To Create NEW JOBS SEE FOUR-PAGE MANDATE for CHANGE SPECIAL Our City P2 12/7/11 16:26 Page 1

Our City p1 12/7/11 14:31 Page 1 Stoke-on-Trent ISSUE 22: JULY 2011 Our City Firing links to create NEW JOBS SEE FOUR-PAGE MANDATE FOR CHANGE SPECIAL Our City p2 12/7/11 16:26 Page 1 2 Our City JULY 2011 Public urged to have say Quit smoking targets surpassed on vision for city’s future to give health a boost By City Council Leader UBLIC health in Councillor Stoke-on-Trent MOHAMMED PERVEZ Preceived a major boost with news of the city’s best ever COUNCILLORS face a historic four year performance to tackle term during which we are determined the UK’s biggest killer. to revise our city’s fortunes and drive NHS targets were smashed forward its regeneration. when 2,457 people in the city Stable leadership created by the quit smoking, sailing past their electoral system introduced in May aim of 2,095. Smoking kills an means we have an unprecedented estimated 500 people in opportunity to achieve this... and Stoke-on-Trent every year. deliver on our promises. The city’s Stop Smoking We have not wasted any time. In this Service has been making huge issue of Our City we unveil our Mandate strides to support residents who for Change. It sets out four strategic want to stub out their cigarettes priorities which we believe are the key for good. to a better future for everyone who Support groups lives and works in our city. We believe the actions contained in Over the last 12 months a the document will attract much-needed Tobacco Control Alliance has jobs to the city, and will support seen a range of partners working together to tackle smoking and existing businesses to keep on growing. introduce support groups at We also believe that helping the locations across the city. people of Stoke-on-Trent lead The city’s Acting Director of independent lives is the key to focusing Public Health Dr Zafar Iqbal services to the most vulnerable, where said: “To have a record-breaking Terry Lymer, they are really needed. year is absolutely fantastic news who quit smoking By delivering on promises and as the service does a in 2011 after 30 years. improving quality of life, we will make tremendous amount of work to He said:“The support Stoke-on-Trent the best city to live in. support those people who want of the group around We unveil these priorities against a to quit smoking. me was brilliant and background of the biggest economic “I’d like to say a huge now I feel more challenge in living memory. congratulations to all those alive.” To meet this challenge we will focus people who have quit and on our number one priority:“To make managed to stay quit. Stoke-on-Trent a great working city.” “Stopping smoking can not ● One-to-one and group pharmacies and community response is outstanding and We want to work with the public and only improve your health but support. settings, and even Port Vale shows that the message of our partners to deliver this vision. In can also help you save £2,000 a ● Free, friendly advice on Football Club. healthy living is getting out to Our City we share this exciting vision year if you smoke 20 a day. preparing to quit, quitting Councillor Olwen Hamer, the our city’s residents. with you, and give you the chance to “The Stop Smoking Service and staying quit. council’s Cabinet Member “However, we cannot be say how you think we should move can provide free support and ● Stop smoking medicines responsible for Adult Social complacent and need to ensure forward. medicines to help you quit for such as patches or gum, which Care, Health and that this downward trend Please read the document. Details of the cost of a prescription. The are available for the cost of a Commissioning, said: “The continues as we strive to make how you can get in touch and give us service will do all it can to prescription or free to those negative effects of smoking are Stoke-on-Trent a smoke-free your views are on page 14. further improve on these figures who do not pay for their well known and we are proud to city.” Elsewhere in the magazine is more so the hard work does not stop prescriptions. be working with the NHS to evidence of our commitment to real here.” Stop smoking support is also help reduce the number of To contact your nearest stop improvements in the city. In just one The NHS Stop Smoking available in a range of places, people in the city who do smoking advisor please call day of action we cleaned and greened service offers: including GP surgeries, smoke. To have this level of freephone 0800 085 0928. around 18 important locations around the city, cutting back vegetation and picking up litter.We also feature an investment to clear our pavements of Former chain smoker Terry tells of the 59th unsightly chewing gum. The point is that small things matter birthday he never thought he’d live to see and we will always commit to these initiatives which make a difference to CHAIN-SMOKING over 30 years took its toll condition badly affected his mobility. “It was tough at first, but I used nicotine the public. But at this vital stage in the on Terry Lymer’s health and he knew he Terry, who lives in Penkhull, said:“I couldn’t patches for about eight weeks and that city’s history, we also believe the big would have to quit or suffer the get up the hill with the shopping without helped.The support of the group around me vision we unveil this week is a consequences. having to stop every five minutes. It was was brilliant and now I feel more alive,” said significant step forward. He started smoking in his 20s and soon terrible. So I went to my doctor and she told Terry, who has not had a cigarette since. had a 30-a-day cigarette habit with cigars me I had all sorts of smoking related “I celebrated my 59th birthday in June and thrown in for good measure when he was problems I wasn’t aware of like high blood my brother Michael sent me a card which COVER IMAGE: Pressure Cast Operator Ray Nicklin at work in out with his mates. pressure and high cholesterol.” said ‘Congratulations – You’re Still Alive’.He Wade Ceramics’ state-of-the-art The previously healthy 59-year-old once A referral soon followed and Terry found didn’t think I’d make it this far so I took it new £7.5 million factory at Etruria Valley.The company’s worked as a miner and was forced to give up himself at Stoke Library for an hour a week along to show the group.The course was relocation, which enabled his retail job about five years ago when he with a group of other smokers on a 12-week really helpful and to be honest anything is growth in production and started getting short of breath and a foot Smoking Cessation course. better than smoking yourself to death.” secured jobs, was supported by the city council. Live webcast of full council meetings Give us your feedback on this issue of MEETINGS of the full council can now be viewed online.To Our City is printed on Our City by emailing recycled paper.When see and hear the debates and decisions which affect life in you have finished with Stoke-on-Trent, visit stoke.gov.uk and click on webcasting. [email protected] this publication please A list of dates and times of council meetings and committee or write to: help the environment by passing it on to a meetings can be found on our website at FREEPOST Our City. friend or recycling it. stoke.gov.uk/meetingdates Our City p3 12/7/11 14:39 Page 1 JULY 2011 Our City 3 Better services which cost less and meet customers’ needs are recipe for an ‘excellent council’ SARAH HILL PAUL SHOTTON RUTH ROSENAU JANINE BRIDGES MOHAMMED PERVEZ Council Leader Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Finance Regeneration City Services for Resources TOKE-on-Trent’s new Cabinet has pledged to drive Sforward the city’s regeneration through tough times Cabinet promises progress in ahead after historic local elections gave councillors a four-year term. Council Leader Councillor Mohammed Pervez put together the group of politicians who will create policies to develop and improve the massive range of services offered by the council. Each of the ten members has their own tough times ahead portfolio, or special area of interest, and will work closely with other councillors, includes engaging partners and Cabinet supporting me. I feel I have innovative change programme and we will teams of council officers, and the council’s communities to create the Mandate for achieved this. continue this. Four years of political stability partners, to deliver the policies they set. Change vision for the future which will “Cabinet members have diverse will allow us to implement our strategies The Cabinet meets regularly and in create a great working city. backgrounds and bring skills and and plans so the people of Stoke-on-Trent public to make important decisions about The Cabinet is also working on tough experience to help and support me in can see actual physical change. issues as diverse as economic development decisions to implement further leading the city through the tough times “This, combined with better quality and housing, regeneration and children’s Government cuts for the 2011/12 budget.

Load more