Team tasked with revitalising city’s fortunes

The City Plan is to be launched by Lord Mandelson in June in his new role as High Steward of Hull and aims to drive forward the city’s ambitions of becoming a hub for green energy industries, including a proposed £200m turbine factory at the city’s Alexandra Dock, and also a “world-class” visitor attraction with plans ranging from a new arts gallery to becoming the home for the aircraft carrier, HMS Illustrious.

The 15-strong leadership board will be chaired by the managing director of JR Rix and Sons, Tim Rix, and includes David Kilburn, the CEO of MKM Building Supplies, and Charles Spencer, the chief executive of the engineering firm, Spencer group.

The plan forsees more investment linked to enterprise zones, supported by a £25m Regional Growth Fund skills and business support programme.

It also has a range of projects designed to improve the health and well-being of residents in a city where nine per cent of working age people are claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance, the second highest proportion in the country.

Mr Rix, the fifth generation of the Rix family to run the family-owned shipping firm, said: “You have to be optimistic. Hull is in a pole position, on an estuary, with deep water berths and a port environment. We are absolutely in plum position to take advantage of what could happen in renewables.

“We are at the very beginning of hopefully Siemens coming to the city, the city being at the centre of the local enterprise partnership and the four authorities, a City Deal where perhaps the city can be promoted by Lord Heseltine, where we could be in charge of looking at how is money spent, rather than it being dictated by central Government.

“All of that starts to make a difference.

“You start having Virginia Bottomley (who has been appointed the city’s Sheriff) and Lord Mandelson being involved and you start to believe you can be heard and central Government starts to listen to what you say and hopefully release money to make some of these things happen.

“At the end of the day you can make the economic case and cut the benefits bill which has to be the aim.”

Hull Council has put £10m aside to help make the plan a reality.

Council leader Steve Brady said they had a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make sure the city had a great future, adding: “The reason why it will work this time is because it is the city’s plan, not the city council’s plan, so in effect everyone can get involved.”

To find out more, visit www.hullcc.gov.uk/cityplan.

People will be able to contribute their own ideas and projects following June’s launch.