Welcome from the Service Integration Head (Sutton Coldfield)

Gary Ladbrooke, Service Integration Head (Sutton Coldfield)

In the midst of the current economic climate, the city council is working hard to meet many financial challenges while continuing as far as possible to deliver and improve its front-line services.

Here in Sutton Coldfield the focus for our most recent work has been very much about making sure we deliver good value for money. We have done this through streamlining our team and processes to bring about increased efficiency and by thinking in a different way about how we should provide and improve our services in the future.

For example, the District Team supported the Sutton Coldfield Town Centre Partnership in its aim to develop a Business Improvement District. At the ballot which took place in October 2011, businesses voted in favour of adopting this model which will generate £ 1M additional investment for the town centre over five years. Earlier that year, we also helped the Town Centre Partnership install a suite of Victorian-style pedestrian sign-posts, which have proved very popular with visitors.

Funding was also obtained to renew the all-weather pitch at Wyndley Leisure Centre securing the life of the facility for at least another decade. We have supported many community-led groups and initiatives through our Community Chest grant scheme and over the past two years we have run a Sports Award ceremony celebrating the wealth of sporting talent we have here in Sutton Coldfield.

Last year the District Team also supported a highly successful 'Shop for Schools' project, working in partnership with The Mall and primary schools right the way across Sutton Coldfield. The project introduced younger children to the concept of retail enterprise, allowing them to actually sell their produce and crafts to town centre shoppers.

More recently, we have developed a business plan and secured the funding to enable Sutton Library to re-open in April 2013. Obviously we regret that this much loved facility has been closed for such a long time, but hope that its return will be welcomed by both existing and new library visitors.

So despite the economic conditions, we will continue to strive to meet the high demands that our customers expect of us with the aim of making Sutton Coldfield a special place to live, work and visit.

Gary Ladbrooke
Service Integration Head (Sutton Coldfield)