Coventry News...features...plus more about your city...your neighbourhood...your services issue 59 I summer I 2017 Family fun returns at Godiva Festival INSIDE • New bin collections Countdown • City unites after terror attacks for City of • Coventry’s heritage uncovered Culture bid Including: news, comments and updates from organisations across the city working together to improve life in Coventry 2 I citivision I summer 2017 From the top contents welcome to the summer 2017 issue of citivision • A personal message from Cllr George p18 Duggins, Leader, Coventry City Council. Kickstarting business growth We recently announced that the Financial Ombudsman Service is to move an additional office into two floors of the Friargate building, accommodating 300 staff. This is a really positive step because it will help to attract more businesses to locate in the city. The news comes at a time when there are many other developments, and we must continue to encourage even more regeneration schemes across Coventry. godiva festival focus In the next few weeks we are news recycling focus hoping to find out if we have 18 Coventry Godiva made the shortlist for UK City 4 People parking in some 12 Changes to the way Festival will get of Culture 2021. We’re putting a city centre car parks now we collect your bins underway from 7-9 strong case together and there is have the option to pay for will mean that from this July in the city’s War lots of local business support for parking using their mobile September you will be able Memorial Park and the bid. phone. to recycle food waste. there are some big In this issue of Citivision we musical names getting also explain about changes to 5 A major national health focus in tune to perform at the way we collect your bins. It financial bodyis to Coventry University has the free festival. will mean that you will be able to 14 relocate from London to been awarded a Certificate recycle food waste and there will Coventry – bringing 320 of Commitment from the be opportunities to find out more jobs to the city. UNICEF UK Baby Friendly before the new service begins in what’s on Initiative. September. 6 A new police-backed 20 A round-up of some of Following the terrible attacks the attractions on offer in scheme designed to People in Coventry are in London and Manchester I hope 15 and around Coventry for cut crime and anti-social being reminded of the risk that people attending summer the next few months. behaviour in betting shops of getting Type 2 diabetes events, like the Godiva Festival, and how to reduce it. will be vigilant and report anything has been launched. suspicious but enjoy these councillors New laws have come into events and be reassured that we 7 A group of older people 15 place about the ways in 22 Need to contact your continue to work with the police has been proving that Check which people can smoke councillors? to review our event planning – computers and technology out our comprehensive across the country. and your safety is paramount. can play a crucial part in directory. These are changing times but bringing people together. there’s no doubt that Coventry is a very special community and there is a real desire to show contact us unity. Call the Citivision newsdesk on distribute to every home in contact Darren O’Shaughnessy 024 7683 1075 or write Coventry. You can also pick up on 024 7683 1075. Coventry to Newsdesk, Room 27, a copy at libraries and Council City Council is grateful for the If you need this information The Council House, Earl Street, buildings. Citivision is produced on support from advertisers in this in another format or language Coventry, CV1 5RR, or e-mail paper from sustainable woodland issue of Citivision, but accepts no please contact us: [email protected] and is chlorine free. The milling responsibility for the accuracy of Written and produced by process also has Environmental adverts. Tel: 024 7683 1081 the Communications Team, Management Systems in place. All details are correct at time e-mail: communications@ Coventry City Council. Each Once read, please recycle. of going to print (12 June 2017). coventry.gov.uk edition of Citivision costs 9p If you would like to advertise per copy to write, print and in the next issue of Citivision, Cover story: Countdown to Godiva Festival 2017. 17-0468-CB summer 2017 I citivision I 3 news Council Tax collection rates up Park and pay Council tax collection rates are finances effectively and efficiently. up by £10m in Coventry and the The council tax that residents’ speed in which housing benefit pay each month contributes to and council support claims are the cost of a broad range of with your phone processed is quicker compared important services in the city. People parking in some city our car parks will mean that with the previous year. Councillor John Mutton, centre car parks now have visitors to the city centre can The Council collected 95.8% Cabinet Member with the option to pay for parking shop without having to worry of council tax between April 2016 responsibility for finance, said that using their mobile phone. about finding the right change and March 2017, amounting to it was positive news. £125.2m. In the previous year, up He added: “I’m pleased that our Councillor Jayne Innes, for the car park.” to March 2016, the council tax collection processes are more Cabinet Member for City Look out for this sign in city collected was £115.2m. efficient. Services, (pictured below) said: centre car parks and on-street Business Rates collections “We work hard to pursue “It’s great that people can pay for – where you see it you can pay have also improved with £122.7m debts and aim to use all of the their car parking via their mobile by phone. collected in the 12 months up available collection methods to phone. People rely less and less to March 2017 compared to maximise revenue collection so on cash so having this feature in £120.9m in the previous 12 that we can spend this on services months – 97.8% of business rates to local people. were collected in the year. “This is especially important in The time it took staff to a climate where the government process new housing benefit and are cutting funding to local council tax support claims is also authorities.” improving. The average time to He said that it was also good process these claims was 18 days news that people making claims – compared to a target of 20 days. for housing benefit and council The news highlights the steps tax support were having their the Council is taking to manage its claims processed more quickly. Skills Summit A spirit of collaboration for a Speeches covered topics positive future was the overriding including the local labour market, theme of the first Coventry Skills the industrial strategy and the Summit. local and national education The event, organised by system. Coventry City Council and hosted The event also saw a series at the Ricoh Arena, brought of debates and discussions together more than 100 delegates introduced by City Council from the worlds of business, apprentice Olivia McFadden and Inspectors have a education (schools, universities, student Alice Mkandawire who Further Education Colleges) and talked about the personalised ‘Good’ feeling about local government. approach to careers she They shared their views and experiences at Westwood experiences on what is needed to Academy. Adult Education ensure Coventry’s young people It is hoped the Skills Summit are equipped with the right will become a regular event, Adult learners in Coventry can (young people not in education, skills so the current and future allowing partnerships to flourish. be sure of a good experience employment or training) and workforce is productive, creative after inspectors gave the looked after children making a and innovative. n Cllr Kevin Maton joins organisers Council’s Adult Education ‘significant difference’ to their and students at the event. Service the seal of approval. future prospects. After a short inspection Head of Adult Education, earlier this year Ofsted has Heather Blevins, said: “The confirmed the service has Service’s good grade is down to maintained the ‘Good’ rating it the very hard work of all staff achieved in 2013. to give local residents a positive They praised a number of areas, learning experience and their including the establishment passion for helping people to of a successful apprenticeship succeed.” programme. The Adult Education Service They also highlighted ‘highly runs over 1,000 courses across effective’ study programmes for 23 venues. care leavers, NEETs 4 I citivision I summer 2017 news Boost to city centre scheme A major national financial to locate its new office in forward to moving in and getting body is to locate one of its Coventry. to work.” offices in Coventry. “Not only was the FOS Steve Reynolds, of Friargate, The Financial Ombudsman impressed with the location they added: “I am sure that, with the Service is set to take two floors of also see real potential for their first two major employers the new 11-storey One Friargate, business to be based here.” now set to move into One now nearing completion near the “We are keen to ensure that Friargate before the end railway station. our city continues to attract and of the year, interest The Financial Ombudsman retain big name employers, creating in Friargate and Service - the UK’s official expert in quality jobs for local people and Coventry as an sorting out problems with financial contributing to the success of the attractive business services - has a major office in wider region.