Steady progress

During 2010 Hull City Council will continue to support the city's economy and help local people find work and set up new businesses.
Throughout last year, we worked with partners from across the area to shield Hull from the worst effects of the recession.
This combined effort has been effective and we are hoping to see an upturn in the region's economy over the next 12 months.
Initiatives such as the Local Work Guarantee (which provides a wage subsidy for employers to give people a job and training for up to 12 months) are helping more and more job seekers find work.
New businesses have sprung up across the city thanks to financial support and specialist advice from the Acorn Fund, and for the second year running there will be a rent freeze on managed workspaces to give small businesses an extra boost.
The council is committed to regenerating the local economy and currently spends 46 per cent of its external expenditure on business suppliers within the city boundary, compared to 26 per cent by other authorities nationally.
These measures are making a difference and are among the reasons Hull has been shortlisted in the 'Most improved council' and 'Place of the year' categories of the Local Government Chronicle awards.
The awards attracted entries from 600 councils so to be shortlisted in two categories is a fantastic achievement.
For the most improved council category, Hull showed how it has overcome challenges, improved services, and improved people's perceptions about life in the city.
Some of our recent achievements include reductions in crime, litter, fly posting and graffiti; the best-ever GCSE results in Hull; improved recycling rates; and improvements in social care for older people to help them live independently at home rather than go into care.
Our aim is to give Hull people the highest quality of service and the shortlistings provide an independent view that we are making that happen.
Finally, may I wish you a very belated happy new year and remind you that to keep in touch with the latest council news make sure you keep reading your monthly Hull in print.

Cllr Carl Minns
Leader, Hull City Council