CIVITAS initiative presented to UK Department of Transport
A joint delegation of CIVITAS UK cities, or ‘Task Force’, presented their progress and plans to representatives of national, regional and local government at a meeting in January. The Task Force, comprising representatives from Norwich (CIVITAS SMILE) and Preston (CIVITAS SUCCESS), met with officials in London. In attendance were Department for Transport staff, regional officers and representatives from local government, including some cities who are considering a bid for Civitas Plus.
The presentation was given jointly by Chris Mitchell (WP4 Coordinator CIVITAS SMILE), Chris Kutesko (former European Officer who was involved in putting the Norwich bid together), David Sprunt (Site Manager CIVITAS SMILE Norwich) and Stuart Wrigley and Howerd Booth (Site Co-ordinator & Project Manager CIVITAS SUCCESS Preston). The presentation covered how the bids were put together for Civitas II, its overall aims and objectives, and then more specifically on the cutting edge measures being pursued by Norwich & Preston. There was good level of interest from all parties at the meeting with many questions asked both during and at the end of the presentations. It was possible during the presentation /discussion to put forward some of the problems and issues associated with the development of innovative and exciting projects of the type being taken forward through Civitas, in particular, in relation to the ongoing funding requirements post Civitas and how central government might assist in this respect.Invitations were extended to all at the meeting to attend workshops at the Norwich Consortium Meeting and to both Norwich and Preston to discuss in more detail specific measures and for assistance to those cities now making bids for Civitas Plus. As an immediate measure of the success of the meeting Norwich has already received requests from the DfT to attend their workshops and also from bid cities to come and discuss their bids.
Author: Chris Humphrey
