oventry News...features...plus more about your city...your neighbourhood...your services cC t v s oissue 41 | dn ecember | 2012 INSIDE l Christmas Cracker l Cycle network boost l Help with debt advice l WIN panto tickets Including: news, comments and updates from organisations across the city working together to improve life in Coventry From the top contents welcome to the december 2012 issue of citivision l A personal message from A personal message from Charley Gibbons, chair of the Coventry Partnership... * Charley Gibbons is Cllr John Mutton, I’m delighted to have been asked to successes that will address some of chief executive of the Citizens’ Advice Bureau Leader, Coventry chair the Coventry Partnership, and the key issues and challenges facing I want to pay tribute to the work of the people we serve. I hope to look in Coventry and has City Council. agreed to be the chair Dave Walton, my predecessor. In my closely at how the partnership can of the Coventry role as chief executive of the CAB, I respond to welfare reform and cuts Partnership for the have worked with many partners in services, while still empowering coming year. Games give way across a range of sectors and have local people. I hope that meetings seen the overwhelming benefits will be informative and give to a year of tough that have ultimately improved opportunities for us all to find new, new challenges services for the people of Coventry. or improve existing ways of In my year as chair, I hope that we working together. As we get to this time of year, will together achieve measurable it’s always nice to look back at our achievements and challenges over the past 12 news community focus months. p 5 14 People , businesses and We’ve all got some really 4 Deputy council leader organisations have been special memories of this year, of Cllr George Duggins has issued honoured for the role they course, when London 2012 a stark warning about the play in improving community came to Coventry and we impact of government cuts on life and welcomed the world to our Council services. cohesion in fantastic city. Coventry I don’t think anyone would 5 Olympic silver medallist Lizzie at the city’s disagree with my view that the Armitstead (right) set the wheels Community city rose to the occasion turning on a £6.9million scheme Cohesion Awards. brilliantly, but it’s good to have which will transform the hard evidence to back this Coventry’s cycling network. up. social care focus Our number crunching has 6 Residents are being urged to 15 A support service that works revealed that the Olympics has be aware of cold callers trying with employers across the city been worth £50million to the to carry out roof repairs or to identify suitable city, which isn’t a bad return on moss removal work. employment training and job the £5million investment the green focus opportunities for disabled Council made. p 10 Renewable energy people is making a difference And now the hard work 9 technology is forging a to lives in Coventry. begins – we have to build on stronger presence in Coventry the legacy of the work already and the region after a club started and make sure we health focus formed out of an alliance of continue to benefit from the technology businesses came 16 Check out our four-page Games in decades to come. together. guide on what’s happening on Keep watching this space, and the healthcare scene in and we’ll keep you updated. around Coventry. We know that 2013, in education focus contrast, will bring many 11 Students contribute what’s on challenges for the city and its £245.8 million to the local residents. There are tough times economy, it has been claimed. 20 A round-up of some of the ahead, but we’ll continue to attractions on offer in and work with you to tackle these enterprise focus finance focus around Coventry this challenges and we’ll be honest winter. and upfront with you about the 9 A city charity has found a 12 People facing social or issues we need to face. great way to recycle financial exclusion can get help councillors A very Merry Christmas to counterfeit clothing (pictured with managing their finances you all, and here’s to a peaceful above) – by restyling the items from a credit union. See our 22 Need to contact your 2013 to everyone. into genuine goods for sale at two-page report on how to go councillor? Check out our its new fashion store! about it. comprehensive directory. * You can write to John at The Council House, Earl Street, Coventry CV1 5RR, or e-mail him at [email protected] contact us If you need this information in another Call the Citivision newsdesk on print and distribute to every If you would like to advertise in the format or language please contact us: 024 7683 1075 or write to Newsdesk, home in Coventry. You can also next issue of Citivision , contact Room 27, The Council House, pick up a copy at libraries and Darren O’Shaughnessy on Tel: 024 7683 1081 Earl Street, Coventry, CV1 5RR, council buildings. Citivision is 024 7683 1075. Coventry City Fax: 024 7683 1132 or e-mail [email protected] produced on paper from Council is grateful for the support e-mail: communications@ sustainable woodland and is from advertisers in this issue of coventry.gov.uk Written and produced by the chlorine free. The milling process Citivision , but accepts no Communications Team, Coventry also has Environmental responsibility for the accuracy of Cover story: Shining Star winner, Pagan Pitaway alongside Roy Wood, Lord Mayor, City Council. Each edition of Management Systems in place. adverts. The next issue of Citivision will Councillor Tim Sawdon and Father Christmas at Citivision costs 7p per copy to write, Once read, please recycle. be delivered in March. the big switch on Full story – Page 5. 12/11/2367 december 2012 | citivision | 03 news Direct hospital bus route now Cool hand Luke back in service makes his mark Bus passengers in Coventry on work ladder can expect improved Luke Barnett, the first apprentice services to University motor vehicle technician employed by Hospital with local operator the Council’s Transport Fleet for Travel de Courcey taking on almost 15 years, gets some valuable another main route in the guidance from line managers Steve city. Bullock and Chris Coyle. People living in parts of Based at Whitley Depot, 16-year-old Eastern Green and Tile Hill Luke will take part in a formal three- will be able to catch a direct year apprenticeship, focusing on heavy bus to University Hospital commercial vehicles, and will be as part of the Number 801 supported by training provider, service. Warwickshire Garage and Transport Cllr Steven Thomas said: Group Training Association. “I have had lots of long Luke will study the principles of conversations with Centro engines, transmission, suspension and and the bus companies brakes, and learn to use instruments about services. I am really for measuring engine and braking pleased that they’ve listened performance, steering angles, and to the 1,200 local people wheel balancing. who signed my petition. Cllr Lynnette Kelly, Cabinet Member “Direct hospital routes for City Development, said: “This is are essential and it’s great great news. I am pleased that the news that a direct bus has Council are able to offer Luke a chance been brought back, I’d like to learn a trade which will, hopefully, to thank Travel de Courcey give him a good grounding to start his and Centro for making it working life.” possible.” Deputy warns of budget cuts pain Deputy council leader Cllr some very painful decisions about George Duggins has issued a our services and losing more posts at stark warning about the impact the Council than we originally of government cuts on Council anticipated. services. “Over the past two years, we have Cllr Duggins has warned that up to made more than £30million of 800 more jobs may have to go at savings through our abc programme Coventry City Council on top of the of reviews of our services. These have 800 jobs already lost over the past helped us protect frontline services two years – and that it would be and continue to protect vulnerable impossible to avoid hitting frontline residents. But this approach will no services. longer be enough. We will have to Finance officers at the Council look at Council services that we now estimate that the gap needed to know are important to local people. be met for the Council to balance its We will be providing less to people, books next year has risen from and will need them to do more for around £14million to £26million. themselves. But we will continue to “It’s clear that the scale and extent be honest and upfront with the of government spending cuts to the people of Coventry and work with public sector which was already them to tackle these challenges.” unprecedented will need to be even The Council’s pre-budget report bigger,” said Cllr Duggins. “However will be discussed at a meeting of the we’re beginning to get a picture of Cabinet in December, ahead of public some important grant funding going, consultation on the proposals. such as the £2.5million early Councillors will make final decisions intervention grant, which supports about the budget and set levels of some of the most vulnerable people council tax for the next financial year in the city.