Our City p1 15/5/14 09:11 Page 1 Stoke-on-Trent ISSUE 36: SUMMER 2014 Poppy pride CHILDREN’S PLANTING PROJECT TO HONOUR FIRST WORLD WAR HEROES Page 13 Our City p2 15/5/14 14:08 Page 1 2 Our City SUMMER 2014 Great news as expert voices point to city’s UniQ brighter future By City Council Leader lift off Councillor MOHAMMED PERVEZ I’M passionate about Stoke-on-Trent’s future and determined to deliver on our promises of jobs, growth and a higher national profile for our city. Of course, you’d expect me to say that. No matter how much conviction I have in my beliefs, people always say I’m just doing my job in talking up Stoke-on-Trent. But when a top Government advisor talks up Stoke-on-Trent’s potential for expansion and being a major contributor to the UK economy, some of you might listen a bit more closely. Jackie Sadek, who chairs the influential Improvements to Winton Square would make lobbying and advisory organisation it the gateway to the University Quarter. Regeneration UK, was last month appointed policy adviser to Cabinet Office Minister for Cities Greg Clark. She used a recent blog post for leading property investment journal Estates Gazette to Townscape schemes to support campus expansion praise Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s “transformational programme of economic, urban and social change.” raft of improvements worth She had visited our city’s exhibition at the up to £5million are being The university’s MIPIM property investment showcase in the Aplanned by the council to Stoke campus is South of France and said she was impressed help transform the University set for an exciting by Stoke-on-Trent’s appetite to deliver Quarter. expansion. economic growth. She wrote:“Stoke has a Councillors have committed to support beleaguered history as something of a Staffordshire University’s expansion problem child. But I firmly believe those days following the organisation’s decision to are over.The team I met from there nowadays move the majority of its Stafford-based are a go-ahead mob.” campus to Stoke-on-Trent in the summer She suggested our city ought to be a front of 2016. The university is expected to spend at runner in the race for “Garden City” status, least £40million on the next phase of which would be a massive boost for housing works while the council has earmarked a construction to meet demand. total of £5million over the next four She added: “Not only does (Stoke-on-Trent) years in support of the expansion. have the sites and the connectivity, it has the External funding will also be sought to advantage over many of its competitors with help take forward the exciting project. its vast capacity to produce energy through its Improvements to be funded by the District Heat Network. It has the spaces and it council include: has the juice.” ● Strengthening the “City Centre These words come at a time when an spine” – the core routes linking University’s expansion plans are hugely accelerate regeneration in our growing transformational and will see millions of University Quarter. We look forward to influential national survey named Stoke town, Stoke Station and the City Centre, with improvements to pounds invested in Stoke-on-Trent, with continuing to work in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent among the fastest growing more students, more teaching staff and the university as their plans develop.” cities in the country. the links between the university’s College Road and Leek Road more people spending money in city Staffordshire University Vice A partner of the chartered accountants who shops. It is a massive boost for our Chancellor Professor Michael Gunn carried out the work said: “Stoke-on-Trent has campuses. ● economy and is very much welcomed. welcomed the backing from the council. consistently attracted major employers to the Landscaping and creation of shared “It demonstrates Stoke-on-Trent’s He said: “The university welcomes open spaces on College Road. area, boosting job creation and the local growing reputation as a university city Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s intention ● economy. Improvements to Winton Square, and our commitment to ensuring young to invest in the University Quarter directly opposite the railway “With its prime geographical position and people are able to achieve their which we feel can only benefit students, station, making it a gateway to the good transport links, Stoke-on-Trent has maximum potential in gaining education residents and visitors to the city’s University Quarter as well as the and skills at the highest level locally. education hub.” become a major logistics hub.This has city – in keeping with its provided a new source of prosperity.” “We are committed to making For further information go to: conservation area status. Stoke-on-Trent a core city between stoke.gov.uk/universityquarter So don’t take my word for it! Listen to the ● Developing a car parking strategy Birmingham and Manchester, and our voices from around the country, the expert to identify short, medium and Mandate for Change is centred on FRONT COVER: our cover picture voices who say Stoke-on-Trent’s story really is long-term car parking site bringing jobs and growth to our city. one of growth and future prosperity. shows Mitchell Green and Jelavie opportunities. “Our investment in support of Ewowo, pupils at New Ford Primary It’s not just words. It’s good news for Councillor Ruth Rosenau, Cabinet Staffordshire University’s expansion will School, planting poppy seeds to mark everyone who lives and works here! Member for Regeneration, Planning and help to pave the way for major the centenary of the Great War. Transportation, said: “Staffordshire transformational changes which will 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 see and hear Web: stoke.gov.uk Our City by emailing Our City is printed on the debates and decisions which affect life in Stoke-on-Trent, visit recycled paper.When Facebook: facebook.com/ [email protected] stoke.gov.uk and click on webcasting. you have finished with stokeontrent.citycouncil this publication please A list of dates and times of council meetings and committee meetings or write to: help the environment Twitter: @SoTCityCouncil by passing it on to a can be found on our website at stoke.gov.uk/meetingdates FREEPOST Our City. friend or recycling it. twitter.com/SoTCityCouncil Our City p3 15/5/14 09:37 Page 1 SUMMER 2014 Our City 3 Projects will be delivered over next ten years UNDER Powerhouse Central a number of major projects will be delivered in the next 10 years.They include: ● The Stoke-on-Trent District Heat Network, the UK’s first large-scale geothermal project, powering businesses and up to 1,000 homes in the centre of Stoke-on-Trent. ● Creation of a smart energy network demonstrator at Keele University to test cutting edge energy and carbon reduction technology. ● Harnessing energy from the Four Ashes waste plan in South Staffordshire and a new power station at DEAL DONE: Pictured at the official City Deal signing ceremony are, left to right, outgoing Stoke-on-Trent Meaford to supply local and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership Chairman Ron Dougan, Council Leader Councillor Mohammed business. Pervez, Minister for Cities Greg Clark and Staffordshire County Council Leader Councillor Philip Atkins. ● Innovation and support programmes to aid small-to-medium sized business and help them turn ideas into products. Powerhouse deal to create ● Pilot programmes and investment to create 3,900 apprenticeships, 1,100 traineeships and skills training for 9,000 big economic growth jobseekers. ● Development of six key USINESS leaders and ambition. Addressing the cost or existing businesses to expand a jobs and growth bonanza over sites in future negotiations predict an historic and stable supply of power tackles into and support businesses to the next 10 years.” with Government – Etruria BCity Deal will put one of the biggest challenges for innovate and develop the next Staffordshire Chambers of Valley, Keele University local manufacturers while generation of products or Commerce Chief Executive Sara Science and Business Park, Stoke-on-Trent and safeguarding jobs and enabling materials. Williams said: “The chambers Staffordshire in a fantastic Meaford, Branston Locks thousands more to be created. Councillor Pervez said: “The have supported the City Deal from and Lichfield. position for future Other key measures include deal vindicates all that the city the word go, and we are proud to economic growth. bringing schools, colleges and council and its partners are doing have been part of the team that Councillor Pervez said:“Our The deal, called Powerhouse universities together with to make Stoke-on-Trent and pitched the case to Government. city’s bold plans will build Central, will see the Government employers to make sure people Staffordshire the choice We always thought this would be on our growing reputation commit £30.9million to the area, have the right skills and training as destination for business and fantastic recognition of the for knowledge-based with the potential to unlock well as creating thousands of inward investment. This is an changes in Stoke-on-Trent to commercial enterprise to around £113million of public and apprenticeships and traineeships. overwhelming endorsement of our enable us to make a significant transform the city into one private sector investment. It will also develop sites work and it shows that difference. of the UK’s most important It is built around unique plans for new Government has “Energy is fundamental to the hubs for renewable energy to supply locally-produced, businesses confidence growth of our area and to be able research and manufacturing.