Inside this issue - Newcastle City Council

Transcription

Your council magazine
Inside
this issue
Re-newcastle
Fair choices for tough times
A great year for rugby
Keep it Clean
Look out for your bin calendar and
Newcastle City Learning course brochure with this edition
Spring 2015
Welcome to Citylife
Contacting
the council
In this edition
Other useful numbers are:
To report a faulty streetlight
0800 085 7307
24 hour automated payments line
0191 278 7878 (ask for ‘payments’)
Repairs Centre for YHN tenants
0191 278 7878 (ask for ‘repairs’)
Adult Social Care Direct
0191 278 8377
Textphone for people with hearing difficulties
0191 211 4944
To find out how to contact your local councillor phone 0191 278 7878 and ask for ‘councillor’ or visit
www.newcastle.gov.uk/councillors
Other ways to get in touch
Visit our website
Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Fit for purpose council
A working city
Elections 2015
Investing in our future
On Thursday 7 May you have the chance to vote in two key
elections. You can vote for the person you want to represent you in
Newcastle City Council, and for the person you want to see as your
MP. If you haven’t already registered to vote, find out how you can
do this on page 5.
We want Newcastle to be a great place to live and do business
which is why we’re continuing to invest in our city’s buildings and
transport, as well as creating jobs and tackling youth
unemployment. Find out about what’s happening at Science
Central, in the heart of the city, as well as news on Generation NE
on pages 9 to 15.
2015-16 budget
The 2015-16 budget was approved by City Council on 4 March. This
included a 1.95% rise in council tax. Find out what this means on
page 6.
Creating decent neighbourhoods
- www.newcastle.gov.uk
- www.facebook.com/newcastlecitycouncil
- @NewcastleCC
A year of rugby
2015 is a great year for rubgy, and nowhere more so than here in
Newcastle. The city hosts three Rugby World Cup matches in
October, and a new era for Rugby League gets underway in May
when all 12 teams play an extraordinary round of fixtures at St
James’ Park, as part of their Magic Weekend. Find out about the
tournaments, and how fans will help boost the local economy on
pages 18 and 19.
Keep it clean
We will spend about £4.2m this year keeping the streets of
Newcastle clean – but we can’t do it without your help! Our ‘Keep
it clean’ campaign encourages people to pick up their litter, clean
up after their dogs and stamp out fly-tipping.
Keep it green
Council meetings
Need to know how you can recycle more? And how you can help to
make Newcastle a greener city? If so see pages 24 to 27.
The council holds a number of meetings
throughout the year which are open to the
public. These include Cabinet, planning
meetings, City Council and overview and
scrutiny meetings.
Tackling Inequalities
Pupils do us proud, but we still want to improve
The next Business Cabinet meetings take place at 4.30pm
on Wednesday 25 March and Wednesday 22 April 2015.
Official 2014 GCSE results show that more Newcastle pupils have
achieved the expected standard than elsewhere in the country and
across the region. But we know we need to do more to help
children from poorer backgrounds to match the performance of
other youngsters. Read about our schools’ performance and the
Newcastle Learning Challenge on pages 34 and 35.
Full City Council generally meets on the first Wednesday
of the month at 6pm in the Council Chamber at the Civic
Centre.
Can you make a difference to a child’s life?
Further details of all council meetings can be found at
www.newcastle.gov.uk/committee-diary. Agendas and
minutes for meetings can also be viewed from a link on
this page.
For more information please phone Linda Couch on
0191 211 5121 or email [email protected]
If you’ve ever thought about fostering or adoption, we can help
you with training and support. To read more and discover if this is
the right opportunity for you, turn to pages 32 and 33.
Spring has sprung!
Why not use the opportunity to get active? Read about our Cycling in the City programme,
as well as other ways to stay healthy and look after yourself in 2015 on pages 36 and 37.
Citylife is produced by Newcastle City Council and printed by NCJ Media Ltd.
Design by Paul Burgess Graphic Design. Front cover photo by Steve Brock.
Citylife is printed on paper sourced from sustainably managed forests.
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Follow us on Twitter - @NewcastleCC
Find us on Facebook - www.facebook.com/newcastlecitycouncil
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News in brief
On the up!
It’s a sniff up!
We have been ranked as one of the best
employers in the country for lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
staff. The council jumped six places to
19th in the top 100 employers in the
Stonewall Workplace Equality Index
2015 which looks at how employers
support their LGBT staff in the
workplace. When employees are
supported to be open about their
identity, it can improve their
performance, health and wellbeing. We
are now the fourth best performing
council in the country and have pledged
to do more to make experiences for our
staff in the workplace even better.
On the
market
We have started to market the
City Hall and the historic City Pool
buildings. It’s hoped that an
alternative use for the building
can be found while the City Hall
will continue as an entertainment
venue. There are no plans to close
it but instead build upon its
reputation for showcasing
national and international acts.
The whole site on
Northumberland Road in the city
centre is expected to attract
significant interest from
developers, investors and
community groups. We are also
open to ideas for bringing the
historic Turkish baths back into
use. The City Pool and baths
closed two years ago as a result
of rising costs and Government
cuts. If you are interested in the
building contact Sanderson
Weatherall on 0191 261 2681.
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Scamp the sniffer dog is proud as punch after sniffing
out thousands of black market cigarettes. During
Operation Beagle, the two-year-old English Springer
Spaniel, a former rescue dog, uncovered more than
10,000 illicit cigarettes at shops in Arthurs Hill and Byker.
The haul was confiscated and bagged up while Trading
Standards investigate.
Shop owners caught selling illegal products face prosecution. All
cigarettes pose a risk to health especially illicit ones which often
contain higher tar levels.
Trading standards officer Paul Leighton said: “The haul was one of
the largest we’ve seized. It was definitely a good day at the office
for Scamp.”
Sign up for
freedom
Leaders of the UK’s most economically
successful cities including Newcastle have
launched a Modern Charter for Local Freedom.
The Charter sets out the powers our cities and regions
need to improve lives and boost the economy, and sets
out how powers can be devolved from national
parliaments to drive prosperity, increase equality and
strengthen democracy.
It calls for the Core Cities to have more control over
taxes – not to raise taxes - but make sure that money
raised locally is spent locally. The launch of the charter
in Glasgow was attended by politicians from across the
political spectrum.
If you would like to back the call for more devolution
you can sign the Charter at www.corecities.com
Electric car
cuts CO2
The Lord Mayor’s new electric car is striking a blow for the
environment.
The Nissan LEAF has saved half a tonne of CO2 compared to his previous
petrol model.
In a ground-breaking move, Newcastle’s Lord Mayor became the first mayor
in the UK to make a permanent switch to a purely electric official car.
Since the car was supplied in November 2014 by the Benfield Motor Group,
he’s used it to travel all over the region, including to Sunderland Civic
Centre and South Tyneside Town Hall - in total 1,759 miles.
The LEAF is fitted with a plaque bearing the Lord Mayor’s coat of arms, a
council flag and the city’s oldest number plate, OBB1, as well as markings to
make residents aware it is 100% electric.
The move is part of the city’s commitment to show that lowering your
carbon footprint also makes good economic sense - zero emissions and
costing 2p a mile to run.
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Creating a Newcastle
for the future
Fair choices
for tough
times
Delivering great services for a great
city despite the cuts.
The updated budget was approved by
City Council on 5 March. It includes:
Every year the council’s financial position gets more and more difficult.
The amount of money we get from the
Government for our day to day spending
has been cut again. And, whilst the
Government provides less, we are seeing
the demand for some of our most vital
services such as child protection and
elderly care continue to grow.
Overall the Council needs to save £40
million in the next financial year. This is
on top of more than £151 million of
savings which have already been made
since 2010.
We have made it plain to the Government
that we think their cuts have hit councils
harder than other public services, and
that hard pressed places like Newcastle
have suffered the biggest cuts of all.
But, we have to be realistic. Spending cuts
in the public sector are going to be with us
for years to come. We have to change if
we are to continue providing great services
for a great city. Newcastle is leading the
way in showing how councils can
transform services to be fit for the future.
This means making some big changes to
the way the council does things. We are
working more closely than ever with local
people and community groups to find
ways to keep services going. And we are
doing more alongside other services in
the city like the police, the health service,
our universities and colleges, the business
community and the voluntary sector to
pool our knowledge and increasingly
scarce resources so that we can continue
to make a positive difference to our city
and its people.
You will notice a difference to how your
council works. Many more of our services
will be provided mainly through our
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website. Some services, like our leisure
centres and some libraries will move out
of the council into the hands of Trusts and
other organisations. Other services will be
targeted more towards those people who
really need them most rather than being
available to everyone. Some council
buildings will close as our workforce
becomes smaller.
At the same time as we find new ways to
provide great services, we must also
continue to invest in making Newcastle a
great city. By investing sensibly we can
help create the new business, jobs and
homes that the city needs. Getting people
into work helps reduce demand on our
services. Attracting new businesses and
providing more homes for people to live
in the city helps increase our income from
business rates and council tax – making us
less dependent on
the Government
for funds.
If there is one
thing we have
learned through
the financial
crisis it is that
Newcastle can
and must
continue to
stand on its
own two feet.
Nick Forbes
Leader Newcastle City Council
Let’s
talk about
the budget
• A 1.95% rise in council tax. We’ve frozen council
tax for the last four years – but an increase will
help us continue to clean and maintain your
neighbourhood
• Increasing rents on council-owned properties
by just over 2%. We’ll use this money to
make improvements for tenants
Investing in
our city
We have an important role to play in leading the city
through tough times. Creating business, jobs and homes
will help us create a city for the future. Which is why the
budget isn’t just about making cuts.
We will:
• Increase the Newcastle Living Wage to £7.75 an hour.
• Continue to transform areas of the city including Science Central, Central
Station, Stephenson Quarter and the North Bank of the Tyne
• Deliver plans for 20,000 new homes
• Making savings in the cost of running the council
– for example, by reducing the number of
buildings we use
• Remodelling and reducing the children’s
social care workforce - but ensuring it will
still meet demand and provide a safe service
• Setting out a new approach to Family Services by
introducing community family hubs. These hubs
will be a ‘one stop shop’ for all families with
children living in the most deprived communities
In October 2014 we published ‘Fair
choices for tough times’ which
outlined the steps we need to take
to respond to the ongoing financial
pressures and increasing demand for
our services.
This marked the start of our consultation,
which continued until 31 January 2015.
Over 500 people and organisations gave us
their views through a variety of routes,
including events, Let’s talk Newcastle
Online, and letters from organisations.
We received comments about a variety of
proposals, and in particular, feedback on
proposals for school crossings, transport for
those with special educational needs, the
increase in Council Tax, the Family Services
Review and the remodelling of the
children’s social care workforce. Feedback
was used to update our impact
assessments, which are used to make sure
we are making fair choices in tough times.
• Modernise our transport system
• Ensure that we campaign for greater devolution, so we have the powers,
funding and responsibilities to improve the local economy
• Invest in our digital services – both for the city and the council - helping
people to get online
• Support the Newcastle Learning Challenge to improve already high
standards in our schools, and reduce the number of young people not in
employment, education or training
You can read more about these plans later in this edition of Citylife.
• Making changes to our Special Educational
Needs travel offer - including introducing a
charge towards the costs of travel for over
16s
• Carrying out risk assessments of school crossing
patrols and talking to schools and businesses
about alternative ways to fund some of them
• Closing the Tourist Information Centre, and
finding other ways of providing this service
• Transferring our remaining leisure buildings (such
as Walker Activity Dome) to other organisations
• Stopping the subsidy to the Quaylink bus
service, after the contract expires in 2015.
But the service will continue
• Reducing the night time noise response service.
We will do planned night time visits, instead of
reacting to calls
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What we spend on
your services
Budget 2015-16
The council gets the money it needs to run services from a range of different places. We’ve outlined below
what this means for our budget in 2015-16.
Planning and development £6.6million
Environment and regulation £10.8million
Housing £17.5million
Leisure £19.4million
Schools and other children’s services
£214.3million
Refuse collection and waste disposal
£20.8million
IT, Legal, Finance and other
central services £21.0million
How your council is funded
Roads and transport
Sources of income
£22.6million
Public health
£24.0million
Support for the most vulnerable
people (social care) £170.0million
Total
£511.7
million
Less money available from the
Government
How much does the
council need to save?
The council’s budget is under pressure because the Government has cut
the amount of grant funding it provides.
Between 2011/12 and 2014/15 the council has
saved £151million.
The Revenue Support Grant has been cut by £25.9million between
2014/15 and 2015/16.
Between 2015/16 and 2017/18 we think we will
need to save another £90million.
Cuts seem to have had a bigger impact on councils in hard pressed inner
city areas.
Costs continue to rise
At the same time that the Government has cut the Grant it gives to councils, the cost
of providing services has been increasing.
Our rising costs
A small rise in
council tax
Council tax hasn’t gone up for five
years – but to help protect services
from cuts we are proposing a small
increase of 1.95%.
This works out as 34p per week for
most people in Newcastle*.
Increase by council tax band
Increase for Band A property –
£17.60 per year.
Total
£17.1
million
Increase for Band D property –
£26.40 per year.
Your council tax bill will also show
the amount of council tax you pay
towards the cost of police and fire
services.
*
*Band A properties
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*
* estimated
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A working city
Generation NE
– helping young people across our region into work
Helping our young people into work and supporting
local businesses to provide growth opportunities is the
main aim of our new youth employment programme
Generation NE.
Working with Durham,
Gateshead, Northumberland and
North Tyneside councils,
Jobcentre Plus and the North
East LEP – we’re investing £4.5
million to create job
opportunities for young people
and support local businesses to
develop their future workforce.
Generation NE will work with
small to medium-sized businesses
in the region to create
employment, training and work
experience that will help develop
young people’s skills and provide
a workforce of the future for our
local businesses.
It aims to help businesses
connect with the region’s next
generation of employees. This
means that young people get
the opportunities and experience
they need to kickstart their
career, whilst giving businesses
the chance to enhance,
rejuvenate and future-proof
their business.
The first thing we’ll do is arrange a
meeting with your local Business
Advisor for Newcastle - Donna Barker.
It’s a great opportunity to get to know
each other and talk about your
business’s individual aspirations, growth
plans, recruitment needs and so on.
Call us on 0191 230 0491 or email
[email protected]
The next step is to explore the potential
for work experience, jobs,
apprenticeships and traineeships. Donna
will make sure she fully understands the
infrastructure of your business to
determine how a young person would
best fit into your organisation.
Step 3
When opportunities have been
identified, Generation NE will source
and match candidates on your behalf
working in partnership with Jobcentre
Plus and our wider network of partners.
Left to right: Mark Stamper Programme Manager for Generation NE, Bob
Patton Managing Director of Accenture, Cllr Grant Davey, Employability
and Inclusion lead for the Combined Authority and Leader of
Northumberland County Council, Steve McCall, Employer Engagement
Manager, Jobcentre Plus and apprentices Lewis Reed and Ellie Gangel.
How Generation NE can help your business
Meet Donna Barker – the Business Advisor for Newcastle
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Step 1
Step 2
Generation NE’s team of
dedicated Business Advisors will
help businesses deliver their
priorities and objectives by
linking them to the people and
skills needed in their
organisation and creating a
tailored support package. They
can also advise on any public
sector funding that may be
available to help them support
their business growth.
Over the next three years, the
programme aims to help 2,000
young people aged between 17
and 24 years of age into work.
For more information visit
www.generationNE.co.uk or call
0191 230 0491
How it all works
Celebrating our
apprentices
Here at the council, we’re also committed to future proofing our
workforce and providing opportunities for young people. We
believe that young people bring fresh ideas to our organisation and
help us develop our workforce.
We have a diverse range of
apprenticeship opportunities across
the council from job opportunities in
our building and commercial
enterprise service - which includes the
traditional building trades such as
joinery, plumbing, electrical and
bricklaying – to the corporate services
we need such as civil engineering,
accounts, ICT and childcare. These
varied roles ensure that our staff have
the right skills and training to do the
jobs that the council rely on to
provide our services.
A total of 12 awards we given out by
Chief Executive Pat Ritchie, with 3rd
year apprentice Mitchell Galloway in
our Architectural and Constructions
Services winning the top accolade of
Apprentice of the Year 2014. Mitchell
is currently studying HNC in
Construction and the Built
Environment at New College Durham
and we are sure he will have a bright
career ahead of him.
Our apprenticeships also provide a
great grounding for future careers
with nearly all of our apprentices
moving into further employment or
education. In fact, over 80% of our
Highways and Local Services
management team have come via
the apprenticeship route.
We hold an annual awards scheme
to celebrate the important
contribution our apprentices make
to the council. Our Apprenticeships
Awards for 2014 took place at the
Civic Centre on 6 March 2015 with
over 120 people in attendance.
Step 4
Donna will then pre-screen all
candidates to make sure only the most
suitable young people are put forward
for interview. In many cases she’ll also
facilitate and confirm interview dates
and times.
Apprenticeship Scheme 2014 winners
Overall winner of the Year Mitchell Galloway, Architectural Apprentice
1st Year Apprentice of the Year Jamie Lawrence, ICT Apprentice
2nd Year Apprentice of the Year Maggie Johnston,
Civil Engineering Apprentice
Phone: 0191 230 0491. Email: [email protected]
3rd Year Apprentice of the Year Mitchell Galloway,
Architectural Apprentice
“Having gained extensive experience over the last 20+ years, I have specialised in helping employers
recruit and train the right people for their business, developing service packages that are unique to
each business. As a Generation NE Business Advisor, my mission is to help employers increase the
opportunities they can provide to young people. I am always looking to develop creative and
innovative approaches to facilitate work experience, jobs, traineeships, sector-based work academies
and apprenticeships. I pride myself on making a difference and I am passionate about helping to
reduce youth unemployment and breaking the cycle of ‘no experience, no job.”
4th Year Apprentice of the Year Christopher More, Apprentice Plumber
For full details visit www.generationNE.co.uk or follow us on @GenNorthEast
Step 5
On appointment of a young person,
Donna will make regular contact with
you to monitor their progress and
ensure a smooth transition into the role.
Adult Apprentice of the Year David Sleightholme,
Environmental Response Apprentice
Special Achievement Award 2014 Joint Winners – Samantha Proud,
Painting and Decorating and Liam Kelly, Apprentice Plasterer
For full details visit www.generationNE.co.uk or follow us on @GenNorthEast
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A working city
Re-newcastle
We want Newcastle to be a city fit for
the 21st century. Re-newcastle is the
council’s programme of renewal and
reinvention which is delivering the
biggest transformation of the city’s
infrastructure in a generation.
connections that today’s businesses need to
connect to their markets. We are building
new homes across the city, creating new
communities for our growing population.
And we are creating new business districts,
which will attract international investors and
create thousands of new jobs.
We are improving national and international
transport links. We are making our city centre
easier to get around on foot and by bike. We
are putting in place the superfast broadband
Re-newcastle is about reshaping our city so
that we can fulfil our potential. And we want
everyone in the city to feel the benefit residents, visitors, shoppers, cyclists,
Investing in our future
A station to be proud of
Central Station’s makeover to the front entrance to the station is now almost complete.
businesses and pleasure seekers - as Newcastle
becomes a city to rival any in Europe.
Some of our investment plans are now
underway including redevelopment in and
around Central Station, revitalisation of the
Stephenson Quarter, Science Central is now
open for business, improvements to Cowgate
Roundabout and the iconic new housing
development at Scotswood, to name but a
few. We’re investing in our city for the long
term, which will last long into the 21st century.
Science Central officially
opened by Minister for Cities
The major refurbishment of the station and
the area around it saw over £10 million of
improvements including:
• a new modern-feel to the station whilst
protecting the Victorian heritage
• new shops and cafes in the station
• better facilities for passengers
• the new glassed in area in the portico
• a new public square to the east of the
station
• changes to pick up and drop off points for
taxis and vehicles
• improved pedestrian crossings on Neville
Street
• secure parking for cycles
• a two-way segregated cycle lane on Neville
Street
Since these improvements have been made,
there has been an extra 27 full time jobs
created in the station and over 20 part time
As part of the second phase of development, Newcastle
University is investing over £58m on Science Central, which
includes a state-of-the-art Urban Sciences Building.
Architectural illustration
This work included construction of The
Core, the first building on Science Central,
which opened in November last year. The
building, owned by the council, is now over
90% full and offers flexible office space for
high growth companies.
This will create a new home for the School of Computing Science, as well as an
urban observatory and decision theatre, allowing real time data from the city to
be analysed and explored. Bringing together a range of research under the banner
of digitally-enabled urban sustainability, the aim is to create a living laboratory,
where everything from the infrastructure and environment to even the building
itself, are used to develop and design sustainable solutions for the future. Work on
the Urban Sciences Building is due for completion in Autumn 2017.
Work also includes new pathways, cycle lanes
and public squares, reconnecting and
restoring previously run-down areas in the
west end of the city, back into the city centre.
The official opening by the Minister
marked significant milestone for the
partners. The £250 million 24 acre
development is one the biggest
regeneration projects of its kind in the UK,
and is being delivered by a long term
partnership between Newcastle City
Council and Newcastle University, as part of
the Newcastle Science City initiative.
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Working with partners we have plans in
place for a further £12.5 million of
improvements to the station which will
include a southern entrance and a makeover
of the Metro Station ensuring that Newcastle
Central Station is a modern transport hub for
the millions of people who use it every year.
Major milestone
for plan to boost
growth and jobs
A plan to help shape future development
across Gateshead and Newcastle has taken
a crucial step forward with the publication
of an independent inspectors report on
Friday 6 March. The Core Strategy and
Urban Core Plan for Gateshead and
Newcastle was judged to be ‘sound’ and
‘legally compliant’ by government
appointed Planning Inspector Martin Pike.
Greg Clark MP formally opened Newcastle Science Central on Wednesday 25
February, and laid a commemorative stone on Science Square to mark the
occasion, following the completion of the first phase of work.
Originally home to the Elswick Colliery, and
later to Scottish and Newcastle Breweries,
the site has been a key part of Newcastle’s
industrial landscape for over 200 years. As
part of this work, known as enabling
works, over 40 tonnes of coal have been
removed from the site, to prepare the land
for construction and development.
jobs, helping to improve our city’s local
economy. The station was also awarded the
accolade of second best station in the country
by English Heritage in December 2014.
Science Central will be delivered over the next 10-15 years, bringing more and better
jobs to Newcastle and attracting investment and leading edge businesses to a mixed
new community including educational, business, residential and leisure facilities.
Science Central has been part-funded through the European Union Regional
Development Fund 2007-2013 (ERDF) and by the Regional Growth Fund.
Gateshead and Newcastle are one of the first
urban areas outside of London to develop a
joint plan, providing a framework to manage
development in a planned way to 2030 and
beyond. Mr Pike praised both councils for
their co-operation in creating the plan. In the
report, he also described the consultation
carried out by both councils to produce the
plan as ‘extensive’ and ‘thorough’.
The Inspectors Report is available to view on
both council websites, at Civic Centres and
public libraries in Gateshead and Newcastle. A
letter will be sent to residents and businesses
in Newcastle and Gateshead who were
involved in the public examination of the plan.
Newcastle and Gateshead Councils will
consider the adoption of the plan at their Full
Council meetings on 26 March.
A partnership between
Cllr Nick Forbes, Leader of Newcastle City Council, Prof Chris Brink, Vice-Chancellor of
Newcastle University, the Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Minister for Universities, Science and Cities
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A working city
£1m makeover
for city street
We’ve unveiled plans for a £1.1 million makeover for
John Dobson Street in our city-centre.
John Dobson Street is set to be transformed
with a new boulevard-style, tree-lined layout
featuring widened pavements, new road
crossings, a two-way cycle-track, seating areas
and improved public transport links.
The proposed package of benefits and
improvements to John Dobson Street
includes:
We were awarded £5.7 million from the
Department for Transport’s Cycle City
Ambition Fund (CCAF) to develop routes and
encourage more people to cycle. This will
not only benefit cyclists but bring significant
environmental, health and financial benefits
for everyone, and support a city-wide
network fit for the future. The funding has
come direct from Government, and can only
be spent on this and other schemes for
pedestrian, cycling and associated
improvements.
• A greatly enhanced 'boulevard' style
environment
• New and widened footpaths making it
easier for pushchairs or people with
wheelchairs to get around
• New and improved crossings making it
safer and easier for pedestrians to cross
the road
• Raised junctions which will make the road
safer by keeping traffic speeds low
• Reduced traffic levels which will improve
air quality and reduce noise levels
• A segregated two-way cycle track making
it safer and easier for cyclists
• New, more efficient traffic light junctions,
keeping traffic moving and ensuring the
lights are sequenced properly
• Public seating
• Improved bus journey time reliability, with
only buses and authorised vehicles allowed
between Ridley Place and St Mary's Place
• New road and footpath surfaces
• Cycle parking
• Improved bus stop areas
A key feature of the funding is the creation
of a flagship cycling route, which will
eventually link together all of the proposed
strategic cycle routes across the city. It will
also form a section of the Great North Cycle
Way, a regional route from Blyth to
Darlington.
We’ve discussed the scheme with local
businesses and residents and the feedback has
been very positive although some tweaks to
our design have been necessary. We will now
proceed to statutory consultation and we
hope that work will start in summer 2015.
Keep up to date at www.newcastle.gov.uk/jds
The planned changes will bring significant
benefits for pedestrians, cyclists and public
transport users, as the new layout and
upgraded traffic light technology will make it
safer and easier to travel within the city
centre.
Businesses will also benefit from the new
layout, with a more attractive area for
shoppers, visitors, workers and students.
Access for deliveries will be maintained, and
existing on-street parking bays will remain
where possible.
Top: How John Dobson
Street used to look
Right: Proposed
improvements to John
Dobson Street
14
Let’s keep the city moving
We’re determined to keep Newcastle
moving which is why we are
introducing bus lane enforcement
across the city.
In order to keep buses moving and cut
down on congestion – especially during
peak hours – we have designated bus lanes
along many routes in the city. To make sure
they’re as effective as possible at keeping
buses running on time, we are operating
bus lane enforcement across Newcastle.
If you drive illegally in a bus lane or bus
only street then you may receive a fine.
Cameras will be placed in the key locations
below to monitor any vehicles ignoring
the restrictions.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Tyne Bridge slip road
High Level Bridge
Central Motorway
Great North Road
Brunton Lane Bridge
Netherwitton Way
Look out for the signs
Bus lanes are clearly marked. Some are
operational 24 hours a day and on Bank
Holidays. Bus lanes that have restricted
operating hours, such as from 7am to 7pm
are clearly signposted to help drivers avoid a
£60 penalty charge.
For more information on bus lane
enforcement go to
www.newcastle.gov.uk/buslanes
Cowgate
Roundabout update
Work to make over £4 million of improvements to Cowgate
Roundabout is well and truly underway. Our staff are currently
working on the site to widen the footpaths, build the cycle lanes and
remove the existing kerbs and islands. This will be done in such a way
as to minimise disruption to the traffic.
The key part of the improvements is
when we fill in the centre of the
roundabout and the subways to flatten
out the surface area. To do this, we use
polystyrene blocks, that fit together like
lego. These blocks are large and weigh
40kgs each they are designed to
support the weight of the road above
them. This is due to happen in the
summer.
Once this section of the work is
complete, we will then complete
putting in the new traffic islands and
signals.
We have also replaced the trees that
were removed. They are a mixture of
different tree types and should look
great in a couple of years. We also
intend putting bushes and smaller trees
in other areas to make the area around
the junction greener and more
attractive.
As Cowgate Roundabout is one of the
main routes in our city-centre and
across the city, we want to keep the
disruptions from the work to a
minimum and plan to close lanes during
off-peak hours only where possible.
You can keep up to date with all of the improvements to Cowgate
Roundabout and watch the progress from our camera at
www.newcastle.gov.uk/cowgateroundabout
15
Go Smarter
16
Follow us on Twitter - @GoSmarterToWork
Find us on Facebook - www.facebook.com/YourGoSmarter
17
A working city
A year of Rugby
2015 is a great year for rugby, and nowhere more so than here in Newcastle.
The city hosts three Rugby World Cup 2015 matches in October, and a new era for Rugby League gets underway in May
when all 12 teams play an extraordinary round of fixtures at St James’ Park, as part of their Magic Weekend.
Rugby World Cup 2015
Newcastle is proud to be a Host City for Rugby World Cup 2015. The iconic logo on the Tyne Bridge (and our front cover!) is
generating excitement locally, and around the world.
The three matches expect to attract an
attendance of 134,000 over a two week
period, including 51,000 visitors from
around the world.
Three Rugby World Cup 2015 matches
will take place at St James’ Park:
• Saturday 3 October
South Africa v Scotland at 4.45pm
• Friday 9 October
New Zealand v Tonga at 8pm
• Saturday 10 October
Samoa v Scotland at 2.30pm
But not only will fans be in for a treat –
the city as a whole is set to benefit, as
hosting the matches and attracting visitors
to the city is predicted to bring £43 million
directly into the local economy.
Volunteers
Hundreds of volunteers (called ‘The
Pack’) have been recruited to
welcome visitors to the city and to
act as way finders.
Legacy
The Tournament legacy will include
increasing investment in club facilities,
training more coaches and referees,
encouraging young people to volunteer in
clubs and introducing Rugby into more
schools.
Fanzone
Fans will be able to enjoy the
excitement of Rugby World Cup
2015 in Newcastle’s Fanzone as well
as watching matches being held
elsewhere on the big screen in the
city centre.
Did you know?
• New Zealand played
Northumberland and Durham 80
years ago in Gosforth on 9 October
1935 and won 10 points to 6
• Jonny Wilkinson, former England
Rugby Union captain, played for
Newcastle Falcons from 1997 until
2009 and was awarded 182 caps
• 28 caravettes will be parked up in
Newcastle City centre packed
with New Zealand fans who have
travelled 11,500 miles to be here
Rugby World Cup Trophy
Tour
The Webb Ellis Cup, Rugby’s most iconic
Trophy, will start its journey around the
UK and Republic of Ireland on 10 June,
marking exactly 100 days to go until
the start of the Tournament. The
Domestic Trophy Tour will include a
stop in Newcastle this summer.
Full details on both Fanzones and the
Domestic Trophy Tour will be
announced next month.
Tickets
Tickets for all remaining matches, including Scotland v Samoa at St. James’ Park,
are available on the official Rugby World Cup ticketing website
tickets.rugbyworldcup.com
TM © RWC Ltd 1986
18
Rugby for all
The Geordie welcome is famous the world over - and extended to all.
That’s why it’s great to see our gay-friendly rugby team, the
Newcastle Ravens, running their successful Hadrian Cup competition
again this year.
The tournament is the only annual competition for gay and gay-friendly
teams in the UK. Teams from London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Bristol,
Birmingham and Northampton are expected to be in the city to compete over
the weekend of 27-29 March.
As residents, we’ll also want to cheer the Ravens on when they fly the flag for
our city in the Union Cup, the European gay and gay-friendly competition
being held in Brussels in May.
The Ravens play regularly in the Derwent League with teams from across the
North East. For more information about playing, supporting or sponsoring
The Ravens go to www.newcastleravens.co.uk
Festival of Rugby
The Festival of Rugby 2015, which will run from 10 June until 31
October, will be a way for everyone to get involved in rugby through
culture, arts, music and community activities.
Visit www.festivalofrugby2015.com for more information.
Can you hear thunder?
We have ten sets of tickets for the Newcastle
Thunder game on Friday 3 April to give away.
If you’d like to be entered into the prize draw,
please email [email protected] no later than midnight on 31 March
stating your name and contact details, and include
‘Citylife competition’ in the title of your email.
Each set of tickets is valid for four people, and
winners will be notified on 1 April.
#magicweekend
The 2015 First Utility Super League season
marks the start of a new era for Rugby League
and a new venue for Magic Weekend when all
12 teams play an extraordinary round of
fixtures at St James’ Park, Newcastle on
Saturday 30 May and Sunday 31 May.
Magic Weekend 2015 is Super League’s Summer
Party – with six massive games, and two days of all
the entertainment you can handle!
Tickets start from just £25 – it’s the perfect sports
fan’s gift. Tickets are on sale now and can be
purchased by calling 0844 856 1113 or visiting
www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk
19
A working city
Save time
Go Digital Newcastle
Go Digital Newcastle, run by Newcastle City Council, is supercharging internet
speeds across Newcastle - helping residents and businesses turn the city into one
of the best connected places in the UK!
Superpower your business
Go Digital Newcastle means there’s huge help on offer for
local businesses!
• Superfast Broadband Connection Voucher - worth up to
£3,000*
• Free skills workshops and expert advice - worth up to
£1,000* (Only available to businesses in Newcastle)
• Funding for IT and Computer equipment - worth up to
£2,000* (Only available to businesses in Newcastle)
Time is running out to apply so sign up now!
*Eligibility criteria apply
If you run a small or medium-sized business, charity or social
enterprise in Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside or South
Tyneside you can apply to Newcastle City Council for a free
voucher worth up to £3,000 towards the fixed cost of getting your
business connected.
To sign up or find out more visit
www.godigitalnewcastle.co.uk/business
Join the hundreds of businesses in Newcastle who are
benefitting from the programme!
MyAccount View your council tax, housing benefit and business rates online.
Award-winning North East company Zipcube needs
to move fast 24/7 – and with the help of a Connection Voucher its business
is going supersonic allowing the company to connect to superfast
broadband.
For full stories of businesses taking advantage of Superfast
Broadband, visit: www.godigitalnewcastle.co.uk
With superfast broadband at home, you’ll be able to:
Watch – HD movies download in minutes, and there’s no slow buffering
on TV programmes
Residents who want to take
advantage of the service can choose
from a wide range of internet
service providers.
Play – gaming online is quicker and more fun
Learn – grown-ups and children can grab info for homework, courses and
hobbies
Sell – use services such as eBay and Gumtree to buy and sell in a jiffy
Work – you could earn money by working from home or explore new job
opportunities
MyAccount is a free, interactive and secure online service that
allows you to access council tax, housing benefit (including a
landlord service) and business rates, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
With MyAccount you can:
• Check your account whenever you want
• Get access to your bills and notifications securely
• Get email alerts when new
bills or notifications
are issued
• Notify us
immediately of
any changes
in your
personal
details
Connect – have video chats with friends and family no matter how far
away via free services such as Skype
Shop and save – it’s estimated that a household that uses the internet to
get the best deals for shopping, insurance etc can save £560 per year
Find out more about superfast broadband for your home at: www.godigitalnewcastle.co.uk/residents
Follow us on
But we know that we haven’t kept pace with change, and we haven’t made
it easy enough for people to engage digitally with us – whether that’s
making a payment on a smartphone, getting information on a tablet, or
making contact via a home computer.
One of the first changes you’ll see is ‘MyAccount’ – a way of accessing your
council tax, housing benefits and business rates online. Expect more digital
developments in the coming months!
Speedy space bookers praise Go
Digital Newcastle voucher offer
Almost 5,000 extra homes have now been connected to
superfast broadband in Newcastle. The rollout is delivering
superfast access - internet speeds greater than 24 Mbps - and
is on track to take superfast access to over 97% of the city.
As a council, we want to have excellent digital services that are so easy to use that they are
naturally the way people choose to engage with us.
We’ve recently begun work to change this, following consultation on our
‘Digital by Choice’ vision.
Property company builds its online
presence with free business support
Newcastle firm WDL Property Services
specialises in building projects large and
small – and now it’s building its own business
with help from Go Digital Newcastle after
receiving free Business Support
RESIDENTS
RESIDENTS
DoitOnline
@godigitalNCL or like us on
/GoDigitalNewcastle
Win
an
iPad!
ini
Apple iPad m
16GB Wi-Fi.
20
Three simple steps to register!
All you need to do is
Visit the Council’s website: www.newcastle.gov.uk/myaccount
1. Register your details to activate the service
2. Unlock your accounts using the unlock code on your bill or
notification letter
3. Start viewing your accounts online
Council Tax
Housing Benefit
- Check your balance
- View your bill
- See your
instalments
- See your payments
- View details of
discounts and
exemptions
- Check your entitlement
- See when your next payment is
due
- View your notifications
- See how your benefit has been
calculated
- View your payments
- Report changes in circumstance
Complete your online registration before midnight,
30 April 2015 for your chance to win. Visit
www.newcastle.gov.uk/myaccount for details.
21
Newcastle
Help us to
keep it
clean
Enviroschools
Looking after our future
Our Enviroschools programme is a fantastic way of getting our message out to young
people about looking after Newcastle and keeping it clean. Enviroschools is a free
programme that is available to all council-run schools and nurseries across Newcastle
and we are currently working with 52 schools in the city.
By getting involved in the programme schools
are giving pupils the opportunity to make a
real difference to their local environment, not
only in the school but in the local community
too. Every school involved can work towards
their international green flag award. Or they
can choose to take part in activities such as the
school grounds competition, teaching the
children how to grow different flowers, plants
and vegetables as well making their outdoor
spaces nicer.
Pupils are also given the chance to become
Eco Warriors to plan how their school can look
after their environment and neighbourhood,
Have you seen our new campaign Keep it Clean
Newcastle?
We decided to run this because it has become clear that something has to be
done to stop people who are messing up our city, which the rest of us have to
suffer for. We have had enough of people who drop litter, dump rubbish and
don’t clean up after their dogs, and we know you have too. And we can no
longer afford to clean up after these people, so if they don’t change their
behaviour some areas of the city will go downhill very quickly.
We also know is that most of you are very proud of your city and are happy to do your
bit to look after it. There are so many great things going on in local communities so
Keep it Clean Newcastle is also about celebrating these. By highlighting this fantastic
work it will hopefully inspire others to get more involved in some way.
It is also about educating people, young and old about the importance of looking
after the environment. Our Enviroschools project works with children from the ages
of four to 18 across schools in Newcastle. There can be no better way to protect the
future of Newcastle than by making children aware how important it is to look after
their city, and how wrong it is to mess it up.
And we are clear that those people who do mess up our city will not get away with it
because their negative behaviour affects other people’s lives so much. So Keep it Clean
is also about the council doing everything in its power to stop people committing
environmental crime and make those that do face the consequence.
We know that stopping people dropping litter and leaving their dog’s mess on
paths won’t happen overnight. But if we all work together and be clear that we
don’t accept this then we will all be doing our bit to keep Newcastle clean.
For more information visit www.newcastle.gov.uk/keepitclean
for example by arranging litter picks and
looking after parks. And we are delighted to
announce that St John Vianney RC Primary
School in West Denton has been awarded the
Eco-School Ambassador Award, the highest
award meaning it is now seen as an
inspirational flagship school. We would like to
congratulate them and are looking forward to
presenting them with their award.
For more information about Enviroschools visit
www.newcastle.gov.uk/enviroschools
Pictured left: Pupils from St Cuthberts RC High
School receiving their well-deserved Green Flag
Making things happen in Low Heaton
Changing behaviours isn’t just about making people act more responsibly in their neighbourhood, it is also about people
taking more responsibility for their neighbourhood. There are now hundreds of groups and individuals who are coming
together to do this, whether it’s a group of neighbours tidying their back lanes or a community group or residents
association organising activities.
We have spoken to Iona Owen from the Low
Heaton Community Association, a group
who is doing just that.
“A group of residents from the local area
decided we’d like to come together and
make positive changes in the Low Heaton
area. We love where we live and are very
proud to say that we come from Low
Heaton and thought this was the best way
of making things happen here. Community
isn't just about the place, it's about the
people! We want to improve not only Low
Heaton itself, but also encourage and
promote our community of residents.
“We have had great support from the
council and local councillors who have
helped us set up this group, but are now
going it alone.
“We started off by asking residents what
they wanted to be improved and how we
can work together to achieve these goals.
We have now run a number of very
successful litter picks to keep the streets of
Heaton clean as part of our Second Sunday
Club. All we ask is that people give up an
hour of their time in return for tea and cake.
The difference is amazing, we have collected
about 40 bags of rubbish each time.
“Another area that residents felt strongly
about was tidying up and improving the
plants and green spaces, so we have spent
some time doing this and recruited a group
of green-fingered volunteers who help. This
not only makes the area look nicer it
discourages further dumping of rubbish
which is essential.
“Our regular Second Sunday Club is the
chance for us to come together and organise
what we do next and would invite other local
people to come along and join us. Please keep
an eye on our Facebook and Twitter pages for
details of upcoming events”.
For more information the group have their own Facebook page www.facebook.com/lowheatoncommunity
22
23
We’re making the dirty people pay
Some other examples of people
paying for their crimes:
We will not put up with people messing up our city and we know that you don’t
want us to either.
At the council we have a dedicated
Environmental Protection Team that
investigates environmental crime in
Newcastle. They also make sure those who
commit this pay, are prosecuted or even
face prison.
The team also investigates fly-tipping, find
and prosecute people responsible for this
and use CCTV cameras in some areas to
identify vehicles used in this crime. They
also work with the police to stop and
prosecute illegal waste carriers.
Environmental crime includes fly-tipping,
littering and dog-fouling but the team also
investigates rogue operators who illegally
take away and dump your waste (you may
not realise they are doing this illegally) and
illegal scrap metal dealers.
And they are very successful at making
these people pay. Last year they:
Every day members of the team patrol the
city keeping an eye out for people who
drop litter, cigarette ends, chewing gum
and make a mess. They issue on-the-spot
fixed penalties of £75 to people caught.
And recently in Newcastle people have
been taken to court for not paying these.
Nine people have been fined £400 each for
dropping litter. Someone was fined £600
for not cleaning up after their dog and
another person £500 for throwing litter
from a vehicle.
• Brought 204 prosecutions for waste
offences, including fly-tipping.
This was the highest out of all of the
England’s eight biggest cities (outside
London), the next being Manchester
where there were 27 prosecutions.
Fined £1,6
00
6 months
suspended
jail sentence
• Issued 2,231 fixed penalty notices of
£75 for littering and dog-fouling
(including dropping cigarette ends
and chewing gum) and prosecuted 529
people for this.
• Seized five vans used by illegal waste
carriers, with one person being sent to
prison for six months for illegally
tipping waste.
Communit
y
order - 10
0
hours wo
rk
So the message is clear - mess up our
city and face the consequence.
Check who is taking your waste
If you pay someone to get rid of your rubbish it is your responsibility to check they
have a valid waste carriers’ license from the Environment Agency. Because if this
waste then gets dumped illegally it is still your responsibility and you may face a
£5,000 fine.
Illegal waste carriers are operating in Newcastle and illegally dumping the waste
they charge to collect. Some of our parks are being a target for this.
You should insist on seeing the original copy of their waste carrier’s certificate (or
credit-card sized copy). Keep a record of their details just in case.
If you see a vehicle in the act of tipping waste illegally contact Northumbria Police
on 101.
Too good to waste
Give your garden waste a chance to grow into something else.
All our garden waste gets turned into the highest quality soil conditioner to be used on local gardens and
allotments, and by local farmers. For just £20 per year we will collect your garden waste from your home.
It’s hassle-free and convenient too.
To sign up to our Garden Waste Collection Service
You should report fly-tipping, littering, dog-fouling and any other environmental
issue to Envirocall: Email: [email protected]
Online: www.newcastle.gov.uk/envirocall Phone: 0191 278 7878
24
- visit www.newcastle.gov.uk/gardenwaste
- phone 0191 278 7878 (ask for garden waste).
25
Communal
bins – an
update from
Sandyford
A greener city
in the future
By 2020 we want everyone in the city to recycle 55% of their waste. This may
be in blue bins, at our Household Waste and Recycling Centres, by using our
Garden Waste Collection Service or by doing things differently at home to
reduce the amount of waste you create.
To help with this we don’t only need you to recycle more, we want you to recycle the right
things. On the next page we have given you more information about recycling glass and
plastics in your blue bin. But there are other things you can do.
In out last edition of Citylife we told you
that we were trialling communal bins in
some back lanes in Sandyford.
• Love Food Hate Waste:
This was part of our overall drive to improve the
environmental condition of these lanes and put a
stop to the problems caused by household bins not
being returned to backyards after collection.
After 12 weeks of using this new type of bin we
asked local residents to fill in a questionnaire to
let us know what they thought of them. And
we’re pleased to say that the majority of residents
who responded said they were happy.
We had well over 100 questionnaires sent back,
with 86% of residents saying the cleanliness of the
back lanes had improved and 84% said they
thought the scheme has benefited the area.
We will be using this information and any other
feedback to help us to plan our proposals to
introduce communal bins to other areas in the city.
These proposed areas have been identified as we
feel they will benefit from this type of bin, but are
asking for the views of local members and
residents too.
There is so much more you can do with food instead of throwing it in the bin. And by
planning ahead and putting a little thought into shopping, storing and cooking food
will go a lot further and will save you money. For useful tips and a
link to the Love Food Hate Waste website (where you will also find
some delicious recipes) visit
www.newcastle.gov.uk/lovefoodhatewaste
• Home composting:
For food waste that you can’t put to better use why not turn it into
compost? On average 20% of your green bin waste will be made up
of things like fruit and vegetable peelings and used teabags that can
be composted and this is great for your garden.
For more information about home composting, including how to get a reduced price
compost bin, visit www.newcastle.gov.uk/homecomposting
• Garden Waste Collection Service:
All that lovely compost will make your garden grow beautifully! So why not sign up to
this service to not only keep your garden tidy but also to help keep our city greener, and
it is only £20 for the year. The waste we collect from your brown bin will also be
composted and turned into a quality soil conditioner used on gardens, allotments and
farms in and around Newcastle. And we’re proud to say, we’re the only council in
England that runs its own composting facility. For more information visit
www.newcastle.gov.uk/gardenwaste
Use your blue
bin to the max
The leaflet that you got with Citylife sets
out everything you can and can’t recycle
in your blue bin. But here is a bit more
information to answer some questions
we often get asked.
Recycling fact: Recycled glass is also used to insulate
the home so helps make it more energy efficient.
Give us your glass
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again! Glass bottles and jars belong in
your blue bin not your green! Unfortunately we are still finding that too
many glass bottles and jars aren’t being recycled and this prevents it from
going to the right place to be used again. And did you know? Glass does not
degrade through the recycling process, so it can be recycled again and again.
Remember:
• You can recycle any colour glass bottle and jar. It’s fine if this is mixed
• Please rinse your glass but this
doesn’t have to be spotless. We know
things like olive oil, marmite and jam
can be difficult to budge so just do
your best
• Remove plastic or cork caps and lids
as these can’t be recycled
• It’s important to keep glass bottles
and jars separate from other items. So
please put these in your black caddy
• If you have extra glass to be recycled take
this to supermarket sites or our Household
Waste Recycling Centre
For more details of where you can find these
visit www.newcastle.gov.uk/hwrc
For more information visit
www.newcastle.gov.uk/communalbins
Around the house
We have now been offering the blue bin
recycling service in Newcastle for seven
years. We know in this time you have changed the way you
think about waste and now think more about recycling instead.
But remember; don’t just think about recycling the stuff from your kitchen.
You’ll have material that can be recycled all over the house. Check the
contents of your bathroom and bedroom bins and make sure things like
empty hairspray, deodorants and other aerosols make it into your blue bin.
Don’t forget plastic shampoo, bubble bath bottles and plastic cleaning
product bottles. And all newspapers and magazines too.
For more information about goes in each of your bins visit
www.newcastle.gov.uk/whatgoesineachbin
If you haven’t got a blue recycling bin and would like one email
[email protected] or call 0191 277 7878.
26
And the right plastics too
Recycling fact: Your recycled plastic bottles get
turned into much more than just more plastic
bottles. This includes flooring and window frames,
fleeces and fibre filling for sleeping
bags and duvets too
Sometimes there is a little confusion
about what type of plastic can be
recycled in Newcastle. The simplest
rule is that any plastic container
with a screw cap can be recycled
(but this cap must be removed
before you put it in your bin).
All you need to do is rinse
whatever you put in, and if you
squash it too you’ll be making
more space in your bin. Like
with glass we accept any
colour of plastic bottle. It
doesn’t have to be clear.
In Newcastle, like many places
across the country, we are not
able to recycle things like
yogurt pots, margarine tubs,
ready meal containers and
punnets used for fruits. This is
because the technology
needed to sort these things
isn’t widely available. So please put these items in your green bin.
Easter bin collections 2015
The only change to
bin collections over
Easter will be the
collection on Friday 3
April. Your revised
collection day will be
Saturday 4 April.
Your new bin collection
calendar for 2015-16 will
have been delivered
with this edition of
Citylife. You can also check your bin day and find other
information on our website at www.newcastle.gov.uk/bins
Remember:
-
your bins should be out by 6.30am on your collection day.
Please bring them back in as soon as possible after collection
-
all waste must be in your bin. We don’t collect any side
waste as you may receive a fixed penalty notice (£75) if you
put out loose waste
27
Something for everything
in our parks this spring
Spring is here and thoughts will be soon turning to those longer summer days.
So what could be better than getting out and about and enjoying what our parks
have to offer?
Walker Park
Restoration
We are delighted that work will soon start on Walker
Park, to help bring it back to its former glory and give
local people an attractive, well looked after place to
enjoy their free time.
Activities and events in our parks
Our park rangers work across all of the city’s
parks and countryside sites, delivering a
varied programme of outdoor activity for
everyone to enjoy. You can also learn more
about the natural environment and how you
can do more to protect it.
Children can come and meet Pet’s Corners’ small
animals on the first Sunday of every month at Jesmond
Dene. As well as finding out more about the cute
creatures they’ll also get the opportunity to cuddle
these as part of the petting sessions.
Or why not be an early bird and enjoy the dawn
chorus on a very early morning walk in Jesmond Dene
on Sunday 3 May to listen to the delightful sounds of
the birds? And as a reward for those who are up and
ready for the 4.30am start we’ll be offering bacon
sandwiches and hot drinks afterwards!
We also have bat walks and moth traps to get closer
to these fascinating creatures. But don’t worry, the
moths are always released unhurt! And the rangers
work closely with local volunteers who want to share
their love and passion of local and natural history,
offering specialist guided walks across the Ouseburn
Parks and other locally focused events.
These volunteers also play an invaluable role in
helping the rangers to look after and improve our
parks and green spaces.
For more details and full programme of activity
visit our website –
www.newcastle.gov.co.uk/parks
Coca Cola ParkLives
Spring into another year
Last summer hundreds of you enjoyed Coca Cola ParkLives and the activities in
our parks. So we are delighted that the programme will be continuing this year, and
what’s even better is that everything is free!
The 2015 programme is even bigger and better so
you will be sure to find something for all of the
family throughout the summer holidays. We have
even introduced Nordic Walking and look out for
keeping active with your dog sessions, so even
canine members will be entertained!
ParkLives will take place in seven of the city’s parks –
Paddy Freeman’s, Hodgkin, Jesmond Dene, Heaton,
Blakelaw, Tyne Riverside and Gosforth Central Park.
You can chose to get involved in a whole array of
things, from Tai Chi to hula hooping and family
28
games like rounders, basketball and football.
And this year we are also running a new and
improved Spring Park programme from March, so
you will be able to improve your health at the same
time as having fun.
Have a look at the new programme by
visiting www.activenewcastle.co.uk and
www.parklives.com
Register your place as sessions will get booked up
quickly and some classes are limited in numbers.
This is being funded by the council and the Heritage
Lottery Fund. There will be a new community café at the
former play centre, new facilities for children and young
people including a multi-use games area for tennis,
basketball and football, a refurbished play area, skate
park, drainage to football pitches and an under 12s
football pitch. Improvements will also be made to paths
and more trees, shrubs and flowers will be planted.
And the park will be firmly put on the city’s heritage map
with the re-introduction of the Robbie Burns monument,
first erected in 1901 but removed in the 1970s.
The work should be finished in time for summer 2016.
A new era for our parks
Newcastle has always had a rich tradition of parks and open
spaces, from those that are part the city’s history like Exhibition
and Leazes Park to country parks and recreation grounds.
It is vital that we protect these parks so future generations can
also enjoy them and this has become even more important in a
time of reduced budgets and spending. That is why we are
looking at different ways for our parks to be managed and
maintained. One option we are looking at is to develop or
work with a Trust that will become responsible for some parks.
This will run separately from the council but we will continue
to be involved in other ways.
We will have more to tell you later in the year but in the
meantime will keep working with our partners to find the best
way to take care of these important spaces.
29
Support your local markets
Whether you’re looking for fresh fruit and veg, local produce or
bespoke jewellery and gifts, you’ll find something perfect at one of
the city’s markets.
Win tickets to the Theatre
Royal this Summer
Our famous Grainger Market in the city centre is home to over 100 local
businesses, offering a huge range of shops for visitors to browse while
enjoying the true Geordie market experience. Meat, cheese, bread, cakes,
together with local green-grocers, several cafés and takeaways, cobblers
and other stalls – too many to list. All of this under one roof, six days a
week and service with a smile.
Twelve Angry Men is playing at the Theatre Royal Newcastle
from 15-20 June 2015, and we have a pair of tickets to give
away for the opening night!
The Quayside Market runs every Sunday with up to 100 stalls offering a real
variety of goods to buy - arts and crafts, local food, sweets, bags, flowers
and plants to name a few. And in a wonderful setting on the banks of the
River Tyne.
Our popular Farmer’s Market at Grey’s Monument brings 24 local producers
into the city on the first Friday of every month between 9.30am and 2.30pm by which time they are usually sold out! They know everything there is to
know about their high quality products, whether it’s reared, grown, brewed,
crafted, baked or pickled! All have a loyal following of foodies who flock to
the stalls then often head into the Grainger Market for more market goodies.
The show follows twelve jurors who have murder on their minds and a life
in their hands as they decide the fate of a young delinquent accused of
killing his father. But what appears to be an open and shut case soon
becomes a dilemma for the twelve, as their prejudices and preconceived
ideas about the accused, the trial and each other turn the tables every
which way, until the nail-biting climax...
If you’d like to be entered into the prize draw, please email
[email protected] no later than midnight on 31 May
stating your name and contact details, and include ‘TAM Newcastle’ in the
title of your email.
Terms and condition apply. Prize is valid Monday 15 June 2015 at Theatre Royal
Newcastle. Subject to availability. Prize is as stated and cannot be transferred or
exchanged. No cash alternative will be offered.
30
31
Tackling inequalities
Helping people to get
out and about
How did
we do?
Read our
Local
Account
Friends Action North East (FANE) and DisabledGo have been
working together with us to help disabled people to get out
and about in Newcastle.
FANE is a Newcastle based charity that runs
www.friendsaction.co.uk. The accessible website provides lots of
information on what’s on, as well as an interactive community map
which lists local groups, venues and activities. Support is available
to help people to get online. FANE also offers a friendship
mentoring programme which helps people with learning disabilities
to make and maintain friendships and participate in social activities.
DisabledGo Newcastle offers information on over 500 venues across
the city and surrounding area – letting you know things like
whether there is level access or
suitable toilet facilities. People
visiting www.disabledgo.com
can make informed choices
about whether they can access
a restaurant or leisure facility.
We've now published our
2013-14 Local Account – our
‘annual report’ for adult social
care.
The information on the sites
is linked, so that people can
find out what they need to
know quickly and easily –
helping them get out and
about more easily too.
It shows that we and the services we
commission continue to do well. Despite
the fact that we are doing more with
less, the vast majority of people (94%)
say the care and support they receive
improves their quality of life. This is a
slight improvement on last year, and it’s
a real tribute to the hard work of the
thousands of people across our city who
care for vulnerable adults.
Thinking about
adoption?
The account also gives us some
interesting snapshots into the social care
‘map’ in Newcastle. For example, did you
know that we spend £74.8 million on
adult social care services, or that we are
the second best performing council in
the North East?
We’re inviting anyone thinking about adoption to find
out more and adopt with us.
Secure and loving homes are needed for children and sibling
groups of all ages, ethnicities and with a range of different
needs. We welcome applications from all sections of the
community.
You can read the full report on our
website at
www.newcastle.gov.uk/localaccount
Introduction of Universal Credit in Newcastle
Universal Credit is a means tested benefit for working age people who are on low incomes, working, seeking to work or unable
to work.
It will eventually replace the following benefits and tax credits:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Thinking about adoption?
We’re inviting anyone thinking
about adoption to find out more and
adopt with us.
Secure and loving homes are needed
for children and sibling groups of all
ages, ethnicities and with a range of
different needs. We welcome
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Income Support
Child Tax Credit
Working Tax Credit
Housing Benefit
Universal Credit will be introduced in Newcastle on 27 April 2015, but only
for single people who would previously have been eligible to make a new
claim for Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA). This is part of a national roll out of
Universal Credit for new claimants applying for JSA taking place between
February 2015 and March 2016 in all jobcentres and local authorities. We
don’t have a date yet for when couples and families and people claiming
other means tested benefits will be included in Newcastle.
Thinking about
adoption?
We’re here to help you every step of the way.
We’re here for you, for the children, for life.
If you’re thinking about adoption, we’ll give you all the
advice and support you need during what is a life-changing
process. Our adoption service is making a real difference to
hundreds of children’s lives across the city and also to
adoptive parents from our region.
If you are interested in finding out more, why not come along
to one of our drop-in information sessions? The evenings are
held at 7pm, at the Register Office, Newcastle Civic Centre.
Confirmed dates for 2015 are:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Thursday 5 March
Thursday 7 May
Thursday 2 July
Thursday 3 September
Monday 19 October
Thursday 22 October
Get in touch to find
out more about
adopting with us.
0191 211 6777
[email protected]
newcastle.gov.uk/adoption
For more information, visit the Newcastle City Council website at www.newcastle.gov.uk/welfarereform
32
33
Fostering
a Future:
‘the rewards are amazing’
Fostering information sessions
Do you want to make a
difference to a young person?
We need foster carers for
children of all ages,
backgrounds and different
needs.
All sessions start at 6pm, and
are held in the Haymarket
Room at the Registrars
Entrance of Newcastle Civic
Centre. Confirmed sessions for
2015 are:
For an informal chat about
becoming a foster carer, you
can phone us on 0191 277 2430,
or you could come along to one
of our information evenings.
•
•
•
•
•
Thursday 19 March
Thursday 21 May
Thursday 23 July
Thursday 24 September
Thursday 19 November
Pupils do us
proud as
Newcastle
schools buck
the trend
Official 2014 GCSE results show that more
Newcastle pupils have achieved the
expected standard than elsewhere in the
country and across the region.
Changes to the way figures are calculated have seen
performance in many schools fall nationally. But
Newcastle schools have bucked the trend by maintaining
last year’s highest ever performance despite tougher
new measures.
Results for Newcastle state-funded schools show that:
• 57.3% of pupils achieved the expected standard of 5
or more A*-C graded GCSEs or equivalent - including
English and Maths - compared to 56.8% of pupils in
similar schools nationally and 54.6% in the North East
• 71.7% of pupils made expected progress or better in
English
• 65.6% of pupils made expected progress or better in
Mathematics
Want to make a difference
to a child’s life?
Foster a Future can help you.
Contact us to find out more.
0191 277 2430
[email protected]
newcastle.gov.uk/foster
34
Newcastle’s results have improved consistently over a
number of years, closing the gap to the national average
and now exceeding it for the first time.
In November, Ofsted reports showed that 96% of
pupils in Newcastle go to ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’
primary schools. This places us third out of 150
local authorities nationally and second in the
region. And 84% of pupils attend a ‘good’ or
‘outstanding’ secondary school, also well above
average.
Beating the poverty trap to give youngsters the best
start in life
Teachers, academics and business leaders have
joined with the council to find ways to help
children from poor backgrounds to match the
school performance of other youngsters.
The Newcastle Learning Challenge is investigating why
poverty has a negative impact on educational attainment
for too many children in the city. The ‘attainment gap’
between children from disadvantaged backgrounds and
their peers starts in the early years of a child’s life and lasts
throughout their childhood. This gap appears to widen
during the secondary school years.
In Newcastle almost 38% of children from
disadvantaged backgrounds achieved good GCSE
results in 2014, compared to almost 70 per cent of
children who are not disadvantaged. This is an
‘attainment gap’ of 32 percentage points, which is
greater than the national average gap.
Now the expert Learning Challenge panel has been tasked
with making recommendations about how the gap can be
narrowed, so that all young people have the chance to fulfil
their potential and the number of young people not in
education, employment or training is reduced. The group
will report back in May 2015.
35
On yer bike!
Tackling legal highs
Legal what? The use of so called ‘legal highs’
or Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) is
becoming an increasing problem in
Newcastle.
Newcastle has launched its Cycling in the
City programme to help more residents
make cycling a part of their everyday lives.
These are man-made chemical compounds which
mimic illegal drugs like cannabis, ecstasy,
amphetamine and cocaine. They’ve been designed to
get round the law relating to illegal drugs. Usually,
they are sold from shops selling smoking
paraphernalia or from the internet, but current law
does not restrict their sale in shops.
In August 2013, the council secured a grant from the
Department of Transport’s Cycle City Ambition Fund to
create new and better routes for people to cycle safely
into the city centre.
As part of this initiative, we are investing in projects to
increase and encourage cycling and walking
opportunities. Activities are already up and running
across the city. The programme has something for
everyone and is designed to:
•
•
•
•
350 legal highs have been banned since 2010 but
each time Government does so, manufacturers create
new versions that have the same effects.
They are advertised as things like bath salts or plant
food, and the packaging is colourful and engaging to
appeal to young people. There are usually no
ingredients or instructions for use on the packet and
there is no way of knowing what you are actually taking.
Build capacity and confidence
Promote and provide information about cycling
Train and support cycling and walking champions
Provide training and support to families and
communities who have low levels of physical activity
These drugs haven’t been tested for human use but
are being taken by people in our communities. They
are likely to cause long lasting damage, and can also
mean an immediate risk to health, safety, vulnerability
and a change in behaviours.
There are already lots of ‘Dr Bike’ sessions happening
at venues around the city for people to pop in with
their bikes and get them checked over by experts.
People receive a ‘prescription’ which describes what
work needs to be done so that they can then take it to
a bike mechanic to be fixed.
The Home Secretary is calling for more effective laws
to ban the sale of these products, as has been done in
Northern Ireland. Newcastle councillors have been
lobbying the Government on this issue, and are
working to tackle problems related to this in
Newcastle.
There are also cycle maintenance sessions taking place
all over the city which are free for any residents to
book on to (and worth £30), where owners learn how
to repair and maintain their bikes themselves.
In addition, led rides and beginners cycling sessions are
available for those returning to cycling or those who
have never been on two wheels before.
If you are concerned someone you know may be
using these drugs, help is available at
www.talktofrank.com or www.hiwecanhelp.com.
Alternatively call Newcastle PROPs on
0191 226 3440, Lifeline on 0191 2614719, or for
young people under 18 years, contact DnA on
0800 0730 470.
Cycling is a good idea because:
• It can be a quicker option than you think – you
can bypass those traffic jams!
• It is good for your physical and mental health
• Cycling saves money – you don’t have to use
the bus or metro and it saves on petrol if you
drive
• Cycling can be a way of socialising, meeting
new people and having fun with family and
friends
• It gives you the opportunity to explore
different places in a different way
• It’s good for the environment – it has a low
carbon footprint
For more information on what’s happening near
you go to:
www.facebook.com/cyclinginthecitynewcastle
36
Be clear on cancer
Many cancers can be treated if caught early.
This year, Public Health England is launching a
national Be Clear on Cancer campaign to raise
awareness of the symptoms of oesophageal
(the food pipe or gullet) and stomach cancers.
Symptoms of this type of cancer are:
• food feels like it’s sticking in your throat
when you swallow
• indigestion or heartburn on and off for
three weeks or more
• losing weight for no obvious reason
• trapped wind and frequent burping
• feeling full very quickly when eating
• feeling bloated after eating
• nausea or vomiting
• pain or discomfort in your upper tummy
area
These diseases cause over 10,000 deaths
a year - early diagnosis is crucial to improve
survival rates. If you think you have any of
these symptoms talk to your doctor.
Healthy Living
Pharmacies
Newcastle will soon be launching its healthy living
pharmacy programme across the city - following
on from success in other parts of our region.
What is a Healthy Living
Pharmacy?
A Healthy Living Pharmacy has all the
normal functions of a pharmacy but
they can also offer advice and
support for healthy lifestyles. They
can help people who want to stop
smoking, give advice on getting
fitter, on sexual health, healthy
eating and managing alcohol
consumption. These pharmacies will
also have Healthy Living Champions
working within the pharmacy team –
who will help support public health
campaigns in their communities.
37
Your local NHS
Deciding together
The future of specialist mental health
services in Newcastle – and how we can
improve them.
Everyone has a part to play
in helping the NHS do its
job – that’s the message
from local doctors and
nurses as we approach the
Easter holiday season.
Over the past few months, the clinical commissioning
groups in Newcastle and Gateshead have been asking
residents about their experiences of specialist mental
health services.
Urgent and emergency care
services have faced real
pressures due to slips, trips and
viruses over the winter, and
Easter often brings a further
spike in demands on the NHS.
Called ‘deciding together’, the discussions have been about the
services that support people with complex mental health issues
like severe depression, schizophrenia, psychosis, and personality
disorders. These include specialist community services and also
care that people may more rarely need in a hospital.
Mental health services have changed dramatically over the last
30 years. These changes need to continue so the NHS can keep
improving the quality of services, support people to have a
better quality of life, recover sooner and challenge the stigma
which still exists around mental health.
Since November, local people have taken part in focus groups,
market stall events, surveys, interviews and special events
which considered how the ‘mental health pound’ might be
best spent.
Dr Guy Pilkington, GP Chair of NHS Newcastle Gateshead
Alliance and the Mental Health Programme Board, said: “I’d like
to thank everyone who has taken the time to give their views
and take part in discussions. All the feedback we receive will be
Sharing views on how to spe
nd the ‘mental health pound’
at a
recent event
published, and will be used to develop scenarios for
improvements to services locally.”
Look out for further information coming in late spring 2015.
For further information please visit:
www.newcastlegatesheadccgalliance.nhs.uk
Improving Newcastle’s speech and language services
Parents and families are taking the chance to have a say on the future of speech and language services in Newcastle as part
of a review now underway.
The city’s speech and language therapy services, provided by the NHS
in partnership with the city council, offer expert guidance to help
children improve their communications skills.
With special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services being
reformed following the Children and Family Act 2014, the speech
and language therapy service is being reviewed to bring it in line
with the new legislation and take the opportunity to improve
services for all children with communication difficulties.
Dr David Jones of Newcastle West Clinical Commissioning Group
(CCG) said: “Hundreds of local children rely on speech and language
services every year, and this is a chance to look at the service we are
providing and see if there are areas we can improve.
“Parents and families have valuable experience of using the service,
and we’re keen to hear their comments and ideas for the future.”
The service, which supports children in their own home, school or
nursery as well as in the RVI or specialist clinics, helps with areas like
understanding or using spoken language, voice disorders and
stammering.
Newcastle City Council and the NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups
for Newcastle West and Newcastle North and East are engaging with
service users, providers and partners to redesign the service together
between now and April 2016.
Bridget Atkins, Children’s Services Commissioner at Newcastle City
Council, said: “Our aim is to work with the people who use and
deliver the service to highlight any areas we can improve, and design
new ways of working. A more integrated service can bring real
benefits in outcomes for children and young people as well as better
value for money.”
To find out more about the review, contact Kirsty Williams at [email protected] or on 0191 211 5389.
38
Helping the NHS
to help you
Follow us on Twitter - @NGAllianceCCG
Dr Steve Summers (pictured above), a local GP and Chair
of NHS Newcastle North and East Clinical Commissioning
Group, said: “Holiday periods can be another busy time
for the NHS, but everyone in Newcastle can help by
thinking about which NHS service is best placed to help
them.
“We would always encourage patients to come to Accident
& Emergency if they need urgent medical attention, but it’s
important to keep A&E for real emergencies and only use
an ambulance when it’s really necessary.”
“Your GP should be the first port of call for health issues,
but if you’re not sure who to contact, it’s best to call the
free NHS 111 service for help in finding the right service
for your needs.
“A lot of common problems can be treated at home with
advice from your local pharmacist. With over 700
pharmacies in the North East and no need to make an
appointment, it’s far simpler to ask a pharmacist about
minor things like coughs, headaches and vomiting bugs.”
Another option for minor injuries or illnesses is to visit
one of Newcastle’s three NHS walk-in centres:
• Lemington Walk-in Centre, Lemington Resource
Centre. Tel: 0191 229 1806 Open 8.30am to 12.00
noon, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Open
1.00pm to 4.30pm on Friday
• Molineux Street Walk-in Centre (just off Shields Road,
Byker). Tel: 0191 213 8566. Open 8am to 8pm, seven
days a week, including bank holidays.
• Ponteland Road Health Centre Walk-in Service,
Blakelaw. A GP led service. Tel: 0191 271 9030. Open
8am to 8pm, seven days a week.
• Westgate Walk-in Centre (on Westgate Road at the
former Newcastle General Hospital site). Tel: 0191 282
3000. Open 8am to 8pm, seven days a week including
bank holidays.
Details of local pharmacists, GPs and walk-in
centres are available at
www.keepcalmthiswinter.org.uk
Clinical commissioning
groups become one
The three Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) – Gateshead,
Newcastle North and East, and Newcastle West will merge to form a
single statutory body, Newcastle Gateshead Clinical Commissioning
Group, on 1 April 2015.
The three CCGs are membership organisations of the 67 local GP practices
covering Newcastle and Gateshead.
As part of the changes from the Health and Social Care Act (2012) they were
established as three CCGs in April 2013 with responsibility for the planning
and purchasing (the commissioning) of local NHS healthcare and health
services for local people.
The three CCGs have operated together as the Newcastle Gateshead
Alliance under a partnership agreement from their inception in April 2013,
recognising that the similarities between their areas in demographics and
healthcare needs, and patient flows between the two areas.
www.newcastlegatesheadccgalliance.nhs.uk
39
To win
tickets, see
page 19

Inside this issue - Newcastle City Council

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