Ready to adapt

As the economic downturn continues to be felt in homes and businesses across the city, the need to adapt becomes all the more apparent.
Hull City Council is supporting local people who have the drive to exploit new business opportunities by offering grants and loans through the Acorn Fund.
The fund, which provides one-off grants and loans, is supporting established businesses as well as new start-up ventures.
And in this month's Hull in print, we feature a company which benefited from the Acorn Fund – a manufacturing firm called WJ Components Ltd, based on the Stoneferry Industrial Estate, which supplies parts for the caravan industry.
I give special mention to this firm because it is proving how adaptability to a changing business environment is helping it find success even through these tough times.
I hope other businesses in Hull who are in need of credit, read pages 16 and 17 to learn more about how the Acorn Fund may be able to help them.
Meanwhile, the council's trading standards officers are warning local people that illegal money lenders or 'loan sharks' are targeting vulnerable families who are finding it difficult to make ends meet.
Loan sharks charge interest rates of up to 1,000 per cent and use violence to force people to pay up.
To combat illegal lenders, the council has teamed up with the government's Illegal Money Lending Team to support victims and ensure we gather evidence to prosecute loan sharks who cause such fear and desperation in our city.
Every month in Hull in print we run a financial advice column, written by the Hull and East Yorkshire Credit Union, offering tips and guidance on managing your money.
You can read this month's column, entitled 'Beat the credit crunch!' on page eight.
Finally, lower crime, better social care for older people, less school truancy, and more recycling of household waste are all indicators of Hull City Council's improving performance.
The council was recently awarded three out of a possible four stars from the government – from a zero-star rating in 2002.
The council still has a lot to do but this shows it is heading in the right direction.
An effective council is what local people deserve and I am determined that our improvement continues in the months and years ahead.

Cllr Carl Minns
Leader, Hull City Council