Title

Preston City Council's chief executive, Lorraine Norris, may be new to her post, but she feels at home in the city, and has some high hopes for the future, she tells Heather Jameson Lorraine Norris' office at Preston Town Hall is a tribute to how local government used to be. It is not the original town hall, she later explains. That burned down, and the present one was only built in the early part of the 20th century. Lorraine Norris: Preston's ambitious plans must be delivered in partnership But this ‘new build' has impressively-high ceilings, huge windows, and furniture to match. The council crest adorns the leather chairs – some of which she claims are not safe to sit on anymore – and paintings from the local museum adorn the walls. Visitors could be forgiven for thinking they had stepped back in time. But the chief executive is anything but stuck in the past. Lorraine has her eyes firmly on the future, and on helping the city reach its full potential. Lorraine was born in Leyland, not far from where she now presides as chief executive over Preston City Council. She studied social sciences at the University of Liverpool in the 1970s, before taking on a job as a social worker – mainly children's services – at Bolton. After eight years, she took a break to have her own family, and decided not to go back. While her children were in school, she retrained as a lawyer. She had been practicing for a couple of years when she ‘spotted a job at Salford' in childcare law. It was the perfect chance to bring her two careers together. After a further eight years, in 2002, she joined Preston council – just after it received city status – as director of corporate services. She explains: ‘What attracted me to Preston was that it was essentially my home city, even though I'm really from Leyland. Preston was the place we always came to. ‘Public services matter everywhere, but they matter more on your own patch – at least, that's the case for me.' A restructure of the council gave Lorraine the opportunity to expand her role within the authority, so when the job of chief executive came up, she went for it, and has been in post since the second week of November. ‘Preston has a lot of ambitious plans,' she says. ‘The only way to deliver them is by working alongside others.' And she believes partnerships are absolutely key to getting things done, ‘particularly for a district'. In the last round of reorganisation, Preston put itself forward for unitary status, but was rejected. Now, Lorraine is absolutely determined to make the two-teir system work for the city. ‘What we have tried to do is make sure the public don't see the artificial boundaries in the local government family.' Preston already has several joint working partnerships in place, and is looking to do more. In the current economic climate, any help these partners can give or receive will be important to make the cash go further. She continues: ‘We will share with anyone. As long as there is benefit for the authority – and the council is willing to look at any model. ‘It's all about what outcomes each gives us.' She is unconcerned about the structures and processes of the authority, and is more interested in ‘trying to achieve things for the place and the people who live here'. The ambitious plans for regenerating the city need the council's partnerships with other public sector bodies and the private sector to work. The downturn in the economy is not helping, but she is ploughing ahead regardless. A planning application is in the process of being called in by the secretary of state. Lorraine is also keen on cashing in on the local university in a bid to attract more high-calibre jobs into the area for local people. Regeneration plans include proposals for a business district to attract more skilled employment. ‘We have gained jobs over the years and we have weathered the recession well,' she says. But Preston still has ‘stubborn pockets of deprivation' which have some of the worst wards in the country. Outside her window, Lorraine's office looks on to the city's guildhall. Built in 1973, it is the product of the Preston Guild, which comes around once every 20 years. It is due again in 2012, and plans to celebrate are now underway. A circular cycle and footpath, wrapping around the city, with ‘spokes' into the centre, is planned. It will provide health and leisure benefits, and connect communities, and it is hoped it will instigate an environmentally-friendly commuter option for the future. ‘Preston has all the ingredients to make it a fantastic place,' says Lorraine. ‘We have a lot of things other places would really like.' And one of the key advantages is all its connections. Road, rail and river links make the city easily accessible to the North West and well beyond, as well as being within minutes of some of the most beautiful countryside anywhere. To make it all work, it comes back to the partnerships. And in the tough times ahead, districts will struggle to make it on their own. Lorraine concludes: ‘I believe we've got some really dedicated public servants working for us. I'm sure that's the same elsewhere. They are taking a hammering at the moment, but these are the people who are going to have to deliver the efficiencies and savings.'

Title

WHITEHALL

Pressing ahead in Preston

SUBSCRIBE TO CONTINUE READING