About My Ward

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Middlesbrough - An Introduction 

Middlesbrough is a town near the north-east coast of England with a population of 138,700, which makes it the ninth smallest unitary council in England. The population has declined significantly since 1971 with a net loss of nearly 20,000, although this appears to have stabilised recently.   Middlesbrough is located at the heart of the Tees Valley conurbation centred around the River Tees. The town is the most densely populated borough in the region. It is bounded by the River Tees to the north and built up urban boundaries to the east and west. Its southern boundary is close to the edge of the built-up area, leaving virtually no room for expansion.  

Overall Middlesbrough ranks as the ninth most deprived community out of 354 districts in England. Middlesbrough and the wider Tees Valley area's main economic prosperity was built on heavy industry, iron and steel, shipbuilding and chemicals. It does retain some of these strengths; however, massive industrial decline has changed the towns economy. The service sector is now the main economic driver and provides most of the town's employment.  

Approximately 7.5 per cent of the population is made up of minority ethnic communities, a higher proportion than in other parts of the north-east. The Borough forms part of the Tees Valley City Region, home to some 662,100 people living mainly around the lower Tees. It includes Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland, Darlington and Hartlepool.

 

Some Facts About University Ward

Following a review of ward boundaries in 2002 by the Electoral Commission, the ward name was changed from Westbourne to University and the ward boundary was also changed to include part of the original Westbourne ward and merge with parts of Southfield and Gresham wards. The new ward boundary resembles a “L shape” with its reach as far as Linthorpe Road, Southfield Road, Borough Road,  Lytton Street, Clairville Road and Park Road North.   The ward has many landmark sites of historical interest as well as ultra-modern state of the art hi-tech developments. The ward is served by two local ward councillors; University Community Council; Breckon Hill Surestart Centre; Breckon Hill Primary School.  The University campus site covers over 105,000 sq metres of teaching space and 16,000 sq metres of residential space. Over £120m has been invested in recent years, with building work including a £17 million dental education and sports therapy complex. Other new developments include the £12m Phoenix Building and 10m Athena Building. These enhance Teesside's reputation as a leading university for digital innovation, computing, design, media and health. Other new buildings and facilities include a £6.5m centre for sport, £11m library and the purpose-built £8m Centuria Building for the School of Health & Social Care. Teesside University was named University of the Year by the Times Higher Education magazine at its annual awards ceremony on 15 October, 2009 - the first modern university ever to receive this honour. The University also picked up the Times Higher Education Outstanding Employer Engagement Initiative of the Year Award for Teesside University Business School’s innovative foundation degree in leadership and management developed with the North East Chamber of Commerce.

POPULATION WARD MIDDLESBROUGH Estimated population 6,110 140.220         HOUSING     Number of Households 1,870 60,240        EMPLOYMENT      Unemployment Claimant Rates 6.6% 4.8% Worklessness 58.5% 39.6% Working Age in Employment 41.5% 60.4% Working Age Unemployment & Incapacity Benefit 19.5% 17.5%       EDUCATION      Residents with no qualifications 37.3% 36.8% Residents with degrees 10% 12.8% GCSE 5 A to C’s (2005) 25% 45% Adults with low literacy skills 28% 21% Adults with low numeracy skills   69%   63%       DEPERIVATION     Children eligible for free school meals 40.8% 31.2% Households without access to a car 55% 41% Overcrowded households 15.5% 5.9% Households with no-one working 41.1% 30.2% Children in families receiving key benefits 40% 40.9% Tees Valley Deprivation Rank (JSU 2001) 20 - - Index of Multiple Deprivation National Rank 92 - -       HEALTH      People who are obese 21.8% 23.8% People who smoked 38.3% 34.8% People with health problems 19% 22% People with limiting long-term illness 19.47% 22.31% Binge drinkers 22.9% 26.1%        CRIME     Overall crime per 1,000 population 212 185 Total criminal damage per 1,000 population 40 41 (Source: University Information Pack, May 2007)

Map of University Ward

Places of Historical Interest In University Ward

Habib Rehman Working Hard For University Ward

Hope Progress Ambition

We are proud of our town and want to make Middlesbrough a place where we all want to live. However, we all know that there’s a long way to go and that much more needs to be done.

Our Progress

§         Created 1200 jobs in the town centre  §         Opened mima and the new Centre Square  §         Invested huge resources in Children’s Centres  §         Raised good GCSE scores by a third in just 5 years  §         Improved school buildings - £11m for Primary Schools  §         Developed more facilities for young people, e.g. Prissick  §         Brought crime down 6% - now 93% of residents feel safe  §         Erimus made £50million of improvements to 3,000 homes  §         Gave pensioners free bus travel at any time across region  §         Eradicated flyposting, made streets and air quality cleaner

Our Ambition

§         Replace wornout housing with modern homes  §         Improve youth facilities, developing Prissick Plaza  §         Develop a new creative industry and cultural quarter  §         Bring the town exciting events, like Proms in the Park  §         More recycling, cleaner streets and more wheelie-bins  §         Stunning plans for Middlehaven and Hemlington Grange  §         Consider SmartCard for all travel across the Tees Valley  §         Create a Tees Valley Bus Network and Tees Valley Metro  §         Continue to invest in schools, Sure Starts and Teesside Uni  §         Roll out Neighbourhood Policing and No Cold Caller zones    Habib Rehman's Key Aims For University Ward   1)   Be visible, available and accessible to residents. 2)   Improve parking, an issue constantly flagged up by residents and upon which we will lobby the Council for action. 3)   To lobby the Council to resume and speed up facelift and improvement works to properties (and alley gates for Roscoe Street and Albert terrace).   4)   Work to ensure the regeneration in Gresham and Middlehaven doesn’t impact negatively upon homes in University ward. 5)   Work with our rapidly-expanding University to make sure it’s development benefits local residents. 6)   Work with residents, the Police and the other agencies to deal firmly with anti-social behaviour. 7)   Address the issue of inadequate and lack of youth provision within University Ward. 8)   Work with landlords and tenants on problem issues such as; free collection of rubbish, household furniture, junk, ASB, noise nuisance, and the introduction of alcohol free zones to curb rowdy drunken behaviour and harassment. 9)   To reduce litter, rubbish and junk. And improve the state of cleanliness of streets & back alleys. Which is contributing to increasing problems of dog fouling, rats/vermin and pests.  10)   Halt the rapid disintegration of established community due to some residents moving out due to neglect and failure to effectively tackle the above mentioned issues.

Main Issues Affecting University Ward

KEY ISSUES FACING UNIVERSITY WARD HIGHLIGHTED BY RESIDENTS DURING CONSULTATION SURVEY IN 2007   The following list has been compiled after talking and listening to local residents. The list provides a very basic snapshot of some of the important issues and challenges facing the ward and should help the Council identify and prioritise some of the key issues which are reflected and form the basis of thinking behind the development of my key aims:   1)   To resolve street parking and football match traffic congestion problems caused by rapid expansion of the town centre, Teesside University and Middlesbrough Football Club which are having an adverse negative effects on the entire ward. The local residents and businesses within University Ward are severely affected and suffering rather than enjoying from the success and prosperity of the Football Club, Teesside University and the expansion of the town centre. Local residents and businesses feel that the Council has been slow to understand the nature and severity of the problem and respond to the catastrophic pressures placed upon University Ward.        2)   To reduce litter, rubbish and junk. And improve the state of cleanliness of streets & back alleys   3)   To improve the condition and state of roads, pot holes, broken pavements & damaged kerb    4)   To re-commence facelift and improvement works to properties and alleygates (Roscoe/Albert Terrace)    5)   Tackle the increasing problems of dog fouling, rats/vermin and pests creating health hazard    6)   Improve community cohesion & integration of transient residents    7)   Address the issue of inadequate and lack of youth facilities & activities within University Ward   8)   Examine the impact of regeneration & demolition plans on University Ward    9)   Work with landlords and tenants on problem issues such as; free collection of rubbish, household furniture, junk, ASB, noise nuisance, and the introduction of alcohol free zones to curb rowdy drunken behaviour and harassment    10)   Halt the rapid disintegration of established community due to some residents moving out due to neglect and failure to effectively tackle the above mentioned issues

 

Habib Rehman's Campaign, Consultation, Community Events And Achievements

I have been involved with and organised several consultations, community events, campaigns and projects on a variety of different issues such as;    1)     Road safety and residents parking campaign   2)     Pest Control campaign   3)     Youth Activities Initiative to examine youth provision   4)     Campaign to preserve the open green space on  Saltwells Crescent   5)     University Resident Parking Scheme Consultations   6)     Campaign for extension to University Resident Parking Scheme   7)     Football Match Day Residents Parking Campaign   8)     Housing Strategy 2008-20011 Consultation   9)     Introduction of coffee evening community social events   10)  Campaign to introduce pensioners weekly luncheon club  11)  Residents Association Campaign Weekly Update Events 12)  Convened a special multi-agency panel to examine ward issues 13)   Fire Safety Campaign in conjunction with Cleveland Fire Brigade in "Whatever It Takes" campaign 14)   Campaign for review of best practise and introduction of a code of conduct and equal opportunities policy for community councils 15)   Campaign in support of Neighbourhood Police to use bicycles 16)   Support campaigns which promote the peace process in Northern Ireland, Kashmir, Palestine, Afghanistan and Iraq 17)   Support campaigns combating knife crime 18)   Organised and sponsored boxing skills training in conjunction with Hartlepool's European boxing champion Amanda Coulson  19)   Organised and sponsored University Ward football tournament at Goals in which over 250 youths took part 20)   Organised in conjunction with regional organisations campaign on Youth Agenda 21)   Helped Middlesbrough Council with the introduction of government's Prevent Agenda and setting up Harmony Initiative 22)   Helped organise public awareness campaign on "Forced Marriage" and introduction of a helpline 23)   Created three independent constituted youth projects 24)   Organised specialist outreach service for hard to reach vulnerable groups such as OAPs, women and disabled 25)   Establish a new University Ward Residents Association, empowering residents to independently participate in the decision making processes by proactively engaging the Council and other external agencies 26)   Expanding the Residents on Patrol Scheme by recruiting and training volunteers to act as the eyes and ears within their neighbourhood 27)   Support, Promote and raise funds for the annual Saltwells Park Community Event   Do you have a project or a campaign that you would like support with and promoting?

What Do Councillors Do?   What they do:   - put the government’s programme into action and help form policies to improve the lives and opportunities of people in their area - represent their residents as effectively as they can, giving a voice to the people they represent and being seen to be on the residents’ side - ensure that the council delivers high quality public services   How they do it:   - be an advocate for local residents - help residents through casework - attend local events and meetings - campaign on local issues - attend council meetings - monitor council performance   Areas of involvement:   - crime prevention - nurseries - schools - homes, housing - transport - the local economy - the street scene   What Can't Councillors Do? We are not lawyers and cannot get involved in legal cases. We can let you know where legal advice can be obtained, and let you know how to find out if you are eligible for legal aid. We may be bossy but we are not the police. For some kinds of issues we will connect you with the local police or PCSOs. All Councillors have outside jobs as well. Casework can be very time-consuming, so if you are able to pursue lines of inquiry, we will suggest these and hope you are able to further them yourself. If not, we will always do what we can to help you in the time available.  Compliments, Comments and Complaints The Council has a Corporate Complaints Procedure which ensures that complaints and compliments are dealt with speedily, fairly and consistently. Information about the procedure can be found on Middlesbrough Council website. You can use this procedure to make comments to the Council about its services, or any other matter that is important to you. If you wish to make a complaint or offer a compliment or a comment, you can do this on-line by following the link: Online Complaint, Compliment & Comment form. Alternatively, you can contact Councillor Habib Rehman on: 01642 644396 or email: habib_rehman@middlesbrough.gov.uk         Contacts For Middlesbrough Council   You can contact the Council either in person, email, over the phone or via this website: www.middlesbrough.gov.uk.   General enquiries   Telephone: 01642 245432 Email: contactcentre@middlesbrough.gov.uk   Postal address:   Middlesbrough Council PO Box 99 Town Hall Middlesbrough TS1 2QQ   Environment services   Refuse collection, wheelie bins. street cleaning, road and pavement repairs, grafitti removal, street lighting, litter, fly tipping, abandoned vehicles, noisy neighbours, stray dogs and trees.   Telephone: 01642 726001  Email: envservices@middlesbrough.gov.uk Web: Environment   Social care   Adult services (services for vunerable people), disabilities, older people's services, carers support, service users and carer involvement, health and medical care, welfare rights and supporting people .   Telephone: 01642 726004 Email: socialservices@middlesbrough.gov.uk Web: Health and social care Minicom: 01642 726980   Out of hours telephone: 08702 402994 Minicom: 01642 602346   Council tax   General enquiries about council tax accounts, including property banding, discounts, or what to do if you have difficulties paying your bill.   Email: ctax@middlesbrough.gov.uk Web:Council tax and finance   To arrange payment of council tax by direct debit, telephone: 01642 726030   To pay council tax by debit card, telephone the 24 hour payment line on: 01642 726726   Council tax/business rates   General enquiries about business rates accounts including ratable values, exceptions, reliefs or what to do if you have difficulties paying your bill.   Telephone: 01642 726007 Email: ctax@middlesbrough.gov.uk Web: Business rates   To arrange payment of business rates by direct debit telephone: 01642 726030 To pay business rates by debit card, telephone the 24 hour payment line on: 01642 726726    Housing benefits    Enquire about our claim housing benefit, council tax benefit and second adult rebate.   Telephone: 01642 726005 Email: housbens@servicemiddlesbrough.org.uk Web: Housing benefits   Needles disposal & exchange   Contact Lifeline: 01642 7225479   To report needles found on public land or open spaces, telephone: 01642 726001 Email:envservices@middlesbrough.gov.uk   School information Web: Education and Learning School admissions Admission enquiries: 01642 728094 E-mail: admissions@lea.mgrid.org.uk Web: mgrid (Middlesbrough Grid For Learning)   Emergency out of hours numbers   The following contacts are available 24 hour a day (365 days a year) for out of hours emergencies: Care Link - A 24 hours, seven days a weeks communication and support service for elderly and vulnerable people.   Telephone: 01642 726009   Out of hours emergency line: 01642 726050  Out of hours emergency line (Social care only): 08702 402994    Neighbourhood safety team   Text number: 07910037833    Street wardens   Text number: 07919303088   Minicom: 01642 228700     Non Council emergency numbers   Police, fire or ambulance: 999   Police text number: 87202. Fire text number: 07718999999   Electricity emergencies/loss of supply: 0800 66 88 77   Electricity minicom: 0800 0289507   Gas leaks or emergencies: 0800 111 999   Gas minicom: 0800 371787   Environment agency floodline: 0845 988 1188 Northumbrian Water (water or sewage): 0845 717 1100 Crimestoppers (non-urgent crimes): 0800 555 111 NHS Direct (non urgent health enquiries): 0845 4647 Homelessness: 01642 773633

Website developed, promoted and funded by Habib Rehman, at 75 Wellesley Road, Middlesbrough TS4 2DQ. Website hosted by 123-reg.