City News 1 9/3/17 14:31 Page 1 Spring 2017 stoke.gov.uk City News STRONGER TOGETHER A NEW ERA PAGE 12 FOR CARING Backing the Over 200 jobs being created for home services culture bid with message ORE than 200 new jobs are being their own cars, some will travel on public the independent sector. These are new jobs created by the city council to provide transport and there will even be “walking and we have worked closely with NHS better quality care in people’s homes. rounds” where people can look after clients partners to make sure this project does not in a bottle M close to where they live. only strengthen domiciliary care in the city, A huge recruitment drive has been Duties will include general domiciliary but also improves people’s wellbeing and launched to bring in 216 new domiciliary services to support people in their homes, prevents hospital admissions in the first carers. The plan has been drawn up to place, creating a more sustainable health ease pressure on the NHS by reducing including washing, dressing and some food preparation. economy. admissions to struggling hospitals. ”No experience is necessary.We provide Posts have been accepted by 39 people Age Well Commissioning Manager Ian Clarke said the recruitment drive was going full training and we are more interested already, and the council is organising in people showing caring values like special recruitment open days to reach out well and would continue throughout the year. He said: “We already have 11 dignity, respect and empathy with to people looking for a career in the care other people’s conditions.” sector. co-ordinators who are senior care workers They will be employed directly by the who produce staff rotas and schedules. 80 city council and dedicated planning will people have accepted posts as personal To find out more call the make sure that their workloads and rotas wellbeing assistants with more interviews applications hotline on are scheduled in the best way so they can and shortlists in the pipeline. 01782 231215 or visit do their jobs well. Some carers will use “We’re not looking to poach staff from stoke.gov.uk/jobs PAGE 8 Part of the new caring team – Campaign to Stoke-on-Trent City Council Personal Wellbeing Assistants keep Iron Age Kathleen McCue, left, and Alison Dawson pictured at the Civic gold jewellery Centre, Stoke. in the city PAGE 3 Bennett bust belts up for journey LOOK OUT FOR THE NEXT ISSUE OFCity News IN JULY to museum City News 2 9/3/17 12:42 Page 1 2 City News SPRING 2017 Message gets through that this council will keep Stoke pound with local businesses By City Council Leader Councillor Dave Conway NEVER in my wildest dreams did I think I’d see the day when 350 businesses from our city would be gathered in the King’s Hall to hear me tell them about our plans to support local companies. But that’s what happened at our latest Meet the Buyer event when there was almost a full house (see page 19). We’re delighted that the message is getting through that this council wants to support local business. We want to keep the Stoke-on-Trent pound in Stoke-on-Trent, making sure as many council contracts as possible stay in the city. Of course we can’t just give contracts away, and we can’t just write a blank cheque. There are rules and laws in relation to council procurement. But we can give our companies Waste disposal collection is all the help and support they need one of the vital frontline to make them excellent at bidding services the city council has to for work, giving us all the budget for every year.Here information we need, and proving City Council Leader Councillor they are best for the job. Dave Conway is pictured with The feedback we got from the HGV Driver and Supervisor audience that day was superb. James Mika with a new waste As we move towards changing lorry at Northwood. arrangements for the housing maintenance in the city there will be huge opportunities for local businesses. Every contract we keep in the city will help create and secure local jobs. And that’s not all. Every business and organisation we attract to the Ceramic Valley Enterprise Zone or Smithfield means jobs. The capital programme we’ve unveiled to invest over £500 million Budget set out in updating some of our buildings, improving infrastructure and making the city a better destination for visitors all mean jobs. On the other side of the coin, I’m pleased to see success in the city to support older people who live alone, help parents keep their children safe in often troubling times and build starter homes for young people wanting to get on the for the people property ladder. Local authorities are often the butt of people’s jokes and moans... but this newspaper paints a picture Innovation at heart of plan to raise revenues of a council that’s going places. A forward thinking council, achieving a week or £24 a year for most households, decisions to help us balance the books. success on behalf of the people, NNOVATIVE thinking lies behind the securing investment, transforming of which two per cent will support care “While it was with a heavy heart that we budget set last month to help the council services for older people and those with proposed a council tax increase, it has our city and supporting business. achieve £61 million of savings while It’s not a bad track record in I disabilities while the remaining one per broadly been welcomed by residents in the under two years since we took over. continuing to invest in the city and improve cent will help support the increasing city who responded to the budget But it’s still not enough for me. quality of life for residents. number of children that require care. consultation. We have a great deal to do and, Stoke-on-Trent City Council provides Money is being raised by building new “It has also been helpful that others, believe me, I am determined to more than 700 services from collecting the homes and attracting and supporting including cross party councillors have carry on making these changes. bins and repairing the roads to tackling businesses so more money is generated in acknowledged the scale of the financial fly-tipping and cleaning the streets. council tax and business rates. challenges that are being faced. It also delivers life-changing support for Some of the money raised will go into a “Having an agreed budget provides older people, those with disabilities and new Community Investment Fund which stability for the next three years while Give us your views children in care. will encourage groups and organisations to allowing us to look at what we can do for The council can no longer rely on the put forward initiatives to support the the benefit of the city. WE want to hear your views on City government providing up to half the council in improving the city. “Together with the benefits of a capital News, so please let us know what you money to pay for services in the city. Hundreds of new jobs are bringing investment of £500m, it shows that we are like about the newspaper, what you Like other councils, it now has to find revenue to the area, including 500 at the doing all we can both to support the don’t like and what you’d like to see the money in other ways. Smithfield development and almost 1,000 vulnerable in Stoke-on-Trent and to more of. Everything possible is being done to get at the Ceramic Valley Enterprise Zone. continue to improve the city for the future.” Email [email protected] or better value for money and cut costs. City Council Leader Councillor Dave Conway said: “We are facing challenging ■ write to FREEPOST City News to There will be a three per cent increase Find out more about the city council’s in Council Tax, which means an extra 46p times and that means making tough budget for 2017/18 at stoke.gov.uk have your say. LIVE WEBCAST of full council meetings Web: stoke.gov.uk MEETINGS of the full council can now be viewed online.To see and City News is printed on paper from hear the debates and decisions which affect life in Stoke-on-Trent, Facebook: facebook.com/ sustainable sources.When you have visit stoke.gov.uk/webcasting sotcitycouncil finished with this publication please A list of dates and times of council meetings and committee meetings Twitter: @SoTCityCouncil help the environment by passing it can be found on our website at stoke.gov.uk/meetingdates on to a friend or recycling it. twitter.com/SoTCityCouncil City News 3 9/3/17 09:56 Page 1 SPRING 2017 City News 3 YEAR OF TRIBUTES TO LITERARY GIANT Unveiling of bronze statue is highlight of 150th anniversary celebrations unique line-up of high-profile events is being staged this Ayear to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Stoke-on-Trent literary giant Arnold Bennett. Among the highlights will be the unveiling of a bronze statue of the acclaimed author and journalist outside The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in the City Centre at noon on Saturday 27 May. The unveiling will be performed by Bennett’s grandson Denis Eldin – son of his only child, Virginia – who will be travelling from his home in Paris.