Our City Issue 12

OurCityOurCityBEST DESIGNED COUNCIL PUBLICATION

ISSUE 12: NOVEMBER 2009

Stoke-on-Trent

Bring it to where it belongs

Anglo-SaxonTreaSure Hoard

the

Bid launched for historic find to becomea permanent exhibit at the Potteries Museum See page six

Our City p1 21/10/09 14:17

2 Our City N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 9

Our City is printed on recycled paper.When you have finished with thispublication please help theenvironment by passing it on to afriend or recycling it.

LIKE many people in the city I am excited about the appointment of our new ChiefExecutive John van de Laarschot and have high expectations of what he will achieve in Stoke-on-Trent.

We launched a drive to recruit the best andreceived a large response with some excellentapplications. John has a superb track record ofsuccess in the private and public sectors, mostrecently at Torridge District Council in Devon,which he helped to transform from a one starcouncil to a four star council with potential forexcellence. You can read on the opposite pagehow he plans to bring this level oftransformation to Stoke-on-Trent.

We have achieved so much in the last fewyears and have ourselves managed atransformation to be among the best, mostimproved local authorities in the country.

But no-one can deny the many challengesahead and I am sure John is under no illusionabout the size of the task he faces.

I hope he brings both the drive and initiativethat will give a flavour of the private sector,where he demands action faster than might betraditional in local government.

The programme of improvements we areembarking on is at least a five year project, and Iexpect John will give this job the time he needsto achieve the improvements in service qualityand performance he has already highlighted.

STOKE-on-Trent continued to make great stridesunder the stewardship of our former InterimChief Executive Chris Harman, who took thereins at a difficult time. That he managed to keepthe city council on an even keel during a periodof transformation is a tribute to his skill andcommitment.

WE are always saying we want to hear thepeople's views, and in this issue of Our City weask the public of Stoke-on-Trent to have theirsay on important issues facing the city to help usplan the future. See page 22 for your chance tojoin in shaping our city and please let us knowyour opinions.

New chief willbring privatesector flavour

Give us your feedback on thisissue of Our City by [email protected] or writeto: FREEPOST Our City

A full list of dates and times offull city council meetings andcommittee meetings can befound on our websitestoke.gov.uk/meeting dates

Meeting datesare now online

By City Council LeaderCouncillor Ross Irving

THOUSANDS ofpeople havevisited and been

involved in the UK’sbiggest contemporaryceramics festival whichhas trumpetedStoke-on-Trent’s statusas a world class centrefor pottery design andproduction.

The first ever BritishCeramics Biennial (BCB)has brought together artistsfrom overseas, localdesigners and famouspottery companies toshowcase their work atexhibitions throughout thecity – and is staging hands-on workshops andmasterclasses.

Organisers have beendelighted by the public’sresponse to the 10 weekevent – which was launchedin early October and runsuntil 13 December – andwhich is due to be repeatedin 2011 and 2013.

Barney Hare Duke,Co-Director of the BCB, saidthe festival was not just aboutceramics but also a way ofraising Stoke-on-Trent’s

profile as a contemporaryand vibrant city with a greatfuture.

He said: “It has gainedpositive national attentionand this will in turn help toattract investment, newbusinesses and visitors to thecity. I believe the festival willbe the catalyst for growth inceramics and other culturalactivities. As well aspromoting the city’s image tothe outside world, the BCBhas given the people who liveand work in Stoke-on-Trentthe opportunity to celebrateand take pride in theirpottery heritage and getengaged with the breadth ofexciting contemporaryceramics. It has alreadyexceeded expectations andthere is still plenty to go.Even after the festival endsBCB will continue its work

with a number of projectsincluding a commitment toset up three ceramic-basedbusinesses next year.”

In total more than 100artists are involved in 10exhibitions across eightvenues – The PotteriesMuseum & Art Gallery in thecity centre;The WedgwoodInstitute, Burslem; EmmaBridgewater Pottery, Hanley;Roslyn Works, Longton;Airspace Gallery, city centre;The Gladstone PotteryMuseum, Longton;TheEtruria Industrial Museum,Etruria; and the Bare WallGallery at Burslem.

Mr Hare Duke said thatvisitors had been particularlyimpressed by the quality anddiversity of the work on show– and also the buildingshousing the exhibition andthe use of the space.

“We have been delightedwith the feedback so far,” hesaid. “People have alsocommented favourably onthe networking opportunitiesat the many events.

“We will assess what wehave done at this first festivaland how it has been receivedand then develop andimprove for the next one.”

Overseas contributorshave included Spanishdesigner Jaime Hayon, whohas studios in Barcelona,Treviso and London, whoexhibited work he hasproduced over the past tenyears in a specially-designedsetting at Emma BridgewaterPottery.

The global presence wasemphasised by a worldpremiere at Roslyn Works ofpottery produced in villagesin India. The familybusinesses – in northernKachchh in the State ofGujarat – produce waterpots, vessels and ceremonialserving dishes.

The BCB, which was part-funded by the NorthStaffordshire RegenerationPartnership and the citycouncil, attracted an ArtsCouncil grant of £100,000.

For details offorthcoming

exhibitions andevents go to:

www.britishceramicsbiennial.com

International artist Jaime Hayon whose work was exhibitedat a specially-designed setting at Emma Bridgewater Pottery.

Festival trumpets city’sworld class status

Our City p2 21/10/09 14:18 Page 1

N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 9 Our City 3

AS well as “habitually” riding waves on a surf board, John van de Laarschot “gets his

kicks” from transforming councilsto become the best.

It’s one of the reasons he chose to movefrom Torridge District Council in Devon –which he led from being a poor authorityto good in just four years – to take thehelm of Stoke-on-Trent City Council asChief Executive in January.

But John van de Laarschot does notappear to be your typical local authoritychief.

He speaks with passion about customersalways being right, wants to bring the bestof private sector practice learned in aglobal executive career to revitalise thepublic sector and brings a refreshing plainspeaking to his new role.

After his appointment the surfing ChiefExecutive rode a wave of media interviews,giving a realistic view of the challengesfacing him in The Potteries.

He told Our City: “I think one of thebiggest challenges here in Stoke-on-Trentis about building that sense of pride. Ithink people here are very proud of wherethey are from, very proud of theirenvironment.

“But they do a great job of running itdown and you almost pick up a feeling thatthe glass is half empty as opposed to beingreally positive and thinking it may be halffull now but our aim is to get it flowingover the brim.”

The fizzing analogy is a reminder thatJohn van de Laarschot is no stranger tosenior management roles, having served asManaging Director of Pepsi Cola in Turkeyand South Africa.

“It’s about a conviction from a council

perspective,” he said, “that we should beproviding the best services to ourcommunities and that second best isn’tgood enough. That to me is what the mainchange is all about. It’s about organisingourselves as one team, to have a can-doapproach and not to continually putartificial barriers in our way that stop usfrom making progress.”

Elected members – the city councillorschosen by the people – form the hub of hislocal government drive wheel, supportedby strong information and good analysisfrom teams of officers.

Accountable

But he is under no illusion that if thatsupport does not hit the mark, the resultscan be catastrophic.

“It’s a bit like a top of the rangecomputer,” he said. “If you put garbage in,you get garbage out. But what’s crystalclear once you have worked in the publicsector for some time is that your electedmembers take the decisions because theyare held accountable by the electorate forwhat they deliver.

“But to be able to do that, we need tosupport them with a first rate organisationthat can provide them with the bestanalysis, policy and strategic options andadvise them on what makes sense and whatdoesn’t.”

Some local council watchers are alreadysaying this approach of empoweringcouncillors, promoting quality decisionsbacked by clear strategy, could go a longway to mending the city’s so-called“broken” politics.

“I am a big fan of transformationalchange. That’s where I get my kicks.Stoke-on-Trent has all the potential to turnaround but collectively it hasn’t done it yet.

So in terms of the job there’s a hugeexcitement to try to be a catalyst to workwith members to make that happen.”

“What this council has got,” he said, “isthat it’s been through a tortuous time andthe time for change is now. My sense isthat there is a passion and self-awareness todraw a line under the past and moveforward together for the future, doing whatwe should be doing and doing it incrediblywell. If you’ve got that momentum withinan organisation you’re a long way on thejourney.”

And having guided Torridge, Devon,from being a sleepy backwater where

“no-one wanted to play with us” to a placethat is “very effective on a regional stage”,John van de Laarschot has a clear goal toreach in Stoke-on-Trent.

He said: “If we really want to compete,we need Stoke-on-Trent to be ascompetitive, in our own way, as Manchesterand Birmingham, otherwise we are lost inno man’s land and that’s the last place wewould want to be.”

The Civic Centre in Glebe Street couldhardly be further from the sea, but fightingtalk like that might just bring a new battlecry to its echoing corridors:

“SURF’S UP!”

New Chief Executive’s views on key – and not so key – issues...

My challenge is to

build oncity’s pride

My challenge is to


My challenge is to


My challenge is to


My challenge is to


My challenge is to


My challenge is to


My challenge is to


My challenge is to


The glass maybe half full butour aim is toget it flowingover the brim.

“The challenge is being involvedin the right partnerships asopposed to those that are goodat talking but not that good atdelivering. We need to be centrestage of partnerships thatdeliver.”

On partnerships On customers On regenerationOn oatcakes On life in The Potteries“The old adage that the customeris king is true. In the public sectorit’s about turning problems andissues on their head and focusingin terms of customer needs,trying to understand them andtailoring your services to meetthose needs.”

“I’ve never tried an oatcake, buthaving heard about them I amreally looking forward to it. Mysurname is Dutch and I’m a bigfan of the pancake houses inHolland and Belgium so ifoatcakes are a similar thing theyget my vote every time.”

“The three pillars of regenerationare creating the climate wherebusiness wants to invest, havingthe skill sets to satisfy businessneeds, and having the nationaland international pull that bringsbusinesses in. It’s about shoutingyour corner.”

“I’m very keen on aerobics andthere’s plenty of opportunityhere to get engaged in that. I’mgenerally into keep fit andwellness. You haven’t got to govery far from here to be out onthe hills so there’s plenty to do.”

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE:John van de Laarschot atthe Civic Centre.

‘‘’’

Our City p3 21/10/09 14:24 Page 1


ATWO week work trial with Stoke-on-Trent City Council had a happy ending for 21-year-old

Becky Cammillare when she was offered afull-time job in administration.

When she left school she trained as a beauticianbut decided that this was not the career path that shewanted to pursue. She had struggled to find a job asher previous work experience had been voluntarywork in her father’s company. But she made themost of a new agreement between Jobcentre Plusand the city council and tried her hand as anadministrative officer in Health and Safety.

Becky said: “I had not heard about work trials buthaving experienced one I would encourage anyonewho can to take up the offer. A work trial gave methe opportunity to show my employer what I wascapable of. I’ve been here now for over six monthsand love the job and work in a really great team.”

Through her Jobcentre Plus adviser she was alsogiven help to fund childcare during the work trial.

Peter Brindley, the Personnel Advisor fromLongton Jobcentre Plus who helped Becky, said:“Work trials are a trial for an actual vacancy. Theycan last up to 30 days and are voluntary. Theyprovide jobseekers with the chance to show anemployer they are the right person for the job andgive them the time and opportunity to assess anindividual, taking the risk out of recruitment.”

Employers can find out more about usingwork trials to fill their vacancies by callingCarol Hemming on 01782 382164. Jobseekerswho would like to take part in work trialsshould speak to their Jobcentre Plus advisor.

BUDDING authors can gettips on how to write abestselling novel, theirautobiography or even a filmscript thanks to a series ofcreative workshops atStoke-on-Trent's libraries.

The workshops whichbegan in September cater forall tastes, genres and agegroups. They are free toattend but booking isessential due to popularity.

All sessions are run byexperienced authors whohave had work published andwho will help people’swriting style blossom.

Bentilee Library hasalready hosted a Writing forTeenagers workshop and theCity Central Library has helda workshop on WritingRomance.

Upcoming sessions includeScreenwriting for AbsoluteBeginners at the City CentralLibrary on Saturday 7November and Writing YourLife Story at Bentilee Libraryon Wednesday 25 November.

Call 01782 238455 for moredetails and to book a place.

Learn towrite yourlife story...

Becky’s two week ‘work trial’led to landing a full-time job

BeckyCammillare,

right, who was givena job as admin assistant

with the city council aftercompleting a two week

work trial, with hercolleague SeniorAdmin Officer Val

Cornes.

Can’t afford to get a leaky roof,rotten windows or electrics fixed ora new bathroom or kitchen fitted?Yes you can. Because Kick Start is an exciting schemethat helps you get necessary renovations done without having to pay a penny till you sell your home.

For a start, you’ll get free support and expertise at every stage of the process, from independent advicethrough to a full survey, approved contractors and project management.

So start now and you’ll end up with the home you’ve always wanted.

For more information, please call

01782 749202or visit our home owners page atwww.staffshousing.org.uk

Our City p4 21/10/09 14:26 Page 1


THE job title of careassistant goesnowhere near to

describing what KarenLooskan and her colleaguesdo to improve the lives ofelderly people whotemporarily make theirhome at St Michael’sHouse in Chell.

Organising coach outings to theseaside, a game of dominos,flower arranging classes or a tripto the theatre are all part of aday’s work for Karen.

All that – and much more –come under her second job title asactivities organiser at St Michael’sCentre of Excellence, a purpose-built city council-managedresidential rehabilitation unitwhich provides services for up to30 older people aged 55-plus.

The majority of peopleadmitted to St Michael’s areeither from hospital or from theirown homes.

They usually spend up to sixweeks at the unit preparing fortheir return home where they canresume their independentlifestyle.

Rehabilitation

The people who access theservice may have had a stroke, abad fall or even suffered brokenlimbs. Others are admitted to St Michael’s because their owncarer – usually a partner – is inhospital. Whatever the reason,most need the specialisedrehabilitation services on hand atthe light, airy and welcomingunit.

That’s where Karen’s third roleas support worker for the socialwork team starts. She makesfollow-up visits to formerresidents once they are back athome.

Karen takes them on days outshopping, to view alternativeaccommodation and on a host ofother activities designed tofacilitate their return home.

She also goes into hospitals toassess whether patients canbenefit from a stay at St Michael’sbefore going home and helpdetermine their particular needs.

When residents finally leave StMichael’s Karen sometimesaccompanies them on theirjourney home to assess needsthey may have in their ownaccommodation and reports backto her social work team partners.

In addition there are privateone-to-one moments Karenspends with residents in need of

re-assurance or just someone tolisten.

Friendly words over a cup oftea, a hug or an affectionatesqueeze of the hand are not in thejob description – but for Karenbeing able to dispense these basichuman kindnesses is just asimportant as physiotherapy andmeeting the practical needs of herresidents.

“No working day is thesame, because residentscome here with manydifferent problems,” saidKaren who has been a careworker for 19 years.

“I always try to putmyself in their position.When they first comethrough our door theymust be apprehensive andsome are scared andvulnerable.

“I come from a big family in

which everyone looked after eachother, particularly older membersof the family like mygrandparents, so I know what itmeans to our residents to feelcared for at a time in their liveswhen they feel vulnerable.”

Karen, aged 43, hassuccessfully juggled herdemanding job with bringing upher three children, now agedbetween 12 and 21, having athree-year-old grandchild andlooking after her husband.

She recalled: “When thechildren were younger I workedaround the needs of my family,and very often I went off to workas my husband got home from hisjob. We were like ships that passedin the night!”

She added: “Our job is toprepare our residents for goingback to their own homes, helpingthem with making a cup of tea,

walking, dressing themselves,going to the supermarket – thingswe take for granted but which areall geared to give them back theirindependence and build up theirconfidence.

“We are not just carers –we are friends of theresidents and because weare human we are boundto get attached.

“All the carers work as ateam and we get greatsupport from the staff,managers and all the otherspecialist agencies wework in partnership with.”

St Michael’s Care ManagerLesley Kokai said: “Karen istypical of our care workers in theway in which she always goes overand above the call of duty to meetthe needs of our residents andprovide them with the bestpossible care.”

Improving people’s

quality of life

Continuing the series of articles highlighting the jobs of dedicated workerswho week-in, week-out serve the people of Stoke-on-Trent, Our City talksto KAREN LOOSKAN who is typical of many care assistants bringingcompassion and a friendly human touch to their daily challenges...

A GOVERNMENT-FUNDEDmulti-million pound initiative tocreate hundreds of new jobs inStoke-on-Trent for unemployedpeople between the ages of 18and 24 is up and running.

The cash for the project hasbeen won following a bid to theDepartment for Work andPensions by a city council-ledconsortium including otherlocal authorities inStaffordshire, NHS Trusts,colleges, universities, housingassociations, the StaffordshireFire and Rescue Service and thevoluntary sector.

In total, £6m has beenallocated to pay for 1,000community jobs acrossStaffordshire – of which 600 to700 will be in Stoke-on-Trent.

Jonathan Phipps,Employment and Skills StrategyManager for the NorthStaffordshire RegenerationPartnership, said:“This agegroup has been the hardest hitby the recession.

“We are targeting those thathave been unemployed formore than nine months. Thenew jobs will be at entry level,linked with training and willhave community benefits.

“It is envisaged the jobs willlast at least six months and willbe a pathway into permanentand meaningful employment.”

There will be a wide range ofjobs on offer including sportscoaches, catering trainees, officeadministrators, museumassistants and constructionworkers who will be employedon environmental improvementschemes.

Recruitment for the new jobsis being handled by JobcentrePlus and the aim is to have afirst-wave of 100 young peoplein post by the end ofDecember.

Governmentsupport forjob project

LIFESAVERS at Dimensions inBurslem made a big splash at aprestigious nationalcompetition where they wererated in the top ten.

The six guards – who ensureswimmers at the Scotia RoadLeisure Centre are safe – wereamong 50 entrants for theLifeguard Triathlon. And afterproving their knowledge oflifesaving, CPR skills and atimed swimming test, judgesawarded them ninth place.

Martin Johnson, who hasworked at Tunstall Pool for 15years also came 35th out of567 in the individualcompetition. DimensionsLifeguard Dave Walker came42nd.

Lifeguards inthe top ten

CareAssistant

Karen Looskanenjoys a cuppa and

a hug with MayBrammeld, aged 86,

at St Michael’sHouse.

Our City p5 21/10/09 14:27 Page 1


An unholy hole at Hanleythat made world-wide newsIT could be a misconception onmy part, but it seems thenumber of holes in roads andpavements in Stoke-on-Trentcaused by the work – albeit verynecessary – of the utilitycompanies is growing at analarming rate.

Nothing is more guaranteed tocause frustrated motorists tognash their teeth than having todrive through the obstaclecourse of temporary traffic lights,diversions and the inevitablebumper-to-bumper delays.

If these holes in the groundare the bane of your dailycommute, then spare a thoughtfor Methodist lay preacherThomas Holland whose bizarreencounter with the mother of allholes nearly 106 years agoabruptly ended his life – andmade world-wide news.

Holland, pictured right, had areputation for berating peoplefor not going to Chapel. On thefateful day of Saturday, 3December, 1903, the 56-year-oldwas walking along St John Street– considered then to be part of“one of Hanley’s best residentialdistricts” – when the groundyawned before him, he fellthrough the gap and was neverseen again.

What further captured thepublic imagination was the

strange coincidence thatimmediately before the earthswallowed him up he wassinging a traditional SalvationArmy hymn.

Just as he was about to be sorudely and unexpectedlydispatched to his Maker hereached the words:“When theroll is called up yonder, I’ll bethere”.

It turned out that under theground was a disused pit shaft,full of gas. An eye-witness sawHolland “lurch forward, throw uphis arms and fall”. Running asnear to the spot as he dared, hesaw only “a gaping hole” whereHolland had been.

The following Monday a“burial service” – pictured top –was held round the railed-offhole in wet and bitterly coldweather.

Maybe those traffic queuesaren’t so bad after all.

Bid to solve missing plaque mysteryRAY Johnson, Professor of FilmHeritage and Documentary atStaffordshire University, islooking to solve the mystery ofa missing plaque presented inhonour of Stoke-on-Trent’s firstcinema which was opened 100years ago last month.

Barber’s Palace Cinema inStation Road (now TheBoulevard), Tunstall, waslaunched on Saturday,9 October, 1909, by GeorgeBarber who later became thecity’s Lord Mayor (1929-30).

In 1996, the British Film

Institute presented “Cinema100” heritage plaques topioneering cinemas throughoutthe country to mark thecentenary of the first public filmshow in Britain which tookplace in London in 1896.

One of the metal plaqueswas sent for erection on thebuilding which once housedBarber’s Palace.

Ray told me:“Sadly it wasnever put on the building andthe plaque appears to havebeen lost. Perhaps someoneknows where it is.”

THE largest ever findof anglo-saxontreasure will be

displayed at the PotteriesMuseum & Art Gallery inthe new year.

The stunning archaeologicalfind, known as The StaffordshireHoard, comprises more than1,500 artefacts – mostly gold,some silver and many decoratedwith precious stones – which dateback to the 7th century.

Now Stoke-on-Trent CityCouncil is working withBirmingham City Council to raisefunding to jointly acquire thehoard and save it for the nation,along with partners includingStaffordshire County Council.

British Museum bosses havebacked Stoke-on-Trent CityCouncil in bringing the incrediblehoard to the city for a temporarydiplay in 2010.

City Council Leader CouncillorRoss Irving believes the“staggering find” wouldpotentially attract hundreds ofthousands of visitors from aroundthe world to the PotteriesMuseum & Art Gallery.

“It would further raise theprofile of our museum which isalready home for the finestcollection of ceramics in the worldand strengthen the city’s status asa tourist attraction,” saidCouncillor Irving.

“The Staffordshire Hoard offersa peerless insight into the DarkAges. The quantity of gold andrange of artefacts have simplynever been seen before. We aredelighted by the British Museum’sstance.

“We want the treasure to remainfirmly in the region in which itwas found. It has to be valued firstof all, so we can find out howmuch we need to raise to actuallybuy it. We’re hoping we’re goingto do that in partnership withother authorities.”

The artefacts, which arebelieved to be war booty strippedfrom the corpses of royal andaristocratic warriors, include threeintricately-crafted gold crosses and150 sword pommels.

Many of these types of itemshave never been seen before andcould keep experts searching fortheir meaning for years.

Market value

The hoard, which containsaround 5kgs of gold and 2.5kgs ofsilver, was unearthed from aStaffordshire field after beinginitially discovered by amateurmetal detectorist Terry Herbert on

private farmland in July.The South Staffordshire

Coroner has declared the artefactsto be treasure which means theyare the property of the Crown andwill be offered at market value tointerested British museums.

The proceeds from the sale –believed to be worth “a seven-figure sum” – will be split equallybetween Mr Herbert and farmerFred Johnson, on whose land thehoard emerged. The hoard iscurrently with the BritishMuseum where it is being valued.

The buried treasure was foundin Burntwood in SouthStaffordshire which, in the 7thCentury, was the heartland of theAnglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia.

The hoard has captured thepublic’s imagination and when itwent on temporary exhibition atBirmingham Museum last monthit attracted tens of thousands ofpeople – doubling the museum’susual visitor numbers.

● A public appeal to raise fundsto acquire the hoard has beenlaunched by the city council andcollection boxes for donationshave been put out at The PotteriesMuseum & Art Gallery.

CITY Council Leader Councillor Ross Irving had an unexpected closeencounter with The Staffordshire Hoard when he was given aspecial preview of the treasure’s public exhibition at BirminghamMuseum.

Councillor Irving – who was accompanied on the VIP visit byInterim Chief Executive Chris Harman and Deb Klemperer, LocalHistory Collections Officer for The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery –had the opportunity to handle some 7th Century artefacts. Thethree of them were left on their own in a room with Anglo-Saxongold – and there was a jest that some people less honest mighthave pocketed a souvenir or two for their own private hoard.“I’mnot sure they would have missed the odd sword pommel,” jokedCouncillor Irving,“One would have made an excellent paper weightfor my desk at the Civic Centre!”

An excellent paper weight

Joint bid to buystaggering find

Someof the

golden artefactsfrom The

StaffordshireHoard.

Our City p6 21/10/09 14:29 Page 1


HEY say Paris is the city of love… but it could soon be rivalled by

Stoke-on-Trent, which aims to provethat the age of romance is not dead.

People in the city are being invited toshare memories of their most tender andromantic moments as part of an intriguingevent at The Potteries Museum & ArtGallery.

Staff there are staging an exhibition calledRomantic Proposal based on the universaltheme of love and romance – and they wantresidents to help by contributing storiesabout how they and their partner first met,the most romantic thing anyone has everdone for them or any other way in whichCupid has played a big part in their lives.

Courtship

The exhibition, which runs from 12December 2009 to 18 April 2010, willexplore the history of courtship and courtingrituals from medieval times to the presentday through the museum’s collections ofceramics, fine art, decorative art, naturalhistory and social history.

However, real-life love stories told by thepeople of Stoke-on-Trent will also feature,and their romantic encounters will berecorded to make an audio and visualcontribution to the exhibition.

Jean Milton, the museum’s CollectionsOfficer – Arts, said: “There will be a series ofactivities and workshops that visitors will beable to take part in throughout the exhibition,which will also include contemporary artworkwith a romantic theme by local artists.

“However, a cornerstone of the exhibition willbe the stories and contributions of local peopleand we hope many of them will come forwardand add to the romance of the whole event.”

The museum is distributing pre-addressedpostcards to clubs, health centres, libraries,community centres and other public places sopeople can send in their memories.You can alsosend a letter or postcard to FREEPOST, Our City.

For more details on how you can get involvedin the exhibition please contact Jean Milton atThe Potteries Museum & Art Gallery on 01782232323 or Vicky Martin at the Gladstone PotteryMuseum on 01782 237777.

A £28,000 Government granthas been secured by the city’slibrary service as part of a“learning for pleasure” projectaimed at encouraging moreadults to read for fun.

The project – calledStokeReads – will pay forvolunteers to be speciallytrained on how to run areading group and what kindof books and literature to use.

The sessions will includereading aloud favouritepassages and poems,discussing a book thateveryone in the group hasjust read and inviting inestablished authors todiscuss their work.

The project to be set uparound the city is one of 213winning projects nationwide.The grant is part of a £20million Transformation Fundlaunched by the Governmentto offer informal adultlearning projects in England.

Councillor Hazel Lyth,Cabinet Member forEconomic Development andCulture, said: “Enabling ourresidents with a means toexpress themselves throughliterature is extremelyworthwhile. This grant willallow our residents to graspthe opportunity to run thesegroups as well as take part inthem.

“This will provide manypeople with the chance todevelop their confidence indealing with people and totake a big step towards abrighter future.”

● Anyone interested insetting up a group, or being amember of one, shouldcontact Anne Mackey,Principal Librarian for ServiceDevelopment, on 01782238401 or [email protected]

Local people invitedto send in their lovestories for newmuseum exhibition

A street inStoke-on-Trent

named after theGreek god of love

Eros would be an aptspot for a romantic

moment. Jean Milton,who is organising the

Romantic Proposalsexhibition, visited the Birches

Head location, suitably equippedwith a Mills and Boon novel.

Initiative toencourageadults toread for fun

CANINE charity championshelped raise more than£4,000 towards the LordMayor’s annual appeal in afun Sunday morning stroll.

Hundreds of pet dogs andtheir owners joined LordMayor Councillor JeanBowers to either walk roundWestport Lake or trek fromMiddleport along the canalto Festival Park and back.

The cash will support theLord Mayor’s chosencharities – Hearing Dogs forthe Deaf and Child Victimsof Crime.

Dog walkraises £4,000

T

Romantic Proposal

GRAPHIC demonstrations in schoolsthroughout the city have delivered anexplosive message on firework safety.

Operation Good Guy targeted thousandsof pupils who may have been tempted totake risks with fireworks in the run up toBonfire Night. Staffordshire Fire and Rescuehave teamed up with trading standardsofficers who will be visiting retailers to help

them comply with the law. The hard-hittingpresentation in over 40 Staffordshire schoolshighlighted the dangers of fireworks. Itshowed a firework being placed in thepocket of a clothed dummy, and the terribledamage caused when it goes off.

Area Commander for Stoke-on-Trent,Wayne Bowcock said:“Fireworks can have adevastating effect on people’s lives and

futures. Operation Good Guy is a timelyreminder to children and young people tothink about the dangers of fireworks in thehope they can develop a healthy respect forfireworks and be safe at all times”

● A firework hotline – 0845 40 20 334 –has also been set up to deal with a range ofenquiries and is open 24 hours a day untilafter the bonfire season.

Good guys teach pupils about firework safety

Our City p7 22/10/09 11:04 Page 1


STOKE-ON-TRENT’SDirector of PublicHealth Dr Geri

Rajaratnam has advisedthat people who becomeinfected by swine flu andhave a relatively mildillness need not take theantiviral Tamiflu.

As health services in the cityprepare for a second wave of theH1N1 virus this winter, DrRajaratnam said: “The vastmajority of people who areinfected by swine flu only suffer avery mild form and Tamiflu is notsuitable for them.

“Everyone will have access tothe antiviral medicine but theyshould consider whether or notthey need it. Tamiflu can haveside effects in that it can generallymake you feel miserable, causediarrhoea and stomach upset –and these can be worse thanswine flu symptoms.”

“The best thing to do is rest athome and drink plenty of fluids.”

However, Dr Rajaratnamemphasised that there areparticular groups who need tocontact their GP if they have flusymptoms – these include thechronically ill such as those withheart, kidney or respiratorydisease, the very young

(particularly the under-ones) andpregnant women.

The main swine flu symptom isa high temperature combinedwith other complaints which mayinclude a cough, sore throat, bodyaches, chills, aching limbs andloss of appetite. Some peoplewith the virus have also reportednausea and diarrhoea.

Online check

To avoid spreading the virus,people with the symptoms shouldNOT go to the hospital Accidentand Emergency Department ortheir GP surgery, but instead callthe National Pandemic FluService on 0800 1 513 100 or goonline to check your symptoms atthe dedicated website:www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu

Dr Rajaratnam has also urgedpeople – particularly those livingalone – to choose a “flu friend” incase they develop swine flusymptoms for which they wouldrequire the antiviral.

Nominating someone to pickup your supply of Tamiflumedication from one of thedesignated pharmacies aroundthe city reduces the chance ofpassing on the virus throughcontact with other people.

Flu friends are responsible forcontacting the National Pandemic

Flu Service helpline on behalf ofthe patient and they will be givena unique reference number.

The friend will then be askedto collect the Tamiflu from adesignated centre – and they willneed to take one form of ID forthemselves and one for thepatient for whom they arecollecting the antiviral. This IDcan include a driving licence,utility bill, birth or marriagecertificate or passport.

“Flu friends will be a majorhelp in keeping the spread of theillness to an absolute minimumand alleviating the strain that GP

surgeries and hospitals nationallyare coming under,” said DrRajaratnam. They will also helpto make life easier for patientswho won’t have to worry abouthow they are going to getmedication to treat the flu andcan concentrate on resting andrecovering as quickly as possible.”

To find out informationabout the pharmaciesstocking antivirals in yourarea of the city go to theNHS Stoke on Trentwebsite – www.stoke.nhs.uk

CITY WATERSIDE: Buddingsinging sensation SophieBailey was one of the manyhigh notes of the CityWaterside fun day.

The 10-year-old won theever-popular City Waterside HasTalent competition with arendition of Kelly Clarkson’s MyLife Would Suck Without You.

The afternoon entertainmentat City Waterside CommunityCentre also included Africandrumming, belly dancers, a liveband and a tug of war betweenthe police and the fire service.

ABBEY HULTON: The thirdAbbey Hulton carnival sawhundreds of visitors enjoy anexciting array of attractions.

The event, held on thehistorical Hulton Abbey site,featured everything from birdsof prey to seven-seater bikesand fire engines. The carnival,organised by the AbbeyPartnership, was supported bycommunity groups, the BethelChurch and the city council.

ABBEY GREEN: A packedprogramme of courses, tripsand sport over the summerholidays helped lead to a 50per cent reduction in antisocialbehaviour.

Local youngsters were alsoinvolved in the planningprocess for the activities –making successful bids forfunding. And a summeractivities brochure andpersonal planner wasproduced giving young peoplea week-by-week guide.

DownYourWay

News from EasternNeighbourhood

BUCKNALL: A big clean upgot local schools involved insprucing up the area – which ispopular with walkers andcyclists.

The week long event sawpupils from Saint Maria GorettiPrimary School, Mitchell Highand Maple Court Primarytaking part in litter picking,planting wild flower bulbs andcreating wildlife habitats.

BUCKNALL: A record 13piglets have been trotted-outby two sows at the City Farmin Bucknall.

The litters of Daisy andMinnie are the largest amountof piglets to be born in one goat the city council-run farm.

A BAN on boy racers at Festival Parkhas been welcomed by people wholive and work in the area afterenduring years of intimidation,speeding, noise and abuse.

A two-year injunction on two ormore vehicles gathering at thepopular retail and leisure park,between the hours of 7pm and 7am,was put into place on 14 September.

And following the court injunction– which also prohibits drivers fromcausing excessive noise, speeding,racing, swearing and other forms ofantisocial behaviour – no policeenforcement action has beenrequired.

The success of the ban has beenhelped by the fact anyone breachingit could face a court appearance aswell as a fine or custodial sentence.

Signs have also been erected inprominent locations at the parkspelling out the implications ofbreaching the injunction.

The ban is the product of 18months partnership workingbetween Stoke-on-Trent City Counciland Staffordshire Police.

Inspector Shaun Kerrigan,commander of the city centreneighbourhood policing unit, said:“The injunction allows people wholive and work at Festival Park to feel alot more secure.

“We are delighted by the earlysuccess and the fact that no furtherpolice intervention has beenrequired. Local residents andbusiness people have told us it ishaving a positive impact on the area– and that is very promising.”

Tamiflu isnot alwayssuitable formild cases

Court injunction solvespark boy racers problem

GIVING GOOD NOTICE:Signs have been put up at Festival Park spellingout the consequences for would-be boy racers.

PharmacistAndy Pickard of

Meir Hay Pharmacywith a pack of Tamiflu.

However, the antiviral isnot suitable for the vastmajority of people who

suffer a mild form ofswine flu.

Our City p8 21/10/09 14:34 Page 1


TEENAGER LukeBarker had to stopswimming when

private gym fees threatenedto leave him in deep water.

However, since the introductionof free sessions for under 16s at thecity’s pools he has been able torack up the lengths withoutworrying about the cost.

Luke, 13, who swims atFenton Manor, made a one-off payment of £2 for amembership card and – likethousands of others inStoke-on-Trent – can nowdive in whenever the pool isopen to the public for thenext two years entirely free ofcharge.

Children used to pay 90p persession before the Government-funded initiative kicked-in at thebeginning of September – a movewhich has seen 4,130 under-16sswimming at the four city poolsduring September which is anincrease of nearly 100 per cent onthe same month last year.

Luke said: “I’ve always enjoyed

swimming but it wasproving too expensive and I had tostop.

“I decided to see what was on offerat Fenton Manor and was delightedwhen they told me there were freeswimming sessions available.

“I’ve made a lot of friendsthrough the weekly sessions andwould thoroughly recommend themto anyone.

“The instructors are great and thesessions really challenge yourswimming and help you achievebetter results and keep gaining thequalifications. I am currently tryingfor my Gold.”

Up to 45,000 children are eligibleto benefit from the scheme which isrunning at Dimensions LeisureCentre as well as Shelton andTunstall Pools.

A NEW GROUP usinginnovative methods ofmanaging MultipleSclerosis has beenshortlisted for aprestigious award.

Stoke on TrentCommunity HealthServices, part of NHSStoke on Trent, has setup the MS Exercise andAdvice Group whichtreats up to 10 patientsat a time.

More than 70 peoplehave gone through thephysio-led, eight-weekprogramme, whichimproves mobilitythrough progressiveexercise – the approachrecommended byrecent nationalresearch.

With the majority ofgroup membersshowing improvements,the programme with itslinked advice sessions isin line for one of theawards given by theHealth Service Journal.

for youngswimmers for youngswimmers for youngswimmers for youngswimmers for youngswimmers for youngswimmers for youngswimmers for youngswimmers for youngswimmers

Free sessions boostFree sessions boostFree sessions boostFree sessions boostFree sessions boostFree sessions boostFree sessions boostFree sessions boostFree sessions boost New MSgroupshortlistedfor award

LukeBarker at

Fenton Manorswimming pool –

one of thousands ofunder-16s enjoying

free swimming inStoke-on-Trent.

The city council alsointroduced freeswimming for over 60sas part of a nationalinitiative in April 2009.For more details aboutfree swimming call01782 234957 or [email protected]

Terms and conditions apply – ask for details.Orbit First Step is managed by OGL Housing – a division of Orbit Group Ltd., an exempt charity and a member of the Orbit Group.

More and more people are getting onto theproperty ladder withOrbit HomeBuy Agency.We’re the HomeBuy Agent for Shropshire and Staffordshire,and we help people in all sorts of circumstances to buy their dream home.In this role, we act as the first point of contact for all those seeking to buy a home through one of the range of HomeBuy products that have been specifically developed to make home ownership more affordable.

For full details visit our website atwww.orbithomebuyagents.co.ukor call our Sales and Marketing team on 03458 50 20 50.

Open the door to your brand new home with Orbit HomeBuy Agency

Stoke-on-Trent Markets

Stoke-on-Trent Markets

Pick up an entry form from

any Stoke-on-Trent Market

or download one from

stoke.gov.uk/marketsbefore 4pm 23 December

2009 for your chance to win.See entry form for terms and conditions

See posters in Marketsfor details of otherChristmas activities

01782 232716

£5004 peoplewill win

thisDecember

Our City p9 21/10/09 15:18 Page 1

10 Our City NOVEMBER 2009

ASTOKE-ON-TRENT dad came up with an unusual recipe in his efforts to put

fathers back at the centre of familylife.

Bilal Muhammed suggested that theCook and Eat healthy eating programme athis local children’s centre should include afathers-only class.

His idea has been taken up, with fivewannabe men-about-the-house jumping atthe chance to learn how to prepare tasty,cheap and healthy meals on the male-onlyversion of the course run by HealthPromotion working with the city council’scatering department.

The 49-year-old community volunteer isleading the way himself by enrolling in thelessons at the Thomas Boughey Children’sCentre in Shelton. He has already takenone of his dishes home and gained theapproval of his wife Karima.

Now the former mechanic plans to startsharing the home cooking, while at thesame time taking forward plans to form afathers’ social group of his own.

He said: “I have been banging the drumfor some time that as fathers we don’t getinvolved with our children enough.

“When they go astray, we wonder how ithappened. The fact is that if we as fathersgot involved as much as mothers, we couldsteer them in the right direction.

“A Cook and Eat course dedicated tofathers seems a great way of giving themconfidence that cooking is not just awoman’s world. If the dads go home,cook a meal and then bring it to the tablefor the whole family it’s a great way ofgetting them involved with their children.”

Bilal, who also teaches an Arabic coursefor youngsters at the children’s centre andhas a 10-year-old daughter, is delightedthat his wife was impressed with the fruitparcel he prepared on the course.

Passion

He says the lessons, delivered by LynnSnowdon, are giving the fathers great ideason healthy recipes with less salt and sugar.“We are one big, happy family on thecourse,” he added.

A number of community Cook and Eatsessions, backed by NeighbourhoodRenewal funding, are being rolled out inchildren’s centres across target wards inStoke-on-Trent.

Phil Shemilt, Children’s CentreCo-ordinator at the Thomas BougheyCentre, said: “It has always been a passionof mine that we need to treat fathersequally and Bilal’s idea of a Fathers’ Cookand Eat is a great way of engaging them.

“They feel comfortable in each others’company on the course, and they arelearning the basics of healthy ingredientswhile also enjoying a bit of banter.”

● Childcare – we can support you through the whole process of choosing a

childcare provider that is right for the needs of you and your family.

● Family friendly financial benefits– including what is available to help with childcare costs.

● Parental rights and entitlements.

● Signposting – advice on the many support services available across the city and much, much more.

So if you are responsible for a childor young person aged 0-19 and are

struggling to find the answers to yourquestions, please call us free on:

stoke.gov.uk

Stoke-on-Trent Parent Direct has changed its name to theFamily Information Service. We will still be providing

free impartial information, advice, assistance and signposting on subjects including:FREE

Support andadvice forfamilies From

birth to 19

Givingchildren andyoung peoplethe best start

in life

Workingacrossthe city

0800 015 1120or email us at [email protected]

www.twitter.com/StokeFIS

www.facebook.comand search for Stoke Family Information Service

www.bebo.com/StokeFIS

Dad’s recipe for ahappy family

Learningto cook up

healthy food isdad Nathan Watson,

left, with a littlehelp from Bilal

Muhammed.

Our City p10 21/10/09 16:11 Page 1


BURSLEM: Artist Rob Pointonhas been commissioned torecord the £2.2 milliontransformation of Burslem Parkwith a series of paintings. Overthe next two yearsBurslem-based Rob will createthree works that capture thedifferent stages of the projectas a record for futuregenerations. The Burslem ParkPartnership was given £500 bythe Northern AreaImplementation Team for theproject. Work at the parkincludes the restoration of therose garden terrace, fountains,park lodge, iron gates and parkentrance.

HAMIL HEIGHTS:Improvements to the front ofPort Vale Court and ArthurCotton Court flats arecontinuing to brighten up thearea for residents. HamilHeights Residents’ Associationwere helped to plant laurelbushes and put up six hangingbaskets after working withlocal councillors. Residents arehoping to continue the themewith picnic benches andflower beds at the rear of theflats.

FORD GREEN: Two tradersare helping business to bloomon Ford Green Road – witheye-catching flower planters.Household Discounts andSlacks Greengrocer & Floristapproached the Northern AreaImplementation Team with theidea to help restore pride inthe area. The businesses alsoagreed to maintain andre-stock the flowers with localcouncillors agreeing to pay theinitial costs.

DownYourWay

News from NorthernNeighbourhood

TUNSTALL: A youth groupformed in the wake of thetragic death of teenagerDamien Brian – who drownedat Goldendale Pool – ishelping to reduce antisocialbehaviour. Empire YoungPeople’s Group has beeninvolved in three communityevents, training courses toboost employment prospectsand a programme of streetgames. The Northern AreaImplementation Team andPort Vale helped set up thegroup after local youngstersdecided they wanted tochange the perception ofthem locally.

SANTAS and their little helpers are needed fora run in aid of a charity which takes 400children with life-threatening illnesses on amagical trip to Lapland.

The Santa Run – organised by Wish Upon aStar – is a 1k run, jog or walk throughStoke-on-Trent city centre. Entry costs £10 foradults who will receive a traditional Father

Christmas suit to run in and keep. Childrenaged under 12 pay £5 and receive an Elf Hat.All entrants receive a medal for taking part.

The event is one of four which will be takingplace across the country and will be held onSunday, 29 November at 11am.

For more information and an entry form log-on to www.thesantarun.org.uk

STUDENT Lynne Brennan certainlyrose to the challenge whendesigner Matt Tomkinson posedthe question “Cos they cum upwither slogan?”

Matt, owner of local company S-O-T-Shirts, teamed up with Our City to ask readers to send intheir ideas for traditional Potteriescatchphrases to be used on hisrange of clothing.

Lynne, 44, who is an holistictherapy specialist and currentlystudying sports therapy, won thecompetition with her entry “AtoeRate?”,which translates as “Are YouAlright?”. Her slogan has now beenmade up into a t-shirt and thedesign will be going onto theproduction line.

Lynne, who was born and bred in

the Potteries and lives in Stoke said:“It would be a shame and pity tosee the local dialect be forgotten. Itis a real part of our heritage andunique to the area.

“We have friends who visit usfrom abroad and whenever theycome here they always say thingslike “aye up duck” and “Atoe rate?”which goes to show there is still afascination for it.”

Matt said:“It is short, simple, stillvery much used in the Potteriesand fits in with a design idea verywell. I was very impressed with theentries that we received it doesshow the depth of feeling aboutkeeping the Stoke-on-Trent dialectalive.”

Other entries included:“DunnaAsk ‘Im (or ‘Er),“May an’ Mar Laydee”,

“Ar Towk Rate” (I talk correctly) and“An Any Onya Any Onya?” (roughlytranslated as does anyone have any(items) on them?).

Matt’s range of clothing can be

seen by logging on to his websiteat www.s-o-t-shirts.co.uk

● Lynne and Matt are picturedabove wearing the “Atoe rate”T-shirts.

Lynne’s catchphrase is“ow rate” for winning

Stars come out aslights switch onSTARS of stage and screen

will join forces this year tomark the beginning of the

festive season in the city centre.Potteries-born TV host and comedian

Nick Hancock will be joined by singerSu Annagib – winner of the prestigiousStoke’s Top Talent show – to get crowdsinto the Christmas spirit.

And Panto star Jonny Wilkes maymake a special guest appearance.

A packed day of events in FountainSquare, city centre, on 11 November willbuild up to the big switch-on of the citycentre’s Christmas illuminations.

The fun starts at 10am with footballdemonstrations by players and mascotsfrom Stoke City FC.

Players will sign autographs for thecrowds at 2pm. Stoke-on-Trent MaleVoice Choir and City Music School willentertain the crowds from 3.30pm.

Then at 5.30pm Santa will lead apopular parade of performing groupsfrom the Victoria Hall to FountainSquare.

Before the big switch on, Nick Hancockwill be joined by the Lord Mayor,Councillor Jean Bowers, and Stoke Cityplayers who will help with the finalcountdown.

Nick Hancock said: “I love Christmastime and I love Stoke-on-Trent, so I amgenuinely looking forward to this event.”

This year’s switch on sees theintroduction of more environmentally-friendly, low energy consumptionilluminations. It also marks the start oflate night shopping in the city centre,where shoppers can spend more moneyon Christmas gifts thanks to free parking after 6pm on all council-ownedsurface car parks.

City Centre Manager Jean Ball said:“In recent years thousands of peoplehave turned up to this event. We havesome great activities and entertainmentlined up, and this year’s switch on will be our best ever.”

Charity run for Santas and little helpers

Nick Hancock JonathanWilkes

Our City p11 21/10/09 14:40 Page 1

12 Our City N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 9 N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 9 Our City 13

EXPANDEDservices are set tobe introduced in

Stoke-on-Trent to helpthe city meet targets torecycle more than halfits household waste by2020.

The news came as residentswere praised by the citycouncil for helping Stoke-on-Trent hit itshousehold recycling targetfor 2010.

Promotion of the city’srecycling service, theintroduction of blue bins inthousands of homes and acommitment from residentsto protect the environmenthave helped Stoke-on-Trentreach the milestone.

By April next year Stoke-on-Trent will berecycling 40 per cent of all itshousehold waste, then thecity will aim to be recycling45 per cent of its waste by2011, 50 per cent by2014/15 and 60 per cent by2019/20.

Door to door surveys showup to 70 per cent of the84,000 households who havea blue bin are regularlyrecycling.

Waste Minimisation andDevelopment Manager IanButler said: “We want to paytribute to the people ofStoke-on-Trent who haverallied to the cause andjoined our efforts to recyclemore household waste.

“It will be a tremendousachievement to hit the 40 percent target but we are notcomplacent and want toencourage even more peopleto join in and recycle asmuch of their householdwaste as possible.”

A review is underway toimprove the recyclingfacilities available to peopleliving in apartment blocksand terraced streets to help

continue to increase thenumber of residents recyclingtheir waste and the amountof waste recycled in Stoke-on-Trent.

Ian said: “We are lookingat offering additional servicesin places which are difficultfor our vehicles to accesssuch as small recycling boxesor collapsible bags which willhelp residents put out theirwaste for recycling.

“The addition of terraced

properties, flats andadditional collections forschools, community groupsand charities will greatlyimprove existing services andhelp us drive forward toachieve the 50 per centrecycling target.”

The new containers –available to an additional20,000 households – will bechosen to be easier forresidents to store and usethan the larger wheelie bins.

for Stoke

What to putin your bins...

For more information please call us onFreephone 0800 952 0207 or visit stoke.gov.uk

RESIDENTS are being urged to protect

the environment and support a huge

tree planting programme by recycling

their Christmas cards this festive season.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is

backing the Woodland Trust’s annual

card recycling scheme which takes place

in well-known High Street stores.

Money raised from the retailers

through recycling the cards pays for a

tree planting programme around the

UK.

Anyone can take part by dropping

used cards in recycling bins at WH

Smith, TK Maxx and Marks & Spencer to

help the charity reach its target of

planting 12,000 native trees –

an area of woodland half the

size of London Zoo.

For the first time anyone

who visits the Woodland

Trust website to pledge

support for the scheme

can choose the planting

region for the trees they

are helping to fund. To

pledge, simply click on

www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/cards

Paul Hetherington, from the

Woodland Trust, said: “Each year we

value the wonderful support from

everyone who recycles their Christmas

cards with the

Trust, which makes a huge difference to

our work.”

’Tis the season to recycle...

Services expand as cityhits 2010 targetServices expand as cityhits 2010 targetServices expand as cityhits 2010 targetServices expand as cityhits 2010 targetServices expand as cityhits 2010 targetServices expand as cityhits 2010 targetServices expand as cityhits 2010 targetServices expand as cityhits 2010 targetServices expand as cityhits 2010 target

Make the most of yourleftover festive turkeywith mouth-wateringturkey and ham pie

New arrangements forrecycling Christmas trees

Ingredients

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 220°C (425°F) gas mark 7.2. Melt the butter in a heavy based pan and add the flour

off the heat. Whisk in the turkey stock and cook over amedium heat, stirring all the time until the sauce issmooth. Season well and add the mustard.

3. Place the turkey pieces, ham and leeks in the bottomof an oval pie dish, sprinkle with the fresh parsley andpour over the sauce.

4. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface andcover the pie dish with the pastry.

5. Brush the top of the pastry with a little beaten eggand bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes. After this timereduce the heat to 180°C (350°F) gas mark 4 and bakefor a further 15 minutes.

If apple pie is the mother of sweet pies, thenturkey and chicken must be the mother of allsavoury pies. A traditional turkey or chicken piecontains lots of vegetables and is the perfect‘use up’ dish. You can add almost anything toyour pie, such as mushrooms, potatoes,sweetcorn, peas, spinach, parsnips, carrots andbroad beans. This recipe makes use of theturkey stock from Christmas dinner, but you canmake it richer if you prefer by adding cream orcrème fraiche to the sauce.

NEW arrangements after the festive season will helpmore people than ever before to recycle their realChristmas trees.

Instead of taking trees to car parks at designated timesto be shredded, anyone with a brown recycling bin canput their cut-up tree in it for collection.

Anyone who does not have a brown bin is welcome totake their tree to the Household Waste Recycling Centre,either at Hanford or Burslem, where it will be shreddedand re-used as mulch in the city.● Household Waste Recycling centres are atFederation Road, Burslem, ST6 4HU and CampbellRoad, Hanford, ST4 4DX. They are open every dayfrom 9am to 4.30pm, except for Christmas Day,Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

* 90g butter* 25g flour* litre turkey stock* A pinch of salt* Black pepper* 350g cooked turkey or

chicken cut into chunksor strips

* 125g cooked ham cutinto chunks

* 1 tablespoon Englishmustard

* 6 leeks, cleaned andchopped

* 2 tablespoons choppedparsley

* 200g ready makeshortcrust pastry

* 1 lightly beaten egg

RECYCLING experts at Stoke-on-TrentCity Council have come up with thefollowing tips to help residents have aneco-friendly Christmas this year:● When shopping for your Christmas feast,

use a re-usable shopping bag or re-use oldplastic bags.

● Use less packaging by buying loose fruitand veg and choosing drinks in biggerbottles rather than small ones.

● Don't forget to put the vegetable peelingsfrom your Christmas dinner in your homecompost bin.

● Go for gift bags or boxes instead ofwrapping paper.

● Re-use gift bags or boxes.

● Try different materials instead of wrappingpaper – jute cloth, a Christmas themedtable cloth or just tie a silk or velvet bowaround the gift.

● Put presents inside a Christmas stockingthat can be re-used next year.

● Buy wrapping paper made from 100 percent recycled materials.

● Save money and the environment by using re-chargeable batteries.

● Use old Christmas cards to make gift tags.● Support the Woodland Trust Christmas

Card Recycling Scheme. Cards can berecycled via WHSmith, Tesco, TK Maxxand Marks & Spencer stores nationwide

● Recycle as much of your Christmas wasteas you can.

O come all ye faithful recyclers...

Blue bins and green

boxes are collected

from residents

homes throughout

Stoke-on-Trent.

Optical Technology

separates the paper

and card by weight

and colour.

Recyclable materials arrive

at Viridor Materials

Recycling Facility (MRF).

Paper arrives for quality checking

and baling at Viridor s paper

processing contractor s facility.

Materials are received and

loaded into a hopper to start

their way through the process.

Items are now ready to be forwarded

for recycling into new products.

Viridor uses the

latest technology

to sort recyclable

materials.

Paper is loaded into

large storage tanks

waiting to be baled.

Paper, plastic and

cans are baled.

ForkliftOperator Gary

Pearce, left, andYard Labourer David

Diskin sort through themountain of paperrecycling gathered

at FederationRoad.

hat happens to your recycled waste...WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

*Some schemes in the cityONLY accept garden wastein brown bins and nothingelse. Please check yourlocal scheme for details.

Your Blue BinPlastic, mixed glass and cans• Glass bottles and jars• Food cans, drink cans and empty aerosol cans• Plastic bottles, yoghurt pots, margarine tubs etc.• Plastic food trays, fruit punnets• Foil food trays and aluminium baking foil

All items must be empty, clean, and bottlesshould have their tops removed.Please don’t throw... drink cartons, clingfilm and other plastic wrapping, plastic bags,plant pots, drinks glasses, Pyrex, engine oilbottles or polystyrene into this bin.

Your Green BoxPaper, newspaper, magazines, shredded paper,junk mail, brochures, catalogues, telephonedirectories including yellow pages.Please remove all plastic wrapping from junkmail.Please don’t put... cardboard, greetingscards, drink cartons, envelopes, Jiffy bags,plastic bags or wallpaper into your box.

Your BagClothes and paired shoes, bags and belts, bedlinen and towels.Please don’t put... duvets, pillows orsoiled clothing into your bag.

Your Brown BinGarden waste, food waste* and cardboard*• Grass cuttings, weeds, hedge clippings

and cut flowers

• Egg shells, cardboard egg boxes• Tea bags, coffee grounds, vegetable and

fruit peelings• Meat, fish and bones• All cooked and uncooked food waste• Cardboard food packaging and flattened

boxes eg cereal packets• Vegetarian animal bedding or pet litter

eg rabbit, guinea pig and hamster• You can wrap food and vegetarian animal

waste items in one sheet of newspaper

Please don’t throw... plastic of anydescription including plastic bags andbiodegradable bags, soil, stone, rubble, cat or dog waste, coal or ash into this bin.

Your Grey BinAnything not to be recycled• Food• Polystyrene food trays and packaging• Plastic wrapping, bread bags, cling film• Drinks cartons• Ash from fires (allow to cool first)• Disposable nappies, sanitary and incontinence

products properly wrapped• Cat or dog waste properly wrapped

Please check that you are not throwing awayanything which can be recycled.Please don’t throw... clinical waste, hotashes, rubble or soil into this bin.

Our City p12_13 21/10/09 16:38 Page 1


LONGTON SOUTH: Apopular beauty spot is set tobe a more environmentallyfriendly place – thanks to theformation of a new communitygroup. Friends of CocksterBrook will have responsibilityfor improving the greenspaceand have already carried out alitter pick.

NORMACOT: Aclampdown on antisocialbehaviour in Lilleshall Streetis being supported by theinstallation of two newalleygates. StaffordshireHousing Association arepaying for the 2.3 metrehigh security gates on landbetween homes at numbers29 and 31.

LONGTON PARK: A battle ofthe bands and free sportingactivities were just some ofthe attractions that struck theright chord with youngstersattending an Inspire festival.The days out are organised byevents agency CCEM inpartnership with the citycouncil’s Youth Services.

LONGTON: Ghostlygoings-on took place duringevening Halloween Walks atthe Gladstone PotteryMuseum. The historicbuilding, which featured inTV’s Most Haunted, hostedguided tours on 30 and 31October.

DownYourWayNews from

South EasternNeighbourhood

MEIR: Safety improvementsare underway on a busy roadnext to a school – in a bid toreduce accidents andmotorists’ speed. PinewoodCrescent, which is home toCrescent Primary School, isset to benefit from betterdriveways, dropped kerbs,speed humps, double yellowlines and a car park. Thework, funded by the citycouncil, started on 26October.

FROM growing up as acircus acrobat in NorthernChina to working as a

ward assistant in a NorthStaffordshire hospital… life hasbeen a series of great leapsforward for Jia PanCampbell.

It was moving to England withthe touring arm of the ChineseState Circus eight years agothat set her on a trajectoryto her unexpected newcareer.

Thanks to aStoke-on-Trent CityCouncil-backed“support into work”scheme Jia hassurmounted literacyand numeracyobstacles to win a jobin her adoptedcountry’s health sector.

The 31-year-old has gained part-time employment in thematernity ward at the UniversityHospital of North Staffordshireafter taking part in the Start UpCitywide scheme being run byNorth Staffordshire YMCA.

She had previously re-locatedto the Potteries from the southafter marrying a Staffordshire-born acrobat whom she met inthe circus – and she wasdesperate to learn more Englishwith a view to getting a part-time job.

Rehabilitation

So the Start Up Citywide scheme, whicharranged childcare for her young daughterCatrina while she studied literacy, numeracy,First Aid, Foundation Food Hygiene andHealth and Safety in the Workplace, was justwhat she needed.

Jia, who lives in Meir and has beenaccessing the service from the CrescentChildren’s Centre in Meir, said: “I was bornin China, and as a youngster I was selectedfrom school to be an acrobat with the StateCircus.

“I left my studies at the age of 15 to travelaround the North of China to perform in thecities, although I still lived at home. At the ageof 23 I moved to England to work with the

circus’ touring troupe, andit was there that I met myhusband, also an acrobat.

“Richard and I then leftthe circus to get married inHanley, he took a job as anHGV driver and I becamea housewife looking aftermy young daughter. I amso glad that I attended acoffee morning in Meirwhere I learned aboutStart Up Citywide.

“It is through the help of the scheme, andparticularly my one-to-one support worker VivBaskeyfield, that I have been able to land a jobwith a good employer.”

Realising that Jia had only a very basicknowledge of English, Viv signed her up to anumber of courses including English forSpeakers of Other Languages (ESOL) withStoke-on-Trent Adult and CommunityLearning. After gaining a raft of qualifications,and building up her confidence, she was readyat Viv’s suggestion to take voluntary work atthe hospital – and eventually apply for theward assistant job.

Viv said: “Jai was a very attentive studentand I could see she had great potential. Hersis a great success story which is still ongoing.At the moment she is studying Level 2Literacy with LearnDirect at Mitchell High

School’s Community Learning centre(CLC).”

Start Up Citywide is a unique scheme runby North Staffordshire YMCA acrossStoke-on-Trent for parents with children aged0-16. It provides support for parents who lackqualifications, giving them support toovercome barriers before going into training,volunteering or work.

The initiative, which operates in eightchildren’s centres in the city, is backed byWorking Neighbourhoods Funding via Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

Chris Deakin, Start Up CitywideProgramme Manager, said: “Jai’s story is byno means untypical. Ninety-five per cent ofthe people who come on our courses havelittle or no qualifications. We source trainingfor our customers, and each is given a namedsupport worker to act as a coach or mentor.

“We develop an action plan for theirlearning needs, working with partnersincluding Learn Direct, Stoke-on-Trent Adultand Community Learning, UniversityHospital of North Staffordshire’s Learning &Skills Academy, and the Workers’ EducationalAssociation to give them skills foremployment.”

More information about theprogramme can be found atwww.northstaffsymca.org.uk or fromyour local Children’s Centre.

A NEW Transitional Employment Programmeto help long-term unemployed people inStoke-on-Trent back into work has beenachieving immediate results.

Since its launch in June the city councilscheme has recruited 90 people who hadbeen out of work for more than a year – andmore than half the initial intake who are dueto leave have found permanent jobs or havebecome self-employed.“We are delightedwith the success rate for our first wave ofintakes – it is very encouraging and we arenow looking to expand the programme,” said

Mike Romano, Employment SkillsDevelopment Manager for the NorthStaffordshire Regeneration Partnership. Thisprogramme is a breakthrough for peopleover the age of 19 who have been long-termunemployed.“It builds up self esteem andprovides on the job training and support.”

Transitional Employment Programme is apartnership between the council’s JobsEnterprise Training scheme’s business arm –JET Business – and organisations from thevoluntary sector. Temporary jobs are fundedfor 16 weeks and are geared to help the

transition from long-term unemploymentinto the “world of work”. There are a variety ofposts on offer including environmentalmaintenance, welfare advice work, catering,administration, housing support, retail andwarehousing.

JET Business is providing referrals andrecruitment and the organisations creatingthe jobs include Groundwork Staffordshire,EPIC Housing, Gingerbread, Brighter Futures,the Citizens Advice Bureau and Remploy.

For more information call 0800 731 8587 oremail [email protected]

SANDFORD HILL: Pupilsfrom Gladstone PrimarySchool were named WestMidlands winners of theGovernment’s Make IT Happycompetition after making afilm about the positiveaspects of Stoke-on-Trent.

Initiative is helping long-term unemployed

LIMBERINGUP FOR A

NEW CAREERFormer Chinese StateCircus acrobat Jia Pan

Campbell at the UniversityHospital of North

Staffordshire. Inset, withStart Up Citywide

Support Worker VivBaskeyfield.

Scheme catapults acrobat

into a newcareer

Our City p14 21/10/09 14:43 Page 1


AHARD-HITTING police campaign to ridStoke-on-Trent of drug

dealers has uncovered one ofthe biggest cannabis“factories” ever found in thecity – bringing the total numberclosed down to more than 100.

The haul, which consists of 1,400plants recovered from a disused factoryin Hollybush Road, brings the totalamount of the drug confiscated underOperation Nemesis since it began inSeptember 2007 to more than £3.6million. Officers say their commitmentto Nemesis – which has already seenmore than 550 people arrested andcautioned – is set to continue.

Chief Superintendent BernieO'Reilly, Divisional Commander forStoke-on-Trent Division, said: “Thereare no signs of stopping. Throughoutthe last two years we have shown wehave the skills, capacity anddetermination to catch these people.

No untouchables

“If you are involved in the supply ofdrugs then look over your shoulder –because we’re coming to get you.No-one is untouchable.”

One of the most prolific cocainedealers in the city, Damien Miller,aged 27, of Kidsgrove, was jailed forseven years in September for headingan operation to supply 1kg of the drug.

Since Nemesis began, more than 840search warrants have been executed inStoke-on-Trent.

The raids have led to the seizure ofclass A drugs with a street value ofmore than £600,000. In the cannabisfactories closed down a total of22,000 plants were destroyed.

Numerous offensive weapons havealso been found including real andimitation firearms, stun guns,crossbows, swords, knives and CS gasand more than £600,000 in cash.

Now, police in Stoke-on-Trent areasking for more help from the public tobuild on their success. Supt O’Reillyadded: “We are extremely reliant oninformation from the public. Throughthe amount of information providedthe message we are getting is clear:drug dealers have no place inStoke-on-Trent.”

Police and Crimestoppers haveissued the following latest advice forpeople in Stoke-on-Trent to spot thetell-tale signs of illegal drugs activity.These include:

�Windows permanently coveredfrom the inside.

� Visits to the premises at unusualtimes of the day or night.

� People visiting just to “maintain”the house.

� Daily or weekly calls at the houseby people who stay for a shorttime.

� Black bin bags or laundry bagsbeing taken away.

� Compost bags or gardeningequipment left outside, usually atthe rear of the premises.

� Vents protruding through the roofor a rear window.

� Strange, pungent smells from thepremises.

� Unusual noises from equipmentsuch as cooling fans.

Anyone with information aboutthe supply of drugs is asked tocall Staffordshire Police on 0300123 44 55 or Crimestoppersanonymously on 0800 555 111.

MALE police officers and firefighters joined forcesfor one of their most “daunting” operations todate… a charity chest wax.

Sergeant Jon Ward and PC Jason Howell joinedforces with colleagues from Staffordshire Fire andRescue for the hair-raising experience, which wasstaged in aid of breast cancer awareness.

The waxing took place at Keido Hair and BeautySalon in Hanley and raised a total of £430.

TEAMS of volunteersand healthcareprofessionals have nowspoken to more than2,000 peopleface-to-face as part of acampaign to identify thetell-tale early signs ofcancer.

Hundreds of membersof the public have beenapproached as part of atwo-year scheme beingpiloted by NHSStoke on Trent to raiseawareness of breast,bowel and lung cancerin three areas of the city.

More than a year intothe scheme and theteams of healthcareworkers, supported bytrained communitycancer awarenessvolunteers andnon-healthprofessionals, haveattended numerousevents in their targetareas of Norton andBradeley, Longton andBurslem to spread themessage.These includemeetings with residentsassociations, attendingluncheon clubs, culturalevents and coffeemornings and workplacevisits.

Cancer AwarenessWorker Jill Davies said:“Our teams have done afantastic job inspreading the messagethat by diagnosing

cancer early there is agreat chance ofsurviving.The messagewe are very much tryingto convey is ‘get checkedtoday and enjoytomorrow’.”

As part of the projectNHS Stoke on Trent haveteamed up with “CancerStars” to show that thedisease can be beaten.

These are three localpeople who havesurvived three forms ofthe disease – breast,lung and bowel cancer –and are prime examplesof how early detectioncan lead to successfultreatment.“

They are positive rolemodels whodemonstrate that livingin fear of cancer is notthe solution,” added Jill.“For instance, nine out of10 women will survivebreast cancer as long asthey have any symptomschecked early.”

More details about thetelltale signs of cancerare available on thewebsite:www.enjoytomorrow.stoke.nhs.uk

Anyone who isinterested in becoming acommunity cancerawareness volunteer orwho would like thecancer team to attendan event should contactJill on 01782 298064.

Cannabis crackdown shuts

100 drug ‘factories’

PCSO Charlotte Abbotts standsguard outside the terraced housein Heron Cross where a cannabisfactory was discovered.

Cancer awarenesscampaign spreadsvital health message

Daunting operation...

Free Sunday parkingin bid to boost tradeTHE city council has introduced free car parkingacross the Stoke-on-Trent on Sundays in a bid boostbusiness for traders.

The scheme , which began on Monday 26 October,will run initially for a six-month trial period and, ifsuccessful, could be extended.

Ross Irving, Stoke-on-Trent City Council Leader said:“Businesses in neighbouring authorities such asNewcastle-under-Lyme have experienced increasedtrade as a result of free Sunday parking. We want toencourage people to support the local economy.”

The cost of the project will be offset by introducinga charge for Blue Badge holders parking in the city’stwo multi storey car parks on John Street and MeighStreet. The decision was made after a consultationwith disabled drivers groups.

PC StuartFelthouse

confiscates cannabisplants from a drug

factory at a terracedhouse in Hollybush

Road, HeronCross.

Our City p15 21/10/09 14:45 Page 1


FENTON: A BMX track hasbeen officially opened as partof a huge improvement projectin Mount Pleasant Park.During a community event on19 September, Derek Capey,Cabinet Member for Sports,Leisure, Parks and Open Spaces.cut the ribbon on the track –which was built with thesupport of the Territorial Armyand the city council. Residents’friends of the park group, calledLido For All, also securedfunding for new paths, benchesand fencing with the workbeing carried out by theCommunity Payback scheme.

STOKE: The Christmas lightsswitch-on will take place on 2December. Festivities getunderway at 6pm with a carolservice at Stoke Minster – atwhich the Salvation Army Bandwill be playing.

TRENTHAM: A canaltowpath, which forms part of aconservation area, has beencleaned up to halt antisocialbehaviour and fly tipping.The canal area betweenBurrington Drive and JonathanRoad was identified forenvironmental improvementsby the newly-formedTrentham South Residents’Association. British Waterwayshelped with the work whichwas financed by the wardcouncillors’ budget.

NEWSTEAD: A run-downproperty in Wimborne Avenuehas been transformed into acommunity building – as partof a £10,000 project. BlurtonFamily Group (BFG) willsupport people with healthissues and stage activities suchas play and youth clubsessions, coffee mornings andcookery classes. Anyone whowould like to be involved canphone 01782 315046.

DownYourWayNews from

South WesternNeighbourhood

HARTSHILL: A memorial isbeing installed in tribute to theformer residents’ associationchairman Graham Simpson,who died in July. A tree will beplanted and a plaque placed atStowell Green in The Avenueduring November toacknowledge Mr Simpson’sservice to the community. Thememorial is being funded bythe ward councillors’ budget.

ELISHA Morton was beginning to think she would never get a job – but

then Stoke-on-Trent City Council’sTrainee Apprenticeship scheme came along.

The 17-year-old from Northwood hadspent almost a year looking to find work after leaving school, submitting countlessCVs and sending off applications in alldirections.

It was only when she heard about anapprenticeship opportunity at FentonChildren’s Centre that she began to see lightat the end of the tunnel.

Her application was successful, and nowshe is happily in post as an administrator/receptionist at the centre. The placementcombines her twin ambitions of working withcomputers and young people.

Elisha said: “I had a really hard time tryingto find a job, and I was starting to getdepressed. So I was thrilled to get theapprenticeship at a time when it’s extremelydifficult for 16 and 17-year-olds to find workbecause they have less experience than olderjob seekers. I believe it’s a really good thingthat the Trainee Apprenticeship scheme has

been introduced.”As well as Elisha, the

centre has taken on 18-year-oldDebbie Rushton as an apprenticeplay-learning practitioner, under the TraineeApprenticeship scheme.

Jaime Wainwright, Manager at the centre,said: “They have both been searching foremployment or training over the past year, tofurther their interest in forging a career. Withthe current economic climate it is verydifficult to get a job without some sort ofwork experience.

“For anybody with an interest in children’sservices, this is the perfect route to follow.

If vacancies at children’scentres arise during their 12-monthplacements, their names will be put forward.”

● A further four children’s centres inStoke-on-Trent have taken on twoapprentices each under the scheme.Another apprentice is gaining experiencein the Children and Young People’sServices with the Early Extended andEnhanced Learning Team.The apprentices have been taken on aspart of a wider City Council TraineeApprenticeship programme.

A NEW “learning village” is setto give new hope to vulnerableyoungsters who are in danger oflosing their way in life.

The development on the siteof the former primary school atTrent Vale will aim to unlockthe potential of youngsters whoare on the outside ofmainstream education.

At present, the award-winningREACH Pupil Referral Unit inBucknall acts as Stoke-on-TrentCouncil’s support hub forvulnerable children.

Under the new scheme,pupils and staff from REACHwill transfer in 2011 to newpurpose-built facilities at TrentVale, where the curriculum willbe reinforced and broadened.

There are exciting plans toinvolve the surroundingcommunity in the future of thedevelopment, with families andother service providers beingincluded in the project.

The Trent Vale facility will beknown as a Short Stay School,

and it will work closely withmainstream and special schoolsacross the city in providing awide range of specialistprovision to around 45 learners.

REACH’s existing work withmainstream schools in Stoke-on-Trent will continue, withchildren aged 11-16 beingoffered short-term developmentprogrammes of up to eightweeks to support them backinto regular learning.

Permanently excludedyoungsters, or those at risk ofexclusion, will continue to begiven extensive training to helpturn their lives round andqualify them for work, furthereducation or training.

Year 11 pupils aged 15-16will be offered a GCSEprogramme with a focus onpersonal development, and areeligible for a one-day-a-weekplacement at college or trainingproviders.

Lorna Matley, head teacher atREACH in Bucknall, said: “We

are hoping to work with thelocal community, and get theminvolved with the new school.We want them to know moreabout what we do. Theyoungsters who come to us aremostly vulnerable young peoplewho have experienced somedifficulties in school, for allsorts of reasons. We have alwayswelcomed visits from membersof the community at ourBucknall site - local people areoften involved with us, and bythe students’ work.”

Last year 38 per cent of Year11 pupils achieved five A*- Cgrades including English andmaths, while 42 per cent of allGCSEs taken were marked at Cor above.

Jayne Lowe, strategic managerfor participation at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “Thenew Short Stay School will be afacility of high quality forvulnerable learners who willrespect and respond positivelyto their new environment.”

New facility gives hopeto vulnerable pupils

Elishais given her jobchance









PUPILS from a Stoke-on-Trentprimary school are celebratingafter walking away with anational award whichshowcased their use of moderntechnology.

The team of four, fromPackmoor Primary School, werechosen as one of six nationalwinners in the “Y Factors”competition, which looks atinnovation and ingenuity byyoung people using modern“gadgets” such as mobilephones. There were 200 schoolscompeting for one of the six topplaces.

In the case of the PackmoorYear 5 and 6 students, they werechallenged to use “smart”phones (a phone that offersadvanced capabilities, with a PCfunction) for a school projectwhich saw them create theirown mobile websites as well aswriting and performing amusical rap video called “Switchthat mobile phone off!”

Primary schoolteam scoopsnational award

Apprenticereceptionist

Elisha Morton,right, with FentonChildren’s CentreManager Jaime

Wainwright.

Our City p16 21/10/09 14:50 Page 1


FIREFIGHTERS havelaunched a majorcampaign to improve

the safety of older people inthe city.

The drive, called Young at Heart,Safe at Home, comes after statisticsshow in the last two years 13 of the16 fire deaths in Staffordshireinvolved people aged 65 and over.

Older people in the city arebeing reminded to take up freehome fire risk checks to make surethey are protected by workingsmoke alarms and reduce obviousrisks.

Chief Fire Officer Peter Dartfordsaid: “It’s a really shocking fact thatall of our fire deaths since the startof the year have involved elderlypeople and unfortunately thisreflects the trend of recent years.

“It is also worrying that unlesssomething is done, the number ofdeaths from fire could increase, asour population becomes older andconsequently more vulnerable.

“We are determined not to allowthat to happen, hence ourcommitment to engage with thosewho will undoubtedly benefit fromour services.”

To book a free Home Fire Risk Check contact:0800 0241 999.For all other non emergencyenquiries contact:08451 22 11 55 or log onto:www.staffordshirefire.gov.ukor www.direct.gov.uk/firekillsIn an emergency dial 999.

Staffordshire Fire and RescueService provide a free Home FireRisk Check (HFRC) for anyoneacross Staffordshire.

This free service includes a trainedtechnician visiting your home tocheck and fit smoke alarms (free ofcharge), provide advice for you andyour family about fire safetyinformation and help with planningan escape route in case of fire inyour home.

FREE Home Fire Risk CheckFreephone 0800 0241 999

Text 07528 983101 ■ Minicom 0800 0241 998Visit www.staffordshirefire.gov.uk for more details

StaffordshireFire and Rescue Servicepreventing • protecting • responding

Protect your homewith smoke alarms

A DIRECTORY of groups and organisationswho provide support and activities forvoluntary carers in Stoke-on-Trent isbeing compiled by the city council.

There are more than 26,000 unpaidcarers of all ages in the city – slightlymore than the national average of one in10 of the population – who look afterloved ones day in, day out.

The responsibility of being a carer canbe very stressful and in some cases thecommitment can prevent them fromsocialising as much as they would like – sothe support groups provide a vital service.

Kaye Martin, Carers DevelopmentCommissioning Officer at the city council,said:“We are aware of most of themainstream support group andorganisations – such as Approach, NorthStaffordshire Carers Association – but webelieve there are many more we do notknow about. They may include allotmentsocieties, knitting circles, coffee clubs –the list goes on.

“We want to provide a comprehensivedirectory of these groups that carers canaccess – so we need them to get in touch.”

Any group who wishes to be included inthe new directory can register online onthe website csd2.stoke.gov.uk

They can also write to Carers Office,Floor 1, Civic Centre, Glebe Street,Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 1WB or telephone01782 238652.

Council compilecarers supportgroup directory

Tony Heath, aged 65, of Meir receives a firerisk assessment at his home from HowardRhead, Home Fire Risk Check Technicianwith Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Fire safety campaigntargets over 65s

A CRACKDOWN on illegalmotorbikes in Norton hashelped reduce antisocialbehaviour in the area bynearly a third.

Police seized 59 minimotos which have loudengines and can be riddenat speeds as high as 60 milesper hour.

In a special operationofficers also confiscated 30off-road motorbikes, whichwere being used illegally onpublic land.

Extra patrols for theclampdown were funded bythe Norton and Bradeleyward budget – moneyallocated for the three citycouncillors in the ward tospend on specific localprojects at their discretion.

Inspector Mark Hardern,commander of TunstallNeighbourhood PolicingUnit, said: “The reduction inantisocial behaviour hascome about as a result ofgood partnership working.

“Nobody is saying theproblem of illegalmotorbikes has stoppedcompletely, but there hasbeen a drastic decline whichhas improved quality of life.”

Anybody with informationabout mini motos beingdriven illegally should phoneStaffordshire Police on 0300123 4455 or Crimestopperson 0800 555 111.

PC Scott Turner inspects a mini moto and an off-road “pitbike” seized by Staffordshire Police.

Police seize 59 mini motosand 30 bikes... at Norton

Our City p17 21/10/09 14:51 Page 1


WITH the winter chill justaround the corner and thepossibility of snowfall and

icy roads, this is a reassuring sightfor motorists.

The wraps are off the latest machinestasked with keeping traffic flowing on thecity’s highways whatever the winter throws atthem. The four top-of-the range gritters areequipped with the latest satellite technology to

tackle adverse conditions as efficiently aspossible. The city council has invested in thenew machines, which use GPS positioning toensure roads are treated evenly and accurately.

Pinpoint satellite co-ordinates feed directlyinto the 18-tonne vehicles’ spreadingmechanism to automatically ensure thecorrect amount of salt is deployed, even whendriving speeds and road widths vary. Themachines replace four old machines and formpart of a nine-strong vehicle gritting fleet.

Councillor Brian Ward, Cabinet Memberfor Regeneration, said: “Our gritting fleet willtypically treat 333km of city roads every nightduring icy and snowy weather. We have 40highly experienced drivers who work in shiftsto provide round-the-clock cover. With such amajor operation, it is vital that we have themost efficient gritting equipment as possible.”

Last year, gritters spread nearly 6,000tonnes of salt on city roads, between Octoberand mid-February.

BENEFIT surgeries whereresidents can ensure they aregetting their full entitlementsat a location right on theirdoorstep are proving popularwith residents.

Since they were launched lastyear, an average of 25 peoplehave been attending Housingand Council Tax Benefitsurgeries each week – whichtake place in five of Stoke-on-Trent’s local centres. Andfeedback shows that givingpeople access to the all-in-oneservice has proved to be aconvenient and comprehensiveway of claiming support.

Benefit Services ManagerGary Layzell said:“The feedbackwe have received so far is verypositive. People like the factthey can discuss changes, fill-indocumentation and claimforms without having to travel.”

A GROUNDBREAKING project inStoke-on-Trent which helpschildren develop theircommunication and languageskills just missed out on a topnational award.

Stoke Speaks Out – apartnership involving the citycouncil and other agencies whowork with children – wasshortlisted with two other localauthorities for the Early YearsTeam of the Year at the NurseryWorld Awards in London. Butthey lost out to the Lincolnshire

Birth to Five Service whoscooped the top spot.

Stoke Speaks Out BusinessManager Emma Roberts said:“We were absolutely delightedto have been shortlisted for thisaward. It reflects how vital andinnovative the scheme is.“

The partnership has nowarranged a conference forpeople working with children inthe city which will take place atthe Quality Hotel, Hanley, on 6November.

Emma added: “We are very

excited about the conferenceand would like as many peopleto attend as possible to helpraise awareness of the work wedo.”

Stoke Speaks Out, whichhelps children developlanguage and communicationskills, was the first organisationof its kind to be established inthe UK.

To register for the conferenceor for more information, pleasecontact Stoke Speaks Out –telephone 01782 234501.

Hi-tech gritters are a reassuringsight for motorists this winterHi-tech gritters are a reassuringsight for motorists this winter

The cartoon family, The Potters, createdto promote the Stoke Speaks Out project.

Accolade for Stoke Speaks Out project

New hi-tech gritters on parade at Central Forest Park.Inset left, the in-cab controls for the satellite-cordinatedsalt spreading system. Inset right, the state-of-the-artdispensing equipment at the rear of the vehicles.

MEMBERS of the public tookthe opportunity to air theirviews on the latest plans for aproposed new £11 millionhealth centre in Meir.

An exhibition showcasingdesigns for the project was heldat the Meir CommunityEducation Centre in PickfordPlace. The centre, scheduled for2012, will bring together sevenGP practices and a range ofadditional health servicesincluding physiotherapy, bloodtesting and district nursing onto one site.

Sandra Jones, NHS Stoke onTrent Project Manager, said:“Following the consultationexercise, the views of localpeople regarding design andservice provision will be takeninto account.”

A VOLUNTARY support group forpeople with RheumatoidArthritis has been launched atthe new Haywood Hospital.

The initiative is a first forStoke-on-Trent, since previouslythere has been no official localgroup affiliated to the NationalRheumatoid Arthritis Society.

Vicki Taylor, RheumatologyService Manager for NHSStoke on Trent, said:“This is anexcellent way for the patients tosupport each other, while alsogiving them the opportunity toflag up issues and suggestedimprovements to us.”

Chair of the group Ju Ball said:“The group will be run for localpeople, by local people. It willgive them a voice for the firsttime.”

Surgeries getthumbs up

New arthritissupport group

Centre plansexhibition

Our City p18 21/10/09 15:59 Page 1


HANLEY: Residents havebacked plans to introduce anAlcohol Restriction Zonearound the Jobcentre tocombat a rise in antisocialbehaviour. The exclusion zonewill cover Northwood andsurrounding streets – if giventhe go-ahead by the citycouncil’s licensing committee.It would give police officers theauthority to arrest drinkers ifthey refuse to hand overalcohol. However, therestrictions will not affectlicensed premises.

CENTRAL FOREST PARK:Dog micro-chipping, a “no-coldcalling” event, anenvironmental clean-up and avisit from a mobile policestation were among theactivities that helped make alocal Respect Day aresounding success.Other organisationsrepresented included theCitizens Advice Bureau,Midland Heart HousingAssociation and Great PlacesHousing Group.

SHELTON: An alleygatingscheme got underway thismonth in a bid to reduceburglary and antisocialbehaviour. Twelve of thesecurity gates are beingerected behind homes inBoughey Road, Carlton Road,Thornton Road and WatfordStreet as part of a £10,000 citycouncil initiative.

COBRIDGE: Rappers andstreet performers were amongthe attractions on show aspart of the Portland ArtsFestival. The event – staged byPortland and CobridgeResidents’ Association – alsosaw churches making mosaicmirrors with children at theP@RC Centre and a DJ schoolin Century Street Park.

DownYourWay

News from WesternNeighbourhood

COBRIDGE: A Respect eventin Cobridge helped bringresidents together andencourage them to have pridein their neighbourhood.Among the activities, whichwere held over three days atThe Grange, were free healthchecks for 40-74 year olds, aStaffordshire Fire and RescueService drop in and coffeemorning and car seat safetysessions.

BRITAIN’S biggest free sporting event returnedto Stoke-on-Trent when stage five of the Tour ofBritain started and finished in the city.

The cycle race saw world class athletes andOlympic gold medal winners perform in front ofthousands of sports fans and school children,and brought social and economic benefits to thecity and the region.

A wide range of businesses benefited fromhotels to small one-man retailers selling foodand drink refreshments on the day.

Thousands of spectators watched stage five ofthe prestigious event which started at theBritannia Stadium, and went via Stone, Leek,Cheddleton and Barlaston, finishing with adramatic sprint to the line outside Hanley TownHall. During last year’s West Midlands stage,which finished in Stoke-on-Trent, the grossspend by visitors and spectators was more than

£5 million. And in June the televised cycling TourSeries came to Stoke-on-Trent generatingmore than £580,000. This year over 700competitors and visitors are thought tohave stayed in hotels around theregion – boosting the economy.

Councillor Hazel Lyth, CabinetMember for EconomicDevelopment, Enterprise andCulture, said: “The Tour raises theprofile of the city and the regionand clearly has a positive impact onlocal businesses and on Stoke-on-Trent’s health, since it helpsintroduce thousands of children tocycling. The city was also seen in apositive light on national andinternational television – exposure whichis worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.”

ACAMPAIGN hasbeen launched tohelp cyclists stay

safe during the wintermonths – and to highlightthe need for all road usersto pay one another mutualrespect.

With the clock going back andthe weather worsening there areseveral sound and practical tipscyclists can follow to reduce thechance of an accident as longdark nights and mornings drawin. However, the Be Safe Be Seencampaign is also targeting otherroad users to ensure they kill theirspeed and drive with cyclists inmind – particularly in poorvisibility.

Cycling Development OfficerStuart Aldridge said: “Motoristsnow need to take extra care anddrive sensibly to varying roadconditions. By keeping lights,windscreens and mirrors clean,they too will be playing their part.Be patient and give cyclists thespace and time needed whentravelling”

Common sense

“Equally, all other road userssuch as cyclists and pedestrianshave a responsibility to make surethey look after their own safety.Wearing dark clothing or notusing lights will make you blendin with the background and makeyou harder to see.

“Cyclists in particular arevulnerable at this time of the year.Whether cycling to work or toschool there are several commonsense and practical tips. Theseinclude wearing something brightand reflective, making sure lightsare fitted and working,particularly during the night andin bad weather conditions.”

Stuart added: “What is mostimportant to remember is thatmotorists and cyclists both have aright to use Britain’s roads – a

right to safe and enjoyable travel.“Both share a responsibility to

understand each other’s needs –and respond positively.”

The safety message is beingdriven home at a time when moreand more people are beingencouraged to cycle to their workplace every day thanks to a multimillion pound initiative.

Stoke-on-Trent has beenawarded Cycling City Status andhas an additional £4.8 million tospend until March 2011.

One of the funded projects isthe Bike to Work scheme whichhas proven to be very popular thisautumn. The initiative invitesbusinesses of all sizes to take partin a two-week challenge to get asmany employees as possiblecycling into the workplace.

Everyone who takes part is

given a high visibility pack. Thisincludes a tabard, a set of lights, abike lock, a water bottle and aparticipation certificate. Theemployee who clocks up the mostmiles on his or her bike ispresented with a trophy.

Everyone who takes part in thechallenge is also entitled to freeroadside maintenance if theybreak down or have a puncture.

CycleStoke Project OfficerPhilip Chatterley said: “We havehad a very positive response tothe scheme so far. The objective isto encourage more people tocycle to work after the two weekchallenge has been completed.

“Organisations such asSainsbury/DHL Distribution havecommitted to set up a BicycleUser Group (BUG) where cyclingto work is put on the internal

agenda with activities such asinternal website/intranet, Dr Bikedays, free cycle training at work,leisure rides, free cyclemaintenance courses and muchmore.”

If you want your workplace totake part in the Bike to Workscheme contact Philip on 01782236665 or email him [email protected]

● Philip also organises a PortVale Matchday bike ride whichgives fans the chance to cycle tothe ground from a number of“pick up points”. The cycle ridestarts at 1.30pm at BurnwoodPrimary School in Chell on theSaturday of every home gamethroughout the season. ContactPhilip for more details.

Tour of Britain gives city a boost

Road users urged to pay

mutual respect

CycleStoke Project Officer Phil Chatterley, second left, withemployees from Sainsbury Distribution Warehouse at Sidewaywho have signed up for the Bike to Work scheme, left to right,Sean Yates, Mark Flint, Nick Chan and David Evans.

Competitors sprint for the finishingline in Stoke-on-Trent City Centre

in this year’s Tour of Britain stage five.

Our City p19 21/10/09 17:13 Page 1

Summary Accounts 2008/09Welcome to Stoke-on-Trent City Council's summary accounts for the 2008/09 financial year. Our full Statement of Accounts for 2008/09 has been preparedin accordance with the Local Authority Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), but it is generally accepted that they are not user friendly. Oursummary accounts show our key financial information, along with information on performance and our carbon footprint, in an easy to read format.

The cost of running council services

The Income and Expenditure Account shows the cost of running ourservices in 2008/09, and where the money has come from to financethese costs. It is shown below:


2008/09 2008/09 2008/09 2007/08Gross Net Net

Expenditure Income Expenditure ExpenditureService Areas £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000

Central Services to the Public 27,144 (23,936) 3,208 2,886

Coroners Court Service 875 (438) 437 464

Cultural, Environmental, Regulatory and 117,518 (39,188) 78,330 50,268Planning Services

Education and Children’s Services 301,407 (241,522) 59,885 55,763

Highways and Transport Services 28,107 (13,725) 14,382 11,094

General Fund Housing Services 119,701 (94,127) 25,574 19,349

Housing Revenue Services 95,317 (55,162) 40,155 (10,602)

Adult Social Care 96,342 (31,963) 64,379 55,016

Council Member and Corporate Management Costs 5,193 (358) 4,835 7,085

Pension and Other Non Service Specific Costs 9,662 0 9,662 776

Net Cost of Services 801,266 (500,419) 300,847 192,099

Other Income and Expenditure 15,393 9,693

Net Operating Expenditure 316,240 201,792

Sources of Finance

Council Tax (75,046) (72,964)

Collection Fund surplus (14) (895)

Government Grant (14,421) (15,134)

Other income (22,874) (2,597)

Business Rates (103,592) (90,178)

Deficit/(Surplus) for the year 100,293 20,024

Statement of Movement on General Fund Balance 2008/09

Deficit for the year 100,293

Adjustments to limit the impact on council tax (98,518)

Change in General Fund balance 1,775

Opening General Fund balance (13,572)

Change in General Fund balance 1,775

Closing General Fund balance (11,797)

2008/09Income £'000

Dwelling rents (53,564)

Other income (1,598)

Total income (55,162)

Expenditure

Repairs and maintenance 15,235

Supervision and management 14,354

Depreciation and impairment costs 58,585

Other costs 7,143

Total Expenditure 95,317

Net cost of services 40,155

HRA share– Council Member and Corporate Management Costs 150

Interest payable 4,708

Other income (1,113)

Deficit/(Surplus) for year 43,900

Statement of movement on 2008/09Housing Revenue Account balance £000

Opening HRA balance (4,663)

Deficit for the year 43,900

Adjustments to the HRA as required by statute (44,561)

Closing HRA balance (5,324)

Housing Revenue Account

As at 31 March 2009 we managed 19,351 properties. The Housing RevenueAccount (HRA) shows all the income and expenditure relating to ourresponsibility as landlord of these properties. The account is ring fencedso rents cannot be subsidised from council tax or vice versa.

The city council's accounts have, wherever possible, been

prepared in accordance with the accounting concepts

contained in the Statement of Recommended Practice for Local

Authorities issued by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance

and Accountancy (CIPFA).

Cost of services provided 2008/09 (£316.2m)

Housing Services£65.7m (20.8%)

Education andChildren’s Services

£59.9m (18.9%)

Cultural,Environmental,Regulatory and

Planning Services£78.3 (24.8%)

Council Tax£75.0m(34.7%)

OtherIncome£22.9m(10.6%) Government Grant

£14.4 (6.7%)

CollectionFund surplus

£0.014m(0.0%)

Business Rates£103.6m(48.0%)Adult

Social Care£64.4m(20.4%)

Highways and Transport Services£14.4m (4.6%) Council Member

and CorporateManagement Costs

£4.8m (1.5%)

Pension andOther Non Service

Specific Costs£9.7m (3.0%)

Other Income andExpenditure

£15.4m (4.9%)

Central Services to the Public£3.2m (1.0%)

Coroners CourtServices

£0.4m (0.1%)

Sources of finance 2008/09 (£215.9m)

Housing Services costconsists of General FundHousing Services andthose associated with theHousing Revenue Account.

Other income includesgeneral governmentgrants and the LocalAuthority Business GrowthIncentive (LABGI) grant.

Our City p20+21 21/10/09 14:59 Page 1


Performance

Children and Young People

• All small group home provision is judged to be goodor outstanding by Ofsted inspection.

• At Key Stage 4, 61% of pupils gained five GCSEs atgrades A*-C.

• Ofsted inspections of schools have judged over 50%of schools to be good or better and 13 are judgedoutstanding, including all Nursery Schools.

• The number of our young people who are not ineducation, employment or training (NEET) continuesto fall and now stands at 11.9% (or 982 youngpeople).

Regeneration

• Developed, agreed and published one of the largestRegeneration Investment Business Plans in the UK(£1.5bn).

• The Housing Pathfinder (Renew), achieved thehighest independent performance and value formoney rating in the UK (Invested £40m in 2008/09)and exceeded all output targets.

• The city was awarded ‘Cycling City’ status andsecured the 2nd highest level of grant funding in theUK (£4.8m).

• A new ‘iconic’ footbridge was built (£1.1m) as part ofthe City Waterside programme, which is one of thelargest housing transformational projects to beundertaken by any of the national Housing MarketRenewal Pathfinders .

Adult Social Care and Health (ASC&H)

• In May 2008, Rowan Village the new extra care

facility in Meir, opened providing 75 modern homes

and ‘extra care’ in a safe and secure environment. The

authority has attracted new extra care investment

which will secure a further 390 units of extra care for

social rent and an additional 170 units of extra care

for sale/shared ownership over three sites. The first,

West End Village in Stoke will open in 2010.

• ASC&H’s new rapid response ,‘Home from Hospital’

service, providing additional personal care and

practical support, helps people to remain in the

community following a stay in hospital.

• Refurbished St. Michaels Centre of Excellence –

increasing the numbers of re-ablement beds

available.

• Opened phase one of the Abbots House Centre of

Excellence for older people with dementia.

Community Services and Community Safety

• The number of young people entering the Youth

Justice System has reduced from 602 in 2006-07 to

204 in 2008-09.

• There have been, on average, 100 fewer incidents per

month of antisocial behaviour reported to the police

between April 2008 and March 2009.

• 600 new homes built and 800 improved.

• Introduced a new kerbside re-cycling service which

increases the number of recyclables collected.

31/03/2009£000

Land, buildings and other fixed assets 1,140,818

Other assets (including cash) 209,496

Debtors (Money owed to the city council) 61,578

Creditors (Money owed by the city council) (50,217)

Other liabilities (638,139)

Total assets less liabilities 723,536

Funded by

General Fund balance – schools 7,090

General Fund balance – other 4,707

Housing reserves 5,374

Earmarked reserves 64,173

Capital reserves 830,838

Usable capital receipts 9,808

Other reserves (198,454)

Total reserves 723,536

What the city council is worth

Every year we draw up a balance sheet which shows how much our assetsare worth, what is owed to the us and what we owe.

Full Statement of Accounts

The full statement of accounts is available at

stoke.gov.uk alternatively you can contact:

CORPORATE ACCOUNTING

Stoke-on-Trent City Council

Central Services Directorate

Finance Division

PO Box 62

Swann House

Boothen Road

Stoke on Trent ST4 4UJ

Telephone: 01782 231639

Email: [email protected]

Carbon Footprint

The carbon footprint from the council’s ownoperations in 2008 was 59 kilo tonnes ofCarbon Dioxide emissions (1 kilo tonneequates to 1000 tonnes). The council’s ownoperations include council buildings, streetlighting, schools and transport.

The overall carbon footprint from the city in2007 (latest data available) was 1,681 kilotonnes. This covers business, commercial,domestic and road transport. This isequivalent to seven tonnes for every personin the city for that year (one tonne equatesroughly to driving 3,000 miles in a car orweighs as much as 10 baby elephants).

The city’s emissions have gone down slightlyfrom 2004 levels. Over that time there hasbeen a marginal increase in emissions fromindustry and commercial activities and aslight reduction in domestic emissions andthose from road transport.

Capital Investment

Capital expenditure is accounted for separately from the cost of providingday to day services. Capital expenditure represents money spent by us onpurchasing, improving or upgrading assets such as land and buildings,which the local community benefits from over a longer period of time. In2008/09 we spent £121.5m on capital projects, shown in the chart below:

The cost of our capital spendingwas met from a range of fundingsources and is shown above.

North StaffordshireRegenerationPartnership

73.6m (60.6%)

CommunityServices

£3.2m (2.6%)

Adult Social Care,Health and Communities

£3.9m (3.2%)

Children andYoung People’s

Services£13.0m (10.7%)

Capital Investment 2008/09 (£121.5m) Capital Expenditure Funding 2008/09 (£121.5m)

Central Services£8.6m (7.1%)

Housing£19.2m(15.8%)

Grants£68.5m(56.4%)

Major Repair Services£11.3m (9.3%)

CapitalReceipts£10.9m(9.0%)

Borrowing£28.2m(23.2%)

Revenue£2.6m (2.1%)

Feedback

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is always striving to provide the best information for its residents and would welcomefeedback on these summary accounts. If you wish to give us feedback, please fill in the form below and return it tothe address on the left. Please write ‘feedback’ as the first line of the address on the envelope. Alternatively you canemail your comments to [email protected]

Please put a tick in the boxes, with 5 meaning you strongly agree with thestatement, and 1 meaning you strongly disagree with the statement

1 2 3 4 5

1. I found the summary accounts informative ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■

2. I found the summary accounts easy to understand ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■

3. The layout made the summary accounts easier to read ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■

4. Do you have any other comments?Is there any other information you would like to see included in the summary accounts?

✁

Our City p20+21 21/10/09 14:59 Page 2


ABBEY HULTON 01782 427900

BENTILEE 01782 231300

BLURTON 01782 227770

BURSLEM 01782 425700

WHITFIELD VALLEY(FEGG HAYES) 01782 425720

FENTON 01782 743100

HANFORD 01782 421000

HANLEY 01782 202422

LONGTON 01782 425530

MEIR 01782 425676

NORTON 01782 534599

PACKMOOR 01782 794600

SMALLTHORNE 01782 425755

STOKE 01782 425220

TRENT VALE 01782 425260

TUNSTALL 01782 425800

For more information and advice on health issuesplease call NHS Direct – 24 hours a day – on

0845 46 47or visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk or www.nhs.uk

YourYour

Fire & Rescuecontact numbers

COMMUNITY SAFETY ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

Will Gascoigne 01785 898884

Chris Thompson 01785 898883

Dave Gallimore 01785 898885

Guy Volpe 01785 898977

RISK REDUCTION OFFICERS

Donna Broadhead 01785 898904

Jim Taaffe 01785 898976

Maj Ullah 01785 898948

Rehana Iqbal 01785 898891

Neil Cheshire 01785 898498

Tracey Cresswell 01785 898951Longton

Ed Case 01785 898887Burslem

Mick Warillow 01785 898902Hanley

Pete Hall 07967 573263Safer City Partnership Officer

S-O-T AREA COMMAND

AREA COMMANDERWayne Bowcock01785 898894

ASSISTANT AREACOMMANDER– LONGTONGlynn Luznyj01785 898693

ASSISTANT AREACOMMANDER– HANLEYAndy Leedham01785 898765

ASSISTANT AREACOMMANDER – BURSLEMRuth Watchorn-Rice01785 898554

RISK REDUCTIONMANAGERKelvin Knapper01785 898882

ADMINISTRATIONMANAGERPaula Goodwin01785 898895

For all city council services

contact 234234

HEALTH CENTRES

To book your home fire risk check ring: 0800 0241 999

COUNCILLORS working to shape thefuture of Stoke-on-Trent need help fromthe public in reviewing takeaway foodoutlets in Stoke-on-Trent.

A group of councillors is researchingthe issue of hot food outlets to seewhether they are affecting the city’shealth.

A decision could guide the council’sresponse to future planning applicationsand also help shape healthy livingcampaigns in years to come.

It is just one of a number of specialreviews being carried out by councillorswho make up Stoke-on-Trent’s sevenOverview and Scrutiny Committees.

They are there to work with localpeople, the community, council teams

and partner organisations like thepolice and health services to improvequality of life for everyone in Stoke-on-Trent.

As well as doing research which helpsshape council policy, the committeesare there to check the council is doingwhat it says it is doing, providing goodvalue for money and effective services.

The scrutiny committees can alsolook at decisions made by the council’scabinet – which makes key policydecisions – and look at evidence whicheither supports or opposes thosedecisions.

Scrutiny Manager John Ross said: “Wewant as many people as possible togive us their opinions on the number of

takeaways in Stoke-on-Trent and theeffect they have on the community.

“We want to hear from takeawayowners, neighbours, customers, healthprofessionals and anyone else affected.

“Their opinions will be fed into thereview and considered beforerecommendations are made.”

What is your opinion on thenumber of city takeaways?Should they offer healthy foodoptions? Send your views byemail to [email protected] or writetoTakeaways Task and FinishGroup, Overview and Scrutiny,PO Box 631, Glebe Street,Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 1RG.

Public asked to speak up on takeaways

250,000 citizensurged to help shape futureEVERYONE who livesin Stoke-on-Trent isbeing urged to dotheir bit as a goodcitizen in making thecity a better place.

The call comes in acampaign called TakePart, which is promotingthe ways in which peoplecan make a difference.

It aims to help peoplehave their say, by joining aresidents’ group, meetingtheir ward councillor,taking part in consultation,writing a letter or email oreven by standing as acandidate in the citycouncil elections.

Take Part will show whereand how decisions are madeat the city council, who is incharge and how theirdecisions can be influenced.

Our City, which is distributedto almost 120,000 homes inStoke-on-Trent, willcontinue to offer the publicopportunities to have theirsay on services they receiveand the way future policiesare planned.

And at dozens of eventsvisitors will be reminded tomeet their responsibilitiesas citizens to make theirviews known and influencedecision making.

Scrutiny Manager JohnRoss said one of thecampaign’s aims was tobreak down barriersbetween the city counciland the public.

He said: “The CivicCentre is not an ivorytower and city councillorsare not unapproachable –they are real people,members of the public

themselves, who live andwork in the communitiesthey serve.They are well-placed to act as listenersand advocates and can helpwith a huge range of issues.

“Indeed, one of the bestways for the public to beheard and get somethingdone is to speak to theirlocal councillor – thetelephone numbers areprinted on the pageopposite.”

Anyone in the city canwrite to raise an issue toFreepost Our City oremail [email protected]

The city council can becontacted by telephoneon 01782 234567 andfriendly staff at officesthroughout Stoke-on-Trent are only too

pleased to listen to thepublic and help.

John Ross said: “Publicservices in Stoke-on-Trentare accountable to thepublic and a measure of thecity council’s success is thatit shows how well it listensto the people.”

Petition pledgePEOPLE who petition thecity council overimportant issues could beinvited to discussevidence for their viewswith council teams. Thenew approach wassuccessfully trialled withparents who opposedplans for some of thecity’s high schools, whovisited officials to talk theissue through.

CityCouncil LeaderCouncillor Ross

Irving, centre, andElections Officer SharonJames talks to Jill Eaton

about opportunitiesto stand as a city

councillor.

Our City p22 21/10/09 15:56 Page 1


Berryhill and Hanley East

RITA DALE (City Independents)(01782) 267451 07778 [email protected]

ADRIAN KNAPPER(Lab) 07714 334453/07825 [email protected]

JOHN DAVIS(City Independents)(01782) 26412607786 [email protected]

Abbey Green

ELLIE WALKER(BNP)(01782) 39787007917 [email protected]

ALBY WALKER(BNP)(01782) 39787007917 [email protected]

MELANIE BADDELEY(BNP)(01782) 76361507979 508837melanie.baddeley@ stoke.gov.uk

Bentilee and Townsend

STEVEN BATKIN(BNP) (01782) [email protected]

PHILLIP SANDLAND (BNP)(01782) [email protected]

DAVID MARFLEET (BNP)(01782) 876661 07745 [email protected]

Blurton

ROY NAYLOR(City Independents) (01782) 31397507833 183922roy.naylor@ stoke.gov.uk

DEREK HALL (City Independents)(01782) 25871507837 [email protected]

BRIAN WARD(City Independents)(01782) 312670 07814 [email protected]

Burslem North

JEAN EDWARDS(Lab)(01782) 816171jean.edwards@ stoke.gov.uk

DAVID CONWAY (City Independents)(01782) 790922david.conway@ stoke.gov.uk

JOY GARNER (Lab)(01782) 768846 07986 [email protected]

Burslem South

JAVID IQBAL NAJMI (Lab)07846 [email protected]

DEBRA GRATTON (Lab)07748 [email protected]

MOHAMMED PERVEZ(Lab)07919 917632 07825 [email protected]

Chell and Packmoor

ANN JAMES (City Independents)(01782) [email protected]

PETER KENT-BAGULEY (Potteries Alliance)07773 [email protected]

JANINE BRIDGES(City Independents)(01782) 85184207989 [email protected]

East Valley

HAZEL LYTH(Conservative &Independent Alliance)07825 [email protected]

GEOFF KNIGHT (Potteries Alliance)(01782) [email protected]

JOANNE POWELL-BECKETT (Cons &Independent Alliance)07816 [email protected]

Hanley West and Shelton

ZULFIQAR ALI (Lib Dem)07838 [email protected]

ALAN JOYNSON (Non-aligned Group)(01782) [email protected]

MOHAMMAD IQBAL (Lab) (01782) 26689307792 [email protected]

Hartshill and Penkhull

IAN MITCHELL(City Independents) (01782) 31435307885 [email protected]

RANDOLPH CONTEH(City Independents) (01782) [email protected]

BARBARA BEESTON (City Independents) (01782) 61207207729 [email protected]

Fenton

MICK BELL(City Independents) (01782) [email protected]

DEREK CAPEY(City Independents)(01782) 319949 07752 [email protected]

PAUL SHOTTON(Lab)07805 638609paul.shotton@ stoke.gov.uk

Longton North

MARK DAVIS (Lab)07813 [email protected]

TOM REYNOLDS(Lab)(01782) 34229507850 [email protected]

DENVER TOLLEY(Lab)(01782) 316815 07799 [email protected]

Longton South

BAGH ALI(Lab)(01782) 34324607973 [email protected]

JOAN BELL(Lab) (01782) 318998,07757 708703 or 07825732 [email protected]

MICHAEL BARNES(Non-aligned)(01782) 87006507879 [email protected]

Meir Park and Sandon

CLIVE BRIAN (Conservative &Independent Alliance)(01782) [email protected]

JOHN BURGESS(BNP)(01782) 39439707889 [email protected]

MARGARET PYATT (City Independents)(01782) [email protected]

Northwood and Birches Head

DAVE SUTTON(Lib Dem)(01782) 54299807512 [email protected]

JEAN BOWERS (Lib Dem)(01782) 26261307712 [email protected]

KIERAN CLARKE (Lib Dem)(01782) 78801007886 [email protected]

Norton and Bradeley

ALAN RIGBY(City Independents) (01782) 542364 07790 [email protected]

MICK SALIH(Non-aligned Group)(01782) 53354207977 [email protected]

SHEILA MATTHEWS(Conservative &Independent Alliance)(01782) [email protected]

Stoke and Trent Vale

GAVIN WEBB (Lib Dem-Libertarian)07949 026660gavin.webb@ stoke.gov.uk

PAUL BILLINGTON(Lib Dem)(01782) 413225 07743 [email protected]

PAULINE JOYNSON(Non-aligned Group)(01782) 41368307813 [email protected]

Trentham and Hanford

TERENCE FOLLOWS(City Independents) (01782) 31812707944 [email protected]

ROGER IBBS(Conservative &Independent Alliance)07824 [email protected]

ROSS IRVING(Conservative &Independent Alliance)(01782) 335982 07900 [email protected]

Tunstall

MEGAN RYAN(Conservative &Independent Alliance)(01782) 86676107903 [email protected]

MOHAMMED MATLOOB(Lab)(01782) 57765807811 [email protected]

LEE WANGER(Conservative &Independent Alliance)07971 [email protected]

Weston and Meir North

MICHAEL COLEMAN (BNP)(01782) 31169707926 [email protected]

JOHN DANIELS (Conservative &Independent Alliance)(01782) 39678007885 [email protected]

ANTHONY SIMMONDS(BNP)(01782) 334919 07855 [email protected]

COUNCILLORSYourYour

Information on city councillors was correct at the time of going to press.

Our City p23 21/10/09 15:01 Page 1


Our City is published by a partnership of

Stoke-on-Trent City Council, NHS Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire

Police, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue and Job Centre Plus

PEOPLE of all agesand abilities arebeing given the

opportunity to take to thedance floor as part of thecity’s cultural build up tothe 2012 Olympics.

The city council has securedmore than £90,000 to fund athree-year World of Dance projectin the city, offering members ofthe public the chance tocha-cha-cha or even belly dancetheir way to an active lifestyle.

With the popularity of TVprogrammes such as Strictly ComeDancing and Dancing on Ice theproject is expected to be asure-fire winner and communitygroups are being encouraged tosign up for the sessions.

The money will pay for danceartists to hold classes atcommunity facilities.

All kinds of dance styles will beon offer from Bhangra, Tea Danceand Disco to Salsa, Hip Hop andKurdish.

The project has been funded bythe People Dancing programme,which is part of the WestMidlands Culture Programme forLondon 2012. It is backed by theLegacy Trust UK, Arts Council

England and Advantage WestMidland.

Stoke-on-Trent OlympicCo-ordinator Vanessa Darlingtonsaid that city’s bid was one ofonly eight submissions to besuccessfully commissioned in theWest Midlands and that theprogramme would help tohighlight the cultural side of theOlympic Games.

Cultural

She said: “The dancingprogramme is for all ages andabilities and I would encourage asmany groups as possible to comeforward and take part.

“The Olympics has always hada cultural strand to it and that issometimes overlooked because ofthe sporting achievements.

“In a return to one of BaronPierre de Coubertin’s foundingprinciples of the Modern OlympicMovement the Government iskeen to ensure the 2012 Gameshas a huge cultural side to it – a‘wedding of sport and art’.”

Vanessa added: “The other sideof this is that it encouragesparticipation in a fun event whichkeeps you fit, and keys in with thecity council’s Sport and PhysicalActivity Strategy and NHS Stoke

on Trent’s drive to get as manypeople active as possible.

“We hope the sessions we layon will spark an interest in danceand people will follow up theirinterest by getting involved inexisting dance clubs.”

The first year programme willinclude a Tea Dance to be staged

at the Victoria Hall, Arabic BellyDancing workshops as well asBhangra Bollywood and Hip Hopsessions.

And the three year project is setto culminate with a dancecelebration in 2012 in the run upto the Olympic Games openingceremony or torch relay.

Are you part of a communityor interest group that wouldlike to take part in the PeopleDancing programme? If so, call Vanessa Darlingtonon 236156 or email her [email protected]

Contact us by mail at FREEPOST Our City or by email at [email protected] or telephone 01782 236703

STOKE-ON-TRENT’S very own environmentalsuperheroes, equipped with pollution-bustingspecial powers, are helping children learn aboutthe issues of air pollution and greener ways totravel.

Fiona Freeze, Travis the Time Traveller andOxy-Gen are fun cartoon characters with a seriousmessage especially designed for the city’s newClean Air campaign. An evil villain called ProfessorPollutant has also been created to show whateffects pollution can have on your body.

The project has been funded by theDepartment for Environment, Food and RuralAffairs, (DEFRA) and involves a interactive display

an interactive display and exhibition at ThePotteries Museum & Art Gallery which will run forthe next six months. The superheroes are also toappear in city schools as part of an activity pack,which all Year Four children will receive.

Councillor John Daniels, Cabinet Member forHousing, Environment and NeighbourhoodServices, said:“The clean air campaign is just onepart of our long term plan to make the city acleaner, greener place to live and work. By gettingthe message across to people at a younger age, we can lay some solid foundations for our environmental future.”● Visit stoke.gov.uk/cleanair for more information.

Strictly fundancing tokeep you fitand active









Cartoon superheroes head upcity’s new clean air campaignCartoon superheroes head upcity’s new clean air campaign

Travis

Fiona

Oxy-Gen

POTTERIES PASO DOBLE:Leading the way with a dance atthe Gladstone Pottery Museum areLatin American specialists MelissaConnett and Ross Millar of the FordsDance Centre, Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Our City p24 21/10/09 15:52 Page 1

Our City Issue 12

Documents

Transcript of Our City Issue 12