith the service.

“From a member of thepublic perspective itexplained the variety ofsupport on offer and howpeople can access it.”

Also being demonstratedwas a new alcohol harm

reduction toolkit.It is available to

professionals and providesservice information,statistics and resourcesincluding a unit measure,screening tools and posters.

● The Safer CityPartnership funds a rangeof services to supportpeople wishing to reducetheir alcohol intake orbecome abstinent. Toaccess any of the servicesmentioned, please contactAdsis on 01782 271096.

AS a 16-year-old, Julie started drinkingbecause she lacked confidence and feltalcohol was just the boost she needed.

That crucial teenage decision 30 yearsago, was something that almost went on todestroy her life. Over the next three decadesshe used alcohol as a coping mechanismduring stressful situations and found herselfturning to the bottle more and more.

By the start of 2010 the 46-year-old mumwas at her wits end. She had lost her drivinglicence, was heavily dependent on alcoholand her relationship with her partner andchildren had become confused.

Then last April, she was offered a homedetoxification by community nurses. Theirhelpful, re-assuring and understandingapproach got her life back on track.

Unfortunately, it did not last. Just beforeChristmas she attended a party and thought

she was strong enough to have a “social”drink. The first drink quickly led to another,then another and soon she was drinking asmuch as before.

Julie said:“I really thought I could cope. Ithought I had cracked it and had had nocravings of alcohol since the detoxification.

“But I soon found myself dependent onalcohol again. I had to have a lot of time offwork and it was affecting the familyfinancially. I knew I needed help again.”

Julie attended a drop-in session at Adsis,was referred to the community nurses andwas offered a second home detoxification.

She said:“I felt ashamed and worriedabout what people would think of me. Butthe nurses put me at ease. From day one ofthe detoxification the nurses were so kindand understanding. I can’t stress how muchthey helped me.

“The first couple of days were scary butthey visited me twice a day and were alwaysat the end of a phone to support me withany problems. The nurses also offeredsupport to my family with any concerns theyhad. Their care was second to none.”

Following the detoxification Julie wasprescribed anti-craving drugs and nowattends Adsis groups for relapse prevention.

A month after the detoxification Julie ishappy that life is good again. Herrelationship with her partner and children isback to normal and she is back at work,easing their financial situation.

She said:“It’s hard to believe that onlyweeks ago I was an alcohol-dependentemotional wreck. I can’t thank the nursesenough for giving me and my family ourlives back. I would recommend a homedetoxification to anyone.”

Detox programme gives Julie her life back

Open day sheds spotlight onAlcohol Service launch

FUNDING for Respect Weeks and Daysof Action in neighbourhoods has beensecured by the Safer City Partnershipfor the rest of the year.

So far events have been held in thePortland Street and the Elder Roadareas of Cobridge.

Residents identified environmentalissues such as litter and fly tippingproblems.

As a result, skips were provided onthe estates so residents could disposeof their bulky waste – and over 30tonnes were collected over the threedays.

In addition, overhanging trees werecut back, grassed areas trimmed andtrip rails repaired. All the work wasoverseen by the council’sEnvironmental Services Team.

Staffordshire Police and StaffordshireFire and Rescue Service were on hand tooffer crime prevention and fire riskadvice and Street Pastors engaged withresidents and provided support andadvice.

Meanwhile, following the complaints,the Environmental Crime Unit is alsoactively pursuing lines of enquiry inorder to prosecute offenders forfly-tipping.

Bill James, Respect Programme Leadfor the Safer City Partnership, said:“Byworking in partnership on thosematters that are important tocommunities we are determined tomake a difference to the quality of lifefor residents, businesses and visitors tothe city.”

Now more initiatives will be held incommunities and on estates throughthe year as part of an ongoing schedule.

THE latest in a series of highly-successful NoCold Calling Zones has been launchedfollowing a number of doorstep crimes.

Lord Mayor Councillor Terry Followsofficially launched the new zone, whichcovers two sheltered housing schemes –Doris Robinson Court and Sandon Court,Meir, as well as adjacent Viscount Walk andDentdale Close.

It was set up after a consultation withresidents came back with a 100 per centapproval rating, due to a spate of doorstepcrime.

Councillor Gwen Hassall, Cabinet Memberfor Housing and Neighbourhoods said:“Doorstep crime is a serious issue that isnow being addressed by the number of NoCold Calling Zones we have across the city.

“We work closely with the police so weare aware of when incidents are reportedand we are then in a position to dosomething about them. In this case, all theresidents we spoke to were in favour ofsetting up a No Cold Calling Zone so we’reanswering their concerns.”

Funding securedfor more popularRespect weeks

Residents ask forcold calling zone

Above, visitor StevenSmith receives advicefrom an Adsis expert.Right, Safer CityPartnership AlcoholProgramme Lead SuzieKelly with one of the new toolkits.

Our City p18-19 12/7/11 15:10 Page 2

SPECIALIST training has beentaking place as the city council andpartner agencies in Stoke-on-Trent

target loan sharks.Up to eight awareness sessions on illegal

money lending will have been staged by the endof August for more than 100 people.

Frontline council employees from servicesincluding revenue and benefits, housing andsocial care have all taken part.

Third sector partner organisations includingGingerbread, ARCH and Rethink also joined inas well as representatives from housing

associations, Staffordshire Police andStaffordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The training, delivered by the Birmingham-based Illegal Money Lending Team, wasdesigned to help those taking part to better spotthe symptoms of illegal money lending andsignpost victims to support services.

Designed to help everyoneThe idea for the sessions came from the city’s

Financial Inclusion Group and were organisedby the city council’s Executive Support ManagerAnnette Lees. She said: “The two-hour sessionswere designed to help everyone taking part spot

the signs when speaking to customers andclients so they could then offer them supportand signpost them to investigators.

“It was by invitation only but still massivelyover subscribed so we organised an extra sessionfor August.

“In these tough times, the vulnerable are moreat risk from loan sharks than ever before so itsvital we do all we can to prevent them fromfalling into the clutches of sometimes dangerouspeople.

“This training means another 100 peopleinvolved in frontline services now have theknowledge to intervene and offer help.”

LOAN shark victims across Stoke-on-Trent are being remindedthey do not have to suffer in silence –specialist investigators working inpartnership with the city council canhelp.

The England Illegal Money LendingTeam is based in Birmingham, but,working in partnership with localTrading Standards, is on hand to dealwith any complaints and casesreported by people in the city.

The team works alongside TradingStandards Officers at the council andsupports other agencies like housingassociations, credit unions,

Staffordshire Police, the CitizensAdvice Bureau and other debt adviceservices to tackle illegal lendingactivity.

Tony Quigley, Head of the EnglandIllegal Money Lending Team, said:“People turn in desperation to loansharks. Quite often loan sharks startout friendly but their behaviourchanges if a payment is missed.

“There’s mostly little or no paperwork involved, they refuse to tell theborrower the interest rate, how muchthey owe or how long they’ll bepaying back.

“They even take items like

passports or bank cards as security.“We’ve seen cases where the

annual percentage rate (APR )rose ashigh as 131,000 per cent.

“Sometimes the lenders resort toextreme methods to reclaim theseillegal debts, such as violence orblackmail.

“Remember debts are illegal andnot enforceable through the courts.”

The Illegal Money Lending Teamsinvestigate and prosecute illegallending and any related activity,which can include threateningbehaviour, violence, intimidation,drug offences, kidnap and even rape.

The teams are making a difference.Latest national figures show theyhave helped 16,000 victims andprosecuted at least 190 people.

Those cases have resulted in jailsentences totalling 107 years.

● A 24-hour a day, seven day aweek confidential hotline has beenset up so people can report illegallending. You can speak to a trainedinvestigator by calling 0300 5552222. You can also text ‘loan shark’plus your message to 60003 oremail [email protected]

Special investigators can bite back at loan sharks

Training prepares partners to fight

illegal lending rackets

FOR more informationabout managingfinances or dealing withdebt log ontostoke.gov.ukOther useful contactsinclude:

National Debtlinewww.nationaldebtline.co.uk 0808 808 4000 –free independent advice.

Payplanwww.payplan.com 0800 716239 – for debtcalculating, debtsolutions and budgeting.

Shelterwww.shelter.org.uk 0808 8004444 – housingadvice, including rentand mortgage arrearsrepossessions andeviction.

Turn 2 Uswww.turn2us.or.uk 0808 802 2000 – offersbenefits advice anddetails of grant-givingcharities.

Financial ServicesAuthoritywww.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk – interactivetools for budgeting andborrowing, informationand leaflets.

HELP is available forpeople who need adviceand support abouthousing issues.

The city council’sHousing Solutions Serviceteam can answer queriesin relation to a range ofissues from mortgageproblems to debt orarrears.

The service worksclosely with the CitizensAdvice Bureau,Staffordshire Credit Unionand colleagues across theWest Midlands to helppeople stay in theircurrent home despitefinancial problems.

For more informationcontact the service on01782 233696 or [email protected]

Supportavailableon housing

MONEY

matters


Contactsfor helpand debtadvice

Executive Support ManagerAnnette Lees with

posters which warn the public not to get

bitten by a loanshark.

Our City p20 12/7/11 15:12 Page 1

JULY 2011 Our City 21

Make it

Easystoke.gov.uk

Click and

� Find out aboutevents in the city: stoke.gov.uk/events

A CELEBRATION day has beenstaged to mark the completion ofthe second phase of repairs costing£620,000 at the historic BethesdaMethodist Chapel in the City Centre.

Latest work included the repair ofa suite of stained glass windowsand the famous mahogany pulpitwith its double flight of stairs, thereinstatement of the ceiling and theinstallation of an historic organ toreplace the badly vandalisedoriginal.

Floor tiling has been repairedwhile attention has also been paidto structural timberworksupporting the galleries. Decorativerailings and gates, made to theoriginal pattern, have beeninstalled outside in Albion Street.

Money for the repairs came fromthe Heritage Lottery Fund, EnglishHeritage and various grant-giving

trusts with an additional £20,000from Friends of Bethesda.

Sir Alan Beith MP, the chairman ofthe Historic Chapels Trust whoacquired the building in 2002,attended the celebrations alongwith Bethesda Friends, Lord MayorCouncillor Terry Follows and theLady Mayoress Jacqueline Pearson.

There was a blessing, organrecitals, choral performance and thechapel was then opened to thepublic.

A third phase of repairs, likely tocost £1 million, is due forcompletion in 2013 and will includemodern services such as toilets,heating, lighting and sound andvisual systems.When restoration iscomplete, the chapel will be usedfor a wide range of communityevents like concerts, exhibitions andcivic functions.

SHOWTIME is back atthe Mitchell ArtsCentre now a £4.3

million re-vamp hastransformed the iconiccommunity andperforming arts venue intoa theatre fit for the 21stCentury.

The new look ‘Mitch’ isalready getting a massive thumbsup from audiences andperformers alike and advancedbookings mean shows are alreadyplanned until December 2012.

Two dance shows were stagedin the opening weeks with TheAngela Beardmore School ofDance getting the honour ofchristening the stage for the firstperformance in two years.

Executive Officer IanHutchinson, who ran PlymouthArts Centre for 10 years beforetaking up his appointment in theCity Centre, said: “It’s been abrilliant start and people whoknew the old ‘Mitch’ can’t believethe transformation.

“It’s great to come to a citywhere regeneration puts a theatrelike this at the heart of itscultural life. It really is a fantasticthing.”

Mitchell Memorial Youth ArtCentre Trust Chairman FredHughes said: “It really is one ofthe best community performancevenues that I’ve seen in a verylong time.

“It’s state-of-the-art and alsohas excellent conference andcorporate facilities. We’replanning a massive event inSeptember at the start of Battleof Britain Week so watch thisspace.”

New look facilities include a1,000 square foot dance studio,updated toilets, dressing rooms, anew balcony, a roof terrace and aglass-fronted café.

● Bookings for facilities at thearts centre can now be made bycalling 01782 409307.

A TRAINING, mentoring and workexperience programme which hashelped more than a dozenunemployed people so far intosustainable jobs in adult social carein the last eight months has beenrelaunched.

The 13-week Stoke-on-Trent CityCouncil-led programme providespeople with mentoring, and theopportunity to develop the skills,behaviour and experience to gainlong-term employment. 16 of the20 people who have alreadycompleted the training are now insustainable employment in theadult social care sector. And halfthe people who are due to finishan existing training programmenext week have already securedpermanent employment, as have20 per cent of those due to finishin September.

Councillor Olwen Hamer, cabinetmember for adult social care,health and commissioning, said:“This initiative can rightly becelebrated as a success. It isproving very popular with localpeople and employers alike.”● Employers interested in howthe scheme could help with theirrecruitment, or people lookingfor a career in adult social carecan call the team on 01782235300 or [email protected].

A NEW parking enforcement carthinks for itself to target areas ofthe city with the biggest problems.

The vehicle, which records thedetails of offenders outsideschools, hospitals and other illegalparking hotspots, now needs justone person to drive it round thecity. Previously there was anoperator too.

Cabinet Member for CityServices Councillor Janine Bridgessaid: “It’s useful where peopleblock a road near a school orhospital, preventing essentialaccess or potentially causing anaccident.

“The camera car has so fargenerated about £120,000 as aresult of enforcement action, but,of course, it is only penalisingpeople who have contravenedmotoring restrictions.”

Curtain up as new facilities unveiled at

stunning theatre complex

Support helps16 people intoemployment

Software totarget parkingproblem areas

GOOD NEWS FOR THE ’MITCH’ AND BETHESDA... CULTURAL QUARTER ICONS

Friends celebrate windows, pulpit and organbringing chapel back towards its former glory

CATHEDRAL OF THE POTTERIES...Deputy Chair of the Friends of Bethesda Chapel JohnBooth as restoration work continues in the background.

WHERE SPITFIRE MEETS SPACE AGE...Mitchell Arts Centre ExecutiveOfficer Ian Hutchinson outsidethe new-look, fully refurbishedbuilding. Below, rehearsalsunderway in the revampedauditorium.

Our City p21 12/7/11 17:17 Page 1


SCHOOLS havebenefited to the tuneof thousands of

pounds through a schemeto reward innovativesporting, social and healthprojects chosen anddevised by pupils.

During a year-long initiative,students at three schools – St. Thomas More in Longton,Sandon Business and EnterpriseCollege, Meir, and EdensorTechnology College, Longton –were invited to develop ideas andput in bids.

The top two ideas from each

school went forward to apresentation at the King’s Halllast May. Pupils were then given15 minutes to make their pitch toan audience of professionals frompartner organisations and schoolcouncil representatives.

The best three projects wereawarded £10,000 each and therunner up £4,000. The projectwas co-ordinated by StaffordshirePolice and the council andfunding came from the twoorganisations along with the TakePart initiative.

The winning projects, eachreceiving £10,000, were:● St Thomas More – assessmentof activities to create an afterschool sports programme.

● Sandon Business andEnterprise College – productionof a DVD to explore the mythssurrounding antisocial behaviour● Edensor Technology College –improvements to multi-accesscentres (MACs) and theproduction of an explanatorybooklet.

Tapping potentialChief Inspector Jeff Moore,

Commander of the Central LocalPolicing Team in Stoke-on-Trent,said he was delighted by theenthusiasm and response to theproject. He said: “This is theculmination of 12 months workwhere we have liaised closely withthe schools and pupils and got

some fantastic results. The projectis about tapping into the potentialof young people – encouragingthem to come up with ideas andsolutions to tackle the things thatare important to them.

“They have put a great deal ofeffort in over the last 12 monthsand it was inspiring to see 12 to16-year-olds stand up in front ofa room of more than 100 peersand adults and speak so well andpassionately.”

Lisa Whitemore, Head of PE atSt Thomas More, also praised thesuccess of the scheme. She said:“The money has been used toexplore the popularity of all kindsof sporting activities and then laythese on in an after-school sportsprogramme.

“It means we can offereverything from kick boxing tojuggling and give the pupils achance to take part in more nichesporting activities. It has been agreat success and the hard workof the pupils has really paid off.”

YOUNG people are beingwarned ahead of the schoolsummer holidays about thedevastating and expensiveconsequences of deliberatelystarting grass fires.

Staffordshire Fire andRescue Service want to cutdown on the dozens of firesthat are started during thesummer break – often byteenage boys.

Not only do they endangerlives but put an unnecessarystrain on the services’emergency resources.

Grass fire hot spots inStoke-on-Trent includeBerryhill Fields and ParkhallCountry Park.

Posters warning about thedangers of setting fires havebeen distributed to schoolsto spread the safetymessage.

Staffordshire Fire andRescue Service’s PreventionManager Mick Daniel said:“Young people who startgrass fires seem oblivious tothe fact that they areendangering their own livesas well as firefighters.

“A grass fire can quicklyspread and it does not takemuch for clothing to set onfire and before you know it,you have horrific burnswhich could claim your life.”

He added:“For every callwe receive about a grass firethere could be a persondesperately trying to get outof a burning building ortrapped in a car crash inurgent need of ourassistance.”● For more details log ontostaffordshirefire.gov.uk

Summer breakwarning issuedover grass fires

Fire & Rescue contact numbers EMERGENCY RESPONSE MANAGERWayne Bowcock01785 898894

PREVENTION AND PROTECTIONMANAGERRebecca Bryant01785 898542

RISK REDUCTION MANAGERMick Daniels01785 898927

HANLEY & BURSLEM STATIONMANAGERIan Read01785 898591

LONGTON STATION MANAGERRich Williams01785 898594

SANDYFORD STATION MANAGERGlynn Luznyj01785 898693

HANLEY NEIGHBOURHOOD CO-ORDINATORMick Warrilow

01785 898902

LONGTON NEIGHBOURHOOD CO-ORDINATORTracey Cresswell

01785 898951

SANDYFORD NEIGHBOURHOOD CO-ORDINATORPete Hall

01785 898886

RISK REDUCTION CO-ORDINATORRehana Iqbal

01785 898891

SAFER CITY PARTNERSHIPOFFICERDonna Broadhead

01785 898904

To book your home fire risk check ring: 0800 0241 999

IN AN EMERGENCY CALL 999 ANDASK FOR THE FIRE SERVICE

ABBEY HULTON (Main) 0300 123 0976Children and Adolescents 0300 123 0987Mental Health Service

BENTILEE 01782 425900

BLURTON (Main) 0300 123 0971Children and Adolescents 0300 123 0977Mental Health Service

BURSLEM 0300 123 0979

WHITFIELD VALLEY 01782 425720

FENTON 01782 743100

HANFORD (Main) 0300 123 0974Children's Airway 0300 123 0977Support Team

HANLEY 0300 123 0980

LONGTON 0300 123 0993

LONGTON COTTAGE 0300 123 0993HOSPITAL

MEIR 01782 425676

NORTON 01782 534599

PACKMOOR 01782 794600

PICCADILLY CENTRE (Main) 0300 123 0985Sexual health helpline 0300 123 0970

SMALLTHORNE 0300 123 0982

STOKE 0300 123 0986Out of Hours District 0300 123 0989Nursing Service

TRENT VALE 01782 425260

TUNSTALL (Main) 0300 123 0972Dental Advice Line 0300 123 0981

For more information andadvice on health issues pleasecall NHS Direct – 24 hrs a day

0845 46 47or visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk or www.nhs.uk

YOUR HEALTH CENTRES

For all city council services

contact 234234

ChiefInspector

Jeff Moore takespart in an afterschool

sports training session with

13-year-old LaurenAusterberry.

£10,000 funding pots given to£10,000 funding pots given to

student innovators

Our City p22 12/7/11 17:16 Page 1


YourCouncillors

Abbey Hulton and Townsend

GWEN HASSALL(Labour)(01782) 26316607851 [email protected]

ADRIAN KNAPPER(Labour) 07714 [email protected]

Bentilee and Ubberley

SHEILA PITT(Labour)07957 [email protected]

ALISON WEDGWOOD(Labour)07968 [email protected]

Hanford and Trentham

TERENCE FOLLOWS(City Independents) (01782) 31812707944 [email protected]

PETER HAYWARD(City Independents) (01782) 64405207920 [email protected]

Great Chell and Packmoor

JANINE BRIDGES(Labour)(01782) 85184207989 385631/07717 [email protected]

ANN JAMES(City Independents) (01782) [email protected]

Baddeley, Milton and Norton

JACK BRERETON(Conservative)07855 [email protected]

ANDREW LILLEY(Labour)07717 [email protected]

DUNCAN WALKER(Labour)(01782) 91242207748 [email protected]

Birches Head and Central Forest Park

PAUL BREEZE(Unaffiliated)(01782) [email protected]

MARK MEREDITH(Labour)07717 [email protected]

Blurton East

GLENYS WARD(City Independents) (01782) 31267007922 [email protected]

Blurton West and Newstead

NEIL DAY(Labour)(01782) 41719607796 [email protected]

Bradeley and Chell Heath

GURMEET SINGHKALLAR(Labour)07900 [email protected]

Burslem Park

JOY GARNER (Labour)(01782) 768846 07986 [email protected]

Dresden and Florence

SHAZAD HUSSAIN(Labour)07899 [email protected]

Broadway and Longton East

TOM REYNOLDS(Labour)07850 [email protected]

Burslem Central

ALAN DUTTON(Labour)(01782) 82405107982 [email protected]

Boothen and Oakhill

ANDY PLATTLabour07919 [email protected]

Fenton West and Mount Pleasant

KAREN CLARKE(Labour)07917 [email protected]

Ford Green and Smallthorne

MATT WILCOX(Labour)07810 [email protected]

Etruria and Hanley

MAJID KHAN(Labour)07989 [email protected]

Fenton East

PAUL SHOTTON(Labour)(01782) 434445paul.shotton@ stoke.gov.uk

Eaton Park

TERRY CROWE(Labour)(01782) 26942207818 [email protected]

Joiner’s Square

ALASTAIR WATSON(Labour)07736 [email protected]

Lightwood North and Normacot

BAGH ALI(Labour)(01782) 34324607973 [email protected]

Hartshill and Basford

SHAUN PENDER(Labour)(01782) 63210407920 [email protected]

Hollybush and Longton West

KATH BANKS(Labour)(01782) 39975907920 [email protected]

Hanley Park and Shelton

AMJID WAZIR(Labour)07747 [email protected] until29/7/11

Meir Park

ABI BROWN(Conservative)07793 [email protected]

Meir South

DEBBIE WHEELDON(Labour)(01782) 59504307870 [email protected]

Meir Hay

MUHAMMAD AUMIR(Labour)07413 [email protected]

Meir North

RUTH ROSENAU(Labour)(01782) 50194007870 [email protected]

Little Chell and Stanfield

DAVID CONWAY (City Independents) (01782) [email protected]

Sneyd Green

DEBRA GRATTON (Labour)07748 [email protected]

Springfields and Trent Vale

SARAH HILL(Labour)(01782) 84504407584 [email protected]

Penkhull and Stoke

RANDOLPH CONTEH(City Independents) (01782) 25686907920 [email protected]

Sandford Hill

OLWEN HAMER(Labour)07717 [email protected]

Moorcroft

MOHAMMEDPERVEZ(Labour)(01782) 23246807919 [email protected]

Weston Coyney

MATTHEW FRY(Labour)07826 [email protected]

Tunstall

LEE WANGER(City Independents) 07971 [email protected]

Goldenhill and Sandyford

MARTIN GARNER(Labour)(01782) 76884607759 [email protected]

Information on city councillors was correct at the time of going to press.

For more information on your councillors go to stoke.gov.uk/councillors

FORTHCOMING PUBLIC MEETINGS AT THE CIVIC CENTRE, STOKE:

● Cabinet meeting is scheduled for 25 August at 5.30pm.

● Full city council meetings 8 September at 2.30pm and 20 October at 2.30pm.

Our City p23 12/7/11 15:19 Page 1

Our City is published by a partnership of

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Contact us by mail at FREEPOST Our City or by email at [email protected] or telephone 01782 236703


PEOPLE are being urged tonominate their local sportingand community heroes for the

chance to be an Olympic Torchbearerduring the exciting build up to nextyear’s London Games.

The iconic Torch will be paraded in Stoke-on-Trent on Wednesday, 30 May 2012 as part of a UK-wide relay.

Now the search is on to find inspirationalpeople of all ages for a “once in a lifetime”opportunity to bear the famous symbol of theGames during the 70-day nationwide parade.

Stoke-on-Trent Olympics Co-ordinatorVanessa Darlington said: “This is a wonderfulopportunity to put someone’s name forward tomark their achievements.

Contribution to community

“Nominees have to be aged 12 or over andhave to demonstrate they have made acontribution to their community. This could bea coach for their dedication supporting youngathletes, a neighbour who is always helpingothers or a young person achieving theirpersonal best.

“Although many nominations have beensubmitted there is still time throughout thesummer to put someone’s name forward.”

Among those who have already beennominated locally are archer Rebecca Martin,local historian Fred Hughes, STAR AnglingTeam member Sonia Bee, athletics coach

George Cooper and Chair of Lads and Dadsfootball Clive Dean.

A total of 8,000 people are due to carry theOlympic Torch around the UK before it headsto London on 21 July ahead of the Games’Opening Ceremony on 27 July.

Up to half of the places will go to those agedbetween 12 and 24 years and judging panelswill be set up in each region to select thesuccessful Torchbearers.

People can nominate through schemes set upby the official Torch Relay partners Coca-Cola,Lloyds TSB and Samsung.

Coca-Cola have launched a national searchto find the UK’s Future Flames which islooking for young people with a passion forsport, physical activity, music and dance,community and the environment. Nominationscan be made by logging ontowww.cokezone.co.uk. The deadline is 5September 2011.

Lloyds TSB have also launched their nationalcampaign to find 800 Torchbearers to carry theFlame.

The organisation is looking for people whohave made a difference in their localcommunity and whose story will inspire others.Nominations can be made atwww.lloydstsblondon2012.co.uk/carrytheflame until 12 September 2011.Samsung has also launched their campaign andpeople can nominate online by logging ontowww.samsung.com/london2012.Nominations close on 30 September 2011.

WHEELCHAIR athletes are coachingnon-disabled youngsters in a rangeof paralympic sports to help fightprejudice towards people withdisabilities.

Members of Stoke SpitfiresWheelchair Basketball Team areworking with Stoke-on-Trent CityCouncil to raise awareness among 11to 16-year-olds through ProjectSpitfire made possible by a £23,717Big Lottery Fund award to the council.

Two day-long events will be heldeach year over the next five years atDimensions Leisure Centre with theaim of attracting around 50 youngpeople.

They will have the opportunity toparticipate in sports for disabledpeople – such as wheelchairbasketball, new age curling andsitting volleyball.

Lesley Brownsill, of the citycouncil’s Access Team, who is workingin partnership with the StokeSpitfires, said:“The idea is to showthat sports for people withdisabilities are just as tough andchallenging as those for non-disabledpeople. Project Spitfire aims to dispelmyths and break down barriers byshowing youngsters what peoplewith disabilities can do instead ofwhat they can’t do.”

Young people whoattend the activity dayswill also have theopportunity to betrained in areas such asdeaf awareness, Britishsign language andvisual awareness – skillsthey will have for life.

Lindsay Leighton,Development Officerfor Stoke SpitfiresWheelchair BasketballTeam, said:“We areexcited about thisproject as we are acommunity-basedorganisation. We lookforward to sharing ourexperiences as disabledpeople and as sportsmen and women.”● The first activityday will be onWednesday 3 Augustfollowed by anotheron Thursday 25August. For moreinformation contactthe Access Team on01782 232236 or01782 236667 oremail [email protected]

PACKED programmes of summerevents will keep the school holidaysbuzzing for youngsters in 2011.

A host of free events meanchildren and young people have noexcuse to be bored over the six-week break.

A huge range of events andactivities will be staged at parks,recreation grounds, sports facilities,libraries, youth centres andchildren’s centres across the city.

Art Brasil will run lively dance anddrumming workshops, while theaptly named Circusology will stageplate spinning, juggling and stilt

walking workshops. Otherattractions include a roller disco,trampolining, basketball, football,archery, street dance mini beast bughunts, pond dipping, art and crafts,bush crafts and cycle training.

And one of the highlights will bea set of oversized board games,featuring Connect 4 and Twister.

The summer of fun will end with abig finale event at NorthwoodStadium on Friday 2 Septemberfrom 3-7pm.

For more information check outthe city council’s website atstoke.gov.uk/summerevents

No excuse to be bored as councillays on packed events programme

Sports coaching sessionsbreak down prejudice

Local heroesneeded to bearOlympic Torchthrough city

Stoke-on-Trentarcher Rebecca

Martin, who hopes torepresent Great Britain inthe 2012 Olympic Games,

pictured in the City Centrewith a prototype of the

Torch which will be used in next year’s

relay.

Lindsay Leighton, Stoke Spitfires Development

Officer, lines up a shot at the hoop on court at

Dimensions Leisure Centre.

Our City p24 12/7/11 17:12 Page 1

Our City Issue 22

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