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Football legend collects hometown honour

 

Premiership football star and BBC sports personality for 2009, Ryan Giggs, was honoured with the freedom of his adopted home city of Salford.

 

The Wales international and Manchester United winger, from Worsley, joins Nelson Mandela, LS Lowry and David Lloyd George as a previous recipient of the city’s highest honour.

 

The award was presented to Ryan by the Mayor of Salford, Cllr Roger Lightup, at a civic ceremony at The Lowry, Salford Quays. 

 

Ryan said: “To be given the freedom of Salford, my adopted city, has to rank amongst the greatest honours I have ever received.

 

“I feel hugely proud and privileged to be recognised in this way and would like to place on record my gratitude to the city fathers for bestowing on me this wonderful tribute.

 

“I am a proud Welshman and native of Cardiff, but I have for many years looked on Salford as home and to be given this honour means the world to me.

 

“I’m not sure what the benefits a freeman of the city are, but I do know that it is an accolade I shall always cherish!”

 

Nominating him, Salford City Council’s lead member of children’s services, Cllr John Warmisham, said: “It’s with great pleasure that I move Ryan Giggs to be awarded the honour of the freedom of the city of Salford.

 

“Many people only know Ryan Giggs the footballer, but there is so much more to the man than that.

 

“Ryan adopted Salford as his home city and has become a great ambassador for the city. He also goes quietly about doing charitable work in the city with youth clubs and hospitals and in 2006 he became a UK ambassador for UNICEF.

 

“He is an ideal role model for young people, a unique sportsman and someone with an awareness of his own good fortune and a desire to use it to help others.”

 

The nomination was seconded by Cllr Derek Antrobus.

 

He said: “Ryan was brought up in Salford and he has been part of the local community in Swinton all of his life.

 

“He attended local schools and played for the local youth team, Deans FC and captained Salford Schoolboys.

 

“It is the contribution to the local community that makes Ryan Giggs a suitable candidate for the honour of freedom of the city.

 

“He is an inspiration to local people and his national and international achievements have lifted the aspirations of young people in Salford. He is a role model not simply in terms of being a high achiever but also in behaviour.”

 

Mayor of Salford Cllr Roger Lightup added: “Ryan is not only a world class footballer but a Salford resident and I’m delighted we’re able to honour someone of his stature who is proud of their home town.

 

“Freedom of the city recognises people who have made an exceptional contribution to our community and Ryan has devoted a tremendous amount of his time to work with charities and children over a number of years.”

 

Services back on track as city works through snow

 

Headteachers, parents and governors were praised for their hard work to help reopen Salford’s schools after snow disrupted services across the city.

 

Staff, parents and communities donned their wellies and picked up their shovels over the January cold snap to clear school grounds in a show of Salford spirit.

 

The council’s snow plough worked through the wintry weekend to clear many playgrounds at the worst affected schools and staff mucked in to shovel snow from car parks.

 

Schools shared grit supplies and some brought in diggers to battle through the snow.

 

Elsewhere in the city the partnership spirit continued to get services affected by the wintry weather back up and running.

 

Council employees gave up time during their weekend to staff the phones at a call centre set up to contact older people who may need extra help during the cold snap.

 

Along with housing partners Salix Homes and City West Housing Trust, they made more than 4,000 calls to residents and went out in communities to knock on doors and visit people in their homes.

 

Further calls were then made to again check on people in need of assistance.

Phone calls continued the following week to contact another 1300 older and disabled residents who might have been experiencing difficulties.

 

As well as home visits from council staff, officers from the police, the fire service and NHS Salford helped to respond to people’s needs by collecting emergency food shopping, picking up prescriptions and medications, and giving advice on keeping warm and safe during the winter months.

 

On the roads, a team of 40 people spread some 2,500 tons of grit over 15,000km of primary routes through the city since the start of December.

 

A full service for domestic waste collections resumed on Tuesday 12 January after the weather prompted a temporary suspension and then a limited service.

 

Most bins were collected but some were missed due to access difficulties. Residents are asked to leave bins out on their usual collection days for collections to be completed as soon as it is safe.

 

The city council’s website has played a big part in keeping people informed on service disruptions and emergency school closures during the snowy conditions.

 

During the snowy week of January there were over 620,000 hits on the site, almost three times the number in the same period last year.

 

Dedicated council staff continued to work through the snow at home to provide vital services to the city with over 14,000 visits to the authority’s remote email service for employees via the website.

 

Salford City Council leader Cllr John Merry said: “I have been so impressed by the way the city has responded to this.

 

“Our residents have been very patient and understanding for the most part and I’d like to thank them for that.

 

“Staff have really pulled out all of the stops to keep essential services going and have dedicated their spare time to ensure people who may not be able to leave their homes during the bad weather are safe and well.

 

“I’d like to commend them for their dedication and to school staff and residents who’ve worked together to help schools reopen as soon as possible.

 

“People’s willingness to help is admirable and I feel very proud that we’re a city that pulls together during a challenge to maintain vital services.”

 

 

Plans approved to put the heart back into the old City of Salford

 

The biggest-ever planning application for the City of Salford got the green light by Salford City Council on Thursday 21January in a unanimous decision.

 

The application, submitted by English Cities Fund (ECf) with the support of Central Salford Urban Regeneration Company was larger than that submitted for the first phase of MediaCityUK and will link key sites such as the University of Salford and The Crescent, Chapel Street and the region’s business district – Spinningfields. 

 

Covering an area of 17.744ha – equivalent to 21 international football pitches – it follows more than two years of consultation with the community and stakeholders and aims to deliver the holistic regeneration of this important part of Salford for the benefit of existing and potential residents, businesses and visitors.

 

Sir Michael Lyons, non-executive Chairman of the English Cities Fund, said:

“I am delighted that Salford City Council has today resolved to grant planning permission for this English Cities Fund development. The decision is a significant landmark and lays the foundations for the much needed regeneration of this area.  There remains a considerable amount of work to do before development commences however, with the continued support of its partners and the local community, I am confident that ECf will produce a development that Salford can be proud of.”

 

The approved plans will create the conditions to assist the successful regeneration of the area, which includes a number of distinct districts including: Salford Central Station, Chapel Street, Adelphi and the Historic Core, which features the Adelphi and Bexley Square Conservation Area and listed buildings such as St Philips Church and Salford Cathedral.

 

The Chapel Street area occupies a key location and is the western gateway, which links the rest of Salford, including MediaCityUK, through to Manchester city centre.  The plans would see Chapel Street restored, improving the setting of its historic buildings and putting the heart back into Salford.

 

The proposed development is centred on creating sustainable communities with the correct balance of uses.  New offices, commercial, retail and leisure uses will be complemented by family housing and apartments linked by high-quality public realm and civic spaces. 

 

A new square, St Johns Place, is planned to maximise the view of the newly renovated Salford Cathedral.  A new Commercial Quarter will make the most of Salford’s strategic location next to Spinningfields and the corporate heart of Manchester.

 

Chris Farrow, Chief Executive of Central Salford Urban Regeneration Company, said: “Today’s decision marks a critical milestone in the regeneration of this key area of the City. Over the last 2 years Central Salford Urban Regeneration Company, in close partnership with our public and private sector partners, local businesses and communities, has worked tirelessly on the planning, design and consultation for the Chapel Street area. 

 

“We can now look forward to driving forward the regeneration of the Chapel Street area to create a vibrant, urban centre and a more beautiful setting for its many historical and natural assets.” 

 

The floor space for the proposed development includes: 849 new homes, 390 hotel rooms, 24,000 square metres of retail, food and drink and entertainment space and 197,000 square metres of office space.

 

Salford’s youngest graduates aim higher for MediaCityUK

 

Schoolchildren from across Salford ‘graduated’ in style at a ceremony to celebrate the successful end of the first MediaCityUK Higher Futures 4 U programme.

 

Over 200 Year 5 children put on their caps and gowns to collect their certificates at The Lowry after completing the programme which aims to raise pupils’ aspirations and inspire them to aim for a wide range of careers and higher education choices.

 

This year the Higher Futures 4 U programme was on offer to all Salford schools thanks to funding by MediaCityUK Public Sector Partners (PSP), a partnership of Salford City Council, Central Salford Urban Regeneration Company and the Northwest Regional Development Agency.

 

The 2009/2010 programme especially focuses on the opportunities that will be available when MediaCityUK opens at Salford Quays from 2011.

 

The children completed thee classroom workshops and also visited programme partners and future MediaCityUK residents, The University of Salford and the BBC, to get an insight into the ‘world of education’ and the ‘world of work’.

 

So far over 680 children from schools across the city have signed up to take part in the programme and will be celebrating their own graduations throughout 2010.

 

Councillor John Merry, leader, Salford City Council said: “Children and young people are key to the successful future of our city and programmes like Higher Futures 4 U are vital in making sure our young people are already excited about the opportunities and careers that will be open to them with the arrival of MediaCityUK in Salford.

 

As well as highlighting the benefits that MediaCityUK can bring to local communities, this programme is the first step in ensuring Salford has a ready-made skilled and enthusiastic workforce for years to come.”

 

Ana Hurst, Higher Futures 4 U co-ordinator commented: “This is a fabulous opportunity for the primary school children in Salford to not only celebrate their community but also to highlight the wealth of opportunities they have on their own doorstep.

 

“The Higher Futures 4U MediaCityUK project aims to raise aspirations by increasing the children’s awareness of their own choices both in education and also in future employment. I am delighted with the way the project is working in Salford.”

 

Dedicated Salford women honoured by City’s Mayor

 

Two Salford women who have dedicated their lives to people in their community were honoured by the Mayor and Mayoress of Salford.

 

Jenny Thomas from Monton and Bernadette Conlon of East Salford have been chosen as joint winners of the latest Mayor’s Citizen Award for Adults.

 

Jenny has worked tirelessly for the past four years to bridge the gap between non-Asian and Asian communities and has set up a group called DesiSisters which aims to bring together women of all races.

 

Kiri Hyde nominated Jenny for the award. She said: “Jenny has completely changed my outlook on the Asian community in Britain, and is working tirelessly to change other people’s perceptions of this culture within our city.

 

“Jenny believes in this cause passionately and is making a huge difference to the lives of everyone she meets, showing us that even though we are born in different places, eat different food and speak different languages we are really not that different after all.”

 

Jenny said: “I’m truly honoured to receive this award but I’m not sure I deserve it.

 

“I’ve had so much support from the Asian community, and to be honest, being involved in this group has been an absolute pleasure.”

 

Bernadette Conlon set up the Start in Salford arts project in 1993 working from the boot of her car and delivering art sessions in the homes of people whom were suffering from Mental Health problems.

 

Eleven years ago Start secured funding for a rented studio space. Bernadette’s commitment to raising the aspirations and confidence of those suffering from or at risk of suffering from mental health issues lead to the £1.2 million renovation of Brunswick House, now the home of Starts Arts Studio & Workshop Complex. The project currently supports 500 service users, 50 volunteers, and 15 members of staff.

 

Michelle Dennett, who nominated Bernadette for the award, said: “Bernadette’s passion is still very much the driving force within the charity and her life is dedicated to helping the people of Salford.”

 

Bernadette said: ‘I am extremely honoured to have been nominated for this award and to be one of the joint winners who accepts this on behalf of everybody at Start.

 

“Start in Salford is a flagship organisation which is dedicated to the improvement and enhancement of the lives of those people in Salford with mental health issues. I am dedicated to tackling the stigma surrounding mental health.”

 

No rise proposed for council tax rates

 

Salford residents will not be asked to pay more for their council services this year if a zero per cent rise in council tax is approved by councillors.

 

The no-rise rate for the council’s element of the bill will not impact on frontline services paid for by the authority’s £220 million budget, say finance chiefs.

 

In 2008, the council announced a major efficiency drive aimed at saving £20 million in three years. This is on course to save more than £30 million, with £16 million annual savings after that.

 

Savings were identified by removing duplication, using better economies of scale and making more use of technology.

 

As well as lower costs in its daily delivery of service, better efficiency enables the council to operate with fewer people. Voluntary redundancies, early retirements and natural turnover have already meant the council is more than halfway to its reduction target of 380 posts.

 

In December, the Audit Commission said the city council was “performing well” and was a good manager of taxpayers’ money.

 

The commission scored the council three out of four for performance and financial management, one step short of an overall “excellent” rating.

 

Councillor Bill Hinds, who is responsible for the council’s finances, said: “The council is much more efficient today than it was even two years ago and this is why we are able to pass on the savings to residents. On top of our efficiency drive we have improved our council tax collection rate which gives our residents much better value for their money.

 

“Despite the challenge of a global recession we have avoided dipping in to our reserves as much as we feared and will balance the books again this financial year with more than £9 million in hand.

 

“I can reassure residents that frontline services or the overall quality of services will not be affected by the savings we are making.”

 

Leader of the council, Cllr John Merry added: “Residents will have faced a tough few months with the recession and I have always said the council would do what it could to offer real assistance.

 

“Not asking for more council tax than we have to has always been our starting point when we draw up our budget proposals. This year we are in a position where we can share with residents the savings we’ve made and I’m sure every little helps.”

 

Over the past 11 years Salford has seen the 18th lowest cumulative council tax rise nationally. The city has one of the lowest average council tax bills in the country, 280th out of 326 authorities in England.

 

Final council tax bills will include precepts set by the police and fire authorities.

 

Salford pupils shine in GCSEs

 

Salford students yet again performed better than this year’s improved national average for GCSE results, passing even more exams with better grades.

 

The number of pupils in the city’s high schools achieving five or more GCSEs with A* to C grades has risen to 73 per cent.

 

This is six per cent higher than the city’s results for 2008 and three per cent above the national average of 70.

 

The new figures for pupils achieving five or more A* to C grades with English and maths are a near six per cent rise on Salford’s results last year – more than twice the country’s average.

 

This put the city’s rate of improvement at the highest its ever been ranking it the most improved local authority in Greater Manchester for 2009 GCSE results and the second most improved in the north west.

 

In addition, the rate of progress made by pupils from when they start at the city’s high schools to when they finish is above the national score of 1000.

 

This year’s highest achieving secondary schools in this category are St Patrick’s RC with a score of 1053.6, The Swinton High School with 1044.3 and Buile Hill High School with 1036.4.

 

Councillor John Warmisham, Salford City Council’s lead member for children’s services said: “Salford’s GCSE results for this year were our best ever, and well deserved by our young people.

 

“The city’s academic achievement is improving significantly each year and we’re narrowing the gap between the national average for exam results including English and maths.

 

“The fact that more of our young people than ever are leaving school with even better qualifications is a great achievement.”

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