Your guide to the Government Office for the West Midlands · 2016. 2. 16. · The birthplace of the industrial revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, the West Midlands boasts

GOWM brochure v6 26/11/2004 11:16 am Page 1

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GOWM works with and on behalf of ten Government departments and they are:

� the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM);

� the Department for Transport (DfT);

� the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA);

� the Home Office (HO);

� the Department for Education and Skills (DfES);

� the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI);

� the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP);

� the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS); and

� the Department of Heath (DOH) and the Cabinet Office (CO).

How you can work with usGovernment Office for the West Midlands5 St Philips PlaceColemore RowBirminghamB3 2DW

You can visit our website at www.go-wm.gov.ukor telephone 0121 352 5000or fax 0121 352 5191

Your guide to the Government Officefor the West Midlands


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We have set up and chair a Regional Board, comprisingthe key Government agencies in the Region to help

ensure a coherent approach to all central Governmentinvolvement in the West Midlands. The Board continuesto develop its relationship with the West Midlands

Regional Assembly as it develops its new role includingthat of a Regional Planning Body.

We co-ordinate the delivery of Government policy in the region, helppeople understand that policy, and advise Ministers of the region’s needs.

Welcome

We work to ensure that the decisions taken nationally have real impact on the groundand that the West Midlands – its people, its culture and its outlook – really influencesthe development of policy and strategy at national level.

The West Midlands benefits from the largest amount of European funding received by any region within the UK.Currently, the region receives just under £600 million for Objective 2 funding, and this will trigger around £2 billion ofinvestment. It will also create 28,000 new jobs, safeguard a further 16,000 jobs and create around 1,800 new businesses.

Under the Objective 3 programme, funded by the European Social Fund, over £340 million will be invested to tackleunemployment; promote training; entrepreneurship and equal opportunities; and help young people find work.We work with local and regional partners, including the voluntary and community sector, to fully utilise the availablefunds and maximise the benefits to the region.

We play an important role in leading, influencing,monitoring and delivering initiatives in the region.

One of nine Government offices in England, we arecommitted to making Government work well – forthe people and the future of the West Midlands. Werecognise that this calls for expertise, anticipation ofchange and flexibility. We respond to this by striving

to be a knowledge-based organisation which identifiesgaps in knowledge and skills and sets about filling them.

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We have set up and chair a Regional Board, comprisingthe key Government agencies in the Region to help

ensure a coherent approach to all central Governmentinvolvement in the West Midlands. The Board continuesto develop its relationship with the West Midlands

Regional Assembly as it develops its new role includingthat of a Regional Planning Body.

We co-ordinate the delivery of Government policy in the region, helppeople understand that policy, and advise Ministers of the region’s needs.

Welcome

We work to ensure that the decisions taken nationally have real impact on the groundand that the West Midlands – its people, its culture and its outlook – really influencesthe development of policy and strategy at national level.

The West Midlands benefits from the largest amount of European funding received by any region within the UK.Currently, the region receives just under £600 million for Objective 2 funding, and this will trigger around £2 billion ofinvestment. It will also create 28,000 new jobs, safeguard a further 16,000 jobs and create around 1,800 new businesses.

Under the Objective 3 programme, funded by the European Social Fund, over £340 million will be invested to tackleunemployment; promote training; entrepreneurship and equal opportunities; and help young people find work.We work with local and regional partners, including the voluntary and community sector, to fully utilise the availablefunds and maximise the benefits to the region.

We play an important role in leading, influencing,monitoring and delivering initiatives in the region.

One of nine Government offices in England, we arecommitted to making Government work well – forthe people and the future of the West Midlands. Werecognise that this calls for expertise, anticipation ofchange and flexibility. We respond to this by striving

to be a knowledge-based organisation which identifiesgaps in knowledge and skills and sets about filling them.

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Promoting thriving,inclusive and sustainablecommunities

Creating the conditions for economic growthThe birthplace of the industrial revolution in the 18th and 19thcenturies, the West Midlands boasts a strong heritage in manufacturing,with many of the mould-breaking innovations of the last 200 yearshailing from the region. The West Midlands still contributes tens ofbillions to the country’s gross value added each year.

Manufacturing now accounts for 22% of total employment– the second highest in the UK – with the service sector employing68% of the region’s population. The automotive and componentsindustries, metals, food and drink, ceramics, agriculture and high-techbusinesses are all key employers. New industries, such as tourism,particularly business tourism, are also increasingly significant.

We play a key role in building a thriving economy by working onissues such as a low skills base and unemployment rates. We facilitateworking between partners including the Learning and Skills Councils(LSCs), Business Councils and private sector representatives.

Increasing skills and creatinga business-friendly environmentWe are represented on all local LSC boards in the region andprovide a link between the Councils and other regional agencies.For example, a project with a leading IT company to develop hightechnology in rural areas proved valuable in assisting the developmentof the Central Technology Belt High Technology Corridor.

For businesses to flourish we need to work on environmental issuesthat affect confidence and growth. For example, crime is a key issuefor businesses in the West Midlands, and we work with our partnersto deliver thousands of pounds of Government funding to supportretailers, shopping parades and the public in fighting crime, adoptingcrime deterrent measures and building confidence in a number oflocations across the region.

We are actively working with our partners to build a sustainable and prosperous economy in theWest Midlands that will benefit everyone in the region. For many years the West Midlands wasa powerhouse of the UK economy, but a series of recessions between the 1970s and early 1990shit our traditional industries hard and as a result we went through a period of relative decline.

Over the last ten years our position has been more stable, with the region’s economy succeedingin generating so many new jobs that over the last couple of years there have been more peopleworking in the region than ever before. However, there are still areas where unemploymentremains high and our economy still relies too much on low value-added activities.

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Promoting thriving,inclusive and sustainablecommunities

Creating the conditions for economic growthThe birthplace of the industrial revolution in the 18th and 19thcenturies, the West Midlands boasts a strong heritage in manufacturing,with many of the mould-breaking innovations of the last 200 yearshailing from the region. The West Midlands still contributes tens ofbillions to the country’s gross value added each year.

Manufacturing now accounts for 22% of total employment– the second highest in the UK – with the service sector employing68% of the region’s population. The automotive and componentsindustries, metals, food and drink, ceramics, agriculture and high-techbusinesses are all key employers. New industries, such as tourism,particularly business tourism, are also increasingly significant.

We play a key role in building a thriving economy by working onissues such as a low skills base and unemployment rates. We facilitateworking between partners including the Learning and Skills Councils(LSCs), Business Councils and private sector representatives.

Increasing skills and creatinga business-friendly environmentWe are represented on all local LSC boards in the region andprovide a link between the Councils and other regional agencies.For example, a project with a leading IT company to develop hightechnology in rural areas proved valuable in assisting the developmentof the Central Technology Belt High Technology Corridor.

For businesses to flourish we need to work on environmental issuesthat affect confidence and growth. For example, crime is a key issuefor businesses in the West Midlands, and we work with our partnersto deliver thousands of pounds of Government funding to supportretailers, shopping parades and the public in fighting crime, adoptingcrime deterrent measures and building confidence in a number oflocations across the region.

We are actively working with our partners to build a sustainable and prosperous economy in theWest Midlands that will benefit everyone in the region. For many years the West Midlands wasa powerhouse of the UK economy, but a series of recessions between the 1970s and early 1990shit our traditional industries hard and as a result we went through a period of relative decline.

Over the last ten years our position has been more stable, with the region’s economy succeedingin generating so many new jobs that over the last couple of years there have been more peopleworking in the region than ever before. However, there are still areas where unemploymentremains high and our economy still relies too much on low value-added activities.

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Celebrating diversity – combating inequalityThe region’s 5.27 million people represent 9% of theUK’s overall population. Ethnic diversity is one of theWest Midlands’ strengths with Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi,Black Caribbean and African communities in areas suchas Coventry, Birmingham and the Black Country.

Affluent areas exist alongside pockets of severe deprivationin many of the region’s towns and cities. Just over onequarter of the region’s Super Output Areas (SOAs) fallwithin England’s 20% most deprived SOAs (SOAs area new geography for the collection and publication ofsmall area statistics).

Good neighboursSeven Local Authority areas are eligible for ‘neighbourhoodrenewal funding’, a top-up to local authorities to helpthem and their partners to improve core public servicesin the most deprived neighbourhoods. Over £120 millionis currently allocated to the region to help deprivedareas within Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell,Stoke-on-Trent, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

In the rural areas, the Countryside Agency and AdvantageWest Midlands (AWM) work on the ‘vital villages’ projectwhich helps 400 villages in Worcestershire andWarwickshire to support their community facilities byoffering advice, ideas, training, grants and assistance withplanning and organisation.

The ‘new deal for communities’ is another vital weaponin the fight against social exclusion and poverty.Designed to tackle problems in the fields of housing,crime, education, jobs and health, it builds partnershipsbetween local people, community and voluntaryorganisations, public agencies, local authorities andbusinesses. ‘Neighbourhood management pathfinderprogrammes’ have been launched in Newcastle-under-Lyme, North Solihull, East Staffordshire and Kidderminsterso that communities and local service providers canwork with a dedicated manager and develop strategiesfor long-term change.

Crime, and the fear of crime, can destroy communities.We work with the police, probation service, youthoffending service and crime prosecution service to tacklethese problems. Partnerships can make a real difference.Working with the West Midlands Police and the mobilephone industry, the ‘immobilise phone crime’ campaignhas contributed to a 16% fall, compared to the previousyear, in offences involving mobile phone theft (yearlyperiod ending July 2003.)

Championing cultureCultural development is vital in promoting a strongeconomy, and we work to support the policies ofthe Department for Culture, Media and Sport(DCMS) in the field of sports, arts and tourism.We sponsor ‘West Midlands Life,’ one of eight regionalcultural consortiums set up by the DCMS to championthe West Midlands’ cultural sector, harnessing itscollective expertise and strength for the benefit ofcurrent and future generations.

The West Midlands has a diverse population, urban and rural communities andareas of both wealth and deprivation. We are committed to raising the qualityof life for all areas, and to creating thriving, safe communities that provide equalopportunities for all their inhabitants.

Buildingstrongcommunities

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Celebrating diversity – combating inequalityThe region’s 5.27 million people represent 9% of theUK’s overall population. Ethnic diversity is one of theWest Midlands’ strengths with Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi,Black Caribbean and African communities in areas suchas Coventry, Birmingham and the Black Country.

Affluent areas exist alongside pockets of severe deprivationin many of the region’s towns and cities. Just over onequarter of the region’s Super Output Areas (SOAs) fallwithin England’s 20% most deprived SOAs (SOAs area new geography for the collection and publication ofsmall area statistics).

Good neighboursSeven Local Authority areas are eligible for ‘neighbourhoodrenewal funding’, a top-up to local authorities to helpthem and their partners to improve core public servicesin the most deprived neighbourhoods. Over £120 millionis currently allocated to the region to help deprivedareas within Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell,Stoke-on-Trent, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

In the rural areas, the Countryside Agency and AdvantageWest Midlands (AWM) work on the ‘vital villages’ projectwhich helps 400 villages in Worcestershire andWarwickshire to support their community facilities byoffering advice, ideas, training, grants and assistance withplanning and organisation.

The ‘new deal for communities’ is another vital weaponin the fight against social exclusion and poverty.Designed to tackle problems in the fields of housing,crime, education, jobs and health, it builds partnershipsbetween local people, community and voluntaryorganisations, public agencies, local authorities andbusinesses. ‘Neighbourhood management pathfinderprogrammes’ have been launched in Newcastle-under-Lyme, North Solihull, East Staffordshire and Kidderminsterso that communities and local service providers canwork with a dedicated manager and develop strategiesfor long-term change.

Crime, and the fear of crime, can destroy communities.We work with the police, probation service, youthoffending service and crime prosecution service to tacklethese problems. Partnerships can make a real difference.Working with the West Midlands Police and the mobilephone industry, the ‘immobilise phone crime’ campaignhas contributed to a 16% fall, compared to the previousyear, in offences involving mobile phone theft (yearlyperiod ending July 2003.)

Championing cultureCultural development is vital in promoting a strongeconomy, and we work to support the policies ofthe Department for Culture, Media and Sport(DCMS) in the field of sports, arts and tourism.We sponsor ‘West Midlands Life,’ one of eight regionalcultural consortiums set up by the DCMS to championthe West Midlands’ cultural sector, harnessing itscollective expertise and strength for the benefit ofcurrent and future generations.

The West Midlands has a diverse population, urban and rural communities andareas of both wealth and deprivation. We are committed to raising the qualityof life for all areas, and to creating thriving, safe communities that provide equalopportunities for all their inhabitants.

Buildingstrongcommunities

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On the right trackThe West Midlands lies at the heart of the UK’s transportnetwork, with motorways linking the North with theSouth East and the South West meeting in the Birminghamand Coventry area, and also the main West Coast mainline passing through the region. Therefore, environmentalplanning, including development of the transportinfrastructure, is of particular importance to theWest Midlands region.

We use our understanding of Government policy andour knowledge of our region to achieve a balancebetween investing in a transport network to drive forwardthe region’s economic development, protecting ruralbeauty spots and connecting new and old communities.

The link we provide between the Department forTransport (DfT) and local partners has been vital in thedevelopment of an integrated and sustainable transportpolicy for the West Midlands.

We work closely on local transport plans and annualprogress reports with eight transport authorities.We also issue transport allocations for local transportmeasures and for road and bridge maintenance, basedon performance assessments of the eight authorities.Along with the DfT, we assess and approve major schemesworth over £5 million.

On a local level, we are involved in promoting publictransport, walking and cycling.

Green and pleasant landWorking on behalf of the Office of the Deputy PrimeMinister on land use planning matters in the WestMidlands, we are committed to effective planning thatdelivers improvements in housing availability, regenerationand transport infrastructure, and at the same timeprotects the region’s precious green spaces. The workof our planning team includes local development plans,planning appeals and compulsory purchase orders.The organisation led the preparation of the RegionalPlanning Guidance (RPG) with partners including theRegional Assembly and the Regional Development Agency.We are currently working with local authorities toproduce Local Development Frameworks.

A sustainable futureSustainable development is about making decisionsand doing things in ways that take account of all ofour long-term economic, social and environmentalinterests. To help the West Midlands do this betterwe are working with partners to review the RegionalSustainable Development Framework and supportingthe development of Sustainability West Midlandsas the regional centre of excellence on sustainabledevelopment issues.

We are also involved in a number of specific piecesof work to help coordinate and deliver Governmentpolicy in the region. For example, with partners weare developing a Regional Energy Strategy to highlightthe priorities in the West Midlands to ensure thatwe have access to the energy that we need whilstreducing the contribution that we make to carbondioxide emissions and global warming.

Similarly, we have been promoting the developmentof a regional Environmental Policy Partnership toidentify environmental priorities and to coordinateand drive forward the development of a betterenvironment in the region. This will include issuessuch as wildlife ecosystems and waste, use of soil,air and water, urban environments, recreation,heritage and landscape.

The West Midlands ranges from some of the remotest areas in England to someof the most densely populated. It includes Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty,such as Cannock Chase and the Malvern Hills, and part of the Peak DistrictNational Park. We have been working to bring a regional focus to the work ofthese areas through the production of a regional Statement of Intent to helpprotect and develop the landscapes of these areas.

Protecting and enhancingthe environment

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On the right trackThe West Midlands lies at the heart of the UK’s transportnetwork, with motorways linking the North with theSouth East and the South West meeting in the Birminghamand Coventry area, and also the main West Coast mainline passing through the region. Therefore, environmentalplanning, including development of the transportinfrastructure, is of particular importance to theWest Midlands region.

We use our understanding of Government policy andour knowledge of our region to achieve a balancebetween investing in a transport network to drive forwardthe region’s economic development, protecting ruralbeauty spots and connecting new and old communities.

The link we provide between the Department forTransport (DfT) and local partners has been vital in thedevelopment of an integrated and sustainable transportpolicy for the West Midlands.

We work closely on local transport plans and annualprogress reports with eight transport authorities.We also issue transport allocations for local transportmeasures and for road and bridge maintenance, basedon performance assessments of the eight authorities.Along with the DfT, we assess and approve major schemesworth over £5 million.

On a local level, we are involved in promoting publictransport, walking and cycling.

Green and pleasant landWorking on behalf of the Office of the Deputy PrimeMinister on land use planning matters in the WestMidlands, we are committed to effective planning thatdelivers improvements in housing availability, regenerationand transport infrastructure, and at the same timeprotects the region’s precious green spaces. The workof our planning team includes local development plans,planning appeals and compulsory purchase orders.The organisation led the preparation of the RegionalPlanning Guidance (RPG) with partners including theRegional Assembly and the Regional Development Agency.We are currently working with local authorities toproduce Local Development Frameworks.

A sustainable futureSustainable development is about making decisionsand doing things in ways that take account of all ofour long-term economic, social and environmentalinterests. To help the West Midlands do this betterwe are working with partners to review the RegionalSustainable Development Framework and supportingthe development of Sustainability West Midlandsas the regional centre of excellence on sustainabledevelopment issues.

We are also involved in a number of specific piecesof work to help coordinate and deliver Governmentpolicy in the region. For example, with partners weare developing a Regional Energy Strategy to highlightthe priorities in the West Midlands to ensure thatwe have access to the energy that we need whilstreducing the contribution that we make to carbondioxide emissions and global warming.

Similarly, we have been promoting the developmentof a regional Environmental Policy Partnership toidentify environmental priorities and to coordinateand drive forward the development of a betterenvironment in the region. This will include issuessuch as wildlife ecosystems and waste, use of soil,air and water, urban environments, recreation,heritage and landscape.

The West Midlands ranges from some of the remotest areas in England to someof the most densely populated. It includes Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty,such as Cannock Chase and the Malvern Hills, and part of the Peak DistrictNational Park. We have been working to bring a regional focus to the work ofthese areas through the production of a regional Statement of Intent to helpprotect and develop the landscapes of these areas.

Protecting and enhancingthe environment

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Putting health at the top of the agendaThe West Midlands has a higher than average rate ofobesity, the lowest survival rate for babies under threemonths of all UK health regions and a high rate ofteenage pregnancies. 13,000 people each year die fromsmoking related illnesses, with 2000 children admittedto hospital every year due to passive smoking, and thehealth time-bomb facing the people of the West Midlandsseems to be ticking fairly relentlessly.

The West Midlands Public Health Group (WMPHG)

is a key driver for change in the area of health andthey work with us to ensure:

� public health policy is implemented, monitoredand sustained;

� innovations and networks are developed;

� specialist advice is given; and

� recommendations and learning is carried out.

Promoting diet and exercisePoor health indicators are partly tackled by theneighbourhood renewal programme which works toreduce teenage pregnancy, improve housing so that it isfit for purpose and improve the diets of residents indeprived areas. Over 90% of schools in the West Midlandsare signed up to the ‘National School Fruit Scheme,’providing fruit to every child aged between four and six.This initiative has led to activities such as special schoolassemblies to promote the benefits of fruit to the pupils,and visits from farmers explaining about fruit growing.

‘Five a day’ initiatives include a range of activities to informpeople about the benefits of, and reducing the barriersof cost and access to, good quality fruit and vegetables.The WMPHG has also introduced several programmesto reduce smoking, and is working continuously withregional media to raise awareness of these issues.

Keeping fit is equally important for better health.We are working alongside the Forestry Commissionand Countryside Agency on a £150,000 pilot projectto encourage people in deprived areas to use woodlandareas for physical activities, particularly walking.

We are also working with Sport England to promoteactive lifestyles.

A diverse region in terms of wealth and opportunity, is reflected in an equallydiverse record of health. The death rate from heart disease in the poorerareas of the West Midlands, for example, is more than double that of themore affluent parts of the region. Over 11,000 people died from heart diseasein the region in 2000.

Fit for the future

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Putting health at the top of the agendaThe West Midlands has a higher than average rate ofobesity, the lowest survival rate for babies under threemonths of all UK health regions and a high rate ofteenage pregnancies. 13,000 people each year die fromsmoking related illnesses, with 2000 children admittedto hospital every year due to passive smoking, and thehealth time-bomb facing the people of the West Midlandsseems to be ticking fairly relentlessly.

The West Midlands Public Health Group (WMPHG)

is a key driver for change in the area of health andthey work with us to ensure:

� public health policy is implemented, monitoredand sustained;

� innovations and networks are developed;

� specialist advice is given; and

� recommendations and learning is carried out.

Promoting diet and exercisePoor health indicators are partly tackled by theneighbourhood renewal programme which works toreduce teenage pregnancy, improve housing so that it isfit for purpose and improve the diets of residents indeprived areas. Over 90% of schools in the West Midlandsare signed up to the ‘National School Fruit Scheme,’providing fruit to every child aged between four and six.This initiative has led to activities such as special schoolassemblies to promote the benefits of fruit to the pupils,and visits from farmers explaining about fruit growing.

‘Five a day’ initiatives include a range of activities to informpeople about the benefits of, and reducing the barriersof cost and access to, good quality fruit and vegetables.The WMPHG has also introduced several programmesto reduce smoking, and is working continuously withregional media to raise awareness of these issues.

Keeping fit is equally important for better health.We are working alongside the Forestry Commissionand Countryside Agency on a £150,000 pilot projectto encourage people in deprived areas to use woodlandareas for physical activities, particularly walking.

We are also working with Sport England to promoteactive lifestyles.

A diverse region in terms of wealth and opportunity, is reflected in an equallydiverse record of health. The death rate from heart disease in the poorerareas of the West Midlands, for example, is more than double that of themore affluent parts of the region. Over 11,000 people died from heart diseasein the region in 2000.

Fit for the future

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What we are doingwhere you live

The north of the regionNorthern Division covers 40% of the West Midlands’ populationand encompasses Wolverhampton, Dudley, Staffordshire, Walsall,Sandwell and Stoke-on-Trent. Just over 9% of the population arefrom ethnic minorities, and the area is highly reliant on manufacturing,contributing to 24% of its economy. With over half of the region’smost deprived wards the area suffers from a low skills base andhigh levels of personal deprivation. However, Northern Divisionincludes areas of affluence and important academic institutionsincluding Keele, Staffordshire and Wolverhampton Universities.

GOWM activities in the area include the following.

� Delivering £8 million European regional development fundingand working in partnership with the Arts Council, AWM andSandwell Council to launch the pUBLIC, an arts and communityspace put together as the key stone in the cultural regenerationof the area producing a variety of community arts projects.

� The implementation of two ‘Housing Market Renewal Pathfinders’in North Staffordshire and Sandwell/Birmingham.

� Delivering funding for several ‘New Deal for Communities’programmes including over £50 million for Greets Green inSandwell and over £50 million for Blakenall, Bloxwich Eastand Leamore in Walsall.

The west of the regionWestern Division comprises Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin,Herefordshire and Worcestershire and covers 22% of the region’spopulation. It boasts beautiful countryside, attractive towns andvillages and good health records but face some problems. Particularrural areas suffer from pockets of low skills levels, underemployment(seasonal and part time working), a lack of affordable housing andinaccessibility due to poor transport. The division covers a numberof major towns which provide services to their surrounding areas,and which are employment centres in their own right.


� Delivery of the West Midlands Sustainable Farming and FoodStrategy, which is being used as an exemplar by other regionsof the UK.

� Co-ordination of the region’s Rural Affairs Forum which is anational Forum, informing policy makers and Ministers of theneeds and aspirations of our rural population.

� Securing high quality local transport strategies and theirdelivery, and £3.5 million for Worcester as a sustainabledemonstration town.

� Delivering over £3 million of European Regional Developmentfunding for major tourism projects at the Ironbridge GorgeWorld Heritage Site.

� Working with the ‘Round 2 Neighbourhood ManagementPathfinder’ in Kidderminster.

The south east of the regionSouth Eastern Division encompasses 38% of the West Midlandspopulation in a mix of urban and rural areas including Birmingham,Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire. 20% of residents are fromethnic minorities. The past fifteen years have seen a shift frommanufacturing to the service sector, which is now the key generatorof jobs and income. The area is home to such prestigious academicinstitutions as the Universities of Birmingham, Warwick and Aston,the University of Central England and Coventry University.


� Delivering funding for three ‘New Deal for Communities’programmes over a ten-year period (£54 million for Aston,£50 million for Kings Norton and £54 million for Coventry).

� Working with the ‘Round 2 Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder’ in north Solihull.

� Delivering ‘Objective 2 European funding (2000 – 06),’ includingthe flagship Eastside project which attracts European fundingof around £51 million.

� Delivering £4.75 million of European funding, contributing tothe reclamation of a 35ha brownfield site at the former FoleshillGasworks in Coventry and the subsequent development ofthe Coventry Arena.

� Helping local authorities meet the Government’s DecentHomes target, along with the implementation of theBirmingham/Sandwell ‘housing market renewal pathfinder.’

Our activities are delivered by three regional divisions looking after the north, west and south

east areas of the West Midlands. As well as ensuring all communities in the wider West Midlands

region receive the attention and representation they deserve, it enables us to recognise and

respond to the distinct issues and characteristics of three very different areas.

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What we are doingwhere you live

The north of the regionNorthern Division covers 40% of the West Midlands’ populationand encompasses Wolverhampton, Dudley, Staffordshire, Walsall,Sandwell and Stoke-on-Trent. Just over 9% of the population arefrom ethnic minorities, and the area is highly reliant on manufacturing,contributing to 24% of its economy. With over half of the region’smost deprived wards the area suffers from a low skills base andhigh levels of personal deprivation. However, Northern Divisionincludes areas of affluence and important academic institutionsincluding Keele, Staffordshire and Wolverhampton Universities.


� Delivering £8 million European regional development fundingand working in partnership with the Arts Council, AWM andSandwell Council to launch the pUBLIC, an arts and communityspace put together as the key stone in the cultural regenerationof the area producing a variety of community arts projects.

� The implementation of two ‘Housing Market Renewal Pathfinders’in North Staffordshire and Sandwell/Birmingham.

� Delivering funding for several ‘New Deal for Communities’programmes including over £50 million for Greets Green inSandwell and over £50 million for Blakenall, Bloxwich Eastand Leamore in Walsall.

The west of the regionWestern Division comprises Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin,Herefordshire and Worcestershire and covers 22% of the region’spopulation. It boasts beautiful countryside, attractive towns andvillages and good health records but face some problems. Particularrural areas suffer from pockets of low skills levels, underemployment(seasonal and part time working), a lack of affordable housing andinaccessibility due to poor transport. The division covers a numberof major towns which provide services to their surrounding areas,and which are employment centres in their own right.


� Delivery of the West Midlands Sustainable Farming and FoodStrategy, which is being used as an exemplar by other regionsof the UK.

� Co-ordination of the region’s Rural Affairs Forum which is anational Forum, informing policy makers and Ministers of theneeds and aspirations of our rural population.

� Securing high quality local transport strategies and theirdelivery, and £3.5 million for Worcester as a sustainabledemonstration town.

� Delivering over £3 million of European Regional Developmentfunding for major tourism projects at the Ironbridge GorgeWorld Heritage Site.

� Working with the ‘Round 2 Neighbourhood ManagementPathfinder’ in Kidderminster.

The south east of the regionSouth Eastern Division encompasses 38% of the West Midlandspopulation in a mix of urban and rural areas including Birmingham,Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire. 20% of residents are fromethnic minorities. The past fifteen years have seen a shift frommanufacturing to the service sector, which is now the key generatorof jobs and income. The area is home to such prestigious academicinstitutions as the Universities of Birmingham, Warwick and Aston,the University of Central England and Coventry University.


� Delivering funding for three ‘New Deal for Communities’programmes over a ten-year period (£54 million for Aston,£50 million for Kings Norton and £54 million for Coventry).

� Working with the ‘Round 2 Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder’ in north Solihull.

� Delivering ‘Objective 2 European funding (2000 – 06),’ includingthe flagship Eastside project which attracts European fundingof around £51 million.

� Delivering £4.75 million of European funding, contributing tothe reclamation of a 35ha brownfield site at the former FoleshillGasworks in Coventry and the subsequent development ofthe Coventry Arena.

� Helping local authorities meet the Government’s DecentHomes target, along with the implementation of theBirmingham/Sandwell ‘housing market renewal pathfinder.’

Our activities are delivered by three regional divisions looking after the north, west and south

east areas of the West Midlands. As well as ensuring all communities in the wider West Midlands

region receive the attention and representation they deserve, it enables us to recognise and

respond to the distinct issues and characteristics of three very different areas.

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The people wework with

The voluntary and community sectorVoluntary and community groups are ideally placed to respond tolocal priorities. Recognising this we are linking together organisationswith the same aims. This gives them better access to training andsimplifies access to finance, freeing them to put more of their effortinto making real improvements for local people.

Local councilsThe West Midland’s local authorities are key partners helping usdeliver and develop excellent services. Ensuring that councils offerthe highest possible level of quality and value for money to theirresidents and taxpayers is part of the regional remit of the Officeof the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), on whose behalf we providefunds designed to improve the performance of councils in theWest Midlands classified as poor or weak by the Audit Commission.We are closely involved in the Comprehensive PerformanceAssessment of district councils in the West Midlands. We alsowork closely with local authorities in ensuring effective deliveryof their planning, housing and transport responsibilities.

Strategic partnershipsLocal Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) are being promoted by theGovernment as an important vehicle for bringing aboutneighbourhood renewal and narrowing the gap between the mostdeprived areas and the rest of the country. Designed as an equalpartnership of public, private, voluntary and community sectorplayers, we actively supported their formation, in Wolverhampton,Walsall, Sandwell, Dudley, Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire.In our rural areas, we also work with LSPs to help ensure theirCommunity Strategies contribute in an inclusive way to improvingthe quality of life for communities.

Healthcare and training organisationsThe WMPHG brings together the work of Strategic Health Authorities,Primary Care Trusts, NHS Trusts and the Health Protection Agency.Working closely with the NHS, the WMPHG is working to buildcapacity by providing professional leadership through initiativessuch as coaching.

We give advice to people working in Primary Care Trusts (PCTs)

and are involved in training people covering leadership courses,excellence in public health and supporting people developing theirportfolio. We organise networks to keep people up to date suchas, the directors of public health and tobacco control, and werepresent their views nationally.

Regional Resilience ForumThe fuel crisis, flooding and foot and mouth disease, coupled withthe tragic events of September 11th, served as a catalyst for centralgovernment to review emergency planning arrangements in Englandand Wales. As a result, ODPM and the Cabinet Office identified arole for us to join up emergency planning, response and recoveryactivity within and across the region.

We have established and support a Regional Resilience Forumfor the West Midlands. It brings together key strategic players onresilience issues from the blue light services, local authorities,health, environment, military and utilities with the aim of ensuringthat our region can respond to any large scale disruption requiringco-operation beyond county boundaries.

Regional bodiesOne of our most important roles is to promote partnership workingbetween regional organisations and we make sure these regionalstrategies join together. We, along with the West Midlands RegionalAssembly, AWM and the West Midlands Business Council, are asignatory to the revised Regional Concordat. We enjoy a closerelationship with AWM (the regional development agency),and are responsible for providing and managing the payment ofits £250 million budget to support the regeneration of the WestMidlands. Our WMPHG is working with the West Midlands RegionalAssembly to develop a regional health strategy, one of a numberof co-operative ventures we have entered into with the Assembly.In addition, we work with a wide range of regional partners includingthe Improvement and Development Agency, the West MidlandsLocal Government Association and the Audit Commission.

Central GovernmentAs well as directly representing ten central Government departmentswithin the West Midlands, we work with more than 30 otherdepartments and agencies throughout the region, including theInland Revenue, Customs and Excise, English Heritage and EnglishNature and the Higher Education Funding Council for England(HEFCE). The Regional Government Board, chaired by our RegionalDirector, was established to co-ordinate the roles of theseorganisations, and operates through a variety of topic sub-groups.

Government Office for the West Midlands works with and supports a number of regional and

national organisations to implement Government policy and ensure the continuing economic

growth and prosperity of the West Midlands. Promoting a ‘joined-up’ approach, we bring together

partner organisations in order to make a real and tangible difference to the people of the region.

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The people wework with

The voluntary and community sectorVoluntary and community groups are ideally placed to respond tolocal priorities. Recognising this we are linking together organisationswith the same aims. This gives them better access to training andsimplifies access to finance, freeing them to put more of their effortinto making real improvements for local people.

Local councilsThe West Midland’s local authorities are key partners helping usdeliver and develop excellent services. Ensuring that councils offerthe highest possible level of quality and value for money to theirresidents and taxpayers is part of the regional remit of the Officeof the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), on whose behalf we providefunds designed to improve the performance of councils in theWest Midlands classified as poor or weak by the Audit Commission.We are closely involved in the Comprehensive PerformanceAssessment of district councils in the West Midlands. We alsowork closely with local authorities in ensuring effective deliveryof their planning, housing and transport responsibilities.

Strategic partnershipsLocal Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) are being promoted by theGovernment as an important vehicle for bringing aboutneighbourhood renewal and narrowing the gap between the mostdeprived areas and the rest of the country. Designed as an equalpartnership of public, private, voluntary and community sectorplayers, we actively supported their formation, in Wolverhampton,Walsall, Sandwell, Dudley, Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire.In our rural areas, we also work with LSPs to help ensure theirCommunity Strategies contribute in an inclusive way to improvingthe quality of life for communities.

Healthcare and training organisationsThe WMPHG brings together the work of Strategic Health Authorities,Primary Care Trusts, NHS Trusts and the Health Protection Agency.Working closely with the NHS, the WMPHG is working to buildcapacity by providing professional leadership through initiativessuch as coaching.

We give advice to people working in Primary Care Trusts (PCTs)

and are involved in training people covering leadership courses,excellence in public health and supporting people developing theirportfolio. We organise networks to keep people up to date suchas, the directors of public health and tobacco control, and werepresent their views nationally.

Regional Resilience ForumThe fuel crisis, flooding and foot and mouth disease, coupled withthe tragic events of September 11th, served as a catalyst for centralgovernment to review emergency planning arrangements in Englandand Wales. As a result, ODPM and the Cabinet Office identified arole for us to join up emergency planning, response and recoveryactivity within and across the region.

We have established and support a Regional Resilience Forumfor the West Midlands. It brings together key strategic players onresilience issues from the blue light services, local authorities,health, environment, military and utilities with the aim of ensuringthat our region can respond to any large scale disruption requiringco-operation beyond county boundaries.

Regional bodiesOne of our most important roles is to promote partnership workingbetween regional organisations and we make sure these regionalstrategies join together. We, along with the West Midlands RegionalAssembly, AWM and the West Midlands Business Council, are asignatory to the revised Regional Concordat. We enjoy a closerelationship with AWM (the regional development agency),and are responsible for providing and managing the payment ofits £250 million budget to support the regeneration of the WestMidlands. Our WMPHG is working with the West Midlands RegionalAssembly to develop a regional health strategy, one of a numberof co-operative ventures we have entered into with the Assembly.In addition, we work with a wide range of regional partners includingthe Improvement and Development Agency, the West MidlandsLocal Government Association and the Audit Commission.

Central GovernmentAs well as directly representing ten central Government departmentswithin the West Midlands, we work with more than 30 otherdepartments and agencies throughout the region, including theInland Revenue, Customs and Excise, English Heritage and EnglishNature and the Higher Education Funding Council for England(HEFCE). The Regional Government Board, chaired by our RegionalDirector, was established to co-ordinate the roles of theseorganisations, and operates through a variety of topic sub-groups.

Government Office for the West Midlands works with and supports a number of regional and

national organisations to implement Government policy and ensure the continuing economic

growth and prosperity of the West Midlands. Promoting a ‘joined-up’ approach, we bring together

partner organisations in order to make a real and tangible difference to the people of the region.

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GOWM works with and on behalf of ten Government departments and they are:

� the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM);

� the Department for Transport (DfT);

� the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA);

� the Home Office (HO);

� the Department for Education and Skills (DfES);

� the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI);

� the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP);

� the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS); and

� the Department of Heath (DOH) and the Cabinet Office (CO).

How you can work with usGovernment Office for the West Midlands5 St Philips PlaceColemore RowBirminghamB3 2DW

You can visit our website at www.go-wm.gov.ukor telephone 0121 352 5000or fax 0121 352 5191

Your guide to the Government Officefor the West Midlands

Documents

Your guide to the Government Office for the West Midlands · 2016. 2. 16. · The birthplace of the industrial revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, the West Midlands boasts