About
NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR
Leeds
British Association of Communicators in Business Northern Region awards 2007, 2008 and 2009
INSI
What if Leeds…
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Talk today and shape tomorrow: pages 12-13
Winter 2010/11 www.leeds.gov.uk/aboutleeds
NEW CHAPTER: The Compton Centre is state-of-the-art
Service centres now open TWO state-of-the-art joint service centres combining council and health facilities have opened in Harehills and Chapeltown. The Compton and Reginald centres, in Harehills and Chapeltown respectively, transform access to council services for local people by providing them in new, modern facilities all under one roof. At the Compton Centre, city council services include a new, larger library and a customer service team providing help and advice with benefits, council tax, housing, social care, environment-related issues and Leeds City Credit Union enquiries. Also located at the centre is a jobshop where people can get help with getting back to work or receive advice on training. In addition to this, NHS Leeds Community Healthcare’s Primary Care Mental Health Team will provide counselling and support to any patients referred to the service by their family GP. The historic frontage of the old Compton Road Library has been preserved, and a new modern extension constructed, with many environmentally ■ Turn to page 3
Delivering responsive services in challenging times THE leaders of Leeds City Council have pledged to do all they can to protect frontline services, despite having a lot less to spend in future.
On October 20, the government announced what it calls its comprehensive spending review, setting out how it plans to deal with the country’s financial deficit. As a result, Leeds City Council will have to save something like £150 million over the next four years. If it was possible, that’s enough money to pay £200 to every person living in the city. It’s expected the council’s budget will be slashed by £50m in the financial year 2011/2012 because the government has asked councils to make the biggest savings as early as possible. Tom Riordan, chief executive said: “The spending review presents us with a significant challenge, but this isn’t the end to public services in Leeds. Instead,
NHS in Leeds Special supplement
Your NHS An
Leeds
About
Leeds supplement •
Winter 2010/1 1
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Enjoy Leeds’ packed events programme: pages 14-15
Get physical More people prove good sports: page 9
THE SPENDING CHALLENGE Complete our survey, pages 6-8 it demonstrates the importance of showing strong civic responsibility to ensure we protect services for the young, the elderly and vulnerable people. “Our main focus over the next few months will be to look very carefully at all our services and consider ways of, where appropriate, we might be able to work more closely with other organisations in the public, voluntary and private sectors. “We will also look at ways of maximising our income where appropriate and review how much we spend on big projects. In future, we will give priority to schemes which will save the council money in the medium to long-term and we will also ensure our purchasing power is used to best effect.” Now, the council is asking the
PRIORITY: supporting the vulnerable is one of our key aims
people of Leeds to help it deal with some of the challenges ahead. By completing the survey on pages 6-8, you’ll be informing some of the tough decisions that need to be taken.
NEWS • LEARNING • STREETS • LIVING IN LEEDS • WHAT’S ON • BUSINESS
2 About Leeds Winter 2010/11
NEWS
Preparing for a future, skilled workforce
IMPORTANT: completing the census has a big impact on funding for Leeds
Help tomorrow take shape A NATIONAL publicity campaign was launched in March to promote the upcoming 2011 census in England and Wales. The census is an estimate of the population, carried out every ten years – 27 March 2011 is the next census day. Everyone is asked the same questions on the same day so that a snapshot of the population can be taken at one point in time. Information gathered will be used to plan a wide range of public services, many provided by our council, which should be there for everyone to use. These include: n Schools: for children growing up now and in the future n Social housing: for families who need an affordable place to live n Transport: to and from work, and for going out and about in the area n Healthcare: facilities that everyone can access easily n Training: for people who want to learn new skills. More information about the census is available at www.ons.gov.uk/census/.
This newspaper is published for the residents of Leeds. It is available in Braille, large print or audio tape. To contact the newspaper, call 0113 224 3298, email newspaper@leeds. gov.uk or write to About Leeds, Communications team, 4th Floor West, Leeds Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR. Like About Leeds? Then don’t miss www.twitter.com/ leedscc. Our Twitter news page features a wide variety of council news. The page is updated frequently and already has over 1,400 followers. It’s produced at no extra cost.
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THERE are now over 350 apprentices working for the council, thanks to the Work4Leeds programme. It is part of the council’s recruitment strategy to employ more apprentices and create a skilled and qualified workforce for the future. Recently, two apprentice gardeners have started with the council’s parks and countryside service through Green Apprenticeship funding. In July, 12 young people attended an information session at Lotherton Hall for the post of
WATCH THE BIRDIE: apprentice candidates at the Lotherton Hall day
apprentice assistant bird keeper. They were given a guided
tour of the bird garden and demonstration of food and
enclosure preparation by manager Pete Quince before applying for the post. In the coming months, an apprentice visitor assistant will be appointed to the council’s museums and galleries, funded through Creative Apprenticeships. All apprenticeship opportunities with the council are advertised at www.leeds.gov.uk – search for ‘Work4Leeds’. n Work4Leeds was highly commended for the Macro Employer of the Year at the Apprenticeship Awards (Yorkshire and Humber) 2010.
New centre proves we mean business A FOURTH business enterprise centre is to be built in Leeds – in a massive boost for local entrepreneurs. The Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre in Middleton will boast small offices, hot desks, conference and meeting facilities, as well as on-site business advice. Situated in the heart of the community, it will encourage enterprise and tackle unemployment. Independent community interest company, Health For All Enterprises, will rent the Middleton centre. They have a track record of promoting enterprise. Work on Tenants Hall starts in November, with the anticipated opening in September 2011. The council has approved £1.6million for the centre. Its development is being funded by the government and European Union. The city’s three other enterprise centres operate in Beeston, Harehills and Seacroft.
GO FOURTH: Middleton is our latest planned business enterprise centre, following the likes of Shine in Harehills (pictured)
Cash for council homes Ensuring good value WE are ploughing an extra £1million into adaptations to council homes. This extra cash will allow hundreds more adaptations to be carried out quickly. Adaptations can range from minor work such as installing ‘grab rails’ next to baths, to larger work such as stair lifts, hoists or even house extensions. The work makes a profound difference to people’s lives.
The adaptations improve the quality of life for tenants by allowing them to stay in their homes for longer, reducing demands on services and the need for residential care. Other housing money will be used to undertake fire safety and security work at multi-storey blocks, improve non traditional housing, provide energy efficiency and support the council’s key regeneration schemes.
WHEN money’s tight, it’s even more important than usual to look after it and get good value. That applies especially when it’s the council spending money on your behalf. Our draft accounts for 2009/10 have been available at www.leeds.gov.uk/accounts since July. External auditors have been
checking that the accounts are accurate and our finances are sound. They reported their findings in late September. The webpage explains your formal rights. But if you’ve got a good idea about how we could get better value for money, then don’t wait to be asked – just use the link to get in touch.
NEWS
Winter 2010/11
About Leeds 3
It’s all at two new centres TRANSFORM: the centre puts a wide range of services under one roof n From page 1
friendly features. The Reginald Centre, meanwhile, is the second of our new joint service centres to open, in October, this year. Based in Chapeltown Road, Chapeltown, it regenerates the site of the former Hayfield public house. It offers assistance on council services, Leeds City Credit Union and government benefits. It also houses local area management and environmental action teams, as well as a jobshop. The Reginald Centre also features a library, computers, free internet access, free IT lessons and self-service machines. On top of that, the Reginald Centre offers NHS services – including the Westfield Medical Practice, which has moved from Chapeltown Road. Other facilities include Community Dental Services – who provide dental treatment for vulnerable groups – and the primary care mental health team, as well as health visitors and community midwives. Both the Compton and Reginald centres have been provided by Community Ventures Leeds Limited, a public private partnership joint venture
company funded by Leeds City Council and NHS Leeds. n The joint service centres feature a host of services, including jobshops. Jobshops offer free, impartial, face-to-face support. A fully qualified advisor will look at your individual needs. You can get help with preparing or updating your CV, support with applications and interviews, and access to the internet. There is also information on current council and local employer vacancies. Errol went to his local jobshop looking for work. He lacked confidence and self-esteem. Staff recommended basic ICT training and interview support. Errol now has a job, his confidence has grown and he is motivated and enthusiastic. Jobshops can be found at the City Centre One Stop in Great George Street; Technorth Family Learning Centre in Harrogate Road; Roundhay Road; St Bartholomew’s Centre in Strawberry Lane, Landseer Mount; Penny Hill Centre and Tunstall Road Community Centre, among others. For help, call 0113 247 5465. A list of our jobshops is available at www.leeds.gov.uk – search ‘jobshops’.
AWARD WINNING: the BSF programme in Leeds is critically lauded, including the likes of Swallow Hill
Leeds’ schools remain on track
Jobs sessions are a big hit IMPRESSIVE: at Cockburn
THE government’s decision to end Building Schools for the Future will not affect Leeds’ award-winning £260m ‘wave 1’ BSF programme. This means schemes at Mount St Mary’s Catholic High School and Corpus Christi Catholic and Farnley Park Maths and Computing colleges will go ahead as planned. Funding is available for a refurbishment at Parklands Girls High, which will become a coeducational (girls and boys) academy sponsored by EACT from September 2011. These will be given multimillion pound transformations along with the four refurbish-
ments at Temple Moor High Science College, Cockburn College of Arts, Priesthorpe Sports College, and Crawshaw School, which are already on site, and the five new-builds at Swallow Hill Community College, Allerton Grange, Allerton High and Rodillian schools. The Leeds BSF partnership is also delivering the £30m new-build for the Leeds West Academy. Chris Edwards, chief executive of Education Leeds, said: “By 2013, our award-winning BSF programme will have given around 16,000 of Leeds’ young people a state-of-the-art learning environment and cutting-edge technology.”
Our officers are here to help OVER 250 people took part in information sessions for jobs with the Royal Bank of Scotland. The council’s employer engagement team is working with RBS to recruit to contact centres at the Headrow, Granary Wharf and Pudsey. “We have been surprised
by the level of candidates coming through the door, not to mention the numbers,” an RBS spokesman said. So far, at the time of writing, 12 local people have gained employment with more awaiting interviews. For more information call 0113 247 5465.
OUR city centre officers are out and about in their bright red jackets, they are the eyes and ears of the city centre. You might be asking them for directions, perhaps using the new city centre walk-it map. They might be tackling broken paving or visiting businesses, keeping them up to date with the latest retailer news, events and business support.
EYES AND EARS: our city centre officers are here to help
4 About Leeds Winter 2010/11
NEWS
Education chief stepping down
IMPROVED: new bin collection routes mean a better service and savings
Changes are for the better BACK in December 2009 the council told you we were planning changes to our recycling and waste services, leading to real improvements for Leeds residents.
your collection day. For those homes that don’t yet have recycling bins, we know who you are and we are working hard to get bins out to you as quickly as possible. There are, of course, more improvements we can make, including looking at collecting more types of recyclable waste, such as food, in the future. We will keep you informed of any changes as and when they take place. A lot of work has been done to make sure that the changes to your collections go smoothly. However, given how big the change is, we cannot rule out that there may be some minor problems in the first few weeks and we would ask for your un-
THE chief executive of Education Leeds is to leave the organisation. Chris Edwards, who joined as chief executive when Education Leeds was formed in 2001, will step down on 31 December. Chris has overseen the transformation of education in the city, including better attendance and exam results and improvements for children and young people. Under his guidance, numerous projects, schools and Education Leeds have all won national awards. Over the last nine years, nearly half a billion pounds has been secured from central government, including £260million of Building Schools for the Future money which has been invested in secondary schools since 2006. The Stephen Lawrence Education Standard has achieved national recognition and been adopted by the
CHRIS EDWARDS: to leave after nearly 10 years at the helm
government as a template for other local authorities. Sally Boulton, head teacher at Rothwell Haigh Road Infant School and the chair of the Leeds Head Teachers’ Forum, said Chris Edwards will be sorely missed. “Chris has supported, challenged and inspired school leaders across the city to go the extra mile,” she said.
derstanding while the crews settle into their new routes.
Why are you changing the service?
We need to find ways of providing a more cost effective and efSome of these changes include ficient collection service for all the introduction of new bin colLeeds residents. lection routes, and increasing We are also committed to enthe number of bins that can be suring as many homes as possicollected each day. ble benefit from kerbside or comWe have also been looking at munal recycling facilities. ways of increasing the number As well as improving the qualof households that can benefit ity of the service, the cost savfrom kerbside or communal reings made will be put back into cycling. other frontline services. Changes to the refuse and reAlongside bin collection cycling routes started late-Octoroutes, work has started on a reber. view of Leeds household waste Please check the stickers sent sorting sites, and the service to you to find out if your black provided by our street cleansing and green bin collection days service. have changed. We expect resiThe green bin calChristmas and new year refuse collections dents to benefit endar will also tell from improvements you the new day, and to both these servdate, that your green Usual day................................ Revised day ices in the future. bins will be emptied Monday 20 December............ Sunday 19 December – both stickers can Tuesday 21 December............ Monday 20 December be fixed to your bin Wednesday 22 December...... Tuesday 21 December Need to know lids for ease of use. Thursday 23 December.......... Wednesday 22 December more? Brown bin collecFriday 24 December............... Thursday 23 December If you do have any tion dates will reSaturday 25 December.......... Friday 24 December questions about main the same and Monday 27 December............ No change these changes, are not affected by Tuesday 28 December............ No change more information these changes. Wednesday 29 December...... No change can be found at The time of your Thursday 30 December.......... No change www.leeds.gov.uk/ collection may now Friday 31 December............... No change recycleforleeds. change, so it is imYou can also conportant to put your Saturday 1 January 2011....... Sunday 2 January 2011 tact us on 0113 222 bins out by 7am on 4406.
Baby, what a saving NAPPY TALK: prize winners Lucy Holloway and daughter Eloise
NEARLY 700 tonnes of landfill waste have been saved by Leeds parents, since the real nappy incentive scheme started three years ago. The scheme – backed by Leeds City Council – estimate parents can save around £500 per child by using washable nappies. Around three billion disposable nappies are thrown away in the UK each year, with the vast majority going to landfill. In 2010, Lucy Holloway and young daughter Eloise won an environmentally-friendly nappies pack and accessories prize worth over £200.
If you can’t imagine 700 tonnes – it’s the equivalent of two Boeing 747s or 110 African elephants. For more information on the real nappies scheme contact www.leeds.gov.uk/nappy or 0113 395 0778.
NEWS
Winter 2010/11
About Leeds 5
Get set for another addition to the skyline
TRINITY LEEDS: it will soon start to take shape, revealing the true scale of the project
THE construction and retail sectors in Leeds were given a major lift in September with the return of a tower crane to the Trinity Leeds development site. The 160ft crane signalled the start of the next phase of work on the £350million shopping and leisure destination. During the 30 months of work on site it is estimated that, at peak, up to 1,000 workers will be involved in constructing the landmark scheme and, once open in spring 2013, an estimated 3,000 people will be employed in retail related positions. Trinity Leeds will feature 120 units for major UK and international retailers, including many brands new to Leeds. It’s estimated it will bring a £10million rejuvenation of Albion Street. Andrew Dudley who is leading the project for Land Securities Retail, said: “We are creating a new retail and leisure destination in the heart of Leeds that will have a real wow factor, with its spectacular glazed roof, flagship stores, stylish restaurant quarter – and the first Everyman cinema in the north.”
IMPRESSIVE: how the development might look
Leeds is the place to be LEEDS has achieved its best ranking to date in the European Cities Monitor, the influential index of business competitiveness published by global commercial property consultants Cushman and Wakefield. The annual survey shows Leeds has moved up the rankings of ‘best European cities to locate a business’ for a third year running. Yorkshire’s regional capital has improved its overall ranking in the list of Europe’s leading cities from 24th place in 2009 to 23rd place, ahead of Edinburgh and Glasgow and European capital cities such as Copenhagen, Rome, Moscow and Athens. Leeds has also improved its ranking in terms of ‘quality of telecommunications’ and ‘external transport links’, two of the key factors when companies are deciding where to locate a business.
Importantly, the city’s office market has retained its position as number one in Europe for value for money, again for the third year in succession. The European Cities Monitor is based on interviews with senior executives from 500 of Europe’s biggest companies and looks at the range of factors considered by companies when deciding where to locate their business operations. Key factors are cost and availability of qualified staff, access to markets, external transport links and quality of telecommunications. The 2010 survey shows Leeds punches above its weight against all of these factors, ranking 10th for cost of staff, 16th for access to markets, 17th for availability of qualified staff, 18th for external transport links and 20th for quality of telecommunications.
VIBRANT: Leeds Arena will have the best spectator experience of any arena in the country
Striking design for the Arena THE journey to deliver the Leeds Arena took a giant step forward with proposals for the building’s exterior design being revealed for the first time. A striking honeycomb design has been chosen with an everchanging kaleidoscope of coloured lights which will come alive on an evening and change colour or pattern to reflect the mood of an event. The 13,500-capacity, distinctive venue has been developed to take account of
the views of nearly 1,000 Leeds people who took part in a public consultation. It will feature environmentally friendly features, good acoustics, glazed panels and outside seating areas. The unique internal layout guarantees every seat in the house has perfect sightlines of the centre of the stage – 68 metres being the longest distance from the stage as opposed to the conventional 90-110 metres.
Leeds Arena will help to draw in visitors and boost the local economy to the tune of £25.5million per year, as well as bringing over 500 construction jobs to Leeds – many for local people. At a meeting in November, councillors were told the scheme is progressing well, on time and within budget. Leeds Arena is due to be completed at the end of 2012 with the venue opening early 2013.
Car park improvements A PLAN has been approved to improve the city centre car park at Woodhouse Lane. Built in 1968, the multi-storey car park caters for thousands of shoppers, workers and students daily. It will also be one of the two key Leeds Arena car parks, along with the Merrion Centre. Essential concrete repair and strengthening work will be undertaken. A new stair and lift tower and pedestrian access bridge will be built.
Improved lighting and CCTV surveillance will be installed alongside better access due to the existing pay on foot system being changed to a pay and display operation. The cost of the work – an estimated £5.8million – will be funded by the Leeds Arena budget. During work, most of the building – 75 per cent of the 1,287 spaces – will remain open as work focuses on different sections at various times.
6 About Leeds Winter 2010/11
SURVEY
THE SPENDING CHALLENGE Help us make How we think we can deal with the challenges ahead
Supporting older and disabled people
We know the future is going to be tough and some difficult decisions will have to be made if we’re to save £150m over four years. We’ll have to wait until early December before the government tells us precisely how much money we’re getting. Only then will we have a full understanding of the financial challenges we face. But, despite the wait, the council’s leaders and politicians have agreed to do everything they can to protect front-line services, especially those for vulnerable people. We’ve come up with four ‘themes’ to focus on. They are: l Protecting and supporting children and young people l Protecting and supporting older and disabled people l Making sure our neighbourhoods and communities are clean and safe l Making sure Leeds has a prosperous economy and jobs are created.
In adult social care, we are developing services which are focused on protecting older and disabled people and which give them more of a choice in how they receive help. We call it ‘personalisation’. We’re also working much more closely with the NHS and we’ve recently appointed a joint director of public health to work across both our organisations. Some of our income is from payments people make towards the cost of services they receive. What they contribute depends on their ability to pay. One option might be for us to increase charges for people who can afford to pay more. It is likely that we will have to review what community based services we offer such as residential care centres. We want to: l Help people stay in their homes for as long as possible. l Offer more specialised services for people with the greatest needs. l Offer better support for people who need help after an accident or illness, to try and keep them out of hospital or residential care. l Look at opportunities where some adult social care services may be delivered by other organisations, such as the NHS, voluntary or private sectors.
Our guiding principles will be:
SAFEGUARD: protecting services for citizens is vital l Will review the funding for external
l We will do what we can to protect front-
line services. l Leeds City Council and our partners will show strong leadership. l We will look carefully at the potential for other organisations, including the private sector, to carry out services on our behalf or in partnership with us. This could be when a service could be better, faster or cheaper than one we deliver. l We will stay committed to working with the independent and voluntary sectors, such as community groups and charities. l We will do what we can to involve you in the decisions we have to make. l We will review and consider the future of underused or duplicated services, some of which may be reduced, closed or stopped. l We will review services or facilities that we have previously provided free of charge and consider whether we might have to charge in future.
Limiting the impact on front-line services Leeds City Council is a large and complex organisation and our biggest expense is staffing. To achieve savings means we need to cut our costs, especially on things like ‘back office’ functions and our administration bill. That’s why we: l Will have to reduce our workforce by 2500 to 3000 posts over the next four years. That equates to one in every six jobs. We’ve already offered staff the chance to leave on a voluntary basis and we expect lots of other posts to go as a result of people leaving and not being replaced. We call it ‘natural wastage’. l Will make better use of our buildings. Right now, some are in a poor condition, in the wrong location or underused. That means we’ll have to close some so we can improve others.
organisations and we’ll make sure we work more effectively with partners, like the NHS and the police. l Will give priority to new investment which saves money in the long term or where it means vulnerable people will be better supported. l Will make it easier for you to find the services you need. We realise that sometimes, our size can be a barrier, so we want to simplify the ways in which you can contact us. We will improve our communication and encourage greater use of our website for electronic transactions like paying bills or finding information, which cost less. l Will make greater use of technology to help us save money and we’ll do all we can to drive down the cost of the goods and services we buy.
Protecting and supporting children and young people We want to become a ‘child friendly city’, where our children and young people are safe and healthy and do well at school in readiness for work. We want them to have a voice, be listened to and have influence. For this, we: l Will continue to review our services for children and families so they get the right service and when it is needed. l Will make services easier to use by having them based closer to where they are needed and we will bring them together – for example children’s centres within schools. l Work closely with the NHS and other partners. l Will focus our support on those in greatest need, such as children with complex health care requirements or disabilities. l Will work with other organisations, such as charities and voluntary groups if it means a better service or more value for money.
Clean and safe neighbourhoods We want our neighbourhoods to be clean and safe. We need to deal with our rubbish and waste in a responsible way, despite rising costs. The tax bill alone for burying Leeds’ rubbish is now £1.6 million a year. We simply cannot continue the way we are now. You can help by reducing what you throw away and recycling more. We need affordable homes and get thousands of requests for help by people threatened with homelessness. We will: l Tackle anti-social behaviour by working with local people, and the police, particularly where there are priority areas. l Clamp down on litter, fly tipping and graffiti and make use of our enforcement powers.
TELL US: your thoughts are valued by the council
MONEY: we will look to make efficiency savings l Support the building of affordable new
homes to resolve the city’s housing problems.
Economy, jobs and culture We want Leeds to be an attractive and prosperous city where people want to live and work now and in the future. We also think Leeds needs a transport system which gets people to the right place at the right time for work and pleasure purposes. We know that training and the availability of jobs is crucial to economic success. And, we want Leeds to offer a variety of places to visit and things to do. A good example of this is the Leeds arena which will open in 2012. That’s why we: l Will support new development, but make sure it is appropriate and relevant. l Will make sure any new development strikes the right balance between job creation, investment and care for the environment. l Will work with employers, schools, colleges and the city’s three universities to make sure people have the right skills so they can access local job opportunities. l Will make sure any investment the council makes includes a commitment to training and jobs. l Will encourage major businesses to remain in, or move to, Leeds in order to keep existing or create new jobs. l Will work with other organisations, such as a community group, to see whether they could take over underused cultural services.
SURVEY
Winter 2010/11
the right decisions for Leeds
About Leeds 7
Save money, complete survey online at www.leeds.gov.uk/spendingchallenge
Thinking about what you’ve read, opposite, please rate how important you think the following are. Please tick: 1= Very important; 2= Important; 3= Neither important nor unimportant; 4= Unimportant; 5= Very unimportant
Concluding thoughts Overall, what do you think the council should or could do more of? ...................................................................... ...................................................................... ......................................................................
Our four themes to focus on
Overall, what do you think the council should or could do less of?
1
2
3
4
5
......................................................................
Protecting and supporting children and young people
...................................................................... ......................................................................
Protecting and supporting older and disabled people
Overall, what do you think the council should or could stop doing?
Making sure our neighbourhoods and communities are clean and safe
...................................................................... ......................................................................
Making sure Leeds has a prosperous economy and jobs are created
...................................................................... Overall, what do you think the council should prioritise?
Protecting and supporting children and young people
Our guiding principles
Clean and safe neighbourhoods
...................................................................... ......................................................................
1
2
3
4
5
Prioritising front-line services for vulnerable people above everything else
1
Bring services together where it is practical and makes better use of buildings
Limiting the impact on front-line services
Focus services at those with the greatest need
1
Investing now to save in the medium term Prioritising investment in services for vulnerable people Encouraging more people to use web based services and transactions Focusing ‘face-to-face’ services and advice for people who can’t get online Using our purchasing power to best effect, even if that means not buying locally
5
Base services locally so they are closer to where they are needed
Involving you in the decisions we have to make
Reviewing, and perhaps reducing, money for external organisations
4
Help children and young people influence future decisions about the city
Working jointly with other organisations to deliver services
Closing some buildings to improve others
3
Having an ambition to be a truly ‘child friendly city’
Getting other organisations to deliver services if it’s cheaper or better
Making better use of our buildings, even if that meant services had to move
2
2
3
4
5
Help people stay in their own homes for as long as possible Ask other organisations, such as the NHS to deliver some services for us
4
5
If we did have to charge for some services or facilities in future, what would you be prepared to pay, or pay more for?
Expect more people to take responsibility for their own actions
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Prioritise our resources to tackle the worst antisocial behaviour
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Prioritise litter picking, fly tipping and graffiti
Do you have any other comments, ideas or suggestions on how the council can deal with the financial challenges ahead?
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2
3
We work to get local jobs, for local people
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Encouraging people to recycle more and throw away less
1
1
Review, perhaps close and replace some adult social care services or facilities where they are underused or outdated.
3
Economy, jobs and culture
Supporting older and disabled people
Raise the charges for services for people who can afford to pay more
2
Support the building of new affordable homes
For charities and voluntary groups to deliver services on our behalf if it’s cheaper or better.
Give people more choice in the social care services they get
1
New development should be allowed provided new jobs are created We work to get a transport system that supports the Leeds economy Review, and perhaps close, services which are underused or invite someone else, such as community groups, to take them over Consider where it might be better for another organisation to deliver services on our behalf if it makes financial sense Survey questions continue on page 8
4
5
Would you be interested in joining the Leeds City Council citizens panel? You’d be helping us better understand how our services perform and what might be improved. If you’d like to volunteer, please tick the box and fill in the form below: [ ] Yes [ ] No Name:........................................................... . .................................................................... Address:........................................................ . .................................................................... Email address:............................................. ...................................................................... If you’d like to respond to this survey in a language other than English, please call 0845 310 9900. Please return your questionnaire to: FREEPOST RSCS-ZTJU-CLXH, Spending Challenge, LS2 8DT. No stamp is required. Deadline for replies: 17 December.
8 About Leeds Winter 2010/11
SURVEY
THE SPENDING CHALLENGE About you… Understanding the views of different groups of people WE want to make sure that all our services are delivered fairly. We want to know a few things about you so we can understand the views of different groups of people in Leeds. What you tell us will be kept confidential. This information will only be used by Leeds City Council or shared with Education Leeds and the Housing Arm’s Length Management Organisations. They will only use this information for the same purposes as the council. If you don't want to answer a question, just leave it blank and move to the next question.
Are you: Please tick one only. Male............................................ [ ] Female........................................ [ ]
What is your age? Please write below .........................................................
Citizen’s panel
What is the first part of your postcode (e.g. LS13)? .........................................................
What is your ethnic origin? Please tick one only. White British............................. [ ] White Irish................................. [ ] Any other white background.. [ ] mixed White & Black Caribbean . .................................................... [ ] mixed White & Black African... [ ] mixed White & Asian............... [ ] Any other mixed background. [ ] Asian Indian.............................. [ ] Asian Pakistani......................... [ ] Asian Bangladeshi.................... [ ] Asian Kashmiri......................... [ ] Any other Asian background... [ ] Black Caribbean........................ [ ] Black African............................ [ ] Any other Black background.. [ ] Chinese...................................... [ ] Gypsy / traveller........................ [ ] Other.......................................... [ ]
Do you consider yourself to be disabled or have a longstanding impairment? Please tick one only. Yes.............................................. [ ] No............................................... [ ] If your response is ‘no’ please answer the final question asking
Please tell us what type of disability you have. You may select more than one response. Please tick all that apply. A physical disability................. [ ] A sensory impairment............. [ ]
A mental health condition....... [ ] A learning disability................. [ ] A long standing illness or health condition.................................... [ ]
How would you describe your religion or belief? Please tick one only. Buddhist..................................... [ Christian.................................... [ Hindu......................................... [ Jewish........................................ [ Muslim....................................... [ Sikh............................................ [ No religion................................. [ Other.......................................... [
] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
AS WELL as asking for people’s views on the spending challenge, we want to involve more people in how we make decisions. One way will be through the Leeds Citizens’ Panel. This is a large group of Leeds residents that volunteer to take part in surveys and discussions about the city’s issues and services – for the council and other organisations. It really helps us understand how people feel about their neighbourhood, the services they use and what they want in the future. We can’t promise that everyone will get on the panel. There has to be the right balance of people of all ages, backgrounds and neighbourhoods. We will keep your details on a waiting list.
Projects win cash boost IMPORTANT: children need to leave their homes at a time when radiation levels rise in Belarus during the hot, dusty period
Helping children of Chernobyl CHERNOBYL Children’s Project Leeds want more local families to help provide vital recuperative holidays for children from Belarus. The local charity is a vital helpline to Belarus children, many who are in remission from leukaemia or cancer following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster 24 years ago. Each summer the Leeds group look to host the children, with local families giving the children a holiday to remember. There is no special requirement to speak Russian. Activity events are organised every few days. For more information visit www.chernobyl-children.org.uk or www.chernobylchildrenleeds. co.uk or call Aidan Siney on 07710 187777.
GYM’LL FIX IT: Rothwell now has lots of new facilities
Rothwell leisure centre gets back into shape ROTHWELL leisure centre’s fitness facilities have been given a facelift over the summer. The gym has been redesigned to create two floor spaces, spinning bikes have been integrated, and the TVs have all been upgraded to enhance the experience of its
many customers. The old café area upstairs is also being converted into a fitness room that will be home to a 20-station boxercise circuit. If you fancy trying out the facilities at Rothwell leisure centre visit www.leeds.gov.uk/ leisurecentres.
New playground RESIDENTS from the Tingley Tenants’ and Residents’ Association are celebrating a new playground at the recreational ground in Smithy Lane. The work by the council’s parks and countryside service involved consultation with children and young people. In total, £130,000 was secured from the Playbuilder Initiative, Outer South Area Committee, Aire Valley Homes and ward based initiative funding.
SIX community-based projects have been awarded a share of £15,000 funding in south Leeds. A junior warden scheme proved popular with children and young people in the Wood Lane estate of Rothwell. Activities ranged from designing hanging baskets and birdfeeders to taking part in healthy eating sessions and environmental treasure hunt. Wood Lane Teatime Club got funding for an after school club and have already recruited seven volunteers. West Yorkshire Police gained funds for two new mountain bikes to respond to local issues. This participatory budgeting funding is supported by Outer South Area Committee.
PEDAL POWER: police officers gained funding for mountain bikes
NEWS
Winter 2010/11
About Leeds 9
Never too old to learn THIS year’s annual Adult Learners’ Award Ceremony was held at Leeds Civic Hall. It celebrated and rewarded the city’s successes. One of the winners was John, aged 85, who won the e-learning award, which just goes to show you are never too old to learn. Every September thousands of people sign up for an adult learning course at over 200 venues across Leeds. The many, varied courses can be for fun, lead to a qualification or help you get back into work. You can learn and build confidence in anything from aromatherapy, basic computing or family pottery to popular singing.
Keeping active NUMBERS UP: more people in Leeds regularly take part in physical activity
FUN: there are many varied courses on offer each September
Search reports available BUYING a property and need a search report? Download the council’s popular request form from www.leeds.gov.uk – insert ‘local authority’ in the search box, fill it in, send it to us and we’ll do the rest. An official local authority search is guaranteed to cover what matters most to a purchaser – accuracy, full upto-date information at a highly competitive price within three working days or less. Peace of mind for only £53 per standard report is a small price to pay.
Ways to tackle domestic abuse A NEW online training resource for identifying and responding to domestic abuse has been created. It takes the form of a graphic novel – comic book style story format. This presents an introduction to a difficult subject in an easily accessible way and will help train front line health staff. It has been created by the Leeds domestic violence team in partnership with NHS Leeds. It’s available at www. seeabuse.com.
MORE than a quarter of adults in Leeds – over 171,000 people – are taking part in sport and active recreation at least three times a week. That’s according to the latest Active People’s Survey – and equates to a six per cent rise, making Leeds one of the most active cities in the country. Leeds City Council leisure cen-
tres are one of the main places residents participate in sport, with over 4.2million visits being notched up across the city last year despite two of the largest leisure centres being closed. With the opening of the impressive new centres in Armley and Morley, the visitor figures are expected to rise to around the 4.6m mark this year.
The council’s sports development unit were also responsible for encouraging a further 30,000 people to participate in a range of community settings, including local schools, parks, and sports clubs. The Chief Medical Officer for England said recently: “If the health effects of physical exercise could be produced by the phar-
Get your discounted compost bin LEEDS City Council are again offering residents discounted compost bins delivered direct to their front doors. The bins start from £14 and, as an added bonus, residents can buy a second half price so they can share with a friend or neighbour. A one off delivery charge of £5 applies. Also available are a wide range of other composters, accessories and water butts. To order visit www. getcomposting.com or call 0844 571 4444. Aerosols, meanwhile, are the latest items which can be put in green bins for recycling. Empty aerosol cans used for products such as deodorants, air fresheners and furniture polish can now be sent for recycling alongside other aluminium and steel products like food and drinks cans. The aerosol cans should be empty, not pierced or crushed and easily removable plastic parts, such as the lid, should be taken off.
RECYCLE: aerosol cans can now go in green bins
maceutical industry, it would be hailed as a wonder drug.” What better endorsement could be given for becoming one of Leeds’ active residents? For more leisure centre information visit www.leeds.gov.uk/ leisurecentres. For Sports Development programmes see www.leeds.gov.uk/ sportdevelopment.
New ways to grow LEEDS City Council is supporting a project to help people grow their own fruit and veg – with a twist. Instead of turning back gardens into growing plots, Back to Front is transforming unused front gardens into home-grown larders. To show how fruit and veg plots can be just as eyecatching as manicured lawns and sculpted flower beds, three demonstration gardens have been set up in Harehills and Chapeltown. With help from Leeds Metropolitan University and NHS Leeds, the project will give people the gardening knowhow they need to keep growing. As part of the project a handy gardening manual is being produced to help others. See www.backtofront.org.uk for more information.
10 About Leeds Winter 2010/11
LEARNING IN LEEDS
School admissions now being received
CHOICE: admission applications can be made online or by forms
PARENTS and carers with children starting primary school in September 2011 are taking advantage of a simple, secure online application process. Families with children starting primary school have until 15 January 2011 to apply for their three preferred schools at www. educationleeds.co.uk/admissions.
Offers will be made on 20 April. Paper forms are also available from schools during term time. These should be completed listing three schools in order of preference. Previous years have shown people who apply late, or not at all, are unlikely to be able to attend a preferred school. The deadline for secondary school
applications was October. Offers will be made on 1 March 2011. From 7 December Education Leeds has a new telephone number, 0113 222 4414. We are changing the way we answer your calls to improve our telephone answer rates and make sure you receive the best service even during our busiest times.
School leavers’ success THOUSANDS of young people in Leeds have achieved more qualifications than ever before, including the first students who have completed diplomas in Leeds. In 2010, 75.3 per cent of young people achieved five or more A*-C grades at GCSE, a rise of nearly eight per cent in the past year – more markedly, in 2001, the figure stood at 39.5 per cent. The figure for five A*-C GCSEs, including English and maths, meanwhile, is 51.3 per cent in 2010 – compared to 45.9 per cent in 2009 and 27.5 per cent back in 2001. Persistent absence in secondary schools is also a key government measure and, over the last three years along, Leeds has seen a decrease of over 22 per cent, representing almost 1,000 more young people consistently attending school. Such figures mean Leeds is among the most improving authorities in the country and highlights the city council’s and Education Leeds’ commitment to narrowing the gap – between its own students and the city’s over-
all achievement among other authorities. This summer, meanwhile, students in Leeds were among the first in the country to complete their 14-19 diploma qualifications. The new diploma qualification – which combine academic and practical work –was completed by 79 learners in three subjects: creative and media, construction and the built environment, plus hair and beauty studies. Learners achieving the level one and two diplomas have gone on to further study at schools and further education colleges. Level three construction students have progressed to universities around the country to study BSc Hons courses in civil engineering and construction management. The diplomas were introduced in 2008 for young people aged 1419. Chris Edwards, chief executive of Education Leeds, said: “These results reflect the effort and determination of our young people and the exceptional work and quality of teaching in our schools.”
CULTURAL EXCHANGE: young people met Prince Charles
The day we met the Prince… TEN young people took part in a cultural exchange in France during July, as part of the Leeds Find Your Talent programme. They presented artwork to Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, at a ceremony to commemorate Commonwealth soldiers who died in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle during the First World War. Six Parklands Girls’ High
School pupils also represented Leeds at the prestigious Share Your Talent arts showcase in London during July. Their performance of Firebird was the result of a collaboration by Phoenix Dance Theatre and Space2, an organisation which uses art to work with disadvantaged communities in Leeds. Emma Tregidden, creative
director of Space2, said: “The girls not only get the chance to work alongside professional dancers and choreographers, but represent their city at a prestigious event. “The girls will be ambassadors for the larger Firebird project which we are currently developing for Phoenix’s 30th anniversary in 2011.”
Director relishes challenge to improve children’s lives
WELL DONE: the first students to complete diplomas have worked hard
NIGEL Richardson joined Leeds City Council in September as the new director for children’s services. He will be continuing the city’s work of improving the lives of children and young people across the city. He said: “I am
relishing the opportunity to work in Leeds and influence the lives of around 180,000 children – a challenge I couldn’t turn down.” Nigel joins Leeds from Hull City Council where he worked as corporate director of children and young people’s services.
NEW DIRECTOR: Nigel Richardson
CARING FOR LEEDS
Hospital needn’t get in way of education THE Learning Zone, a new state-of-the-art classroom, opened at Leeds General Infirmary in May. The classroom gives children and young people access to continued education if their schooling is interrupted while spending time in hospital. It has the latest ICT equipment across three teaching areas, a multi-sensory room and quiet study area for older children. Learning mentor Bethany Ryder supports patients aged 13-25, specifically cancer posts. She said: “A typical day starts with a ward visit to assess the young people’s needs, then a meeting with teaching staff. “I arrange for the young people to be taught on the ward if necessary, or for them to access the Learning Zone, which has great interactive facilities to make learning more interesting.” Her work – on the ward
REWARDING: learning mentor Bethany Ryder builds trust with the young people
Winter 2010/11
About Leeds 11
Social care in Leeds is now more flexible
in the morning, liaising with professionals in the afternoon – builds relationships and trust with the young people. “I enjoy my job. It is challenging but it’s also rewarding – the most interesting part is getting to know the young people,” Bethany added. “It can be hard to see them struggling when they’re ill but they are an inspiration to work with as they cope with everything life throws at them.” The Learning Zone is provided by Education Leeds’ Home Hospital and Teaching Service. Bethany’s post is supported by the Emma Maltby Memorial Fund.
Day to reflect and to look ahead HOLOCAUST Memorial Day is a national event which this coming January remembers the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. The free ‘Untold Stories’ event in Leeds on 30 January, starts at 2pm in the Town Hall. Join hundreds of local people for an afternoon of commemoration, music, drama, theatre, song, artwork, discussion and debate. Holocaust Memorial Day remembers victims and those whose lives have changed beyond recognition. It also honours survivors and is a chance to look to our own lives and communities today. For more information contact 0113 2476419 or arts@leeds.gov.uk.
Supporting people in need LEEDS Shared Lives recruits members of the public to support vulnerable people in the community. The council service provides short breaks and help for a few hours, or overnight, and longer periods in their own home. Training is provided and carers receive an allowance. Shared Lives carers come from all walks of life but have one thing in common – they want to make a difference. If you wish to become a Shared Lives carer contact
0113 224 3503 or sharedlives@ leeds.gov.uk. Leeds Shared Lives is the new name for Leeds Family Placement Service.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: carer Sylvia Riley with Jackie Gordon
BENEFITS: Paul with his mum Olive. Paul was interviewed in spring 2010
A BRAND new way of receiving social care is available in Leeds – and it’s fairer, more flexible and more transparent than ever before. The new system is called ‘selfdirected support’ (SDS) and is the result of decades of campaigning by disabled people and social care reformers. As the name suggests, it’s intended to give people more say over their social care – from assessment right through to choosing services and support. Instead of being slotted into the ‘one-size-fits-all’ services of the past, people will now know how much money is available for them to spend on their support, and can use a personal social care budget to pick and mix services from the council and independent care providers. The money can be used to pay 130 OLDER people in Leeds have been trained by Infostore to become digitally connected. A website designed by older people for use with their carers and professionals, Infostore includes details of hundreds of organisations and services that
TRIALLED: Tizzy was one of the first people to have a personal budget in Leeds. The extra flexibility of such support means she can employ personal care assistants
for services which help people improve their quality of life and address specific eligible needs. But there are strict controls to make sure taxpayers’ money is being spent responsibly. SDS has been trialled in Leeds for the past year, so some resi-
Stay connected work with older people, provide leaflets and guides for them, and links to other websites. Bill Taylor and Joan Roberts
dents have started to experience the benefits for themselves – like Paul and his mum Olive, 89, who has Alzheimer’s. For the last nine months, Olive has been using a personal budget to employ a team of personal care assistants. Paul said: “Mum gets up to all sorts of activities with her PAs – looking through books, singing along to the old timers, doing jigsaws – even feeding the ducks on the Wharfe. Compare that to just staring at the TV! “The PAs are hand-picked and mum gets to see the same friendly faces, rather than a procession of strangers. This is the best thing I have ever done for my mum.” For further information call Adult Social Care customer services on 0113 222 4401, textphone 0113 222 4410 or visit www.leeds. gov.uk/personalbudgets.
are two of a group, aged 60-90, based at Billing View sheltered accommodation, who have set up their own computer training club and received awards as part of Adult Learner’s Week. You can find it at www. olderpeopleleeds.info.
12 About Leeds Winter 2010/11
WHAT IF LEEDS…
Our Vision By 2030, Leeds will be internationally recognised as the best city in Britain – a city that is fair, open and welcoming with a prosperous and sustainable economy, a place where everyone can lead safe, healthy and successful lives. WE ARE LIVING in challenging and changing times. The global recession has had a real impact on the Leeds’ economy and led to a significant fall in the public money available to spend. A changing climate is increasingly affecting our daily lives and we are continuing to use up the planet’s natural resources at an alarming speed. And, like other major cities, our population is forecast to grow. These are just some of the rea-
sons we need to think ahead and plan for future success. This is why the Leeds Initiative, the city’s partnership organisation, is developing a new, longterm plan for the future of the city called Vision for Leeds 2011 to 2030. Over the last year, we have held events and workshops with many of Leeds’ organisations and residents, who have also told us how they think Leeds should develop in the future. All of this has resulted in the
following proposals about where we should aim to be as a city by 2030. But what do you think?
Our aims By 2030, Leeds will be fair, open and welcoming Leeds will be a place where everyone has an equal chance to live their life successfully and realise their potential. Leeds will embrace new ideas, involve local people, and welcome visitors and those who come here to live, work and learn.
To do this Leeds will be a city where: n people from different backgrounds and ages feel comfortable living together in communities; n people are treated with dignity and respect at all stages of their lives; n we all behave responsibly; n people have a shared sense of belonging; n there are good relations within and between communities; n the causes of unfairness are understood and addressed; n people feel confident about doing things for themselves and others; n our services meet the diverse needs of our changing population; n people can access support where and when it is needed; n local people have the power to make decisions that affect us; n people are active and involved in their local communities; and n everyone is proud to live and work.
By 2030, Leeds’ economy will be prosperous and sustainable We will create a prosperous and sustainable economy, using our resources effectively. Leeds will be successful and well-connected offering a good standard of living. Our culture of being excellent at everything we do will create a great quality of life for all. Leeds will be a city that has: n a strong local economy driving sustainable economic growth; n a skilled workforce to meet the needs of the local economy; n a world-class cultural offer; n built on its strengths in financial and business services, and manufacturing, and continued to grow its strong retail, leisure and tourism sectors; n world-class, cultural, digital and creative industries; n developed new opportunities for green manufacturing and for growing other new industries; n improved levels of enterprise through creativity and innovation; n work for everyone with secure, flexible employment and good wages; n high-quality, accessible, affordable and reliable public transport; n successfully achieved a 40% re-
duction in carbon emissions (by 2020); n adapted to changing weather patterns; n increased use of alternative energy supplies and locally produced food; and n buildings that meet high sustainability standards in the way they are built and run.
By 2030, Leeds’ communities will be safe, healthy and successful Everyone has the opportunity to be safe, successful and secure and lead happy, healthy and fulfilling lives. Leeds’ communities will thrive and people will be confident, skilled, enterprising, active and involved. To do this Leeds will be a city where: n people have the opportunity to get out of poverty; n education and training helps more people to achieve their potential; n communities are safe and people feel safe; n all Leeds’ homes are of a decent standard and everyone can afford to stay warm; n healthy life choices are easier to make; n community-led businesses meet local needs; n local services, including shops and healthcare, are easy to access and meet our needs; n local cultural and sporting activities are available to all; n there are high quality buildings, places and green spaces, and n happiness forms the basis of a good quality of life.
So… what kind of city do you want Leeds to be by 2030? n what if Leeds has the best quality of life in the UK? n what if Leeds is the UK’s most family friendly city? n what if Leeds has the strongest and most sustainable economy in the country? n what if Leeds …? You tell us! The questionnaire opposite is one way of telling us your views. Please take a few minutes to answer the questions and return this sheet (together with any extra comments) to the address shown (you do not need a stamp). n Visit www.whatifleeds.org n Send us a tweet @whatifleeds n Visit us at Facebook/ whatifleeds
WHAT IF LEEDS…
Winter 2010/11
About Leeds 13
# Thinking to 2030… What if Leeds… becomes the best city in the UK? What does this mean to you? How would you make this happen? ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................
What if Leeds… becomes fair, open and welcoming? What does this mean to you? How would you make this happen? ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................
What if Leeds… has a prosperous and sustainable economy? What does this mean to you? How would you make this happen? ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................
What if Leeds’ communities are safe, healthy and successful? What does this mean to you? How would you make this happen? ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................
Thinking about the next three years… What if you could choose…? What would the top priorities for the city be in the next few years? What are the big issues you think we need to tackle as a city? ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................
We want to make sure that the final version of the Vision for Leeds 2011 to 2030 is accessible to people. Please tell us your favourite options. A printed document An online document An online film or podcast A DVD Other (please specify) ......................................................................................................
About you To help us make sure that we reach as wide a range of people as possible, it would help us if you could answer the questions below. The information you provide will be kept confidential. Male
Female
Date of birth............................................................................. First part of postcode (e.g. LS10)......................................
Ethnic origin Please choose one section from A to E and then tick the appropriate box to indicate your ethnic background. A. White British Irish Any other white background – please write below ...................................................................................................... B. Mixed race White and Black Caribbean White and Black African White and Asian Any other mixed background – please write below ...................................................................................................... C. Asian or Asian British Indian Pakistani Bangladeshi Kashmiri Any other Asian background – please write below ...................................................................................................... D. Black or black British Caribbean African Any other black background – please write below ...................................................................................................... E. Other ethnic groups Chinese Gypsy/Traveller Any other background – please write below ......................................................................................................
Do you consider yourself to be disabled? Yes No
Type of disability Physical – such as using a wheelchair to get around or difficulty using your arms Sight or hearing problems – such as being blind or partially blind, or deaf or partially deaf Mental health condition – such as depression or schizophrenia Learning disability – such as Down’s syndrome or dyslexia – or difficulties in thinking, planning, and memory – such as autism or brain injury Long-standing illness or health condition – such as cancer, HIV, diabetes, chronic heart disease, or epilepsy
Sexual orientation Heterosexual/straight Lesbian/gay woman Gay man Bisexual Please tick the appropriate box to describe your religion or belief Buddhist Christian Hindu Jewish Muslim Sikh No religion Other (please specify) ......................................................................................................
Remember, you can use additional paper to answer the questions if you like. Please send your completed survey to:
FREEPOST PLUS RSCS-ZTJU-CLXH Leeds Initiative Leeds City Council Merrion House 110 Merrion Centre Merrion Way Leeds LS2 8ET
14 About Leeds Winter 2010/11
NEWS
BOWL-ED OVER: the likes of Yorkshire cricketer Richard Pryah, Vicky Locklin of Calendar News and former rugby league player Ikram Butt have enjoyed their time at the Ministry of Food
Market just gets better KIRKGATE Market goes from strength to strength with two exciting additions. Europe’s largest covered market is the vibrant home to over 600 stalls, which attract more than 10 million people every year. It’s a treasure trove, boasting an eclectic array of produce and spices, on top of a Chinese supermarket and Polish delicatessen. And all from traders offering freshness, variety and value for money with a friendly service – every Monday to Saturday, from 9am to 5pm. Now the market, both indoor and outdoors, can boast two great
newcomers… The Ministry of Food and The Bazaar. The Ministry of Food offers 10 week cookery courses featuring recipes taught by staff trained by Jamie Oliver’s team. Cooks are taught to concoct a wide variety of fabulous, healthy and simple meals from scratch with food from the market – from the basics of poaching an egg to making a delicious salmon tikka. Courses run Monday-Saturday lasting two hours per week at £6 per session – £5.50 for Leeds Card and Leeds Card 60 holders or £3.50 for Leeds Card Extra and Leeds Card 60 Extra holders.
You can find the Ministry in Row G of the market hall. For more information contact voluntary group Zest on 0113 240 6677 or www.zesthealthforlife.org. The Ministry of Food is supported by Leeds City Council and NHS Leeds. The Bazaar is a must for those interested in Asian food and culture. Open each Wednesday, 10am-6pm, The Bazaar offers an eclectic mix of Asian sweets, fabrics and clothes. “We wanted to bring something new to Leeds and this is completely different,” Hassan Ali, director of The Bazaar, said.
“It is a real bazaar like you get in India or Pakistan. We will have lots of food stalls selling samosas, kebabs and chanaa chaat (spicy chickpea salad) and Bradford’s Regal Café will be making fresh hot jalebis (Asian sweets).” The Bazaar complements the recently introduced all-day Wednesday opening of the indoor market. An official website for Leeds’s markets has been launched, packed with recipe ideas, news, trader profiles, events and locations. There’s also information on how to rent a stall and our markets’ rich, colourful history. Find it at www.leedsmarkets.co.uk.
LAUNCH: the Bazaar opening was a great success
Flowerbed designs a joy for all
TRIM: Ian Upton’s show garden
Best kept gardens applauded PRIZE POSTERS: the designs of Saffron Catterick were so good, we brought them to life
IN BLOOM events in Leeds have again proved to be a great success. Leeds won a silver gilt at the Britain in Bloom 2010 Awards, featuring in the large city category. The city was invited to enter after Leeds won gold in last year’s Yorkshire in Bloom. Judges from the competition organisers, the Royal Horticultural Society, visited Leeds in August to put our parks and countryside under the microscope.
The Britain in Bloom Awards’ winners were announced late September. Meanwhile, the winning entries for the Leeds’ children’s design a flowerbed competition have been turned into the real thing. Pepper White won in the fourseven age category. Pepper’s flowerbed is planted in Park Square. Saffron Catterick took top spot in the eight-ten section. Her flowerbed can be seen in York Street. Tom Murray’s design can
also be seen in Park Square. He won the 11-14 category. Over 1,600 young people, aged four-14, from across the city took part in the competition sponsored by Evans Property Group. The city’s spring business winners were presented with their awards during the summer. Over 69 businesses entered the competition including pubs, hotels, banks, solicitors, restaurants, golf clubs, a shopping centre, churches and schools.
THE winners of the annual East North East Homes Leeds Best Kept Gardens competition have been lauded at a special awards ceremony. The competition is not just for experienced gardeners – people new to gardening were very much encouraged to enter. Winners included Collingham Primary School (school garden category) and Ian Upton (show garden). “When the competition started, little did we realise just
what wealth of talent would emerge,” said Angelena Fixter, chair of ENEHL. “From its humble beginnings with about 30 entries, this competition has grown with more than 80 gardeners taking part.” The popular competition attracted around 80 entries this year. The ceremony was held at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel in Seacroft and sponsored by ENEHL and developers Lovell.
WHAT’S ON
Winter 2010/11
About Leeds 15
City united to back 2018 bid THE decision on whether Leeds will play its part in football’s 2018 World Cup is upon us, at the time of going to press. The world football governing body FIFA is set to announce the host country on 2 December – in the middle of the About Leeds distribution run. If England is successful, World Cup games will be played at Elland Road. Experts predict a massive boost for business and tourism with visitors spending over £150million in the region’s hotels, shops, bars and restaurants.
Hirst exhibition set for Leeds LEEDS Art Gallery has announced it is to host a major exhibition of works by worldfamous artist Damien Hirst next year. The exhibition will be coming to the art gallery on The Headrow from July to September 2011 as part of the national ARTIST ROOMS programme which will see collections of modern and contemporary art held by Tate and National Galleries of Scotland going on display at venues around the country. Hirst has strong links with Leeds, as he grew up in the city and also attended Leeds College of Art and Design before shooting to national and international prominence in the mid-1990s. Away from the Flock (© Damien Hirst. All rights reserved, DACS 2010), pictured above, forms part of the exhibition.
Local communities, football teams, schools, celebrities and, even, knitting groups are backing the bid. July’s Party in Park saw a 48in inflatable football thrown into the 70,000 strong crowd, accompanied by chants of ‘Back the bid England’. Prominent figures backing the bid include Sir Geoff Hurst, Peter Crouch, Alan Shearer and Lennox Lewis. You can back the bid via wwwbackthebidleeds.com, in Morrisons stores, BT’s website www.bt.com/2018 and www. england2018bid.com.
HAVING A BALL: at Party in the Park
A feast for your eyes and your imagination
In a whirl LEEDS International Concert Season presents Leeds’ favourite seasonal concert, Viennese Whirl, at Leeds Town Hall. Starting 3pm, on 2 January, it features the Orchestra of Opera North, conductor Guido Johannes Rumstadt and star vocalist Fflur Wyn. Compere Dougie Scarfe will lead the festivities, presenting an afternoon of popular arias, polkas and waltzes alongside many traditional favourites, including Die Fledermaus: Overture, Tales from the Vienna Woods, Champagne Polka, Skaters Waltz, Carmen Quadrille, and On the beautiful blue Danube. Tickets are priced £9.50£27.50 (discounts available). To book call the box office on 0113 224 3801 or go online at www. leedsconcertseason.com.
Disability tennis DISABILITY and wheelchair tennis coaching is available at the John Charles Centre for Sport. The tennis centre coaching is aimed at 11-19 year olds with any disability. Coaches are Lawn Tennis Association qualified. Tennis wheelchairs are available. It costs £2.60 per session. For more tennis information visit www.leeds.gov. uk or contact 0113 395 0186 or tennis@leeds.gov.uk.
COOL: the Ice Cube rink has skaters flocking to Millennium Square
THERE’S lots to do in Leeds over the coming months. Hollywood glamour has arrived at Leeds City Museum where costumes worn by stars of the big screen have gone on display until 9 January. Heroes and Heroines – fashion from film showcases costumes including the famous outfit worn by Colin Firth as Mr Darcy, and the beautiful dress donned by Keira Knightley in The Duchess. Tickets cost £2.50 for adults and £1.50 for concessions. There is also a programme of events, talks and lectures. For more information visit www.leeds.gov. uk/museumsandgalleries. The Carriageworks is celebrat-
FROCK’N’ROLL UP: outfits worn by Cate Blanchett and Colin Firth are exhibited at Leeds City Museum
ing its fifth anniversary. For the whole family, there’s
LAUGHS: Russell Kane
the hugely successful annual pantomime, which this year tells the story of Cinderella (3 December-8 January). Following this, it’s a packed spring season showing just why the Leeds venue is proving such a popular destination for audiences from across the region. Performance highlights include the highly acclaimed Out of Joint company with their new show A Dish of Tea with Dr Johnson (30 March), starring Ian Redford, famous for his role as Keith Appleyard in Coronation Street. There’s a whole range of big-name comedy, including Miles Jupp (3 February), Russell Kane (26 February), and Jenny
Éclair (5 March). And as ever there’s something for the whole family with halfterm and Easter treats including Elmer the Elephant (24 February) and Billy Goat’s Gruff (23 March). To buy tickets go to www.carriageworkstheatre.org.uk or call 0113 224 3801. And finally, the Ice Cube is a regular attraction returning to Leeds this winter. The large temporary ice rink is highly popular and offers a variety of events for skaters. It’s at Millennium Square from 15 January to 6 March. For more: 0113 395 0891 or www. leeds.gov.uk/icecube.
16 About Leeds Winter 2010/11
Green report in November
PEDAL POWER: over 50 riders cycling the 12-miles return route to Almscliffe Crag
By bike and on foot MORE people are rediscovering the delights of cycling and walking. Leeds City Council hosted one of its largest and most successful Summer Festivals of Cycling, which included over 60 local events as part of the national Bike Week scheme. A record 44 Leeds schools took part in Bike Week. The 5 Schools – 5 Challenges ride from Otley was among the biggest events, with over 50 riders cycling the 12-miles return route to Almscliffe Crag. Cycling commuters, meanwhile, are benefiting from the new ‘cycle point’ at Leeds Rail Station. This offers parking, hire and repair services. The first core cycle network route is a five mile route which will link the city centre with Middleton using cycle tracks, shared pavements and quiet roads. Pedestrians, meanwhile, are benefiting from www.walkit.com,
the web-based complement to the successful Leeds route planner. Recent improvements include a ‘step free’ option when planning a route, while highlighted areas help walkers avoid steep hills. For those seeking gentle exercise, www.walkit.com can also offer a circular route or distance.
Aside from the free website, Walk it print guides are also available. For more information on cycling and walking in Leeds, visit www.leeds.gov.uk and select ‘cycling’ under the A-Z search. n The ninth Otley Road Safety Quiz was won by newcomers Yeadon Westfield in June. Fifteen
outstanding schools competed with Otley Ashfield second and Adel Primary third. n Youngsters have promised to turn pedal power into pester power after joining Breeze on Tour’s ‘party without pollution’. Children danced and battled it out on the party’s games console. One catch – they had to provide all the energy to run the sound system, TV and games console themselves by pedalling furiously on three bike generators. Having learned about energy efficiency, as well as recycling, wildlife and green travel, partygoers have promised to go home and ask their friends and family to be more environmentally friendly. And party organisers will be checking up to make sure they keep their promises. Grown-ups can do their bit by taking the Leeds Climate Pledge – www.leedsinitiative.org/ environment.
WEEK WINNER: McKelvie Paice tests out his new bike
YOU can check the council’s environmental credentials when its green annual report is published in November. The environmental statement for 2009/2010 charts the council’s progress on dealing with waste, recycling, how transport is used, how energy is used and what the council buys. Tackling these issues helps the council reduce its environmental impact. Read the statement at www.leeds. gov.uk. For advice on how to reduce your environmental impact and help Leeds cut its carbon emissions by 40 per cent by 2020 go to www.leedsinitiative.org/ environment.
Be safe when hiring taxis TAXIS form a vital part of public transport – so it’s important to travel safe. Always use a licensed taxi or pre-booked private hire vehicle. Carry the telephone number of a licensed company with you. Never hail a private hire vehicle on street – they are not insured or licensed for this purpose. You could put yourself at risk. Leeds City Council is responsible for licensing Hackney carriage taxis, private hire vehicles and their drivers. When getting a taxi, ask yourself: do you know who is taking you home tonight? For more information visit www.leeds.gov.uk/taxis. For more on Unite Leeds Hackney Carriage Association visit www. uniteleeds.com.
Contacting Leeds City Council Detailed information on all our services can be found at our website, www.leeds.gov.uk. If the service you require is not listed, please call our general enquiries number on 0113 222 4444. The council has 17 one stop centres. Contact them on general.enquiries@ leeds.gov.uk.
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Housing repairs and tenant enquiries: Belle Isle Tenant Management Organisation (repairs) 0800 389 5503 (office hours) 0113 376 0499 (out of hours) bitmo-enquiries@belleisletmo.co.uk Belle Isle TMO (general) 0113 214 1833 East North East Homes Leeds 0800 915 1600 enehl.enquiries@enehl.org.uk Aire Valley Homes Leeds 0800 915 6660 avhleeds.enquiries@avhleeds.org.uk West North West Homes Leeds 0800 915 1113 wnwhl.enquiries@wnwhl.org.uk Emergencies outside of opening hours: Highways, street lights, signage and building repairs 0113 376 0499 Noise problems 0113 242 5841 Adult Social Care and Emergency Accommodation 0113 240 9536