Staffordshire County Council - Local Government Supporting Business
Staffordshire County Council's commitment to local economic development and enterprise is evident in the wide range of services the County Council offers to the Staffordshire business community.
Within a wider context the County Council provides essential local authority services throughout the county including functions such as education, social services, highways, public protection, libraries, waste management, strategic planning and economic development. The County Council also works in partnership with the Staffordshire Police and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service which cover Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
Staffordshire County Council provides these services for a population of over 800,000 residents. Policies are drawn up and directed by its 62 County Councillors, each member democratically elected representing a different area of the county.
Following the local government reorganisation of the County on 1 April 1997 Stoke-on-Trent gained Unitary Status and is now responsible for similar local government provided services within the City of Stoke-on-Trent. The new authority still retains close links with the County Council. Eight District Councils are responsible for localised services.
The services offered by Staffordshire County Council provide the backbone of a healthy business environment. The County Council's services specific to the encouragement of business growth and enterprise are described in the following pages:
Development Services Directorate:
Economic Development
The Economic Development and Europe Unit aims to promote the development of the Staffordshire economy, through the support for external organisations such as InStaffs (UK) Ltd and Business Link, and through the direct provision of services to the business community.
A specialist tourism team works in conjunction with District Councils and private sector attractions encouraging tourism to the area through a variety of advertising campaigns including the highly acclaimed Short Breaks Campaign and appearances at international exhibitions.
The European Policy resource acts to represent Staffordshire when Government and European Union policies on funding are formulated.
The Department helps to secure funding for many of the County Council's development projects including site development, managed Enterprise Centres and Industrial Units.
The Unit manages the Staffordshire Business and Environment Network (SBEN) providing help and advice on environmental issues for businesses.
Research
The Research Unit offers a wide range of social and economic information and policy guidance including population and employment data providing support for various functions such as bids for European Funding.
The unit provides simple data requests free of charge; customised information is charged at a modest rate.
Regeneration
The Regeneration unit is committed to the reclamation, re-use and promotion of the County's land resources particularly the reclamation of derelict land and the development of unlocked resources. Working in partnership with public and private sector organisations the unit seeks to enhance both the economic prosperity and environmental quality of the county.
The group also contributes towards corporate environmental policies, community involvement in environmental issues and sustainable development.
Travelwise in Staffordshire
Staffordshire County Council, through its Travelwise Campaign, aims to reduce vehicle congestion by encouraging people to use their cars less and is promoting the greater use of public transport, walking and cycling.
Two major generators of traffic in the County are schools and businesses. Both are being targeted and offered assistance and advice by the County's Travel Wise Road Safety Unit.
Companies can gain advice on Green Transport Plans, aiming to minimise the impact of travel in the environment. By adopting Green Transport Plans companies in Staffordshire can reduce the level of unnecessary travel and encourage those who have to travel to do so in a way that minimises the environmental impact.
By adopting a Green Transport Plan the employee, the organisation, the community and the environment all benefit.
Waste and Recycling
We are at the heart of the drive to reduce waste and increase recycling for Staffordshire. We are committed to and campaigning for a recycling revolution.
We provide Staffordshire's 13 Household Waste Recycling Centres across the County. They are going through a radical revamp making it easier and easier for people to recycle an increasingly wide range of materials. The County is on target to treble its recycling rate.
We also organise recycling outlets, landfill sites and incineration in Stoke-on-Trent for the District and Borough Councils.
Transport Planning
We are building a vision which integrates land use and transport to bring the best economic and quality of life improvements for the people of Staffordshire.
We are working to ensure Staffordshire has just the right balance of employment and housing land available to meet the needs of the economy and the community.
Plus we are dedicated to developing healthy and balanced transport package for Staffordshire - providing transport choice for all.
We spend £3million a year funding vital services that link isolated communities to employment opportunities, hospitals, doctors and other vital services and revitalising Staffordshire's transport infrastructure.
Staffordshire is a unique and beautiful county - right at the heart of the English experience. It has a blend of countryside, culture, food and entertainment. Visitors from home and abroad bring the County a vital stream of income. Our Tourism specialists are pushing the Staffordshire brand to the front of the pack.
Shugborough - the complete working historic estate - is the gem at the heart of a wonderful county. This magnificent stately home and park is owned by the National Trust but operated by Staffordshire County Council. It is fast becoming one of the UK's premier living heritage attractions.
Environment and Countryside
At the heart of all this lies the land, the woods, the meadows and the moors - the special places that give Staffordshire its quality of life. And it's the towns and villages, houses and halls too.
All this common heritage needs protecting and preserving for the benefit of future generations.
Environment and Countryside combines archaeological, ecological, landscape, and countryside management - putting the environment first for Staffordshire.
Whether it's moving endangered species to safety during economic regeneration programmes or advising developers over preserving Roman remains, the team have the facts at their fingertips.
We have a growing reputation for eco-excellence: with an English Nature national award for our work protecting Cannock Chase, the incredible Chasewater Visitor Centre eco-centre flagship housing the dynamic Forest of Mercia team, and the urban fringe regenerating Green Arc project.
Countryside Services manages more than 2,000 hectares of Country Parks, Greenways and Picnic Areas allowing everyone in Staffordshire the time and space to relax and recuperate from the fast pace of modern life. The team maintains high standards of public access to the county's network of 2,500 miles of rights of way
The team are protecting the countryside on our doorstep - encouraging everyone to relax, enjoy and play their part in protecting their local green spaces and wild places.
Staffordshire Highways
Staffordshire Highways is at the sharp end in delivering essential, high profile, public services - day in day out on the streets of Staffordshire.
When there is a problem with something on the highway network - just ring Clarence - Staffordshire's Customer Lighting and Roads Enquiry Centre. - on 0800 232323.
Keeping the traffic moving on Staffordshire's roads is a difficult and complex task. That's where Network Management comes in.
We organize speed limits, parking controls, road closures, and other road restrictions to make the most of the road space and effectively manage the flow of traffic.
Staffordshire's state-of-the-art Urban Traffic Control nerve centre is co-ordinates urban traffic signals. The system is linked into a network of roadside information panels giving motorists the information they need to plan ahead.
Staffordshire has its very own Highways Laboratory where engineering materials are developed and then tested rigorously. Quality materials are they keys to durability, value for money and safety.
So you can now see how the Development Services team of professionals works day in day out behind the scenes to underpin the future life, vitality and well being of the County. We really are making Staffordshire great place to live, work, visit and invest.
The Trading Standards Section deals with about 50 Acts of Parliament and 1,000 UK/EU Regulations which are designed to promote and maintain a fair and safe trading environment. Breach of theses regulations can lead to various types of enforcement action, such as an issue of Suspension Notices banning the supply of unsafe products.
In addition the section provides an advice service and annually recovers hundreds of thousands of pounds in civil redress for customers.
The library service lends a variety of books, sound recordings, music, videos, CD ROMs to the public and provides a comprehensive information service for the benefit of all groups and individuals in Staffordshire. Some libraries offer meeting or lecture rooms for hire to individuals or groups and libraries offer display space for leaflets or posters promoting local organisations or events. Open Learning Centres throughout the County provide self learning packages for adult learners wishing to improve their skills and are located in libraries and schools.
Information Resources available within libraries include access to a range of business directories, use of CD ROMs containing information on organisations worldwide and information outlining and explaining different types of businesses particularly useful for companies planning to start up in business.
Last Modified:
16/05/2006 10:50:39
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