Brian Ward

Stoke-on-Trent’s contentious and hard fought Building Schools for the Future programme has been given a major boost with the announcement that the project’s Outline Business Case (OBC) has been approved. Confirmation of the approval means government funding is now confirmed in principle for the £250m programme, which will see all secondary and special schools in the city rebuilt or refurbished between 2010 and 2014.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s cabinet has today (Wednesday) approved plans to relocate Burslem Library to the Ceramica Annexe.   The library, currently in the Burslem School of Art, is planned to open in the Ceramica Annexe building at the end of March 2010.   Burslem Library has been temporarily housed in the School of Art since moving in October 2008 from the Wedgwood Institute.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is publicly thanking the staff who worked with Staffordshire Police during Saturday’s protest by the English Defence League and to clean up the city centre afterward.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is working with Staffordshire Police to return the city centre to normal after the English Defence League rally on Saturday 23 January. Councillor Brian Ward, Deputy Leader of the city council, said: “We are unhappy that the demonstration took place and at the significant disruption to local businesses and to people who wished to spend the day in the city centre.

Stoke on Trent council home rent seems set for an increase of above-inflation increase of around £95 per year. The 3.26% increase is due to be approved next week. How much the rent rise will mean to the tenant is dependant on the size of property. A one or two bedroom home holder will have to pay anywhere between £62 and £91.20 more each year.

Preparatory work for an extension of Stoke-on-Trent’s city centre ring road and a new supermarket will move up a gear on Thursday as diggers move in to clear the land. Since January 4 workers have been carrying out initial preparation works securing the site, off Clough Street. On Thursday, contractors will start to clear the land for the new Tesco store and 540 metre extension of Potteries Way.

Bin collections have resumed today (Wednesday) as road gritting crews continue to work round the clock to tackle severe wintry weather conditions Stoke-on-Trent City Council waste collection crews were out this morning making their usual collections, where possible, after rounds had to be suspended yesterday due to the wintry weather.

A design competition has been launched for the new Stoke-on-Trent city centre bus station.  Stoke-on-Trent City Council is inviting expressions of interest from companies to design a multi-million pound modern bus station in the heart of the city centre.  A multi-disciplinary team, including architects, engineers, and environmental experts, is being sought. Companies have until the end of January to register their interest.

Schools in Stoke-on-Trent are being challenged to come up with innovative ways of going car free. Secondary schools all over the West Midlands are being asked to take part in the Car Free Challenge, encouraging more students and teachers to walk, cycle, or use public transport to get to school. The challenge highlights alternatives to using the car, while also helping students to become healthier, and making the roads less congested and safer.

The Sentinel reported yesterday on a leaked E-mail from Deputy Council Leader Brian Ward about the service received from the Council Press Office for the £600,000 it costs. We also received a copy of the E-mail here at Pits n Pots, we decided not to do anything with it as it would only serve to inflame the scant relationship we have with Dan Barton and the Council Press & Communications department.