Carol Coombes has taken the microphone. The issue of young people has been raised — although young people have been raised as one of the most important issues, there aren’t any here.
Stephen Hughes, Council Chief Executive, takes the floor.
This is only the start — although we’ve got the report and some ideas, we have to carry on and continue with the consultation that has taken place.
The thing that came back strongly was communication: how we communicate these things and make a grand swell of change.
If you Google Handsworth and Lozells, all you get is bad news: riots, guns and gangs. How can we make our own website go up the listings?
Ifor Jones It’s fifth on the list.
Back to SH If we want to tell people about what’s going on, including the vision of a global urband village, then we have to get our voice made more accessible to people.
Two matters of personal explanation: one point made on the table that key priorities (crime, environment), dealing with the visible aspects are merely dealing with symptoms. The real issue (to me, anyway) is about jobs for people in the local area and in the local area; even if people work here and aren’t local people, they will be helping the economy by spending in local shops. The housing issue is equally important: we need to attract people who have wealth and resources so that they investin the area too. There simply isn’t enough public resource, so we are reliant on private investment.
Re. Morrisons: I didn’t say the Council couldn’t fix it, but it’s not as straightforward as people think it is. I explained my position, which is the position of the executive; but there are processes that have to go to. I didn’t say it won’t happen; I hope it does.
I mentioned the wholesale markets and future jobs fund, where we’re looking to get a bid in which will have a direct impact on jobs for young people. Jobs, prosperity are important. If we fix those, the rest will follow. That doesn’t mean ignoring things like the environment, but we need to tackle the causes.
In conclusion, the communication part is critial; development of local leadership capacity; that doesn’t need to be just one or two people but getting local people passionate about making a change. We talked about community assets and how they aren’t working. I’ve been involved myself in running community facilities, so I know the huge effort it takes to keep something like that running. But that’s what you need to grow, that kind of capacity.
To end on a positive note: I’m sure you heard that Carol [Coombes] got an OBE for work in local leadership. [Applause.]
Carol Coombes thanks all and the meeting closes.
