The circulation area of your newspaper covers two city councils. As the county has a hybrid structure of local government, one city is part of the two-tier structure and the other is a unitary authority. This is very confusing to readers and you have been asked to prepare a short article explaining the different structures.
(a) Explain the terms two-tier, unitary, hybrid and city council and indicate where the different structure may be found. List the services provided by a district council, county council, unitary authority.
(b) You have arranged to interview two councillors – one from each authority – about the about the advantages and disadvantages of each structure. List five questions (in total) that you would ask them.
Answer (a):
Two-tier:
Many shires still maintain the traditional structure of a county council (first tier) covering the whole geographical area, with a layer of district councils (second tier) below it. For example: Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Northamptonshire, West Sussex and Somerset.
However, some district councils are known as borough councils or city councils, if they have the relevant charter, but their status are identical, only the title become ceremonial and do not affect how the councils are running, except that they will have a mayor (boroughs) or lord mayor (cities) instead of the chairman who presides over ordinary district councils.
Unitary:
Unitary authorities run all the local services in the area for which they are responsible.
In Scotland and Wales, all local authorities are unitary.
In England, some shire counties are now composed entirely of a number of unitary authorities, including Berkshire, Herefordshire, and the Isle of Wight. In these counties, county councils have been abolished.
In London, the 32 boroughs and the city of London are all unitary authorities, as are the metropolitan boroughs, which comprise the metropolitan counties of West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, and Tyne and Wear. There are no metropolitan county councils.
Other shires in which county council have been abolished are now covered by just one unitary authorities, like Avon, Cleveland and Humberside.
Hybrid:
Some shire counties which retain county councils may have one or more unitary authorities among districts within their borders. Such counties are said to have a hybrid structure. For example, Bedfordshire, has a county council, three second-tire district councils and one unitary authority, Luton.
City Council:
City council is a purely honorary title bestowed on certain district councils, borough councils, and metropolitan borough councils that have been granted Royal Charter status.
For example, some operate as unitary authorities, like Brighton and Hove, York, Stoke-on-Trent.
However, the majority are actually district or borough councils in a two-tier structure. For example, Cambridge, Durham, Exeter and Gloucester are all districts applied with city status.
Confusingly, seven English cities, such as Chichester, Ely, Hereford, Lichfield. Ripon, Truro, and Wells are actually no more than civil parishes, but which all applied with city status.
The services provided by a district council, county council, unitary authority:
In two-tier areas, the first and second tiers have different duties, although there are some overlaps.
County councils are mainly responsible for:
Education, social services, libraries, fire brigades (which may be run by a separate, joint authority), trading standards, strategic planning (infrastructure), highways (classified non-trunk roads, on-street parking and transport planning), recreation (including arts and museums), and rubbish disposal (although not collections) and other environment services.
District councils are responsible for:
Planning (development control), council tax billing and collection, refuse collection, highways (unclassified roads, footpaths, off-street parking), environmental health, recreation, social housing, environmental services and allotments.
All authorities have responsibilities for economic development and emergency planning.
Unitary authorities are responsible for:
Unitary authorities are responsible for all of the above functions, but sometimes work with neighbouring councils to run joint services when this is of practical and/or economic benefit.
Answer (b):
County Councillor:
1.Do you think the current two-tier structure provide proficient service to satisfy local people's needs? If yes, how? And if not, why not?
2.A constitutional expert accurately describes the situation in England as a “dog's breakfast”, do you think there is a need for running a two-tier structure and meanwhile unitary structure?
3.Does the government have any plans to reform the political structures in England?
4.Two-tier structure seems to make things complicated than unitary structure, for example, in two-tier structure area, county council is responsible for rubbish disposal and district council are responsible for refuse collection. But in unitary structure area, the unitary authority is responsible them all, what do you think?
5.What do you think the unitary structure running in other areas?
Unitary authority councillor:
1.Do you think the current unitary structure provide proficient service to satisfy local people's needs? If yes, how? And if not, why not?
2.A constitutional expert accurately describes the situation in England as a “dog's breakfast”, do you think there is a need for running a unitary structure and meanwhile a two-tier structure?
3.Does the government have any plans to reform the political structures in England?
4.What do you think the two-tier structure running in other areas?
5.According to the materials I have got here, it says the aim of introducing a unitary structure was to improve the efficiency and transparency of local administration. Could you explain to in details how does the structure manage to achieve its aim?
Sunday 31 January 2010
Saturday 30 January 2010
Council Tax related interview questions
Following the Lyons Inquiry into Local Government Finance that drew attention to the lack of public understanding of local government finance, you have been asked to write a short feature explaining clearly to your readers how local government is financed.
(a) Describe in details the sources funding for local government revenue expenditure, indication clearly the role of central government.
(b) List five local sources to whom you would go to provide quotes and indicate five questions you would ask:
Answer (b): I would like to interview the following local sources and these are the questions I want to find out from my interviewees:
1. Local Councillor who is holding the Portfolio of Finance and Resources: Does the government have any plans to reform Council Tax even after the Lyon Inquiry?
2. Local MP in Opposition: Could there be another way of making the Council Tax system more beneficial for the council, meanwhile keeping it affordable for the local residents?
3. Local resident: Are you satisfied with the current Council Tax system and why?
4. Third party such as the TaxPayers’ Alliance: How do you think the Council Tax should be used in order to make best use of the tax payers’ money?
5. Council Tax expert from companies such as Deloitte, PwC UK: Do you think the Council Tax is being used wisely by the local government and why?
(a) Describe in details the sources funding for local government revenue expenditure, indication clearly the role of central government.
(b) List five local sources to whom you would go to provide quotes and indicate five questions you would ask:
Answer (b): I would like to interview the following local sources and these are the questions I want to find out from my interviewees:
1. Local Councillor who is holding the Portfolio of Finance and Resources: Does the government have any plans to reform Council Tax even after the Lyon Inquiry?
2. Local MP in Opposition: Could there be another way of making the Council Tax system more beneficial for the council, meanwhile keeping it affordable for the local residents?
3. Local resident: Are you satisfied with the current Council Tax system and why?
4. Third party such as the TaxPayers’ Alliance: How do you think the Council Tax should be used in order to make best use of the tax payers’ money?
5. Council Tax expert from companies such as Deloitte, PwC UK: Do you think the Council Tax is being used wisely by the local government and why?
Friday 29 January 2010
Stories ideas related with young londoners from East End
Story ideas for next week:
Story one:
Waltham Forest youngsters together with young people from other four Olympic host boroughs are going to showcase their talents at the Hackley Empire.
The event is part of the government's Aiming High for Young People, which aims to provide positive activities for them to participate in, and divert them from causing anti-social problems. In addition, it is also part of the big picture of CREATE programme and Cultural Olympiad.
My angle:
How this cultural event encourages them to be involved in positive activities and diverts them from causing anti-social problems.
Story two:
pupils from Waltham Forest are going to attend an event about how to tackle extremism. It is hoped this will encourage community cohesion.
My angle:
How does this event help improve community cohesion? Why is it important to involve pupils at school in tackling extremism and how are they going to be trained to tacle the problem?
Story one:
Waltham Forest youngsters together with young people from other four Olympic host boroughs are going to showcase their talents at the Hackley Empire.
The event is part of the government's Aiming High for Young People, which aims to provide positive activities for them to participate in, and divert them from causing anti-social problems. In addition, it is also part of the big picture of CREATE programme and Cultural Olympiad.
My angle:
How this cultural event encourages them to be involved in positive activities and diverts them from causing anti-social problems.
Story two:
pupils from Waltham Forest are going to attend an event about how to tackle extremism. It is hoped this will encourage community cohesion.
My angle:
How does this event help improve community cohesion? Why is it important to involve pupils at school in tackling extremism and how are they going to be trained to tacle the problem?
Thursday 28 January 2010
Third version of west newtown community association
Question two:
Varndell’s, Newtown’s only independent drinks distribution company has been named Wholesaler of the Year by Karisbrew UK in its centenary year.
The company, a family-run business, is the major distributor for Karisbtrew throughout the region and produces popular real ales by it hard-working employees.
The award recognises their standing in a competitive business arena and shows it is fulfilling Karisbrew’s expectations.
Sir Rodney Varndell, the company’s chairman will receive the award at Karisbrew’s national sales conference at Birmingham next month.
(80 words)
Question three:
On Monday at about 2:30pm, a woman shopper in Kirkham’s Supermarket on Ashforth Road, Newtown, had her handbag stolen from her trolley when she selecting items from a shelf.
The bag was in yellow leather with red stripes.
Witnesses and anyone with information can contact us on Newtown 331322
(49 words)
Question four:
(A)
Executive member of the local airport:
1. Why does the company propose to build up a second runway?
2. How much does it cost? And where does the funding come from?
3. What do you mean by ‘the second runway would allow 35 per cent increase in landings and take-offs?
4. How does the second runway help the public?
5. How does the company solve problems caused by the second runway, such as increasing level of noise and pollution?
6. Does the second runway proposal will cause any harm for current nearby residential and greenery areas? If so, how does the company solve it out?
Residents near the airport:
1. What do you think of the airport’s proposal to build up a second runway?
2. Do you think it will cause any inconvenience for your daily life?
3. Does the airport nearby cause you any troubles during your daily life before? For example, noisy and pollution? If yes, how? If not, how does the airport solve these problems?
4.Do you think it is necessary for the local airport to build up the second runway? Why and why not?
5.How do you think the second run way will help the general public?
6.Does the second runway proposal will cause any harm for current nearby residential areas or greenery areas? If so, how do you think the company and the council should solve the problem out?
Local councillor who is responsible for planning:
1.Is it necessary for the local airport to build up the second runway? Why and why not?
2. What is the council’s opinion regarding the airport’s new proposal of building up the second runway?
3. Is the council ever involved in funding the second runway, though I know it is a private-owned local airport?
4. What is the council’s plan regarding solving these problems caused by noisy and pollution?
5. How do you think the second run way will help the general public?
6. Does the second runway proposal will cause any harm for current nearby residential areas or greenery areas? If so, how do you think the council and the airport should solve the problem out?
(B)
Online editorial:
1. A comprehensive summary of the story, regularly updated as information becomes available.
2. Web links embedded guiding readers to appropriate sources of further information such as the local council, the local airport company as well as materials related with noisy and pollution.
3. Invite comments and suggestions from different groups, such as residents who live near the airport, general public, environmental experts, councillors to discuss the advantages and disadvantages for building up the second runway.
4. Cross refer to your newspaper which will carry a full story.
5. Use a slide show with pictures of the place to build up the second runway,
as well as the pictures shows the current airport facilities.
Video:
1. Video interviews with the key players – a representative from local residents, councillor, executive member of the airport company.
2. Video executive member explaining where exactly they are going to build up the second runway, and show the images of residential places that needs to remove.
3. Mobile phone video from residents who have filmed the residential places or greenery areas that will be suffered.
4. Video of councillor commenting on the proposal.
5. Video online comments and suggestions sending in by public or local residents.
Other digital offering interaction:
1. Use sms text messages to break the story and direct the recipient to your website or newspaper for more information.
2. Send an e-mail alert to reader subscribers with a link to your website story.
3. Set up an online reader poll asking readers whether they think the local airport should build up the second runway.
4. Invite readers to send in text message of their views and publish them on your website or in the paper.
5. Invite someone from the residents who live near the airport to write a blog about their experience of the being suffered from the noisy or pollution caused by the airport.
6. Ask your editor to comment on the story in his online and print editorial.
Varndell’s, Newtown’s only independent drinks distribution company has been named Wholesaler of the Year by Karisbrew UK in its centenary year.
The company, a family-run business, is the major distributor for Karisbtrew throughout the region and produces popular real ales by it hard-working employees.
The award recognises their standing in a competitive business arena and shows it is fulfilling Karisbrew’s expectations.
Sir Rodney Varndell, the company’s chairman will receive the award at Karisbrew’s national sales conference at Birmingham next month.
(80 words)
Question three:
On Monday at about 2:30pm, a woman shopper in Kirkham’s Supermarket on Ashforth Road, Newtown, had her handbag stolen from her trolley when she selecting items from a shelf.
The bag was in yellow leather with red stripes.
Witnesses and anyone with information can contact us on Newtown 331322
(49 words)
Question four:
(A)
Executive member of the local airport:
1. Why does the company propose to build up a second runway?
2. How much does it cost? And where does the funding come from?
3. What do you mean by ‘the second runway would allow 35 per cent increase in landings and take-offs?
4. How does the second runway help the public?
5. How does the company solve problems caused by the second runway, such as increasing level of noise and pollution?
6. Does the second runway proposal will cause any harm for current nearby residential and greenery areas? If so, how does the company solve it out?
Residents near the airport:
1. What do you think of the airport’s proposal to build up a second runway?
2. Do you think it will cause any inconvenience for your daily life?
3. Does the airport nearby cause you any troubles during your daily life before? For example, noisy and pollution? If yes, how? If not, how does the airport solve these problems?
4.Do you think it is necessary for the local airport to build up the second runway? Why and why not?
5.How do you think the second run way will help the general public?
6.Does the second runway proposal will cause any harm for current nearby residential areas or greenery areas? If so, how do you think the company and the council should solve the problem out?
Local councillor who is responsible for planning:
1.Is it necessary for the local airport to build up the second runway? Why and why not?
2. What is the council’s opinion regarding the airport’s new proposal of building up the second runway?
3. Is the council ever involved in funding the second runway, though I know it is a private-owned local airport?
4. What is the council’s plan regarding solving these problems caused by noisy and pollution?
5. How do you think the second run way will help the general public?
6. Does the second runway proposal will cause any harm for current nearby residential areas or greenery areas? If so, how do you think the council and the airport should solve the problem out?
(B)
Online editorial:
1. A comprehensive summary of the story, regularly updated as information becomes available.
2. Web links embedded guiding readers to appropriate sources of further information such as the local council, the local airport company as well as materials related with noisy and pollution.
3. Invite comments and suggestions from different groups, such as residents who live near the airport, general public, environmental experts, councillors to discuss the advantages and disadvantages for building up the second runway.
4. Cross refer to your newspaper which will carry a full story.
5. Use a slide show with pictures of the place to build up the second runway,
as well as the pictures shows the current airport facilities.
Video:
1. Video interviews with the key players – a representative from local residents, councillor, executive member of the airport company.
2. Video executive member explaining where exactly they are going to build up the second runway, and show the images of residential places that needs to remove.
3. Mobile phone video from residents who have filmed the residential places or greenery areas that will be suffered.
4. Video of councillor commenting on the proposal.
5. Video online comments and suggestions sending in by public or local residents.
Other digital offering interaction:
1. Use sms text messages to break the story and direct the recipient to your website or newspaper for more information.
2. Send an e-mail alert to reader subscribers with a link to your website story.
3. Set up an online reader poll asking readers whether they think the local airport should build up the second runway.
4. Invite readers to send in text message of their views and publish them on your website or in the paper.
5. Invite someone from the residents who live near the airport to write a blog about their experience of the being suffered from the noisy or pollution caused by the airport.
6. Ask your editor to comment on the story in his online and print editorial.
Tuesday 26 January 2010
Non-Formula grants and others
Local Government Finance Non-Formula Grants
The central government introduced Non-Formula Grants, which includes Specific Grant (Ring-Fenced Grants and Unfenced Grants/Targeted Grants) and Area-Based Grants (ABGs) to direct money into specified area of spending.
Ring-Fenced Grants have to be spent by councils in strictly defined areas, such as Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), which council must spend on staffing, maintaining schools or providing related services such as special needs teaching.
Unfenced Grants/Targeted Grants is allocated to councils to spend however they see fit. These grants are residual pots of money to be spent on services judged to be equally worthy of central government funding across the country.
For example, Housing and Planning Delivery Grant (HPDG) may be used in any number of ways by individual local authorities rather than only in housing and/or planning.
The Area-Based Grant, introduced in 2008 – 2009, it is designed to encourage local authorities to work with partners (such as charities, local businesses and even neighbouring authorities) to improve local services across the shared localities in which they operate.
The idea is that by forming partnerships, authorities will achieve efficiency, savings and avoid duplicating or overlapping with other service providers.
Government's efforts to constrain local authorities abilities to spend their revenue income where they please do not stop with ring-fenced and area-based grants.
Though the process of virement was once common, today it is becoming impossible because of the severe restrictions placed on authorities' ability to use money allocated for a specific purpose elsewhere.
Fines/Charges/Fees
Other sources of local authority revenue income derive from the following: council house rents; leisure service use such as swimming pools, sports centres; trade refuse collection, car parking tickets, fines; income from private contractors, the European Social Fund (ESF).
The central government introduced Non-Formula Grants, which includes Specific Grant (Ring-Fenced Grants and Unfenced Grants/Targeted Grants) and Area-Based Grants (ABGs) to direct money into specified area of spending.
Ring-Fenced Grants have to be spent by councils in strictly defined areas, such as Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), which council must spend on staffing, maintaining schools or providing related services such as special needs teaching.
Unfenced Grants/Targeted Grants is allocated to councils to spend however they see fit. These grants are residual pots of money to be spent on services judged to be equally worthy of central government funding across the country.
For example, Housing and Planning Delivery Grant (HPDG) may be used in any number of ways by individual local authorities rather than only in housing and/or planning.
The Area-Based Grant, introduced in 2008 – 2009, it is designed to encourage local authorities to work with partners (such as charities, local businesses and even neighbouring authorities) to improve local services across the shared localities in which they operate.
The idea is that by forming partnerships, authorities will achieve efficiency, savings and avoid duplicating or overlapping with other service providers.
Government's efforts to constrain local authorities abilities to spend their revenue income where they please do not stop with ring-fenced and area-based grants.
Though the process of virement was once common, today it is becoming impossible because of the severe restrictions placed on authorities' ability to use money allocated for a specific purpose elsewhere.
Fines/Charges/Fees
Other sources of local authority revenue income derive from the following: council house rents; leisure service use such as swimming pools, sports centres; trade refuse collection, car parking tickets, fines; income from private contractors, the European Social Fund (ESF).
Revenue support grant
Local Government Finance Revenue Expenditure - Revenue Support Grant
The overwhelming majority (74% as of 2008 – 2009) of local authority revenue finance derives from government grants.
Until recently the bulk came in the form of the Revenue Support Grant (RSG), also known as the General Block Grant, which local authorities were left to spend at their discretion, focusing on particular local funding needs.
However, the importance of the RSG has hugely diminished and it now represents only 3% of local authorities' annual revenue budget, as 'passporting' process initiated by the central government has 'ring-fenced' and directed the grants to specified areas of spending, notably schools.
Since the 2006 - 2007 tax year, the central government has worked out the RSG on the basis of a two new calculations: the relative needs formula (RNF) and the relative resource amount (RRA).
The RNF is a kind of formula based on detailed information about the population size, social structure, and other characteristics of a local authority area, such as the number of pensioners and school-aged children and its relative economic prosperity.
Within the RNF, separate formulae are used to decide how much should be allocated to individual local authorities to cover the likely expenses, associated with each of the 'major service areas' such as education, social services, police and fire.
The RRA, in contrast to the RNF, is a negative figure. It is based on the logical assumption that an area with a large number of Council Tax-paying households needs less financial help from central government than one in a poorer area.
Then the resulting figure from the formula: RRA – RNF will reflects what an individual area should be allocated in government formula grants, and it will be shared according to its levels of responsibility between local authorities.
The overwhelming majority (74% as of 2008 – 2009) of local authority revenue finance derives from government grants.
Until recently the bulk came in the form of the Revenue Support Grant (RSG), also known as the General Block Grant, which local authorities were left to spend at their discretion, focusing on particular local funding needs.
However, the importance of the RSG has hugely diminished and it now represents only 3% of local authorities' annual revenue budget, as 'passporting' process initiated by the central government has 'ring-fenced' and directed the grants to specified areas of spending, notably schools.
Since the 2006 - 2007 tax year, the central government has worked out the RSG on the basis of a two new calculations: the relative needs formula (RNF) and the relative resource amount (RRA).
The RNF is a kind of formula based on detailed information about the population size, social structure, and other characteristics of a local authority area, such as the number of pensioners and school-aged children and its relative economic prosperity.
Within the RNF, separate formulae are used to decide how much should be allocated to individual local authorities to cover the likely expenses, associated with each of the 'major service areas' such as education, social services, police and fire.
The RRA, in contrast to the RNF, is a negative figure. It is based on the logical assumption that an area with a large number of Council Tax-paying households needs less financial help from central government than one in a poorer area.
Then the resulting figure from the formula: RRA – RNF will reflects what an individual area should be allocated in government formula grants, and it will be shared according to its levels of responsibility between local authorities.
Uniform business rates (UBR)
Local Government Finance Revenue Expenditure - Uniform Business Rates
The National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR), alternatively known as Uniform Business Rate (UBR), has been revalued every five years since 1990 when it was firstly introduced. The UBR is set by the central government.
Every business premise is rated on how much it could have been let for and based on the rateable value of property evaluated in 1991.
The amount of money actually charged in UBR annually will depend on a centrally determined calculation known as the 'national multiplier' ('poundage' in Scotland).
The multiplier is set at two levels: a 'standard' rate for middle-range and bigger companies which is £42.2p/£, while a 'small business rate' for those who meet necessary criteria which is 41.5p/£, defined by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Treasury.
No matter which category the multiplier fall into, it is normally help below the level of inflation for business properties with 'average' values.
Therefore UBR is determined by the following formula: Rateable value of property x National multiplier.
Apart from what explained above, UBR charge are paid by business premise owners.
Regarding who collects the money, in England, Wales, and Scotland, local billing authority (in two-tier areas – district/borough council, in unitary areas – unitary authority) is responsible for collecting the money.
After having been raised locally, in England and Wales, it is central government's obligation to gather UBR revenue and redistributes it to local councils according to a population-based formula, taking into account variations in local socio-economic factors, such as unemployment levels.
However in Scotland, UBR was still a 'local tax', which both collected and spent in each area.
The National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR), alternatively known as Uniform Business Rate (UBR), has been revalued every five years since 1990 when it was firstly introduced. The UBR is set by the central government.
Every business premise is rated on how much it could have been let for and based on the rateable value of property evaluated in 1991.
The amount of money actually charged in UBR annually will depend on a centrally determined calculation known as the 'national multiplier' ('poundage' in Scotland).
The multiplier is set at two levels: a 'standard' rate for middle-range and bigger companies which is £42.2p/£, while a 'small business rate' for those who meet necessary criteria which is 41.5p/£, defined by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Treasury.
No matter which category the multiplier fall into, it is normally help below the level of inflation for business properties with 'average' values.
Therefore UBR is determined by the following formula: Rateable value of property x National multiplier.
Apart from what explained above, UBR charge are paid by business premise owners.
Regarding who collects the money, in England, Wales, and Scotland, local billing authority (in two-tier areas – district/borough council, in unitary areas – unitary authority) is responsible for collecting the money.
After having been raised locally, in England and Wales, it is central government's obligation to gather UBR revenue and redistributes it to local councils according to a population-based formula, taking into account variations in local socio-economic factors, such as unemployment levels.
However in Scotland, UBR was still a 'local tax', which both collected and spent in each area.
Local government finance - revenue expenditure (Council Tax)
LG Finance Past Paper
Following the Lyons Inquiry into Local Government Finance that drew attention to the lack of public understanding of local government finance, you have been asked to write a short feature explaining clearly to your readers how local government is financed.
(a) Describe in detail the sources funding for local government revenue expenditure, indicating clearly the role of central government.
Answer (a):
The sources funding for local government revenue expenditure includes Council Tax, National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR), which is also known as Uniform Business Rates (UBR), the grants from the government such as Revenue Support Grant (RSG), Specific Grants and Area-Based Grants (ABGs) and then other sources such as fines, charges or fees. I will explain them as follows.
********* Council Tax *********
When John Major succeeded Mrs Thatcher, his environment Secretary Michael Heseltine has replaced the controversial Poll Tax with Council Tax. The local authorities are responsible for setting and charging Council Tax.
Council Tax bills in England, Scotland, and Wales are based on a banding system that divides domestic properties into one of eight bands (nine in Wales) – A – H, respectively according to their notional capital values.
In Wales, these bandings were most recently revised in 2005 after it had originally set on 1 April 1991, but in England and Scotland, the binding system has never been revised since 1 April 1993.
The highest Council Tax Band (H) in England currently applies to all homes valued at more than £320,000 in 1991, while at the time in Scotland the top rate starts at just over the £212,000 mark.
The lowest Council Tax band was set for homes worth £40,000 or less in England and £27 or less in Scotland, while the Datum Band covered those valued at £68,000 - £88,000 in England and £45,000 - £58,000 in Scotland.
Since 2005, a new system based on 1 April 2003 values was introduced in Wales. The new Welsh band A has covered properties worth £44,000 or less, with Datum Band D encompassing those valued at £91 – 13,000 and the new Band I all dwellings over £424,000.
Responsibility for valuing homes rests with the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), an executive agency of HM Revenue and Customs, but it is for individual billing authorities to maintain lists of valuations.
Then the listing officers (employed by one of the 85 regional officers of the VOA) are obliged to place individual homes into these property bands based on its market/capital value, with elements of a poll tax.
Local valuation officers (also known as district valuers) are responsible for running each district office, and it is his or her job to hear any formal appeals initiated by households unhappy with their property valuations.
Households will pay the Council Tax, and in each household, the tax is based on a maximum two “liable” adults. For example, full-time students are excluded to pay for the Council Tax.
Local billing authorities (or collection authorities) collects the Council Tax. In two-tier areas, billing authority is the district/borough council while in unitary areas is the unitary authority itself.
After the billing authority collects the proceeds, it then redistributes the money between itself and other precepting authorities, who entitled to set a 'precept' in the area.
In two-tier areas, money goes to the county council (its role is also as local fire authority), the local police authority and the billing authority itself (district/borough council). In unitary area, precepting authorities are the unitary authority, police and county council fire authorities.
The central government's role in Council Tax is that it has powers to prevent local authorities charging excessive Council Tax by introducing formal ceilings to stop bills rising above specified levels. This process is known as capping and introduced by the Tories in the Rates Act 1984.
Labour has generally been reluctant to cap authorities, although it retains reserve powers allowing it to do so under certain circumstances.
For example, in 2008 – 2009, the government announced its intention to cap Portsmouth City Council and seven police authorities – Bedfordshire, Cheshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Surrey and Warwickshire – after each announced Council Tax rises above the 5 per cent ceiling beneath which it had urged them to remain.
Ultimately, only Lincolnshire – which increased its precept by 78.9 per cent – was capped, although the other authorities face limits on precept increase in future.
Following the Lyons Inquiry into Local Government Finance that drew attention to the lack of public understanding of local government finance, you have been asked to write a short feature explaining clearly to your readers how local government is financed.
(a) Describe in detail the sources funding for local government revenue expenditure, indicating clearly the role of central government.
Answer (a):
The sources funding for local government revenue expenditure includes Council Tax, National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR), which is also known as Uniform Business Rates (UBR), the grants from the government such as Revenue Support Grant (RSG), Specific Grants and Area-Based Grants (ABGs) and then other sources such as fines, charges or fees. I will explain them as follows.
********* Council Tax *********
When John Major succeeded Mrs Thatcher, his environment Secretary Michael Heseltine has replaced the controversial Poll Tax with Council Tax. The local authorities are responsible for setting and charging Council Tax.
Council Tax bills in England, Scotland, and Wales are based on a banding system that divides domestic properties into one of eight bands (nine in Wales) – A – H, respectively according to their notional capital values.
In Wales, these bandings were most recently revised in 2005 after it had originally set on 1 April 1991, but in England and Scotland, the binding system has never been revised since 1 April 1993.
The highest Council Tax Band (H) in England currently applies to all homes valued at more than £320,000 in 1991, while at the time in Scotland the top rate starts at just over the £212,000 mark.
The lowest Council Tax band was set for homes worth £40,000 or less in England and £27 or less in Scotland, while the Datum Band covered those valued at £68,000 - £88,000 in England and £45,000 - £58,000 in Scotland.
Since 2005, a new system based on 1 April 2003 values was introduced in Wales. The new Welsh band A has covered properties worth £44,000 or less, with Datum Band D encompassing those valued at £91 – 13,000 and the new Band I all dwellings over £424,000.
Responsibility for valuing homes rests with the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), an executive agency of HM Revenue and Customs, but it is for individual billing authorities to maintain lists of valuations.
Then the listing officers (employed by one of the 85 regional officers of the VOA) are obliged to place individual homes into these property bands based on its market/capital value, with elements of a poll tax.
Local valuation officers (also known as district valuers) are responsible for running each district office, and it is his or her job to hear any formal appeals initiated by households unhappy with their property valuations.
Households will pay the Council Tax, and in each household, the tax is based on a maximum two “liable” adults. For example, full-time students are excluded to pay for the Council Tax.
Local billing authorities (or collection authorities) collects the Council Tax. In two-tier areas, billing authority is the district/borough council while in unitary areas is the unitary authority itself.
After the billing authority collects the proceeds, it then redistributes the money between itself and other precepting authorities, who entitled to set a 'precept' in the area.
In two-tier areas, money goes to the county council (its role is also as local fire authority), the local police authority and the billing authority itself (district/borough council). In unitary area, precepting authorities are the unitary authority, police and county council fire authorities.
The central government's role in Council Tax is that it has powers to prevent local authorities charging excessive Council Tax by introducing formal ceilings to stop bills rising above specified levels. This process is known as capping and introduced by the Tories in the Rates Act 1984.
Labour has generally been reluctant to cap authorities, although it retains reserve powers allowing it to do so under certain circumstances.
For example, in 2008 – 2009, the government announced its intention to cap Portsmouth City Council and seven police authorities – Bedfordshire, Cheshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Surrey and Warwickshire – after each announced Council Tax rises above the 5 per cent ceiling beneath which it had urged them to remain.
Ultimately, only Lincolnshire – which increased its precept by 78.9 per cent – was capped, although the other authorities face limits on precept increase in future.
Sunday 24 January 2010
Various versions of garden shed arsonists story
Paper six Community Safety Department, Oveston Council
The first version
A fire crew was called to a residential property's rear garden in Woodcote Drive, Oveston, at 4.45pm yesterday.
The incident is being classed as arson and investigated by police.
Witnesses with any information can contact Oveston 323232.
(37 words)
The second version
A fire incident occurred at 4:45pm on Monday at a residential property's rear garden in woodcote Drive, Oveston.
A large number of spent matches were found near by and the incident is being classed as arson.
Witnesses with any information can contact Oveston 323232.
(42 words)
The third version
Suspected arsonists are being investigated by police regarding a shed fire in Woodcote Drive, Oveston on Monday at 4:45pm.
Part of the wooden fence on the property's back garden was destroyed and the fire crew was called.
Witnesses with any information can contact Oveston 323232.
(45 words)
The fourth version
Suspected arsonists are being investigated by police regarding a garden shed fire in Woodcote Drive, Oveston on Monday at 4:45pm.
The property owner discovered the fire, which destroyed part of the wooden fence, when they returned from their supermarket shopping, and called the fire crew.
Witnesses can contact Oveston 323232.
(50 words)
The first version
A fire crew was called to a residential property's rear garden in Woodcote Drive, Oveston, at 4.45pm yesterday.
The incident is being classed as arson and investigated by police.
Witnesses with any information can contact Oveston 323232.
(37 words)
The second version
A fire incident occurred at 4:45pm on Monday at a residential property's rear garden in woodcote Drive, Oveston.
A large number of spent matches were found near by and the incident is being classed as arson.
Witnesses with any information can contact Oveston 323232.
(42 words)
The third version
Suspected arsonists are being investigated by police regarding a shed fire in Woodcote Drive, Oveston on Monday at 4:45pm.
Part of the wooden fence on the property's back garden was destroyed and the fire crew was called.
Witnesses with any information can contact Oveston 323232.
(45 words)
The fourth version
Suspected arsonists are being investigated by police regarding a garden shed fire in Woodcote Drive, Oveston on Monday at 4:45pm.
The property owner discovered the fire, which destroyed part of the wooden fence, when they returned from their supermarket shopping, and called the fire crew.
Witnesses can contact Oveston 323232.
(50 words)
Community safety department, oveston council (paper six related questions)
Questions 1
High-resolution Cameras will be installed in Oveston district in a bid to reduce crime and boost community safety.
Gradham, the latest town in the area to benefit from the CCTV system, is set to install ten cameras to clamp down the increasing level of drug dealing, violence and rowdyism.
Andrew Slator, chairman of Gradham Chamber of Trade, said: “We have been plagued by young hoodies and gangs of shoplifters and we hope the cameras will help deter and detect the culprits.”
Four of the cameras attached to the automatic number plate recognition are the first in the district to pick up night-times activities clearly, even if a car is travelling fast.
During the day, the new system can alert control room staff to shoplifters or anti-social behaviour, triggering an immediate response from the Neighbourhood Policing Team or Neighbourhood Patrollers.
The cameras will also help track down criminals, picking up females who are walking alone on the street and ensure their safety.
In addition, CCTV enables operators to spot accidents and arrange for the necessary action for emergencies, for example, people have been taken ill and collapsed.
Chief Superintendent Francis Collison, Divisonal Commander, Oveston Police, said: “We expect the rate of arrest in Gradham town centre to go up as a result of the new cameras – so troublemakers, drug dealers and criminals should be warned.”
Neal Simmonds, Oveson Council's CCTV controllers, said: “The CCTV system will only be used to enhance community safety, reduce crime and the fear of crime, and deter anti-social behaviour.
CCTV was launched in Oveston town centre in 1998 and funded by a Home Office grant and donations from businesses.
Initially there were 33 high-resolution cameras sending real-time images back to the control room in Trinity Hourse, Market Square, Oveston.
The scheme was owned and run by the Oveston Council with other partners.
(315 words)
Questions 2:
Six cars broken into in the Oakwood area of Oveston on Tuesday around 2am and 3am.
Four vehicles were parked in Ramblers' Grove, other two around the corner in Ash Crescent. Two Satellite navigation systems and two CD players were stolen.
Inspector Adrian Woodwarde said: “Thieves are particularly on the lookout for satellite navigation systems because there is a market for them.”
Witnesses or anyone with information should contact us on Oveston 323232.
(73 words)
Question 3
A fire crew was called to a residential property's rear garden in Woodcote Drive, Oveston, at 4.45pm yesterday.
The incident is being classed as arson and investigated by police.
Witness please contact on Oveston 323232.
(35 words)
Question 4
(A).
The leader of the residents association:
1. How does it affect the cyclists and motorists?
2. What is the council’s reaction towards these potholes?
3. What does the association try to do now in order to help residents?
4. Who are the people mostly affected by these potholes?
5. How many potholes are there on the roads?
6. How are these potholes formed?
7. Who is responsible for repairing these potholes? When does the company/organisation start to take action?
8. Why have not the company/organisation started to take action even after the residents’ association’s complaining?
The residents
1. How do you think these potholes affect you?
2. What do you expect the council’s reaction towards these portholes?
3. Do you think the residents’ association’s protest helps the situation?
4. What do you think people like you, who suffered from these potholes, should do towards these potholes?
5. Have you ever worried about these portholes?
6. How are these potholes formed?
The councillor who is responsible for planning, roads safety:
1. What is the council’s plan to solve the problem?
2. What is the council’s reaction towards residents’ association’s protest?
3. What have the council been doing so far regarding the issue?
4. Why are there so many potholes on the roads? How have they been formed?
5. Who is responsible for repairing these potholes? When does the company/organisation start to take action?
6. Why have not the company/organisation started to take action even after the residents’ association’s complaining?
(B)
Online editorial:
1. Regularly updated follow-up information and try to have a comprehensive summary of the story.
2. Inserting the web links to guide the readers accessing more background information about the residents’ association and its previous protest, the council, the Highway Agency.
3. Providing comment session for readers to leave their comments and thoughts.
4. Starting a campaign to support the residents’ association, and call for council’s reaction to solve the potholes issue.
5. Starting a page on Facebook, Twitter and other social net-working website and build up a forum for people who are concerned about to discuss the issue.
Video:
1. Video interviews with the key interviewees: leader of the residents’ association, the councillor who is responsible for planning and road safety.
2. Video people from the residents’ association who measure the depth of the potholes.
3. Video residents who give comment on the potholes and road safety.
4. Video the residents’ association’s letter sent to the council.
5. Mobile phone video from the residents.
Other digital:
1. Use text message to guide reader to search more information from the website.
2. Invite reader to send in text messages about their views and publish them on the website.
3. Invite someone from the residents’ association to write a blog about what they have been trying to do.
4. Invite a resident who suffered from the pothole to write a blog.
5. Send an e-mail to alert the residents and tell them more story information available on the website.
High-resolution Cameras will be installed in Oveston district in a bid to reduce crime and boost community safety.
Gradham, the latest town in the area to benefit from the CCTV system, is set to install ten cameras to clamp down the increasing level of drug dealing, violence and rowdyism.
Andrew Slator, chairman of Gradham Chamber of Trade, said: “We have been plagued by young hoodies and gangs of shoplifters and we hope the cameras will help deter and detect the culprits.”
Four of the cameras attached to the automatic number plate recognition are the first in the district to pick up night-times activities clearly, even if a car is travelling fast.
During the day, the new system can alert control room staff to shoplifters or anti-social behaviour, triggering an immediate response from the Neighbourhood Policing Team or Neighbourhood Patrollers.
The cameras will also help track down criminals, picking up females who are walking alone on the street and ensure their safety.
In addition, CCTV enables operators to spot accidents and arrange for the necessary action for emergencies, for example, people have been taken ill and collapsed.
Chief Superintendent Francis Collison, Divisonal Commander, Oveston Police, said: “We expect the rate of arrest in Gradham town centre to go up as a result of the new cameras – so troublemakers, drug dealers and criminals should be warned.”
Neal Simmonds, Oveson Council's CCTV controllers, said: “The CCTV system will only be used to enhance community safety, reduce crime and the fear of crime, and deter anti-social behaviour.
CCTV was launched in Oveston town centre in 1998 and funded by a Home Office grant and donations from businesses.
Initially there were 33 high-resolution cameras sending real-time images back to the control room in Trinity Hourse, Market Square, Oveston.
The scheme was owned and run by the Oveston Council with other partners.
(315 words)
Questions 2:
Six cars broken into in the Oakwood area of Oveston on Tuesday around 2am and 3am.
Four vehicles were parked in Ramblers' Grove, other two around the corner in Ash Crescent. Two Satellite navigation systems and two CD players were stolen.
Inspector Adrian Woodwarde said: “Thieves are particularly on the lookout for satellite navigation systems because there is a market for them.”
Witnesses or anyone with information should contact us on Oveston 323232.
(73 words)
Question 3
A fire crew was called to a residential property's rear garden in Woodcote Drive, Oveston, at 4.45pm yesterday.
The incident is being classed as arson and investigated by police.
Witness please contact on Oveston 323232.
(35 words)
Question 4
(A).
The leader of the residents association:
1. How does it affect the cyclists and motorists?
2. What is the council’s reaction towards these potholes?
3. What does the association try to do now in order to help residents?
4. Who are the people mostly affected by these potholes?
5. How many potholes are there on the roads?
6. How are these potholes formed?
7. Who is responsible for repairing these potholes? When does the company/organisation start to take action?
8. Why have not the company/organisation started to take action even after the residents’ association’s complaining?
The residents
1. How do you think these potholes affect you?
2. What do you expect the council’s reaction towards these portholes?
3. Do you think the residents’ association’s protest helps the situation?
4. What do you think people like you, who suffered from these potholes, should do towards these potholes?
5. Have you ever worried about these portholes?
6. How are these potholes formed?
The councillor who is responsible for planning, roads safety:
1. What is the council’s plan to solve the problem?
2. What is the council’s reaction towards residents’ association’s protest?
3. What have the council been doing so far regarding the issue?
4. Why are there so many potholes on the roads? How have they been formed?
5. Who is responsible for repairing these potholes? When does the company/organisation start to take action?
6. Why have not the company/organisation started to take action even after the residents’ association’s complaining?
(B)
Online editorial:
1. Regularly updated follow-up information and try to have a comprehensive summary of the story.
2. Inserting the web links to guide the readers accessing more background information about the residents’ association and its previous protest, the council, the Highway Agency.
3. Providing comment session for readers to leave their comments and thoughts.
4. Starting a campaign to support the residents’ association, and call for council’s reaction to solve the potholes issue.
5. Starting a page on Facebook, Twitter and other social net-working website and build up a forum for people who are concerned about to discuss the issue.
Video:
1. Video interviews with the key interviewees: leader of the residents’ association, the councillor who is responsible for planning and road safety.
2. Video people from the residents’ association who measure the depth of the potholes.
3. Video residents who give comment on the potholes and road safety.
4. Video the residents’ association’s letter sent to the council.
5. Mobile phone video from the residents.
Other digital:
1. Use text message to guide reader to search more information from the website.
2. Invite reader to send in text messages about their views and publish them on the website.
3. Invite someone from the residents’ association to write a blog about what they have been trying to do.
4. Invite a resident who suffered from the pothole to write a blog.
5. Send an e-mail to alert the residents and tell them more story information available on the website.
Friday 22 January 2010
West newtown community assocation (related questions)
Paper One West Newtown Community Association
Question 2:
Varndell’s, an independent drink distribution company, has been named Wholesaler of the Year in its centenary year by Karisbrew UK.
The company, a family-run business, is the major distributor for Karisbrew throughout the region.
The award will recognise the company’s outstanding performance and is a tribute to its employees who have put all their hard work over the past 12 months.
Chairman Sir Rodney Varndell will receive the award at Karlsbrew’s national sales conference at Birmingham next month.
(78 words)
Question 3:
On Monday around 2:30pm a woman shopper in Kirkham’s Supermarket on Ashforth Road, Newtown, had her handbag stolen from her trolley when she selecting items from a shelf.
The bag was in yellow leather with red stripes.
Anyone who witnessed the theft, please contact us on Newtown 331322.
(48 words)
Question 4:
(A)
(I): Executive member of the local airport:
1. Why does the company propose to build a second runway?
2. According to the information I have it says this would allow a 35 per cent increase in landings and take-offs, what do you mean by 35 per cent increase? Could you explain me in details?
3. How much does it cost? Where does this money come from?
4. Who is responsible for the construction? How is the partnership formed with your company?
5. How does your company deal with related environmental issues such as increased noisy?
6. Is there any need to build up this second runway to increase the landings and take-offs?
(II): local residents who live near the airport:
1. Your local airport is going to build up a second runway, what do you think of the proposal?
2. Do you think it will help the people if there is a second runway been built up? Why?
3. Have the airport ever brought any inconvenience to your life so far? If so, in which way? If not, tell me in details how the company tried to reduce pollution or noisy for example.
4. Do you think the government should give permission to the company to build up new construction?
5. Is there any need to build up this second runway to increase the landings and take-offs?
(III). Local councillor who holds portfolio in planning:
1. Will the government pass the second runway proposal from the privately-owned local airport? Why?
2. How does the new construction help people?
3. Where does the funding come from?
4. How does the government regulates private-owned company in terms of reducing pollution and noisy.
5. Is there any need to build up this second runway to increase the landings and take-offs?
(B)
1). Online editorial: Uploading photos and audio clips obtained from my interview.
For example, images could be the airport, also could be a close up of the area that is going to build up the second runway.
In addition, a radio interview with the executive members from the company and the councillor.
Lastly, a Vox Pop contains local residents’ opinions regarding building up a second runway.
2). Video: Filming the airport as well as the area that is going to build up the second runway.
Filming the local residents, local councillor as well as the executive member of the company. These can be uploaded online as video clips.
3). Other digital offering interaction: Allowing readers to comment on this piece of news; in addition, using Facebook, Twitters or other social net-working website to generate public’s opinions.
Question 2:
Varndell’s, an independent drink distribution company, has been named Wholesaler of the Year in its centenary year by Karisbrew UK.
The company, a family-run business, is the major distributor for Karisbrew throughout the region.
The award will recognise the company’s outstanding performance and is a tribute to its employees who have put all their hard work over the past 12 months.
Chairman Sir Rodney Varndell will receive the award at Karlsbrew’s national sales conference at Birmingham next month.
(78 words)
Question 3:
On Monday around 2:30pm a woman shopper in Kirkham’s Supermarket on Ashforth Road, Newtown, had her handbag stolen from her trolley when she selecting items from a shelf.
The bag was in yellow leather with red stripes.
Anyone who witnessed the theft, please contact us on Newtown 331322.
(48 words)
Question 4:
(A)
(I): Executive member of the local airport:
1. Why does the company propose to build a second runway?
2. According to the information I have it says this would allow a 35 per cent increase in landings and take-offs, what do you mean by 35 per cent increase? Could you explain me in details?
3. How much does it cost? Where does this money come from?
4. Who is responsible for the construction? How is the partnership formed with your company?
5. How does your company deal with related environmental issues such as increased noisy?
6. Is there any need to build up this second runway to increase the landings and take-offs?
(II): local residents who live near the airport:
1. Your local airport is going to build up a second runway, what do you think of the proposal?
2. Do you think it will help the people if there is a second runway been built up? Why?
3. Have the airport ever brought any inconvenience to your life so far? If so, in which way? If not, tell me in details how the company tried to reduce pollution or noisy for example.
4. Do you think the government should give permission to the company to build up new construction?
5. Is there any need to build up this second runway to increase the landings and take-offs?
(III). Local councillor who holds portfolio in planning:
1. Will the government pass the second runway proposal from the privately-owned local airport? Why?
2. How does the new construction help people?
3. Where does the funding come from?
4. How does the government regulates private-owned company in terms of reducing pollution and noisy.
5. Is there any need to build up this second runway to increase the landings and take-offs?
(B)
1). Online editorial: Uploading photos and audio clips obtained from my interview.
For example, images could be the airport, also could be a close up of the area that is going to build up the second runway.
In addition, a radio interview with the executive members from the company and the councillor.
Lastly, a Vox Pop contains local residents’ opinions regarding building up a second runway.
2). Video: Filming the airport as well as the area that is going to build up the second runway.
Filming the local residents, local councillor as well as the executive member of the company. These can be uploaded online as video clips.
3). Other digital offering interaction: Allowing readers to comment on this piece of news; in addition, using Facebook, Twitters or other social net-working website to generate public’s opinions.
Sunday 17 January 2010
The climb
Couple of weeks ago, I watched ITV X factor live show. Winner Joe Mcelderry, a stunning singer, provided audience a fascinating interpretation of his final show - the Climb:
I can almost see it
That dream I am dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head saying
You'll never reach it
Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking
But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high
There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb
THe struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I'm not breaking
I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep going
And I, I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on
......
The Climb
Joe McElderry
I can almost see it
That dream I am dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head saying
You'll never reach it
Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking
But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high
There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb
THe struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I'm not breaking
I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep going
And I, I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on
......
The Climb
Joe McElderry
Friday 15 January 2010
Pupils tackle anti-social behaviour in Waltham Forest
This article is published on the BBC London Website:
By Yixiang Zeng
BBC London
Youngsters from one of London's Olympic boroughs are working with police to tackle anti-social behaviour and reduce the fear of crime.
The project 'Develop', part of London 2012's Changing Places Programme, has been launched in Waltham Forest in preparation for the Games to make the community safer and more pleasant.
Metropolitan Police Constable Jeff Wade, who works on the Olympic Safety and Security Programme, said: "Some areas are heavily painted by graffiti, by removing this from the walls it will make people feel our community is safer and nicer.
"In the meantime, we organise people to paint community art pieces such as landscapes, like flowers."
Cameras and maps
Groups of children from Rush Croft Sports College and Walthamstow School for Girls are teaming up with police officers and their teaching assistants.
The pupils from year nine and ten have been given cameras and maps to photograph or film graffiti, broken windows and overgrown gardens as part of a task to identify blackspots in their community.
These photographs and footage will then be displayed and showed at a workshop at a later stage of the project.
Sean Reed, Assistant Head Teacher from Rush Croft Sports College, said: "Our school children are quite enjoying taking part in these activities and they are learning to be active citizens taking care of the places where they live and study."
The police added that it helps break the stereotypical image of associating young people with anti-social behaviour and knife/gun crime.
Waltham Forest councillor Liaquat Ali, who is responsible for Children and Young People, said: "By getting young people involved in this kind of project, we make sure they take pride of their ownership."
Getting adults involved
Apart from working with local youngsters as Develop's starting point, the project is also designed to involve other age groups at a later stage.
The next stage is a problem-solving workshop and involves older members of the community working with the pupils to consider potential solutions to the concerns raised. After that, the ideas will be put into practice.
At the final stage, an event is planned to bring all the schools together to showcase their ideas and discuss what they have been doing throughout the whole project.
According to PC Wade, the project might be introduced to other Olympic boroughs and then to other areas in the UK in partnership with local forces.
By Yixiang Zeng
BBC London
Youngsters from one of London's Olympic boroughs are working with police to tackle anti-social behaviour and reduce the fear of crime.
The project 'Develop', part of London 2012's Changing Places Programme, has been launched in Waltham Forest in preparation for the Games to make the community safer and more pleasant.
Metropolitan Police Constable Jeff Wade, who works on the Olympic Safety and Security Programme, said: "Some areas are heavily painted by graffiti, by removing this from the walls it will make people feel our community is safer and nicer.
"In the meantime, we organise people to paint community art pieces such as landscapes, like flowers."
Cameras and maps
Groups of children from Rush Croft Sports College and Walthamstow School for Girls are teaming up with police officers and their teaching assistants.
The pupils from year nine and ten have been given cameras and maps to photograph or film graffiti, broken windows and overgrown gardens as part of a task to identify blackspots in their community.
These photographs and footage will then be displayed and showed at a workshop at a later stage of the project.
Sean Reed, Assistant Head Teacher from Rush Croft Sports College, said: "Our school children are quite enjoying taking part in these activities and they are learning to be active citizens taking care of the places where they live and study."
The police added that it helps break the stereotypical image of associating young people with anti-social behaviour and knife/gun crime.
Waltham Forest councillor Liaquat Ali, who is responsible for Children and Young People, said: "By getting young people involved in this kind of project, we make sure they take pride of their ownership."
Getting adults involved
Apart from working with local youngsters as Develop's starting point, the project is also designed to involve other age groups at a later stage.
The next stage is a problem-solving workshop and involves older members of the community working with the pupils to consider potential solutions to the concerns raised. After that, the ideas will be put into practice.
At the final stage, an event is planned to bring all the schools together to showcase their ideas and discuss what they have been doing throughout the whole project.
According to PC Wade, the project might be introduced to other Olympic boroughs and then to other areas in the UK in partnership with local forces.
Thursday 14 January 2010
School children help tackle anti-social behaviour in Waltham Forest
by Yixiang Zeng
Local youngsters from an Olympic borough are working with the police to tackle anti-social behaviour and reduce the fear of crime.
The project Develop, part of London 2012's Changing Places Programme, was launched in Waltham Forest last month in preparation for the Olympics to make the community safe and pleasant.
Met Police Constable Jeff Wade, who works on the Olympic Safety and Security Programme, said: “Some areas are heavily painted by Graffiti, by removing this Graffiti from the wall it will make people feel our community is safer and nicer.
“In the meantime, we organise people to paint community art pieces such as landscape, like flowers.”
Groups of children from Rush Croft Sports College and Walthamstow School for Girls are teaming up with police officers and their teaching assistants.
The pupils from year nine and ten were given cameras and maps to photograph or film graffiti, broken windows and over-grown gardens as part of a task to identify black sports in their community area.
These photographs and footage will then be displayed and showed at a workshop at a later stage of the project.
Sean Reed, Assistant Head Teacher from Rush Croft Sports College said: “Our school children are quite enjoying taking part in these activities and they are learning to be active citizens taking care of the places where they live and study.”
The police added that it helps break the stereotypical image of associating young people with anti-social behaviour and knife/gun crime.
Waltham Forest Councillor Liaquat Ali, who is responsible for Children and Young People, said: “By getting young people involved in this kind of project, we make sure they take pride of their ownership.”
Apart from working with local youngsters as Develop's starting point, the project is also designed to involve other age groups at its later stages.
The next stage is a problem solving workshop and involves older members of the community working with the pupils to consider potential solutions to the concerns raised. Thereafter, the ideas will be put into practice.
At the final stage, an event is planned to bring all the schools together to showcase their ideas and discuss what they have been doing throughout the whole process.
According to PC Wade, the project might also be introduced to other Olympics host boroughs and then to other areas in the UK in partnership with local forces.
Local youngsters from an Olympic borough are working with the police to tackle anti-social behaviour and reduce the fear of crime.
The project Develop, part of London 2012's Changing Places Programme, was launched in Waltham Forest last month in preparation for the Olympics to make the community safe and pleasant.
Met Police Constable Jeff Wade, who works on the Olympic Safety and Security Programme, said: “Some areas are heavily painted by Graffiti, by removing this Graffiti from the wall it will make people feel our community is safer and nicer.
“In the meantime, we organise people to paint community art pieces such as landscape, like flowers.”
Groups of children from Rush Croft Sports College and Walthamstow School for Girls are teaming up with police officers and their teaching assistants.
The pupils from year nine and ten were given cameras and maps to photograph or film graffiti, broken windows and over-grown gardens as part of a task to identify black sports in their community area.
These photographs and footage will then be displayed and showed at a workshop at a later stage of the project.
Sean Reed, Assistant Head Teacher from Rush Croft Sports College said: “Our school children are quite enjoying taking part in these activities and they are learning to be active citizens taking care of the places where they live and study.”
The police added that it helps break the stereotypical image of associating young people with anti-social behaviour and knife/gun crime.
Waltham Forest Councillor Liaquat Ali, who is responsible for Children and Young People, said: “By getting young people involved in this kind of project, we make sure they take pride of their ownership.”
Apart from working with local youngsters as Develop's starting point, the project is also designed to involve other age groups at its later stages.
The next stage is a problem solving workshop and involves older members of the community working with the pupils to consider potential solutions to the concerns raised. Thereafter, the ideas will be put into practice.
At the final stage, an event is planned to bring all the schools together to showcase their ideas and discuss what they have been doing throughout the whole process.
According to PC Wade, the project might also be introduced to other Olympics host boroughs and then to other areas in the UK in partnership with local forces.
Monday 11 January 2010
Olympic borough youngsters "take pride of their ownership"
by Yixiang Zeng
Local youngsters from an Olympic borough are getting involved in a police-led project to “make their community safer and nicer” and “take pride of their ownership”.
Develop, part of London 2012's Changing Places Programme, was launched within Waltham Forest at end of the December 2009 aiming to tackle anti-social behaviour and reduce the fear of crime.
Waltham Forest Councillor Liaquat Ali, who is responsible for Children and Young People, said: “By getting young people involved in this kind of project, we make sure they take pride of their ownership.”
Pupils from Rush Croft Sports College and Walthamstow School for Girls were divided into five and four groups respectively, with each one led by a police officer and a teaching assistant.
Children from year nine and ten were provided with cameras and maps, went out in the surrounding area to take photos on graffiti, broken windows, damaging street furnitures, and over-grown community gardens, they were also asked to identify these anti-social behaviour “black spots” about their local area.
Sean Reed, Assistant Head Teacher from Rush Croft Sports College said: “Our school children are quite enjoying taking part in these activities and they are learning to be active citizens taking care of the places where they live and study.”
Matthew Watts from the Olympic Safety and Security Programme said: “We tried to take the energy and enthusiasm from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Game, because this is not only about the Game, this is more about taking the opportunity to work on community safety, local business and education sector.”
Apart from working with local youngsters as Develop's first stage, the project is also designed to involve other age groups on its later stages.
Met Police Constable Jeff Wade, who works on the Olympic Safety and Security Programme said: “At stage two, we will involve both school children and the elderly in several workshops to discuss issues the local residents concerned about.
“At the final stage we will encourage the whole community members to take their initiative and make changes to their community, such as removing graffiti, replacing broken windows and cleaning the streets.
“Some areas are heavily painted by Graffiti, by removing these Graffiti from the wall will make people feel their community is safer and nicer.
“In the meantime, we will organise people to paint community art pieces such as landscape, like flowers.”
Local youngsters from an Olympic borough are getting involved in a police-led project to “make their community safer and nicer” and “take pride of their ownership”.
Develop, part of London 2012's Changing Places Programme, was launched within Waltham Forest at end of the December 2009 aiming to tackle anti-social behaviour and reduce the fear of crime.
Waltham Forest Councillor Liaquat Ali, who is responsible for Children and Young People, said: “By getting young people involved in this kind of project, we make sure they take pride of their ownership.”
Pupils from Rush Croft Sports College and Walthamstow School for Girls were divided into five and four groups respectively, with each one led by a police officer and a teaching assistant.
Children from year nine and ten were provided with cameras and maps, went out in the surrounding area to take photos on graffiti, broken windows, damaging street furnitures, and over-grown community gardens, they were also asked to identify these anti-social behaviour “black spots” about their local area.
Sean Reed, Assistant Head Teacher from Rush Croft Sports College said: “Our school children are quite enjoying taking part in these activities and they are learning to be active citizens taking care of the places where they live and study.”
Matthew Watts from the Olympic Safety and Security Programme said: “We tried to take the energy and enthusiasm from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Game, because this is not only about the Game, this is more about taking the opportunity to work on community safety, local business and education sector.”
Apart from working with local youngsters as Develop's first stage, the project is also designed to involve other age groups on its later stages.
Met Police Constable Jeff Wade, who works on the Olympic Safety and Security Programme said: “At stage two, we will involve both school children and the elderly in several workshops to discuss issues the local residents concerned about.
“At the final stage we will encourage the whole community members to take their initiative and make changes to their community, such as removing graffiti, replacing broken windows and cleaning the streets.
“Some areas are heavily painted by Graffiti, by removing these Graffiti from the wall will make people feel their community is safer and nicer.
“In the meantime, we will organise people to paint community art pieces such as landscape, like flowers.”
Wednesday 6 January 2010
School children contribute to community safety (story plan)
by Yixiang Zeng
Original press release from Metropolitan Police Service:
Young people from Waltham Forest are teaming up with local police officers to tackle anti-social behaviour and reduce fear of crime.
The project, named “Develop”, aims to improve community safety and build a lasting Olympic legacy in the Olympics hosting boroughs.
It launched as part of the Olympic Safety and Security Programmes to mark 1000 days to go until the Paralympic Games arrive in London.
The Metropolitan local police is now working with Walthamstow School for Girls and Rushcroft Sports Academy.
My angle
How the project raise community awareness for local youngsters as well as reduce fear of crime, and how these local young people find their way to contribute positively to London 2012 Olympics?
Interview questions
For Walthamstow School for Girls & Rushcroft Sports Academy (Schools Officials):
When did these activities start and how long will they last?
How old are these pupils?
What did these activities involve?
Why did the school decide to participate?
What do you mean by “community awareness”?
What do you mean by “reduce fear of crime”?
How is this project going to help with community awareness? As well as reduce fear of crime?
In your opinion, what caused the fear of crime?
Can you give some examples about how is this project going to reduce the fear of crime?
How do your school children contribute to the Olympics?
What impact does the Olympics have on your school children?
How do your school children benefit from this project?
What results has the project brought to the school so far?
Does the project have three stages? After your school completing the first stage, do you intend to participate in the other two?
Metropolitan Police Officers: (PC Jeff Wade from the Metropolitan Police Service, who works on the Olympic Safety and Security Programme):
What is the aim of this project?
When did these activities start and how long will it last?
What did these activities involve?
Why did you choose to start the project from Waltham Forest?
Why did you choose these two institutions?
Will you involve other institutions later for the same project?
How do these school pupils help contribute to the Olympics?
What impact does the Olympics have on the local school children?
How do these local school children benefit from this project?
What do you mean by “community awareness”?
What do you mean by “reduce fear of crime”?
Please give some examples how youngsters help reduce fear of crime as well as raise community awareness.
Why are you deciding to work on such project only now?
Why do you choose to tackle anti-social behaviour particularly? (There are many other crimes, such as knife crime)
Why do you choose to work with local youngsters in this case, but not from other ages? (Normally youngsters are the ones to create nuisance)
What are the results so far?
Are you going to work on the same project in other four Olympics boroughs? If so when? If not why?
Children
What do you understand by community awareness?
What do you understand by reducing fear of crime?
What have you done in this project?
Do you think you can directly reduce the fear of crime? If yes, how? If no, why?
How are you going to contribute to the Olympics through this project?
Why are the Olympics important to you?
Parents
What crime do you think needs to be sorted out in your community?
How will this project help you understand these terms better, ie. Community awareness or reducing fear of crime.
What have your children done so far in this project? Examples
How do you feel this project help your children develop their community awareness and reduce fear of crime?
How do you think this project help your children contribute to the Olympics?
Do you think the Olympics has an impact on your children, and how?
How do your children benefit from this project?
Original press release from Metropolitan Police Service:
Young people from Waltham Forest are teaming up with local police officers to tackle anti-social behaviour and reduce fear of crime.
The project, named “Develop”, aims to improve community safety and build a lasting Olympic legacy in the Olympics hosting boroughs.
It launched as part of the Olympic Safety and Security Programmes to mark 1000 days to go until the Paralympic Games arrive in London.
The Metropolitan local police is now working with Walthamstow School for Girls and Rushcroft Sports Academy.
My angle
How the project raise community awareness for local youngsters as well as reduce fear of crime, and how these local young people find their way to contribute positively to London 2012 Olympics?
Interview questions
For Walthamstow School for Girls & Rushcroft Sports Academy (Schools Officials):
When did these activities start and how long will they last?
How old are these pupils?
What did these activities involve?
Why did the school decide to participate?
What do you mean by “community awareness”?
What do you mean by “reduce fear of crime”?
How is this project going to help with community awareness? As well as reduce fear of crime?
In your opinion, what caused the fear of crime?
Can you give some examples about how is this project going to reduce the fear of crime?
How do your school children contribute to the Olympics?
What impact does the Olympics have on your school children?
How do your school children benefit from this project?
What results has the project brought to the school so far?
Does the project have three stages? After your school completing the first stage, do you intend to participate in the other two?
Metropolitan Police Officers: (PC Jeff Wade from the Metropolitan Police Service, who works on the Olympic Safety and Security Programme):
What is the aim of this project?
When did these activities start and how long will it last?
What did these activities involve?
Why did you choose to start the project from Waltham Forest?
Why did you choose these two institutions?
Will you involve other institutions later for the same project?
How do these school pupils help contribute to the Olympics?
What impact does the Olympics have on the local school children?
How do these local school children benefit from this project?
What do you mean by “community awareness”?
What do you mean by “reduce fear of crime”?
Please give some examples how youngsters help reduce fear of crime as well as raise community awareness.
Why are you deciding to work on such project only now?
Why do you choose to tackle anti-social behaviour particularly? (There are many other crimes, such as knife crime)
Why do you choose to work with local youngsters in this case, but not from other ages? (Normally youngsters are the ones to create nuisance)
What are the results so far?
Are you going to work on the same project in other four Olympics boroughs? If so when? If not why?
Children
What do you understand by community awareness?
What do you understand by reducing fear of crime?
What have you done in this project?
Do you think you can directly reduce the fear of crime? If yes, how? If no, why?
How are you going to contribute to the Olympics through this project?
Why are the Olympics important to you?
Parents
What crime do you think needs to be sorted out in your community?
How will this project help you understand these terms better, ie. Community awareness or reducing fear of crime.
What have your children done so far in this project? Examples
How do you feel this project help your children develop their community awareness and reduce fear of crime?
How do you think this project help your children contribute to the Olympics?
Do you think the Olympics has an impact on your children, and how?
How do your children benefit from this project?
Sunday 3 January 2010
Olympic borough youngsters serve for their community
A police officer praised a community-based project a great opportunity to involve young people “in building a truly worthwhile and long lasting legacy” to the Olympic borough.
Teenagers from Waltham Forest are teaming up with local police officers to tackle anti-social behaviour and reduce fear of crime as part of a project named 'Develop', which encourages them to take responsibility for their local area and learn about the important contribution that their efforts can make to the community.
Police Constable Jeff Wade from the Metropolitan Police Service, who works on the Olympic Safety and Security Programme,said: “It has been a fantastic start to the project, the pupils we have worked with have been really keen and have enjoyed having their say.”
“These activities are a great opportunity for all members of the community to get involved in building a truly worthwhile and long lasting legacy to the Olympic for Waltham Forest.”
Pupils from year 9 and 10 at Walthamstow School for Girls and Rushcroft Sports Academy were invited to take part in phase 1, where teams were supplied with equipment such as cameras and maps and asked to identify good and bad points about their local areas, which included places they felt were intimidating or in need of development.
All the activities are delivered by officers from the Waltham Forest Safer Schools Team and local Safer Neighbourhoods Teams.
The next stage of the project is a problem solving workshop and involved local residents working with the pupils to consider potential solutions to the concerns raised.
The final stage will see the creation of initiatives to put their ideas into practice.
The project also strengthens understanding and relationships between the diverse communities as they are work together on raising pride in their local areas.
As part of London 2012's Changing Places Programme, it is launched within the five east London Olympic host boroughs include Nemham, Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Greenwich.
(324 words)
(Completion time: An hour and 12 minutes)
Teenagers from Waltham Forest are teaming up with local police officers to tackle anti-social behaviour and reduce fear of crime as part of a project named 'Develop', which encourages them to take responsibility for their local area and learn about the important contribution that their efforts can make to the community.
Police Constable Jeff Wade from the Metropolitan Police Service, who works on the Olympic Safety and Security Programme,said: “It has been a fantastic start to the project, the pupils we have worked with have been really keen and have enjoyed having their say.”
“These activities are a great opportunity for all members of the community to get involved in building a truly worthwhile and long lasting legacy to the Olympic for Waltham Forest.”
Pupils from year 9 and 10 at Walthamstow School for Girls and Rushcroft Sports Academy were invited to take part in phase 1, where teams were supplied with equipment such as cameras and maps and asked to identify good and bad points about their local areas, which included places they felt were intimidating or in need of development.
All the activities are delivered by officers from the Waltham Forest Safer Schools Team and local Safer Neighbourhoods Teams.
The next stage of the project is a problem solving workshop and involved local residents working with the pupils to consider potential solutions to the concerns raised.
The final stage will see the creation of initiatives to put their ideas into practice.
The project also strengthens understanding and relationships between the diverse communities as they are work together on raising pride in their local areas.
As part of London 2012's Changing Places Programme, it is launched within the five east London Olympic host boroughs include Nemham, Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Greenwich.
(324 words)
(Completion time: An hour and 12 minutes)
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