Summer 2015 www.gateshead.gov.uk Westfield Health National Garden Volunteers’ Residents’ British Transplant Festival Legacy Month Games 2015 Survey For information on getting married in Gateshead and how Gateshead Council can help make your perfect day, contact the Register Office 0191 433 3000 or visit: www.gateshead.gov.uk/registrars Welcome Recycle more from Leader of the Council, Councillor Mick Henry Page 9 Welcome to the Summer issue of Council News. This is our first issue since the local and national elections and we bring you up to date with any Leader of the Council, changes as to who Councillor Mick Henry represents you on the Council. We’re asking for your views in our short residents’ survey which you’ll find in the middle of the magazine - and offering you the opportunity to get involved in Mr Bloom our new online Residents’ Panel. goes to There’s a nostalgic look back at the National Garden Festival which took school place 25 years ago and which was the catalyst for so many regeneration Page 17 projects; information on a great new bookshop now open within St Mary’s Visitor Centre, and a call out to all would- be volunteers as we celebrate Gateshead Volunteers’ month this June. We get ready to welcome the many inspirational athletes taking part in this year’s Westfield Health British Transplant Tell us Transplant Games: Games 2015, who will be competing at what you venues across Gateshead and Newcastle Phoebe’s story between 30 July-2 August. And in July think we also host the English Schools’ 85th Page 31 Track and Field Championships at Gateshead International Stadium, with more than 1,600 young people taking part. Residents’ There’s news on the transformation Survey of the historic Brandling Arches into business premises as part of the Pages 18-19 regeneration of central Gateshead, as well as updates on the Hive and what we’re doing to make Gateshead a Gateshead Council News is designed and published by Gateshead Council’s Communications ‘greener’ borough. Service. Every effort is made to ensure that all information is correct at time of publication. All this plus highlights of up and coming An online version can be viewed at www.gateshead.gov.uk events, a look at what’s been happening It is distributed by Flyer Distribution UK Ltd to homes and businesses across Gateshead. in your local area, our new online social For delivery queries please contact: 0191 228 9730. care website and why Shadon House Printed by Acorn Web Offset Ltd Care home is such a hit with users and Front cover: Caesar the Dog at the Angel of the North, picture: Iain Lynn families. Different formats: If you would like to receive Council News in large print, Braille, on cassette, CD or mp3, please contact Diane Brennan on 0191 433 3444 or [email protected] © Gateshead Council, Regent Street, Gateshead NE8 1HH. 0191 433 3000 www.gateshead.gov.uk @GMBCouncil gatesheadcouncil 3 NEWS News in brief National award Let’s dance Gateshead Council has won a More than 2,400 children from over prestigious national award for its work 75 schools across Gateshead took with people with learning difficulties. part in the annual Festival of Dance at Sage Gateshead in March. The At the UK Housing Awards in London, two-day event attracted around 4,000 the Council’s Learning Disability spectators and took its inspiration this Accommodation and Support Group year from classic film musicals such as was presented with an award in the Annie, Grease and The Lion King. ‘Meeting Specialist Housing Needs’ category. This recognised how we work Job Law with other services to support and help Job Law, run by Gateshead Citizens people with learning difficulties to live Advice Bureau (CAB) Enterprises, more independently, by combining offers people a ‘legal aid’ service suitable housing with a focussed care at half the usual commercial cost package. as part of a ground breaking new service. So far it has helped over 150 The awards, which recognise outstanding work by social housing providers, are people and recouped over £530,000 Housing services manager Lisa Philliskirk organised by the Chartered Institute of in compensation for them. For more with Councillor Mary Foy details visit www.cabenterprises.org. Housing and Inside Housing Magazine. uk/job-law or call 0191 440 8114. Top college Gateshead College has been named as the top performing further Election results education college in the North East Almost two-thirds of voters voted in last month’s and the third best in the country, local and general elections. according to new government performance figures. Around 62 per cent of people who were registered to vote actually cast their vote on May 7, with more Yacht company sails into than half choosing to do so at their local polling Gateshead station. Luxury yacht company, West Nautical, In the end, though, the results delivered no change has opened its first UK office in the in the Council’s political makeup, with 55 seats North East, taking up office space in held by Labour and 11 seats held by the Liberal Baltic Place on Gateshead Quays. It Democrats. Following Councillor McNicol’s decision currently has four employees in the to step down as Labour Councillor for Dunston Hill Gateshead office with plans to double New Labour Councillor and Whickham East, the newly elected Councillor, in size this year. Chris McHugh also Labour, is now Councillor Chris McHugh, who can New flights be contacted on 0773 469 7272. More flights are scheduled to take In summary, Labour was found to have captured 52 per cent of the vote, up off from Newcastle to Italy and slightly on the previous year, while the Conservatives secured 12.2 per cent, up Mexico, with fortnightly flights now by more than a quarter on their 2014 performance. The Liberal Democrat vote available from Thomson Airlines and fell slightly from 16.7 per cent to 15.1 per cent. First Choice - on offer from Summer For full details of Gateshead Councillors visit www.gateshead.gov.uk/voting 2016. Flights to New York with United Airlines began at the end of May. For the latest deals sign up for Newcastle Airport’s newsletter www. newcastleairport.com/newsletter-page North East Funding Fair More than 500 representatives from 330 voluntary and community groups attended the NE Funding Fair 2015, organised by the Council. They met would be funders to get the advice and help they needed to help them secure funding in the future. 4 Gateshead Council News Summer 2015 NEWS Talented trio Oscar winning producer Lord David Puttnam, Sage Gateshead General Director Anthony Sargent and Royal Northern Sinfonia have all become Freemen of Gateshead. This is in recognition not only of their significant contribution to the success of Sage Gateshead, but also the key ambassadorial role they have played, and will continue to play, on behalf of the borough. Council Leader Mick Henry, said: “The phenomenal success and worldwide renown that Sage Gateshead now has, is due in no small part to these three Anthony Sargent, Lord Puttnam and Bradley Creswick from the Royal Northern Sinfonia incredibly talented people. It’s hard to imagine how Sage Gateshead would “Anthony has been inundated with with new musicians, young and old, look, or sound, today without the skill, offers from across the world to emulate in communities across the region, is a talent and dedication of them all. the success he has had as General powerful symbol of what we always Director at Sage Gateshead. wanted Sage Gateshead to become.” “David was an inspirational Chair with a real passion for creativity in all its “And while Royal Northern Sinfonia For Sage Gateshead information visit forms and he continues to be a major continues to work with some of the www.sagegateshead.com supporter of Sage Gateshead. greatest musicians in the world, its work Clavering Court The ‘Dunston Rocket’ may have a range of on-site facilities. It has a gone, but the regeneration of the number of residents’ lounges, a roof Ravensworth Road site continues, with terrace, a warden call system, secure the addition of a new purpose built entry system, parking and a south development designed specifically for facing patio and garden. It has step- the over 55s called Clavering Court. free access, lifts, extra wide doors and is close to local amenities including a This offers a range of one and two supermarket that opened on the site bedroomed flats for rent and shared last year. ownership. A recent open day attracted more than 150 people who came to Future phases of work on the site will find out more and to view the show include health facilities and family homes. apartment. A small number of shared ownership The shared ownership apartments, the apartments are still available. majority benefitting from a balcony or For more details contact the sales outside terrace, are for sale starting from agent Pattinson on 0191 488 8898 £26,250 for a 25 per cent share. If it’s and you can still apply for one of the affordable to do so, you can buy further rental properties, call Thirteen on shares in the property up to a maximum 0300 111 1000. of 75 per cent of market value. Shared ownership enables you to Residents’ survey - win an iPad mini! buy a share in the property and pay an affordable rent for the remaining This issue of Council News features a brief residents’ survey in the centre pages. share. Owners can make alterations or We would like as many of you as possible to take part and everyone who improvements and can sell their share submits a survey (either online or by post) will be entered into our prize draw to in the property at any time.