A New Prospectus Launched at Birmingham Conference
City Leader Mike Whitby will be launching a new Prospectus for Birmingham at a special event at the International Convention Centre tomorrow (Tuesday 28th November).
Following the Summit for the Future last March the leader invited key players in the city to join with him in preparing the Prospectus, which would help to build a robust and distinctive 20 year city vision with strong and effective partnership at its heart.
Five themes groups were set up:
• A Global City- lead by Greg Lowson, Partner Pinsent Mason
• A Connected City- lead by Christine Braddock, Principal & Chief Executive Matthew Boulton College
• A Visible City- lead by Glen Howells, Glen Howells Associates
• A Prosperous City lead by David Hersey, Regional Director Corporate Banking Royal Bank of Scotland
• A Growing City- lead by Sophia Christie, Chief Executive Birmingham East and North Primary Care Trusts.
The work of the theme groups has been drawn together in a draft Birmingham Prospectus, which will be launched for consultation at the Conference.
The keynote speaker will be Professor Michael Parkinson Director of the European Institute for Urban Affairs at Liverpool John Moores University. He was the lead author of the State of the Cities Report 2006 for the ODPM.
Earlier this year, Professor Parkinson was appointed to lead the team, which will scope the specification for the commissioning of the first masterplan for Birmingham’s city centre. He will be sharing his initial thoughts and early findings with Conference delegates.
Councillor Whitby said, “Birmingham is fast becoming a truly global city, but with a local heart. It has a long history of embracing change, championing best practice and creating leading edge innovation, whilst welcoming citizens from around the world.
“Birmingham has never been afraid to be different. The regeneration and transformation of parts of the city and the many accolades we have received, including the European City of the Future award, are testimony to this. However if we are to maintain the momentum and ensure Birmingham’s continued position as a regional, national and international powerhouse there is more that needs to be done.
“The Prospectus I am launching today builds on Birmingham’s existing strengths as the UK’s top conference city and a major centre for professional, financial and knowledge-based industries and makes the best of our great manufacturing and industrial heritage.
“It will galvanise and drive forward our city’s long-term ambitions, identifying key priorities for action which will underpin our role as a globally-competitive city.”
Amongst the ideas being proposed is the development of a new Creative Quarter in Digbeth.
Taking part in the Birmingham Conference will be key stakeholders and partners who all have important roles in realising our ambitions for the city, including leading members of the business community, public sector partners, voluntary organisations and community representatives.
The Conference will also see a preview of “Lighting Places”, the first strategy for lighting up Birmingham’s major buildings and public art.
The Birmingham Conference takes place at the ICC.
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