£1 billion 'city deal' for Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire moves a step closure
A CITY Deal designed to pump £1 billion into the region and create more than 31,000 jobs is on track to win Government approval.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, below, last night announced that he was opening up negotiations with the area’s Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) over its bid to be awarded the freedom and power to determine how Government funding is spent in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
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Staffordshire County Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council have submitted a joint City Deal bid.
Proposals drawn up by the LEP, and backed by more than 40 businesses, education providers and transport bodies, would put the region at the forefront of international research and development in manufacturing.
It wants to use a City Deal to become the home for advanced materials businesses in Europe.
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Leaders want to create a multi-million pound, privately-funded research centre to design the ‘advanced materials’ of the future – and have them manufactured in the region.
Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP, Staffordshire County Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council submitted their joint City Deal bid under the second wave of the scheme last month. Now a total of 20 bids by cities are being given the chance to develop the proposals in more detail. The Government aims to complete deals with the 20 locations over the next year.
Mohammed Pervez, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council said: “This City Deal will help to secure the future of Stoke-on-Trent in terms of jobs and growth.
“Our city has a strong heritage in manufacturing and while this has lost focus in recent times there is no reason why we cannot be at the forefront of advanced manufacturing once again.
“Stoke-on-Trent has a huge potential to grow. It enjoys a fantastic location and our ambition is to create a great working city. Our Central Business District and City Sentral shopping and leisure complex are testament to our ambition to transform our city.
“I want the very best for our people and future generations. What we sow today we will reap in the future in terms of jobs and a city we can be proud of.”
According to The Technology Strategy Board, a public body sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, advanced materials technologies make a positive impact on economic growth.
UK businesses that produce, process, fabricate and recycle materials have an annual turnover of around £197 billion and form a critical element in the high value manufacturing supply chain.
Advanced materials include the likes of lightweight metals for use in vehicles, materials with self-repairing properties and coatings which can survive erosion.
But Philip Atkins, leader of Staffordshire County Council, warned that the deal would only go ahead if it was in the best interests of the region.
He said: “Creating the right conditions for more private sector jobs and economic growth is our absolute top priority, so we are delighted to make it through to the next phase of negotiations.
“The City Deal offers an excellent opportunity to build on and accelerate work already underway across the city and county to attract new businesses to the area, help our existing firms grow and thrive, and improve prospects for our residents.
“With greater powers and funding from a deal to invest in regenerating sites, to improve roads and other infrastructure, and to ramp up skills and training provision, we can make Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire an international powerhouse in advanced materials production even faster.
“However, there is still a long way to go to and we will only sign on the dotted line if it is in the best interests of the entire city and county, and a deal that is right for local people.”
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister said the bids are judged on whether they are ambitious, robust and can attract private sector investment. Negotiations are being held with every city on a staggered timeline.
Mr Clegg said: “Rather than let our industries and communities wither, we need to free up cities outside of London that have their own unique selling points.”
How Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire's 'city deal' will look
THE bid submitted by Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire will see public and private sectors work together to make the region a leading centre for the development of advanced materials, including ceramics, metals and polymers.
Leaders see the deal as a way of developing businesses, boosting the economy and creating jobs alongside existing projects designed to encourage growth.
Across the region, 22 sites will be developed for advanced materials businesses and other employers.
Up to £200 million will be invested in producing energy from a number of sources, including geothermal, waste heat and biomass systems, to help reduce fuel bills for businesses.
An education trust will also be created to bring together education and training providers and industry. The aim of the trust will be to address a skills gap and ensure the right training is delivered for the engineers of the future.
And millions of pounds will be invested in development facilities aimed at converting research into commercial activity.
Ron Dougan, chairman of the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: "It is hugely positive that the government has recognised the substance behind our exciting proposals.
"Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire's public and private sector have worked as one to bring this bid together, united by their desire for economic growth across the city and county."
The City Deal would be expected to generate 85GWh of energy for businesses per year, increase the employment rate to 80 per cent in Stoke-on-Trent by 2032, and open some 1,000 acres of employment sites by 2022.
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by mrdoulton
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 5:43PM
“all the money will go to south staffs as usual”
by stokeatheart
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 4:20PM
“when i read this i thought this is great for the city, then i remembered who we have in charge .if stoke on trent council had a billion pound you can guarantee most of it will go missing like before. you will notice a new bus station £15 million pound i bet it didnt cost that much you scratch my back i scratch yours. if we get this funding mr pervez will be a very rich man”
by Backdoored
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 2:16PM
“Basically, slowly, over the last decade, and particularly the last six years or so, the city has been taken over by outsiders....
-Using the Labour Party to wheedle their way into an unsuspecting, naive electorate -conditioned, through well intentioned forebears. that 'LABOUR CAN ONLY BE GOOD...' -can do no harm, -no matter what their policies are,especially where local issues are concerned.
The world has changed radically since their day -and I am one of those who 'listened' with respect to my parents and grandparents -big Labour loyal supporters they were... going back decades.
The city has changed in many ways ...not only economically through the demise of the coalfields and once thriving pottery industry; but also demographically.
New people have come to live here -many, indeed most, have and are contributing to our local society in a positive way.
The problems arise where 'new people' are concerned -when a few of them who don't understand our history local history, haven't a clue to our mindset, the latter honed on two and a half centuries of industrial hard graft -'down pit and on pot-banks' and the auxiliary supportive industries among the hills of the Potteries six towns. -
These interlopers, hellbent on leaving their mark with a determination to 'change things' at any cost -get into positions of 'power and influence' where that total lack of, and understanding, works AGAINST, not FOR -the people of the city at large.
There's a 'visceral dis-connect'' at the heart of this decision to 'move to Hanley' -an obsession verging on the neurotic with this ''City Centre' imaging -a cure for all our ills, -that fundamentally doesn't go with the sociological background of the Six Towns.
The above in distinctly separate from the 'economic' arguments -which, related to a degree -attract yet more disapproval for this heavily criticized decision.
What we've had in recent times -Is a move from Stoke Town Hall to Unity House Hanley, a move back from Unity House Hanley to Stoke and the brand new building known as the Civic Offices .... and now, if that wasn't enough of a 'disaster master plan', - that new building (how much did it cost?) -is now being proposed to be demolished and the Council move yet again to a new building -back to Hanley again !!! ???
And, on top of that -Our Historic Stoke Town Hall to be sold off for what? What the hell is going on? What kind of mindset would propose this latest 'splashing about of money' -given that all that went before? Sheer bafflement.
THAT'S WHAT THE MARCH ON THE 23rd -this coming Saturday is all about. Wasting Money; at the same time as flogging off our heritage -a legacy to all those who went before.
These 'outside detached mind sets' at the centre of our future planning have lost the plot....they're truly misplaced.
What do the likes of Larschott understand of our heritage? Nowt.. absolutely nothing. He'll soon be back in his beloved Devon -no concern to him in the long term... counting all his money. £4,000 a week... take some counting that will.
These people should be satisfied with using the skills that found them the highly paid jobs they enjoy -and which benefit society in that way. Highly paid jobs which are topped up by the 'highly paid expenses' they claim for their Council duties. They should positively contribute in their chosen professions-not negatively destroying our Six Towns by interferring in 'our six-town Pennine way of life'.”
by rocksandstuff
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 9:19AM
“This is welcome news if it actually happens! How many relaunches, redesigns, rebuilds have we seen over the past few years? I fear for the city sentral project as there are empty units in the potteries shopping centre already! The bus station is massively overdue, and now they want to save money by getting the dwindling number of retailers in Hanley to pay for the Christmas lights! I can see the sense in moving the Council Building to Hanley as it will bring jobs and business to the city centre. Stoke however will become a ghost town, who is going to occupy the civic centre afterwards? Maybe turn it into Student flats? Combine this with developing the Spode site into this "advanced materials research facility" and it might actually improve that area. Forget retail parks for now, invest in jobs and job creation. The march on Saturday sounds good in principle, but all the big wigs will be in their big cheshire homes and therefore the only way to change things is by putting a cross in any box other than Labour next Voting Day!”
by Mariefenton
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 8:51AM
“I would like comment on the march on stoke storey, but it seems to have disappeared from this site. I feel absolutely furious at this council! The decisions been made are just down right ludicrous and myself and all of my family will certainly be joining the March On Stoke. Never before have I actively protested against anything. All too often we are expected to put up and shut up and we (the people of Stoke) need to make a stand. Don't just sit back and think it wont make any difference if you go on the March, it truly will! So let people power prevail and show this council we care immensely about the city we live in, unlike the cronies running it.”
by Backdoored
Tuesday, February 19 2013, 10:20PM
“I'm afraid any story, any report, anything regarding the Council -and especially accompanied with that false face -'theatrical pose' -leaves me completely cold -and disinterested.
Get an inquiry into this, and let none of these posturings to divert attention from their dirty dealings -will be successful as 'red herrings' as far as I'm concerned.
They're 'yesterdays' men' -and this Council 'leader' is a 'throwback' -smug and pretentious.”
by Shell23
Tuesday, February 19 2013, 7:15PM
“I have absolutely no confidence in this council to do what is right for the city at all any more so dread to think what they would waste that sort of money on. How about a great big white elephant to cover the whole of Stoke-on-Trent, at least that way we wouldn't have any weather to cope with so would save us getting mad when the roads weren't gritted in bad weather. I will be joining the March on Stoke on Saturday 23rd February, 11.30am from Cannon Place, Hanley to Kingsway, Stoke in the hope that the council finally listen to the people they are supposed to be working for.”
by Shell23
Tuesday, February 19 2013, 7:07PM
“maybe they could use the money to build a new bus station with enough bays???”
by hasod
Tuesday, February 19 2013, 5:43PM
“And well know what Mr Clegg stands for ! Melton Mobrey's , Porky Pies ..”
by Valeplace
Tuesday, February 19 2013, 3:41PM
“Our leaders can't manage a BILLION PENCE never mind a BILLION QUID! Dont worry, they will bring in "Top Consultants" to advise. "Top Consultants" will get 900 MILLION for the "Advice" & the city will get 100 MILLION to pay for salary increases for our leaders,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,”