This months leadership reports & news:
1. Breakthrough for Catholic Schools
2. National Report Praises City
3. Enforcement Activity – Blantyre Street, Swinton
4. Dealing with ASB on the Brookhouse Estate, Eccles
5. Enforcement Action – Bank Lane
6. Praise for citizens
7. Council Website Scoops another Award
8. Salford Pupils to get Mediacity:uk Career Taster
9. More bobbies on the beat in Salford
10. Salford pupils make waves in BBC Philharmonic project
11. Green Light given to Academy plans for Hope High School
12. Residents to have their say on the future of Claremont and Weaste
13. New Recycling Scheme already making big impact
14. Big Day for City’s Register Office
1. Breakthrough for Catholic Schools
A breakthrough deal to provide three new schools in Salford could resolve the rumbling row over the future of the city’s Catholic education provision.
The alternative proposal was raised during the Catholic schools consultation and, with the support of the diocese, it has been agreed to formally assess its feasibility.
The new proposal would:
• Bring together both St George’s and St Ambrose Barlow RC schools with a new school on the site of the former Wardley High School
• Add a sixth-form to this new school
• Build a new All Hallows on the current Hope High School site to bolster its already strong links with Pendleton College.
• Build a new St Patrick’s school on its current site
The extra costs of building three new schools, instead of one as originally proposed, would be covered by the sale of the redundant school sites.
One of the objections to the closure of St George’s School was that high school pupils would in future have to travel further to the other faith schools in the city for a Catholic education.
If the new proposal can be worked up into a viable option, it would place the new school’s catchment much nearer St George’s.
St Ambrose Barlow has itself already been promised extra government cash to enhance its post-16 provision. This would be used towards the new single-site option which would include the addition of a sixth-form.
A further report is expected in early April.
2. National Report Praises City
Salford residents are getting a good, value-for-money service from the city council, with a performance that is continuing to improve, according to a government spending watchdog.
The Comprehensive Performance Assessment by the Audit Commission measures how well councils are doing against a number of criteria and then awards authorities stars based on their scores.
Salford has been awarded three out of four stars in the latest end-of-term report and was described as “improving well”. Two years ago the council had two stars.
This is independent confirmation that the council is performing well for the city and I am really pleased with what the report says about our services.
As well as being a benchmark of where we are now, it also serves as a platform for building on what we want to achieve in the future.
The Audit Commission’s report looks at the quality and delivery of services provided across a range of areas, including housing, care for the elderly, education and recycling; and whether those services are delivering value for money for the taxpayer.
The commission says Salford has improved in most priority areas and overall its improvement compares well with other councils.
The report says: “Environmental services, including recycling and composting have improved as has the timeliness of processing housing benefit claims.
“The improved performance in environmental services and benefits is significant as these were areas which declined last year.
“Housing services, including timely completion of urgent repairs and rent collection continue to perform well compared to other authorities.
“There have been significant improvements in relation to educational attainment, with the council being the second most improved authority nationally.
“Services for older people, particularly the provision of support to live independently at home continue to perform strongly.
“By working effectively with its partners the council is making an effective contribution to wider community outcomes.
“Partnership working is a strength.
“The council continues to make good progress in securing inward investment and in regenerating the local economy and can demonstrate success in this area.
“The council is well managed and has good capacity to deliver its future improvement plans.”
3. Enforcement Activity – Blantyre Street, Swinton
As part of the ongoing work in Blantyre Street, the tenancy management officer for Salix Homes has been working hard to tackle environmental issues and over recent months there has been a visible improvement in the overall appearance of the area.
Funding has recently been made available to gate-off the ginnels at the rear of some of the houses, which is expected to be completed in the forthcoming weeks by the Housing Crime Reduction Team.
Its is hoped this will reduce the issue of fly-tipping in the ginnels, as well as stopping youths congregating in these areas.
Discussions are currently taking place regarding a difficult-to-let block of cottage flats in Blantyre Street with a view to making them more ‘lettable’ by offering better security including the erection of fencing.
A Notice of Seeking Possession was recently served on a tenant in Blantyre Street who failed to maintain her garden or allow officers access to the property to carry out an inspection.
Possession proceedings have now been issued in court and the first hearing will take place in March.
Officers from Housing Connections Anti Social Behaviour Team, Salix Homes and Greater Manchester Police continue to meet on a regular basis to exchange information, review progress and action any emerging priorities.
4. Dealing with ASB on the Brookhouse Estate, Eccles
There was a spate of incidents on the Brookhouse estate involving harassment and intimidation of residents and damage to property during December 2007.
It was clear that a number of properties on the estate were being targeted.
Various agencies were concerned that the situation could escalate, in particular over the Christmas period, and wanted to ensure that all victims and witnesses of anti-social behaviour and crime had as much support as possible over the period while the housing and council offices were closed and access to services was limited.
In response, Salford City Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team, New Prospect Housing and Greater Manchester Police in partnership organised a series of initiatives in order to equip residents with the necessary information in terms of how to report incidents and the out-of-hours contact details in the event of an emergency.
A leaflet drop and a door-knock exercise was conducted by PCSOs to all properties on the streets identified as being targeted and residents were provided with a 24-hour telephone number to access for advice and support regarding anti-social behaviour.
Anti-Social Behaviour officers made a number of calls to vulnerable residents over the Christmas closure period for additional support. The Anti-Social Behaviour Team also contacted the police over the closure period to share information of any incidents occurring over the period.
CCTV equipment was also installed in some properties where residents had been targeted. There were some incidents of criminal damage which occurred over Christmas which were reported to the police.
Investigations are ongoing and any identified culprits will be dealt with appropriately. Residents feedback has been that they felt safer and well supported with the additional measures that were put in place.
5. Enforcement Action – Bank Lane
An eviction was carried out in December following complaints that a tenant and his friends were causing nuisance to neighbours by shouting, arguing and playing loud music.
Furthermore, the garden of the property was in a very poor condition and was described by local police officers as ‘a scrap yard’.
A visitor to the property also threatened the tenancy management officer after he took pictures of the garden.
The evidence about the nuisance presented to court was hearsay, however the judge gave the possession order as the defendant did not attend court.
6. Praise for citizens
Tenants who have helped tackle anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhood have been praised for their support after three successful actions by Salford City Council and its housing partners.
The authority’s Housing Connections Partnership, which brings together its anti-social behaviour teams and housing partners Salix Homes and New Prospect Housing, stepped in after complaints from residents.
• In Swinton a tenant and their family who ran up rent arrears, held noisy parties and were involved in fights outside the property have been evicted.
• In Langworthy, a tenant was evicted after assaults against other tenants and threats of violence and intimidation.
• In Ordsall a house used by drug dealers has been taken back for housing after the tenant was evicted.
Behind these three successes are stories of upset and anguish for the victims but also of their bravery and confidence in the system.
We have always made it clear that anti-social behaviour is not acceptable and won’t be tolerated. That we’ve been able to take these successful actions in court shows that Salford residents are prepared to support us in helping them.
In each of the cases, which formally concluded in January, evidence from residents was vital in securing the evictions and possession of the properties.
7. Council Website Scoops another Award
Salford City Council has won another national award for its website, recognising it as one of the easiest to use of its kind in the country.
The website won the Accessibility In Focus 2007 Award for its layout and features for visually impaired and disabled people, beating other charitable and non-profit organisations to the title.
This is the second time in just 12 months the city council has received national recognition for its website, winning the Local Authority Website of the Year at the Good Communication Awards in May.
The city council received additional praise for using Browsealoud, an external service that can make website pages easier to understand for people with visual impairments, or where English isn’t their first language.
It was also commended for being packed with over 30,000 pages of information that is user friendly and easy for people to find.
Judges also liked the website’s ‘impressive’ use of colour and its ‘fresh and clean’ design.
Over 100,000 people from around the world visit the site every month which has over 200 online council services, from pest control information to advice on careers.
Last year Salford City Council was voted one of the top four local authority websites in the country.
8. Salford Pupils to get Mediacity:uk Career Taster
A Salford school was one of only four schools in the country to host a new hi-tech roadshow – giving pupils a taste of what a career at mediacity:uk might be like.
The Swinton High School was used by the government to host the event for a new Diploma in Creative and Media that will be offered in 13 Salford schools and colleges from September.
Salford is one of 63 areas in the country to offer the Diploma which is designed to give students transferable skills to use in the industry – a big bonus for employers. The Diploma is being phased in by the Department for Children Schools and Families and is being supported by several industry employers.
In Salford the BBC will help to support the Diploma which will look at topics such as media, art, radio, product design and music.
9. More bobbies on the beat in Salford
Neighbourhood policing in Salford is set to benefit from six new officers after the police authority proposed a ground-breaking budget deal.
In total, 104 officer posts dedicated to community duties would be created across Greater Manchester over the next three years after the proposals to set the police portion of council tax bills were agreed by the ten district leaders.
It is the first time the police precept, as it is known, has been set over a three-year period. Now the proposal has the backing of councillors it will go forward to the next meeting of the police authority in February.
What this means on the ground is five new PCs and an extra sergeant for Salford.
Figures show that overall crime and anti-social behaviour in the city is reducing and this extra resource will help us continue that trend. Our Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership will be working with our communities to ensure we deliver what they want with these extra officers.
As part of the deal between the police authority and the ten Greater Manchester councils, additional officers would be allocated to priority neighbourhoods identified with CDRPs.
There will also be an increase of 80 in the police support staff establishment.
It is believed it is the first time ever an agreement which sets precept levels for a three-year term has been sealed and money will be given back to districts if the promised posts are not delivered.
The cost to the tax payer in the first year of the deal – 2008/2009 – equates to £124.90 for an average Band D household, equivalent to £2.40 per week, an increase of 17p per week or less than 2.5p per day.
10. Salford pupils make waves in BBC Philharmonic project
Ninety pupils from Salford took to the stage at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall for the culmination of a three-month project with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, part of its major partnership with Salford City Council.
The Year Seven pupils from St Ambrose Barlow RC High School, Moorside High School and The Swinton High School worked with musicians from the orchestra in a cross-curriculum project focusing on Debussy’s composition, La Mer.
The event saw the pupils perform their own response to the piece of music with some students modelling sea-themed costumes they had made and designed themselves.
The event programme also contained artwork the pupils had created after being inspired by La Mer.
The project follows the announcement in September of a partnership between Salford City Council and the BBC Philharmonic ahead of its move along with other BBC departments to mediacity:uk at Salford Quays in 2011.
The relationship with the BBC Philharmonic aims to help to raise the profile of the city nationally and internationally and is enabling the orchestra to build active links with local communities and schools, creating opportunities for young musicians to develop their skills and career aspirations.
Martin Maris, Projects Manager at the BBC Philharmonic, commented:
“You only have to see and hear the end results of this Debussy project with the Salford students to understand why we are so pleased.
“It has shown what can happen creatively when young minds roam free. We look forward to lots more satisfying projects just like this one across Salford.”
11. Green Light given to Academy plans for Hope High School
Hope High School is set to re-open as an Academy on its current Eccles Old Road site this September in a crucial step towards its proposed relocation to Salford Quays in 2011.
Salford City Council’s Cabinet has approved the replacement of community high school, Hope High, by an Academy – a year earlier than originally planned.
This decision follows the end of a six-week statutory period during which parents pupils and other stakeholders were invited to give their views on the proposed ‘closure’ of Hope High School and its reopening as an Academy.
The new Academy, a partnership between Oasis Community Learning, Salford City Council and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (Dcsf), is planned to specialise in media and ICT – specialisms that would be greatly benefited by the school’s proximity to mediacity:uk if plans for a move to its new site get the go-ahead.
The Academy is set to adopt an inclusive admissions policy, accepting pupils between 11-19, regardless of academic ability. It will be non-selective and open to pupils of all religious faiths and those of no faith.
Things are really looking bright for Hope High School now. This decision to re-open as an Academy on its current site, and a year early, gives parents and pupils confidence about the school’s future and the opportunities it will provide. It will hopefully be one of our flagship schools.
12. Residents to have their say on the future of Claremont and Weaste
People in Claremont and Weaste are getting the opportunity to have a say on the future of their part of Salford.
Residents, businesses and other stakeholders are being invited to make comments on the draft Neighbourhood Plan, which sets out the vision for the area for the next 15-20 years.
The aspiration for Claremont and Weaste is that by 2020 it will have a ’strong urban grain and a vibrant, suburban feel’.
The plan identifies key areas for development including The Willows, for which an overall masterplan will be drawn up. The soon-to-be former home of Salford City Reds, has potential to be a site for new family housing and community facilities.
Other key sites for new family housing could include the current Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital site due to be decommisoned by 2010, the Hope High School site and the Eccles New Road area.
The plan recognises the importance of encouraging shops and businesses to the area and improving connections to the Quays so residents and businesses can benefit from the mediacity:uk development there.
Unlocking the potential of the area’s green space is also addressed, with support for exisiting plans to transform Stott Lane into a Neighbourhood Park and to develop Weaste Cemetery as a resource for local history studies and genealogical tourism.
Said Cllr Derek Antrobus, Salford City Council’s lead member for planning:
“Massive investment is changing the face of our city and we want every part of Salford to benefit by empowering local people to make the most of all the opportunities it presents.”
13. New Recycling Scheme already making big impact
Six times more cardboard and paper and five times more glass, plastic and cans are now being collected in those parts of Salford where the big recycle roll-out has already taken place; boding well for the future of the scheme when it is adopted throughout the rest of the city.
Residents in Irlam and Cadishead are recycling much more after being the first in the city to receive new blue and brown bins, replacing the previous ‘opt in’ system under which just over half of households were recycling.
More than 50 tonnes of paper and card are now being collected fortnightly in Irlam and Cadishead, compared with eight previously.
Meanwhile, close to 30 tonnes of glass, plastic and cans are being collected compared with around six prior to the new scheme.
The new bins, which replace the green boxes and bags, join the current black household waste bin, and the magenta-lidded bin for garden waste. They offer greater capacity and the opportunity to recycle a greater variety of paper and cardboard.
Residents in Broughton, Kersal and Pendleton have now also received the new bins; with the remainder of the city getting their bins in a phased roll-out up to June 2008.
In advance of taking delivery of their new bins, all residents receive information packs explaining the changes and improvements to the service; and details of how to contact the waste awareness officers should they need help or assistance in adapting to the new system.
14. Big Day for City’s Register Office
A Boothstown couple were the first to tie the knot in Salford’s new register office.
Decorated by interior designer Sian Astley, familiar to viewers of TV’s Channel M, the new room is part of a major makeover for the council’s registrar facilities.
As well as taking care of the romance with sumptuous decor in a classic gold theme, the state-of-the-art room also looks after the practicalities by allowing the happy couple to bring their choice of music on CD, which can now be played on an integrated sound system. There is enough seating for up to 60 guests.
Since May weddings have been taking place in a converted members’ lounge at the Chorley Road civic centre in Swinton. The original register office at Kingslea, Barton Road, had to be evacuated when nearby construction works uncovered the old ‘Black Harry’ railway tunnel and mining works.
The register office, designed by city council regeneration partners Urban Vision, is part of a whole new suite of rooms for the registrar service, whose work also includes recording births and deaths, carrying out civil partnership, citizenship and baby-naming ceremonies, and helping with family history searches.
What happened at Kingslea brought our plans forward but we are delighted that the months of hard work are over and we have a fantastic new facility for Salford.
Having the register office here permanently helps make the town hall more than just an administrative base it helps make it a place for the people of Salford too.
Councillor John Merry
Leader of the Council
Councillor David Lancaster
Deputy Leader of the Council
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