y News...features...plus more about your city...your neighbourhood...your services cCov enttr v s on Hair raising fun at the Godiva Festival PLUS l Rewards for recycling INSIDE Green l 60 years boulevard of kids TV paves way to city centre l What’s on this summer issue 51 | july | 2015 Including: news, comments and updates from organisations across the city working together to improve life in Coventry From the top contents welcome to the july 2015 issue of citivision l A personal message from A personal message from Ken Sloan, chair of the Coventry Partnership... * Ken Sloan, Cllr Ann Lucas OBE, The Godiva Festival is a great includes public sector, business chair of the Leader, Coventry event that brings all the city’s and voluntary organisations Coventry Partnership. City Council. communities together along with working together to make sure hundreds of visitors across the that not only do we continue to West Midlands. raise the profile of the city – and Visitors will always get a warm events like the Godiva Festival Have your say in welcome here and I’m sure the highlight this - but also to ensure the big debate festival, which is featured in this that people who live and work month’s issue of Citivision, will here experience a good quality of The lively debate we’ve had over the leave people with a good life. past few weeks about our future role impression of Coventry. Striking that balance is essential in the region as the government The Coventry Partnership to a healthy city. devolves powers from Whitehall to the Midlands is a great example of our passion for our city. news Many people have told me very 4 Paying by Direct Debit has clearly they don’t want to be part of reaped rewards for one Birmingham, they don’t want us to lucky council tax payer. merge with Birmingham and they don’t want decisions about the way 4 Citizens’ Advice Bureau the council delivers services to be advisers are calling on made elsewhere by people who customers who struggle to haven’t been elected to serve the city. pay their water bill to get in That’s good - neither do I! otuch. I’m not sure if it’s the government’s title of “combined authority”, or 5 Just 15 months after initial some people wrongly calling it demolition work took place, “Greater Birmingham”, but some the new £14.9m bridge deck p7 Coventry folk are really worried that at Junction 6 of the Coventry powers being transferred from Ring Road is now open. London to the Midlands will Recycling club Rugby 6 Coventry Music Museum World Cup somehow see the city lose its 1 has recently secured another 0 With Englan identity. 12 Residents who are signed up d hosting excellence award, courtesy of the Rugby W Nothing could be further from the to Coventry Recycling Club orld Cup TripAdvisor. 2015 in Sep truth. Not one iota of power would will earn points when tember, fans in Cove recycling improves in their ntry will get the go from Coventry to a West 7 A new exhibition at the ch area and get the chance to ance to see rugb Midlands combined authority. We Herbert Art Gallery and y’s greatest priz remain, and always will be, a great city win rewards and prizes in e - the Webb Museum, ‘The Story of Ellis Cup – u that has its own place on the national competitions. p close as Children’s Television’ is part of the n and international stage. ational attracting record-breaking trophy tour. But it will be easier to do this as numbers of visitors. Godiva Festival part of a powerful – and equal – partnership of councils working 7 Young people who are 14 The UK’s biggest free family together to deliver better transport, looking to “earn while they festival returns to the War what’s on economic, skills and housing solutions learn” and are leaving school Memorial Park over the 18 A round-up of some of the in the Midlands, for the Midlands. this summer may decide to weekend of 3-5 July. attractions on offer in and We’d love our colleagues in towns check out Henley College. around Coventry this and districts across Warwickshire to summer. join the partnership and reap the West Midlands Focus health focus benefits of being part of the Midlands 16 Health organisations across powerhouse. 8 The Leader of the Council Coventry and Warwickshire councillors Over the coming weeks we’ll be has called on everyone in the are reminding people about explaining how this will work and city to step up to the challenge the options they have when 20 Need to contact your why there’s no need to fear any kind of helping make Coventry they need a blood test. councillor? Check out our of Brum takeover, so please make great again. comprehensive directory. sure you have your say. * You can write to Ann at The Council contact us House, Earl Street, Coventry CV1 5RR, or e-mail her at [email protected] Call the Citivision newsdesk on print and distribute to every If you would like to advertise in the 024 7683 1075 or write to Newsdesk, home in Coventry. You can also next issue of Citivision , contact If you need this information in another Room 27, The Council House, pick up a copy at libraries and Darren O’Shaughnessy on format or language please contact us: Earl Street, Coventry, CV1 5RR, Council buildings. Citivision is 024 7683 1075. Coventry City Tel: 024 7683 1081 or e-mail [email protected] produced on paper from Council is grateful for the support Fax: 024 7683 1132 sustainable woodland and is from advertisers in this issue of e-mail: communications@ Written and produced by the chlorine free. The milling process Citivision , but accepts no coventry.gov.uk Communications Team, Coventry also has Environmental responsibility for the accuracy of Cover story: There’s fun for all the family on City Council. Each edition of Management Systems in place. adverts. The next issue of Citivision will the cards at this year’s Coventry Godiva Festival. Citivision costs 7p per copy to write, Once read, please recycle. be delivered in September 2015. Full story – Pages 14-15 15-0368-ECB july 2015 | citivision | 03 news Get your council tax paid for a year Top honour for One lucky Coventry resident who good Samaritans signs up to paying their council Coventry and District Samaritans has tax by direct debit could be in won the prestigious Queen’s Award with a chance of getting their for Voluntary Service. council tax paid for a year. The Award is the highest given to A prize draw held earlier in the year local volunteer groups across the UK. saw 10,000 entries from people who Coventry Samaritans is currently switched to direct debit. The winner's prize was an iPad mini and was won by celebrating 50 years of service to a lady from Aldermans Green. people in Coventry and Already seven out of 10 people pay Warwickshire and over that time has by direct debit but the Council are taken 1.5 million calls. It is managed and operated by unpaid volunteers keen to see the numbers increase. n Cllr Gannon selects the winner of an Councillor Damian Gannon, Cabinet iPad in our direct debit competition and provides a free 24 hour helpline Member for Finance and Resources, every day of the year. said: “I’m delighted with the response never need to worry about You can find how to sign up to direct To contact the Samaritans call 024 to our recent drive to get more remembering to pay your bill again. debit and be entered into the draw to 7667 8678 or call in for a chat at people to pay their council tax by “It also saves you time waiting on the be in with a chance to get your council their branch office in Moor Street, direct debit. phones or queuing at the Council tax paid for a year by visiting Coventry. “As well as being secure and quick, you House.” www.coventry.gov.uk/counciltax New dog controls Caroline’s passion to improve lives of vulnerable Coventry City Council is set to Coventry Citizens’ Advice bureau in helping people cope with the advertise the detail of new dog have recruited Caroline Leighton everyday challenges they face. control orders with the introduction (pictured) as the new Chief Executive. Caroline joins the Bureau with a of new controls set for 15 June 2015. The announcement comes at a wealth of senior executive experience The new order will mean time when free advice will be needed for other charities including Age UK responsible dog owners will continue more and more as cuts and welfare and The British Red Cross. She has to be able to let their dogs off the reform changes are felt in the city. lived and worked in the West lead in parks with sports pitches – The bureau has operated in the city Midlands for a number of years. except when matches are being for 75 years and originally helped If you need advice please visit played. There will be restrictions on people cope with the aftermath of your local bureau owners taking dogs into children's the blitz. It continues to serve the city www.coventrycab.org.uk play areas and a requirement for dogs to be on a lead in some areas of Directory helps parks and open spaces.