Stoke-On-Trent ISSUE 40: SUMMER 2015 Our City
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Our City p1 24/6/15 13:58 Page 1 Stoke-on-Trent ISSUE 40: SUMMER 2015 Our City Time for CHANGE Our City p2 24/6/15 14:01 Page 1 2 Our City SUMMER 2015 Law changes will affect care and support from April ‘16 CARE and support provided to older residents will change when a new law comes into effect next Spring. The new Care Act will make services available clearer and easier to access, reflecting the fact that people are living longer and require a better quality of life. Changes include: ● Local authorities having Sara a general responsibility to Davies and promote people’s her son Sam hop well-being, focusing on on board the prevention and providing bus in the City information and advice. Centre. ● A consistent, national Why leaving the car at home eligibility criteria. ● New support for carers, so they have the same rights as the people they care for. boosts health ● People who qualify for care having a legal right to a personal budget and direct payment. ● New responsibilities andenvironment around transition, comfortable and most have low floor access. provider failure, ESIDENTS are being urged to leave the car at home and go on Online journey planners are an easy way to get supporting people who bus times and help you plan your journey. move between local Rfoot, by bus or on their bike to Train: Going by train is often quicker than the authority areas and boost health and protect the environment. car and you don’t have to worry about paying safeguarding. for parking or getting stuck in traffic. Local Health Partnerships A city council drive is promoting sustainable stations include Stoke, Longton, Longport and transport as being beneficial to everyone. Strategic Manager Helen Blythe Bridge. Team Manager for Safe and Sustainable Car share: Eight out of ten cars on our roads Thomas said:“The full Transport Brian Edwards said: “Thinking only carry the driver. Sharing a lift with a detail of the financial about how you travel and using alternatives to friend or colleague can save you money and changes taking effect the car is a great way to save money and wear and tear on your car. Staffordshire has its from April 2016 is not improve your health. own car sharing scheme and it’s free to join. Go currently available, “Building exercise into our daily lives can be to www.share-a-lift.com to find out more. however we do know that a challenge but making a little change like there will be a limit on the walking to the shop instead of taking the car is Travelwise campaign: Stoke-on-Trent is a maximum people will pay a great start. member of TravelWise, a national travel awareness campaign encouraging sustainable for care in their lifetime “We all know that congestion and pollution are a growing problem and everyone has a part travel. The aim is to make other types of known as ‘the cap on care transport such as walking, cycling and using costs’. to play in finding a solution.” Ideas for sustainable alternatives are: public transport a real alternative to travelling “This will take account by car. of the cost of care and Cycle: Cycling is a great way to save money, get Even making small changes to the number support that people fit and help the environment. Stoke-on-Trent is and type of car journeys you make has an receive, but will not a cycling city with around 160km of cycle impact on you and your environment. include the usual living routes including quiet off road routes such as Problems caused by road congestion touch us expenses such as rent and greenways and canal towpaths. A three-mile all everyday. Road traffic volumes are predicted bike ride takes about 20 minutes and many board. to increase by a further 20 per cent in the next work places have shower and changing facilities 20 years. New roads only temporarily relieve “We will be able to for staff to use. provide more detail about Belinda Riley, congestion and always generate new traffic. this closer to April 2016.” Admin Officer for Walk: This is a great way to start getting more If you are a local business you could develop active and it’s free. Could you walk to work a a Workplace Travel Plan and get a grant to help Health Records at ■ Further details about couple of days a week or pop out for a 10 introduce green travel initiatives. the reforms can be found the University minute walk during your lunch hour? Most schools in the city have already at stoke.gov.uk/careact or Hospital of North Reduce your stress levels and enjoy being out introduced school travel plans to be more call the Adult Social Care Staffordshire riding and about. green. her bike to work. Centre on 0800 561 0015. Bus: Regular bus services cover virtually all of ■ For more details visit acttravelwise.org or Stoke-on-Trent. Modern buses are clean and travelwisewestmids.org.uk 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 24/6/15 14:03 Page 1 SUMMER 2015 Our City 3 Simple promises make residents our priority UR promises to the people year. Stronger Together means we all of Stoke-on-Trent as a new By City Council have a part to play, and I understand the Oadministration are simple: Leader Councillor people of this city have put their trust in we are here to work for them and DAVE CONWAY me and my colleagues to sort things out. with them, we will protect their We will not waste money.We will make sure precious resources are spent where interests and spend their money they are needed – in our city. wisely and they can count on us pie-in-the-sky We will not always get things right, but to tell the truth and be open. schemes that will being honest is about holding your hands Now we are in a position to deliver never deliver. up when things get tough and pulling services which really matter in this city, We will strengthen frontline services, together to sort things out. Believe me, not pipe dreams and vanity projects. I not tear them apart. We know that is this city is facing many challenges and a can assure every resident we have hit the what matters to residents. legacy which this administration will have ground running and we are already We want to build an exciting future for to use all its skill and commitment to put making changes which will improve the everyone living in Stoke-on-Trent, and right. things that matter to them most. we believe clean streets, a healthy This is the last issue of Our City, which People tell me their pavements are in a environment, good housing and making has run for some time and has become a state and the streets are full of litter... the most of our tight-knit communities vehicle for spin and for promoting that will change. are the way to strength and unity. individuals without providing the Motorists have to swerve to avoid Previous council slogans meant horrendous potholes that never seem to residents with a lot of the information nothing to residents, who are the people they need. Look out for news in the get repaired... that will change. that really matter. Our new rallying call – Walk round the city and there are Stronger Together – covers absolutely future of new, more effective ways of overgrown verges and untidy public everything this authority does, and communicating to residents – the people spaces... that will change. everything we will deliver as a council or this local authority exists to serve. Hard-working people who make ends with our partners. This will provide them with the meet on low incomes and do their best to It covers everything our officers deliver information they need to make the most bring up their families think some of the – the passionate people whose skills and of Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Thank ways the council spends their money are abilities will make this city great again, you for your trust. Now it is time for us obscene... I can assure you that will and who need our support to know the to deliver. As I said before: “It’s time for change! It’s time for realism, not axe does not hang over their jobs every paw work, not jaw work.” Pledge to prioritise an extra Medal-winning, record-breaking cycle hero Sir Bradley Wiggins – seen here the last time he rode in Stoke-on-Trent – could be one of £5million to boost highways the main attractions again this September. WORK is underway to identify up to £5 million extra to pay for vital highways Thousands set improvements in the city.