Councillor Michael Smith is the borough's new mayor

The Denton West ward councillor, who has served as deputy mayor for the past two years, took his chains of office in a special ceremony on May 18.

Cllr Smith was born in Droylsden in 1964 and is the fifth of seven children. He has lived in Tameside all of his life and was elected to the council in May 2003.

He is chair of the Resources and Sustainable Communities Scrutiny Panel, a member of the Licensing Panel, an Executive Member of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, a member of the Tameside MBC Energy Panel and also a member of Denton and Audenshaw District Assembly.

Cllr Smith, who is a building contracts manager for Manchester Working, has been married to his wife Teresa for 20 years and they have four children.

He hopes to meet as many community groups as possible during his year in office and is particularly looking forward to working with the young people of the borough.

Cllr Smith is a practising Christian but hopes to meet people from all religious denominations. He is also looking forward to visiting local businesses and promoting Tameside.

Away from his civic role, Cllr Smith enjoys spending time with his family, visiting places of interest and walking his dog, Alfie.

He will be supported during his Mayoral year by his wife Teresa and their family. Councillor Stephen Smith and his wife Betty will undertake the duties of Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress.

Blooming 2007

Tameside is blooming again as it prepares for this year's entry into the North West in Bloom competition. Last year the borough won its category for the second time.

The previous year's success had provided Tameside with its place in the national Britain in Bloom competition for the first time and the borough was given the silver gilt award.

The work to create an attractive borough for people to live and work carries on all year round and plans for this year's Tameside in Bloom started as soon as last year's competition ended.

The gardeners at Denton nursery have been working hard creating 1500 hanging baskets. In total 600 tubs and troughs and 27 flower towers will grace Tameside's streets. New flower displays in parks and roadsides have been created and more than 400,000 plants have been grown.

Tameside in Bloom isn't just about flowers, all over the borough businesses, community groups and schools all get involved. Last year the residents on Central Estate in Dukinfield got together and planted up hanging baskets and tubs for their balconies creating a riot of colour all summer long.

The BBC's regional news programme, "North West Tonight" broadcast live from the estate with the residents talking about their In Bloom project.

There are over 100 new In Bloom projects taking place all over Tameside. These range from schools growing their own vegetables and creating new gardens, businesses putting out hanging baskets and making use of flower tubs, to general improvements being made to the environment with the planting of new trees and replacing or repairing fencing.

If you're quick there may be time to enter the Tameside's Champion of Champion Garden Competition. This is being run by the council and the borough's eight largest registered social landlords. Entry forms can be picked up from each District Assembly or your landlord's office. There are many different categories and you don't even need to own a garden to enter. The closing date for the first round is Friday June 29. A glittering awards evening is planned for October at Dukinfield Town Hall.

Business News

Geoff Hurst's back on home turf

England football legend Sir Geoff Hurst came home to officially open Ashton's new business quarter.

The 1966 World Cup hero was the guest of honour as he returned to launch the St Petersfield development. He was joined by the fomer Mayor, Cllr Margaret Sidebottom, and around 150 guests.

The scheme is being developed by Ask in partnership with the council, the Northwest Regional Development Agency and national regeneration agency English Partnerships. It has witnessed a great deal of activity in recent months, with the completion of the first phase and the multi-million pound public realm which includes a stunning water feature and sculpture.

The first phase of the scheme is already the regional headquarters for the Pennine Care NHS Trust. It brings together key departments such as human resources, finance, estates and risk management.

The building, which was designed by Aedas Architects was bought by Prestigic Holdings last year for around £9.3m.

Soon work will be starting on the £11m 40,000 sq ft primary care centre for Tameside and Glossop PCT. The new premises will provide a vast range of services including screening and ultrasounds as well as district nursing and other services.

Plans have also been submitted by developer Ask Life, the residential arm of Ask Developments, for 72 city-style apartments which will form an integral part of the new quarter. Plans for a further 150 apartments in a separate block will be submitted at a later date.

Fledgling business facility

A brand new purpose-built business centre has opened in Hyde for new and growing businesses, financed through the European Regional development fund and Tameside Council.

Situated adjacent to Hyde Town Hall, the facility comprises of nine offices ranging from seven to 17 sq metres (96 to 251 sq ft) that are available on easy in and easy out terms for new or fledgling businesses.

The centre offers affordable managed workspace for new start businesses. It gives a unique opportunity for those people wishing to start a business in Tameside to do so within a supported, exciting and modern business environment.

The new accommodation, which was opened by Executive Council Leader, Cllr Roy Oldham, in May, boasts a number of impressive features, designed to provide a high quality environment for a selected number of fledgling businesses.

These include:

• Security and CCTV
• Broadband and ISDN
• Affordable Inclusive Costs
• 24-hour access
• Easy in, easy out terms
• Central reception
• Digital phone system
• Calls answered in company name
• Call taking/message divert
• Individual units with heating and power
• Business advice available
• Full range of management services.

Cllr Oldham said: “The opening of this facility is yet another example of how the council is supporting the local economy.

"We know how difficult starting a business can be. We also know that any new business requires the right level of support without over committing itself in its early stages. That's why it gives me great pleasure to open a facility that offers the full range of support any new business needs to make a successful start. We hope this centre will be the starting place for many great businesses of tomorrow."

For more information please contact 0161 367 8302.

Training Website

A new website lets people find out more about training opportunities in their local community. To view the website follow the link to www.tameside.gov.uk/training

There's a latest news section for updates on courses and events happening in each area. This section will focus on activities taking place in the near future and short-term programmes and courses.

The ‘Where 2 Train' Section of the site profiles community venues across the district. This section will be continually updated with information as and when a local training centre hosts new courses.

To help people find specific courses the site includes an A-Z of courses and has a contacts section of providers across towns.

The site is a work in progress and training/community centre profiles will be added as they are completed. Furthermore latest news stories can also be added regularly, helping to promote events and programmes occurring in the short term.

Tameside's top team

At last months Insider Property Awards in Manchester Tameside won the prestigious award for "Public Sector Team of the Year."

The awards are highly regarded by the property industry and are seen as one of the most prestigious to take place in the regional property market calendar.

Tameside was acknowledged and recognised for co-ordinating a development programme "that implanted itself in people's minds"

Michel Taylor, Editor of Insider, said: "Tameside is a local authority that stands out as one of the most enterprising in the whole of the North West. The wide ranging projects now coming forward are rich reward for years of hard work behind the scenes."