Cannes calling for regeneration team
REGENERATION leaders have travelled to France to launch a new team to help attract major investors and employers to North Staffordshire.
The eight-strong inward investment unit will form part of the North Staffordshire Regeneration Partnership (NSRP), which is Stoke-on-Trent City Council's redevelopment arm.
The move, announced yesterday at the annual MIPIM international property convention in Cannes, comes after the city council agreed to withdraw funding from the InStaffs inward investment programme last year.
InStaffs will operate from within Staffordshire County Council from next month, promoting the rest of the county.
The NRSP team will focus on Newcastle and the Staffordshire Moorlands, as well as Stoke-on-Trent.
Its primary roles will be:
Enticing national and foreign investors and employers to North Staffordshire and supporting their relocation by sourcing suitable land, premises and workers;
Promoting the growth and development of key local business sectors, including ceramics and the creative industries, low-carbon technology, medical research and development, construction technology, logistics and leisure and tourism;
Supporting North Staffordshire's tourism industry through enhanced marketing and business development.
The city council has said that the creation of the new unit will not cost taxpayers any extra money, as the costs will be met through a combination of efficiency savings and funding from external sources, such as European grant money, as well as diverting the £90,000 previously spent on InStaffs each year.
Of the eight new posts, four have already been filled and the remainder will be recruited over the next six months.
Councillor Hazel Lyth, Stoke-on-Trent City Council cabinet member for economic development and culture, said: "This new team will allow us to up our game and work much smarter in attracting new inward investment to North Staffordshire."
Deputy council leader and cabinet member for regeneration, councillor Brian Ward, pictured, officially launched the new team during his visit to Cannes.
Two years ago, Mr Ward was critical of former Elected Mayor Mark Meredith's trip to the French Riviera, which he claimed failed to deliver any significant results to justify the cost of the trip.
He said yesterday: "We are meeting developers, investors and property professionals this week to tell them about the fantastic opportunities in North Staffordshire."
4 Comments
by a council observer, SOT
Friday, March 19 2010, 11:01AM
“A Reader - couldn't agree more. Thick skinned or just plain thick. Exactly, video links should remove the need for these jollies. Mind you, for many months they've not even managed to get their microphones working in their council chamber and their web site is rubbish. No technological brain cells amongst them.
Pablo, trouble is we don't so much vote them out as vote another lot in. They may criticise others for these jollies, until of course they are given a portfolio, prostitute themselves to their new found extra dosh and chuck all their morals and principles out the window. Question is, how do we vote in people who are willing to get onto cabinet and then abolish their extra allowance, or better still abolish cabinet and have all our councillors involved in decision making?”
by pablo, Burslem
Thursday, March 18 2010, 7:58PM
“Can not believe I'm reading this, it is just another blatant instance of corruption in this council,how can they live with
ripping us all off,the fat cat's, hope they rot in hell.
WAKE UP, people of Stoke on Trent get off your butts and vote them out at the next local and general elections.”
by A Reader, Stoke
Thursday, March 18 2010, 5:55PM
“How can this trip be justified? Council tax increases. Job losses. A recession. Are these people stupid or just thick skinned? We have video link up and teleconferencing; there is no need for greedy councillors to have a jolly at the tax payers' expense. I hope they repay the cost back out of their own pockets, but I won't hold my breath. Disgraceful!!!”
by David, Burslem
Thursday, March 18 2010, 12:55PM
“what staggering hypocrisy on the part of Mr. Ward. Had he even the tiniest amount of moral fibre he would have turned down the trip, whether or not it was justified, on principle. But principles and morals have very little to do with politicians today, or so it seems to me. With this type of behaviour, is it any wonder there is such apathy at the ballot box?
The whole sorry saga of regeneration in this city will be remembered not for what it is achieving (not very much) but for the vast amounts of money wasted on paying overpaid executives to attend talking-shops such as the one in this story.”