My role as a councillor to me is split into 2 parts…
• The dealing with residents, helping them, supporting them, finding out why things are not done as they should and the like.
• The work at the council making decisions, pushing ideas forward and having an overview of decisions that are being made.
The everyday speaking to residents bit is natural, it happens on a daily basis however i wanted to put more of a focus on the part of my role at the council and this week i think i have found it….Social Enterprise.
For the past 6 years i have worked hard alongside a passionate team of creative individuals to create what is now the 16th fastest growing social enterprise in the UK www.unitystoke.co.uk This organisation offers a variety of projects programmes and activities for excluded and hard to reach young people in Stoke-on-Trent.
Since i became elected as a councillor Social enterprise has become a recurring theme.
• The head of environmental services called a meeting with me regarding a potential Biomass project requiring social enterprueners.
• The economic overview committee and a project i noted around social enterprise support.
• Sneyd green community centre, a prime example of community asset transfer and now a sustainable social enterprise in my ward.
So i have decided that to make a difference within the council i will be focussing on social enterprise and how i and the council and its officers can help to improve the way social enterprises operate in the city, to help them grow and to get more started.
Yesterday i met with Mike Romano and Joy Brassington who are working on a social enterprise network in the city. During our meeting i recommended the following and will be chasing the ideas up in the coming weeks…
• Creation of “Branding” that social enterprises can relate with and visually communicates effectively what support is available.
• Improving chances for social enterprises to be considered for procurement opportunities ( £1 is worth £1.50 when spent with a social enterprise) as long as the quality is there in terms of the service delivered.
• Free rent on council owned business units for a set period.
• Easier ways to obtain business rate relief.
I believe that by implementing all of these things we can significantly improve the services available by local social enterprises, improve job opportunities and job creation and have a network of hard working people contributing to making our city a better place to live….
Now to write my letter to the chief exec…..
