In its city contract, Seraing is concentrating its efforts on the Seraing Valley area. This area has been identified as a priority in an overall assessment carried out on the population, the living environment and economic activities and published in 2003 by AREBS (Association for the Economic Diversification of the Seraing Basin).
It extends over 800 hectares and has 15,500 inhabitants (1/4 of the region and the population). It is there that the old site of Arcelor was established, and it is there that the socio-economic indications are the least favourable: average annual income per inhabitant of €7,100 (against €9,400 for the rest of the commune), unemployment rate of 31%, 46% receiving integration income, etc.
It is in this area that the requalification operations in progress are being carried out and where the objectives of the cleaning teams and “Citizenship Committee” have been redirected.

 The requalification operation for the area known as the Seraing Valley represents four out of the nine contract projects and 74% of its budget.

This area has been the subject of in-depth urban studies, which today result in a huge renovation operation conducted by the new autonomous municipality-controlled company, ErigeS. ErigeS is responsible for organising the public-private partnerships to build both housing and sites for economic activities (Neocitta operation).
The operation is accompanied by a vast communication plan for the attention of the public and private partnerships, but also for the area’s population.
The remarks of the Seraing Social Economy Group (GESS) have led to the inclusion of social clauses in the government contracts for works to be conducted there.

The City of Seraing is also very keen to strengthen social cohesion.
With this in mind, the “Citizenship Committee” has two purposes,  to help the district committees structure themselves to become genuine liaisons between the inhabitants and the local authority and to foresee or manage neighbourhood conflicts through local mediation.

A third priority is public cleanliness. With the support of the federal programme, the City has been able to improve refuse collection, combat illegal dumping and increase the population’s awareness of recycling.
This awareness will go beyond just cleanliness. Thanks to the Communal Commission for Sustainable Development, activities around mobility and energy saving are being carried out in schools.

The city contract is conducted by two parties: the City and AREBS (which became ErigeS on 1st January 2007).

The requalification of the Valley of Seraing is a very large-scale operation and there is a real risk that it will be achieved at the cost of those living there today, who tomorrow may have to leave and be rehoused elsewhere. That is why the City is keen for the inhabitants to participate as much as possible by informing them of the procedures in progress and the job opportunities generated.
It is also the meaning of the social clauses introduced into the government contracts to be launched.

An evaluation of the Seraing City Contract will be made by the end of its duration.

Coordination Urban Policy Programme
Hôtel de Ville, place communale
Ms. Mariel Papy (Coordinator City Contract), tel. +32 (0)4 330 83 95

//2005

case

Urban Policy

Social inclusion & integration, Housing, Security & crime prevention