1.
A widower was stolen at her doorstep this morning.
Around 8:45am, the 84-year-old living in Beck Road, IIworth was kept talking by two men pretended as gardeners and tree surgeons.
Meanwhile, the third man entered the house, stole a wallet containing £55 in notes with loose change.
The two men were around 30s, with fair-haired, rough appearance and local accents. One had a eagle tattoo on his left arm.
Anyone with information should contact on Yeltham 412311.
(80 words)
2.
A number of fish was found dead in the smallest of the three ponds at Yesltham Park this morning.
Any live fish will be kept in Quarantine until the cause has been identified.
The circumstances suggests it could be pollution or vandalism.
Anyone with information should contact on Yeltham 375222.
(50 words)
3.
A male donkey was stolen from a field on Valeham Road, Walton between 6pm last night and 6:30am today.
Mr Adrian Bussey, of Rose Cottage, Valeham Road, Walton, owner of the animal, said: “My 11-year-old daughter Suzie is distraught because Bobby has been stolen.
“The two were born at much the same time and have nearly grown up together.
“We are doing our best to console her, but it's difficult.”
Witnesses with information should contact on Valeham 234565.
(80 words)
4.
The first chess lesson with pupils, developed by Valeham Rotary Club, will take place on Monday at Walton Lane Junior School.
One-hour session will be held each week.
A rota consisting of 12 club members has been drawn up and the scheme will soon be extended to other schools.
(50 words)
5.
A fresh programme on historical walk will be launched by the Historical Society from next week's Saturday.
It will begin with a one-mile walk containing a study of the Ardingham's waterfront development along the River Slade.
Other walks include one of the historic parish of bellington and its castle.
James Childs, local historian and former district archivist, will conduct the walk along the river frontage.
The event is free and anyone interested should contact Katharine on Ardingham 378668.
(79 words)
6.
Ableton School is collecting mobile phones for recycling, in conjunction with Fones4schools.
200 phones are expected to be collected and money will be spent on the school equipment.
Anyone willing to donate should either take it to the school or drop it into the collection box at Ableton Library.
(49 words)
Saturday, 27 February 2010
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Mayor/chairman and directly elected mayor
Explain the difference in the role between a directly elected Mayor and Chairman or Mayor of a Council.
Directly elected Mayor
The directly elected Mayor is an executive mayor, who leads the community, speaks up for the borough and makes key decisions about local services. For example, in Newham, the directly elected mayor is Sir Robin Wales, in Lewisham, he is Sir Steve Bullock.
The role of the directly elected mayor is to lead the council and proposes the council's budget and policy framework, unlike many authorities, where the role of Mayor is ceremonial.
Once the framework is set, the directly elected Mayor then implements these policies and takes all day to day decisions to run the council except those that have to be taken by full council by law, such as changing the council's constitution.
The directly elected mayor is voted in by their local electors under 'Supplementary System' in a separate ballot run alongside the main council elections in their areas.
Chairman/Mayor of the Council
The chairman/mayor of the Council is elected by the members of the council Annual General Meeting in May of each year.
Chair/mayor is the ceremonial head of the council. He or she must be a serving councillor, but must remain politically impartial. A chairman/mayor must not be a member of the cabinet.
Chairman's ceremonial duty includes: being the politically impartial civic leader; promoting the objectives and services of the council; acting as an ambassador for the council; fostering community identity and pride.
Chairman's key responsibility includes: presiding over meeting of the full council; accepting invitations on behalf of the councillors to attend events; inviting individual's and representatives of key organisation to the events at town/county hall and other venues.
Directly elected Mayor
The directly elected Mayor is an executive mayor, who leads the community, speaks up for the borough and makes key decisions about local services. For example, in Newham, the directly elected mayor is Sir Robin Wales, in Lewisham, he is Sir Steve Bullock.
The role of the directly elected mayor is to lead the council and proposes the council's budget and policy framework, unlike many authorities, where the role of Mayor is ceremonial.
Once the framework is set, the directly elected Mayor then implements these policies and takes all day to day decisions to run the council except those that have to be taken by full council by law, such as changing the council's constitution.
The directly elected mayor is voted in by their local electors under 'Supplementary System' in a separate ballot run alongside the main council elections in their areas.
Chairman/Mayor of the Council
The chairman/mayor of the Council is elected by the members of the council Annual General Meeting in May of each year.
Chair/mayor is the ceremonial head of the council. He or she must be a serving councillor, but must remain politically impartial. A chairman/mayor must not be a member of the cabinet.
Chairman's ceremonial duty includes: being the politically impartial civic leader; promoting the objectives and services of the council; acting as an ambassador for the council; fostering community identity and pride.
Chairman's key responsibility includes: presiding over meeting of the full council; accepting invitations on behalf of the councillors to attend events; inviting individual's and representatives of key organisation to the events at town/county hall and other venues.
Issues related Local libraries
Which authorities are responsible for the library services? List the services libraries may provide and explain who pays for them.
In two-tier structure, the county councils are responsible for the library services, while in unitary structure, the unitary authorities are responsible for them.
Libraries services include:
1.Borrowing books, movies and music
2.The libraries stock the latest issues of a wide range of popular magazines and newspapers for reference use only, and library also provides online subscription to NewsUK, which is an online service developed to provide national and regional news, combining the most popular British newspaper titles in one database, for example, Stratford Library has such service.
3.Home Reader Service: this is a special home delivery service for residents of the borough who are unable or have difficulty visiting a static library due to age, illness or disability.
4.The libraries provide services for people with disabilities. For example, Stratford libraries have level access or a ramp from the street, lifts to the upper floors. Majority of the buildings have disabled access toilets.
5.Some libraries provide 'a card' to a range of services in the borough. For example, all the Newham libraries provide a ConnectsCard, which make a quick and easy visit to The Gate – the library and Local Service Centre in Forest Gate. In addition, the card can be used as Oyster Card for bus, train and tube fares as the libraries have hooked-up with Transport for London.
6.Multicultural library services. Libraries in Newham stock a wide range of books, DVDs, CDs and other items in a variety of community languages, as well as holding frequent outreach and community events.
7.Fees and charges: the libraries will charge for overdue items a small amount of fees. Borrowers can renew their items online.
Libraries fundings are from local council.
In two-tier structure, the county councils are responsible for the library services, while in unitary structure, the unitary authorities are responsible for them.
Libraries services include:
1.Borrowing books, movies and music
2.The libraries stock the latest issues of a wide range of popular magazines and newspapers for reference use only, and library also provides online subscription to NewsUK, which is an online service developed to provide national and regional news, combining the most popular British newspaper titles in one database, for example, Stratford Library has such service.
3.Home Reader Service: this is a special home delivery service for residents of the borough who are unable or have difficulty visiting a static library due to age, illness or disability.
4.The libraries provide services for people with disabilities. For example, Stratford libraries have level access or a ramp from the street, lifts to the upper floors. Majority of the buildings have disabled access toilets.
5.Some libraries provide 'a card' to a range of services in the borough. For example, all the Newham libraries provide a ConnectsCard, which make a quick and easy visit to The Gate – the library and Local Service Centre in Forest Gate. In addition, the card can be used as Oyster Card for bus, train and tube fares as the libraries have hooked-up with Transport for London.
6.Multicultural library services. Libraries in Newham stock a wide range of books, DVDs, CDs and other items in a variety of community languages, as well as holding frequent outreach and community events.
7.Fees and charges: the libraries will charge for overdue items a small amount of fees. Borrowers can renew their items online.
Libraries fundings are from local council.
The role of chief constable
Outline the role and powers of a Chief Constable.
The local police force in the UK are headed by chief constables and supervised by the local police authority. Though Metropolitan Police and the City of London force are headed by commissioners, which are different from the local police service.
All forces are under the ultimate control of the Home Office, but chief constables have great freedom of action in operational matters, independently of their police authorities.
Chief constables have statutory responsibilities separate from those laid on police authorities. His/her role and power are:
1.He/she delivers the policies agreed by their police authority on the ground.
2.He/she must have regard to the police plan, but has wide scope for personal decisions. It is he/she who us sued, not the police authority, if things go wrong.
3.He/she appoints all officers under assistant chief constable rank, as well as the force's civilian staff.
4.He/she choose one of the assistant chief constable as his/her deputy.
5.He/she produces an annual report and statistics on their performance in the preceding 12 months, covering specific categories of offence, along with other areas highlighted as being of local concern, such as violent crime, and disciplining officers who misconduct.
6.He/she can be asked by the police authority to produce a report on specific matter as well.
7.He/she can refuse to comply on grounds of the public interest, but Home Secretary must approve the refusal.
8.The chief constable and his/her assistant are responsible for managing the force's budget; hiring and firing other officers; and ensuring that personnel are suitably distributed to maintain adequate patrols across the force area.
The police authority appoints the chief constable, but the appointment must be approved by the Home Secretary, who also appoints assistant chief constables.
The local police force in the UK are headed by chief constables and supervised by the local police authority. Though Metropolitan Police and the City of London force are headed by commissioners, which are different from the local police service.
All forces are under the ultimate control of the Home Office, but chief constables have great freedom of action in operational matters, independently of their police authorities.
Chief constables have statutory responsibilities separate from those laid on police authorities. His/her role and power are:
1.He/she delivers the policies agreed by their police authority on the ground.
2.He/she must have regard to the police plan, but has wide scope for personal decisions. It is he/she who us sued, not the police authority, if things go wrong.
3.He/she appoints all officers under assistant chief constable rank, as well as the force's civilian staff.
4.He/she choose one of the assistant chief constable as his/her deputy.
5.He/she produces an annual report and statistics on their performance in the preceding 12 months, covering specific categories of offence, along with other areas highlighted as being of local concern, such as violent crime, and disciplining officers who misconduct.
6.He/she can be asked by the police authority to produce a report on specific matter as well.
7.He/she can refuse to comply on grounds of the public interest, but Home Secretary must approve the refusal.
8.The chief constable and his/her assistant are responsible for managing the force's budget; hiring and firing other officers; and ensuring that personnel are suitably distributed to maintain adequate patrols across the force area.
The police authority appoints the chief constable, but the appointment must be approved by the Home Secretary, who also appoints assistant chief constables.
Honorary titles bestowed to the local authorities
Which local authorities may be awarded royal charter status and does it affect how the local authority is run?
(a).
The district councils, borough councils, civil parishes, and metropolitan borough councils may be awarded royal charter status to become city.
For example, Cambridge, Durham, Exeter, and Gloucester are districts or borough councils in a two-tier structure that were granted royal charter, and applied with city status.
Seven English cities, such as Chichester, Ely, Hereford, Lichfield. Ripon, Truro, and Wells are actually no more than civil parishes, but which were all granted royal charter and applied with city status.
Metropolitan borough such as Mancherster, Liverpool, Leeds, Coventry, Bradford, Birmingham, Newcastle upon Tyne, Salford, Sunderland, Wakefield, Wolverhampton were granted royal charter and applied with city status.
(b)
District may awarded royal charters and become boroughs, such as all the London boroughs are districts applied with borough status, and in effect, all the London boroughs are unitary authorities.
(c)
These Royal charter status does not affect how the local authority runs.
(a).
The district councils, borough councils, civil parishes, and metropolitan borough councils may be awarded royal charter status to become city.
For example, Cambridge, Durham, Exeter, and Gloucester are districts or borough councils in a two-tier structure that were granted royal charter, and applied with city status.
Seven English cities, such as Chichester, Ely, Hereford, Lichfield. Ripon, Truro, and Wells are actually no more than civil parishes, but which were all granted royal charter and applied with city status.
Metropolitan borough such as Mancherster, Liverpool, Leeds, Coventry, Bradford, Birmingham, Newcastle upon Tyne, Salford, Sunderland, Wakefield, Wolverhampton were granted royal charter and applied with city status.
(b)
District may awarded royal charters and become boroughs, such as all the London boroughs are districts applied with borough status, and in effect, all the London boroughs are unitary authorities.
(c)
These Royal charter status does not affect how the local authority runs.
Fostering and adoption
Distinguish between fostering and adoption.
The principle distinction between fostering and adoption is that, while the former is theoretically a finite arrangement, the latter is permanent.
Adoption
Is a formal, legal process by which registered 'children in need' are taken into the permanent care of a family other than their biological one. Their adopters become their permenant legal parents
It can be arranged only through an adoption agency, either social services or a voluntary agency approved by the Secretary of State. The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) regulates private adoption agencies and inspects social services.
Would-be adoptive parents are carefully vetted before a court makes a permanent order. Usually the natural parents are involved in the process, but where this is inappropriate the court can make a 'freeing order' and the parents take no further part in the procedure.
Recent reforms have extended their right to gay and unmarried heterosexual couples, as well as those that are married.
Fostering
Fostering can be arranged by a voluntary agency or privately. Social services use it for children in their care as an alternative to putting them in community homes. Official fostering arrangements must be approved by social services, who investigate the potential fosterers' family life.
The would-be fosterers are visited at home by social workers and they must agree to inquiries made with their doctor and the police.
Anyone convicted of harming a child or allowing harm to be caused to a child cannot be a foster parent. If such person is living in the house it cannot be used for fostering, even if that person is not him/herself the foster parent.
Social services can see fostered children regularly and can remove a child from foster parents at any time is they think it is in the child's interests. But fosters can apply to a court for a residence order.
Fostering can be short-term, just for a few days or weeks, or long-term up to years.
Private fostering is legal, but social services must be informed when child is looked after for more than 27 days by someone to whom he/she is not related.
The principle distinction between fostering and adoption is that, while the former is theoretically a finite arrangement, the latter is permanent.
Adoption
Is a formal, legal process by which registered 'children in need' are taken into the permanent care of a family other than their biological one. Their adopters become their permenant legal parents
It can be arranged only through an adoption agency, either social services or a voluntary agency approved by the Secretary of State. The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) regulates private adoption agencies and inspects social services.
Would-be adoptive parents are carefully vetted before a court makes a permanent order. Usually the natural parents are involved in the process, but where this is inappropriate the court can make a 'freeing order' and the parents take no further part in the procedure.
Recent reforms have extended their right to gay and unmarried heterosexual couples, as well as those that are married.
Fostering
Fostering can be arranged by a voluntary agency or privately. Social services use it for children in their care as an alternative to putting them in community homes. Official fostering arrangements must be approved by social services, who investigate the potential fosterers' family life.
The would-be fosterers are visited at home by social workers and they must agree to inquiries made with their doctor and the police.
Anyone convicted of harming a child or allowing harm to be caused to a child cannot be a foster parent. If such person is living in the house it cannot be used for fostering, even if that person is not him/herself the foster parent.
Social services can see fostered children regularly and can remove a child from foster parents at any time is they think it is in the child's interests. But fosters can apply to a court for a residence order.
Fostering can be short-term, just for a few days or weeks, or long-term up to years.
Private fostering is legal, but social services must be informed when child is looked after for more than 27 days by someone to whom he/she is not related.
Friday, 12 February 2010
Duddleston city council - more civil partnership ceremonies conducted
A Reverend supports gay people to have their places in the Church and claims the relationship stability is far more important than the couple's sexuality.
A civil partnership taking place this Saturday will gain the city's first blessing while a survey shows the district's gay weddings was in 16 per cent rise – one of the two councils nationwide.
The Rev Andrew MacDuffie, of St Benedict's Church, Duddleston, said: “I know this is a controversial issue but there is a place for gay people in the Church. We shouldn't have had to wait this long for Duddleston's first blessing.”
The report indicates more gay females than males married in the past 12 months.
Sally Spencer tied the knot with her partner at Duddleston City Hall last week, but not all local churches delivered welcoming message
Sally said: “We would have liked a blessing afterwards at St Faith's Church, but our vicar turned us down. He just don't want anything to do with it, despite the fact we often attend his services.”
The national picture showed a year-on-year drop, between 31 per cent and 90 per cent, while Duddleston and Barnsley demonstrated their increase in the number of single-sex ceremonies.
Figures also show gay weddings numbers in Duddleston increased relatively slow when the Civil Partnership Act 2004 was introduced nationally in December 2005, which prompted an initial rush for gay ceremonies.
Adrian Martines, chair of Duddleston Lesboan and Gay Forum, said: Duddleston City Council takes a very positive view of these ceremonies and has earned a reputation that is second to none for the sympathetic help its staff give to same-sex couples.”
Mrs Julia Sutcliff, Head of Registrations at Duddleston City Council, said: “Civil partnerships have now become an accepted part of our society and this council is very happy to have played a part in helping couples to achieve this.”
The legislation means that the ceremonies cannot be conducted in religious buildings.
(325 words)
A pig was found guzzling apples in front of a fruit-and-veg stall today, a RSPCA inspector was informed.
The Vietnamese pot-bellied pig was then kept by the stall holder Tony Sainford, using a length of cord to lasso it, until police's arrival on Normanston open market.
This breed is sometimes kept as a pet, police says no missing or stolen pig was reported so far.
Anyone who is missing a pig should contact RSPCA on 02924 367560.
( 80 words)
A drugs raid recovered an 18-inch tall brass crucifix in a Ebling street house, Duddleston.
The police reveals the antique, without decoration and identifying marks, may have been taken from a local church or a school.
Anyone with information should call police on 02924 335511.
(46 words)
Head Teacher from the school:
1.Why does the school install the CCTV?
2.How does the school resolve problems if the footage appears online?
3.Have the school ever considered that if any of the child abuse offenders steal the footage online and then cause troubles?
4.Is there any alternative way to resolve problems of graffiti and smoking apart from installing CCTV?
5.Does the school work with local police on this matter?
Parents:
1.What do you think if the school install CCTV for preventing children’s anti-social behaviour such as smoking and graffiti.
2.Do you think the CCTV will resolve problems of graffiti and smoking and why?
3.Are you worried about if the footage appears online and stolen by child abuse offenders?
4.What are your suggestions in terms of tackling anti-social behaviour such as graffiti and smoking?
5.Do you think parents should be involved in working with the school to resolve anti-social behaviour such as graffiti and smoking?
Local councillor who holds Children and Young People Portfolio:
1.Do you think it is a good way to install CCTV to resolve the anti-social behaviour problems?
2.Where does the funding come from for buying and installing the CCTV?
3.Is there any alternative way to resolve problems of graffiti and smoking apart from installing CCTV?
4.Does the school work with local police on matter?
5.Does the council consider any harmful consequences of the CCTV footages appear online, such as online abusing? How is the council going to help the school to solve the problem the new trouble?
Online:
1.Insert the embedded links to remind browsers any related information, such as council website and school websites, or child abuse offenders.
2.Taking photos of the CCTV cameras at the school and graffiti, and produce a photo gallery or slide show online.
3.Invite comment and suggestions of what can be done to make the council or school governing boards do something on tackling anti-social behaviour.
4.A comprehensive summary of the story, regularly updated as information becomes available.
5.Cross refer to your newspaper which will carry a full story.
Video:
1.Making video about the CCTV inside in the toilet.
2.Making video when interviewing the head teacher.
3.Making video when interviewing the councillor.
4.Making video of the online blog created by the protested parents if having any.
5.Making video when the reporter reporting the issues in front of the school, show the images of the school.
Other digital offering interaction
1.Use sms text message to break the story and direct the recipient to your website or newspaper for more information.
2.Send an e-mail to your readers and alert them there is more update online.
3.Set up an online reader poll asking local parents, residents’ opinions about the school’s decisions.
4.Invite a parent who is protesting the school’s decision to set up a blog and write his/her opinions there.
5.Ask your editor to comment on the story in his online and print editorial.
A civil partnership taking place this Saturday will gain the city's first blessing while a survey shows the district's gay weddings was in 16 per cent rise – one of the two councils nationwide.
The Rev Andrew MacDuffie, of St Benedict's Church, Duddleston, said: “I know this is a controversial issue but there is a place for gay people in the Church. We shouldn't have had to wait this long for Duddleston's first blessing.”
The report indicates more gay females than males married in the past 12 months.
Sally Spencer tied the knot with her partner at Duddleston City Hall last week, but not all local churches delivered welcoming message
Sally said: “We would have liked a blessing afterwards at St Faith's Church, but our vicar turned us down. He just don't want anything to do with it, despite the fact we often attend his services.”
The national picture showed a year-on-year drop, between 31 per cent and 90 per cent, while Duddleston and Barnsley demonstrated their increase in the number of single-sex ceremonies.
Figures also show gay weddings numbers in Duddleston increased relatively slow when the Civil Partnership Act 2004 was introduced nationally in December 2005, which prompted an initial rush for gay ceremonies.
Adrian Martines, chair of Duddleston Lesboan and Gay Forum, said: Duddleston City Council takes a very positive view of these ceremonies and has earned a reputation that is second to none for the sympathetic help its staff give to same-sex couples.”
Mrs Julia Sutcliff, Head of Registrations at Duddleston City Council, said: “Civil partnerships have now become an accepted part of our society and this council is very happy to have played a part in helping couples to achieve this.”
The legislation means that the ceremonies cannot be conducted in religious buildings.
(325 words)
A pig was found guzzling apples in front of a fruit-and-veg stall today, a RSPCA inspector was informed.
The Vietnamese pot-bellied pig was then kept by the stall holder Tony Sainford, using a length of cord to lasso it, until police's arrival on Normanston open market.
This breed is sometimes kept as a pet, police says no missing or stolen pig was reported so far.
Anyone who is missing a pig should contact RSPCA on 02924 367560.
( 80 words)
A drugs raid recovered an 18-inch tall brass crucifix in a Ebling street house, Duddleston.
The police reveals the antique, without decoration and identifying marks, may have been taken from a local church or a school.
Anyone with information should call police on 02924 335511.
(46 words)
Head Teacher from the school:
1.Why does the school install the CCTV?
2.How does the school resolve problems if the footage appears online?
3.Have the school ever considered that if any of the child abuse offenders steal the footage online and then cause troubles?
4.Is there any alternative way to resolve problems of graffiti and smoking apart from installing CCTV?
5.Does the school work with local police on this matter?
Parents:
1.What do you think if the school install CCTV for preventing children’s anti-social behaviour such as smoking and graffiti.
2.Do you think the CCTV will resolve problems of graffiti and smoking and why?
3.Are you worried about if the footage appears online and stolen by child abuse offenders?
4.What are your suggestions in terms of tackling anti-social behaviour such as graffiti and smoking?
5.Do you think parents should be involved in working with the school to resolve anti-social behaviour such as graffiti and smoking?
Local councillor who holds Children and Young People Portfolio:
1.Do you think it is a good way to install CCTV to resolve the anti-social behaviour problems?
2.Where does the funding come from for buying and installing the CCTV?
3.Is there any alternative way to resolve problems of graffiti and smoking apart from installing CCTV?
4.Does the school work with local police on matter?
5.Does the council consider any harmful consequences of the CCTV footages appear online, such as online abusing? How is the council going to help the school to solve the problem the new trouble?
Online:
1.Insert the embedded links to remind browsers any related information, such as council website and school websites, or child abuse offenders.
2.Taking photos of the CCTV cameras at the school and graffiti, and produce a photo gallery or slide show online.
3.Invite comment and suggestions of what can be done to make the council or school governing boards do something on tackling anti-social behaviour.
4.A comprehensive summary of the story, regularly updated as information becomes available.
5.Cross refer to your newspaper which will carry a full story.
Video:
1.Making video about the CCTV inside in the toilet.
2.Making video when interviewing the head teacher.
3.Making video when interviewing the councillor.
4.Making video of the online blog created by the protested parents if having any.
5.Making video when the reporter reporting the issues in front of the school, show the images of the school.
Other digital offering interaction
1.Use sms text message to break the story and direct the recipient to your website or newspaper for more information.
2.Send an e-mail to your readers and alert them there is more update online.
3.Set up an online reader poll asking local parents, residents’ opinions about the school’s decisions.
4.Invite a parent who is protesting the school’s decision to set up a blog and write his/her opinions there.
5.Ask your editor to comment on the story in his online and print editorial.
Saturday, 6 February 2010
Pupils taught to spot extremism at school
A piece written for BBC London
By Yixiang Zeng
A new initiative in Waltham Forest is teaching school children to spot and report fellow pupils who show signs of extremism or who express radical views.
The idea was discussed at a conference called "Promoting Cohesion through Schools" organised by Metropolitan Police and the Waltham Forest Council to look how schools can play a part in tackling community tensions.
Researcher Houriya Ahmed, from the Centre for Social Cohesion, said: "In general, if pupils find anyone who has extremist views, they are expected to be able to speak to their teachers and the teachers should be informed."
However, headteacher Helen Jeffery from George Mitchell School, said: "These kids do not just snitch on each other."
Being safe together
School children in Waltham Forest will also be getting lessons from a new curriculum called "Learning Together to be Safe".
This will feature a series of classes looking at areas such as the British National Party, Irish Republican Army, Al Qaeda and animal rights extremists.
Zetasha Sheikh, a Year 10 student at Kelmscott School in Waltham Forest said,"Yes, we are encouraged to do it" when asked if the children were being asked to spot extremists.
Creative methods
Zetasha is one of the many pupils in the borough who are using creative methods to better understand each other's cultures and identities.
The 15-year-old talked about a project called "Flava Press Gang" that she has been participating in so far.
"Through what I am doing at the Waltham Forest News, I understand more about different kinds of people, cultures and communities.
"For example, at the moment I am doing some research on Chinese New Year, it helps me learn about Chinese Zodiac and know that I am from the Year of Dog.
"Muslims, Christians and people from different kinds of background are living in our London boroughs. Like, I am British Pakistani.
"Through exploring these identities, it broadens my mind and gives me a better understanding of multiculturalism and tolerance. I feel I am privileged of being British as well as the country where I am originally from."
Communication to achieve one goal
Faima Islam, a pupil from The Lammas School talked about how another project "Peer Mediation Service" improves the mediator's self-esteem. The 14-year-old said: "As a mediator, you need to know how to talk and help resolve the problem."
Daniaal Khalid, aged 15, from the same school as Faima, said: "We were divided into groups to play a game named 'building up bricks', but during the process we cannot talk, and we can only communicate with each other through using our body language.
"It makes us aware how important communication and consultation skills are when working within a team to achieve one goal."
By Yixiang Zeng
A new initiative in Waltham Forest is teaching school children to spot and report fellow pupils who show signs of extremism or who express radical views.
The idea was discussed at a conference called "Promoting Cohesion through Schools" organised by Metropolitan Police and the Waltham Forest Council to look how schools can play a part in tackling community tensions.
Researcher Houriya Ahmed, from the Centre for Social Cohesion, said: "In general, if pupils find anyone who has extremist views, they are expected to be able to speak to their teachers and the teachers should be informed."
However, headteacher Helen Jeffery from George Mitchell School, said: "These kids do not just snitch on each other."
Being safe together
School children in Waltham Forest will also be getting lessons from a new curriculum called "Learning Together to be Safe".
This will feature a series of classes looking at areas such as the British National Party, Irish Republican Army, Al Qaeda and animal rights extremists.
Zetasha Sheikh, a Year 10 student at Kelmscott School in Waltham Forest said,"Yes, we are encouraged to do it" when asked if the children were being asked to spot extremists.
Creative methods
Zetasha is one of the many pupils in the borough who are using creative methods to better understand each other's cultures and identities.
The 15-year-old talked about a project called "Flava Press Gang" that she has been participating in so far.
"Through what I am doing at the Waltham Forest News, I understand more about different kinds of people, cultures and communities.
"For example, at the moment I am doing some research on Chinese New Year, it helps me learn about Chinese Zodiac and know that I am from the Year of Dog.
"Muslims, Christians and people from different kinds of background are living in our London boroughs. Like, I am British Pakistani.
"Through exploring these identities, it broadens my mind and gives me a better understanding of multiculturalism and tolerance. I feel I am privileged of being British as well as the country where I am originally from."
Communication to achieve one goal
Faima Islam, a pupil from The Lammas School talked about how another project "Peer Mediation Service" improves the mediator's self-esteem. The 14-year-old said: "As a mediator, you need to know how to talk and help resolve the problem."
Daniaal Khalid, aged 15, from the same school as Faima, said: "We were divided into groups to play a game named 'building up bricks', but during the process we cannot talk, and we can only communicate with each other through using our body language.
"It makes us aware how important communication and consultation skills are when working within a team to achieve one goal."
Monday, 1 February 2010
Waltham Forest youngsters wow Hackney crowd
By Yixiang Zeng
Waltham Forest youngsters brought the house down with their comedy and dancing when they showed off their talent at the Hackney Empire.
The variety show “Play the Empire”, was staged on Sunday evening and included entertaining acts, presented by hand-picked young performers from the five Olympic host boroughs.
E-Motionz, a community dance group from the Outset Centre, Walthamstow, wowed the gallery with their street beats.
Choreographer Tashan Taylor said: “We have been rehearsing the piece for couple of weeks now; we hope all our hard work is paid off, and we want our audience to appreciate us.”
The group, whose members are aged between 13 and 22, showcased their collective piece which also included hip hop, jazz, contemporary and house dance.
Alongside the dancers was aspiring stand-up comedian Ben Sarpong of Bromley Road, Walthamstow.
He got hundreds of people roaring to bits this weekend when he performed, proving that determination goes a long way in shaping his career in comedy.
“If you have a goal, you go for it,” the 18-year-old said of his career, adding that he wrote his own sketch and performed himself. “The show gives me the chance to be on stage and improve my skills. It helps me to be recognised.
“My best memory from 'Play the Empire' is after I had gone through its audition last summer, I was chosen to work with a TV production company named Brown Eyed Boy, and then performed in a BBC Three comedy show called Laughter Shock.”
The event producer Frank Sweeney, from the Hackney Empire, said: “We are trying to engage young people in the arts through the medium of variety show.
“We not only provide them a platform to showcase their talent, but also support and guide them to become professional artists.”
The two-and-an-half-hour show, funded mainly by the London Development Agency, aims to encourage local young people to participate in creative and performing arts, and make best use of their free time.
* Visit www.myspace.com/emotionzuk for more information.
Waltham Forest youngsters brought the house down with their comedy and dancing when they showed off their talent at the Hackney Empire.
The variety show “Play the Empire”, was staged on Sunday evening and included entertaining acts, presented by hand-picked young performers from the five Olympic host boroughs.
E-Motionz, a community dance group from the Outset Centre, Walthamstow, wowed the gallery with their street beats.
Choreographer Tashan Taylor said: “We have been rehearsing the piece for couple of weeks now; we hope all our hard work is paid off, and we want our audience to appreciate us.”
The group, whose members are aged between 13 and 22, showcased their collective piece which also included hip hop, jazz, contemporary and house dance.
Alongside the dancers was aspiring stand-up comedian Ben Sarpong of Bromley Road, Walthamstow.
He got hundreds of people roaring to bits this weekend when he performed, proving that determination goes a long way in shaping his career in comedy.
“If you have a goal, you go for it,” the 18-year-old said of his career, adding that he wrote his own sketch and performed himself. “The show gives me the chance to be on stage and improve my skills. It helps me to be recognised.
“My best memory from 'Play the Empire' is after I had gone through its audition last summer, I was chosen to work with a TV production company named Brown Eyed Boy, and then performed in a BBC Three comedy show called Laughter Shock.”
The event producer Frank Sweeney, from the Hackney Empire, said: “We are trying to engage young people in the arts through the medium of variety show.
“We not only provide them a platform to showcase their talent, but also support and guide them to become professional artists.”
The two-and-an-half-hour show, funded mainly by the London Development Agency, aims to encourage local young people to participate in creative and performing arts, and make best use of their free time.
* Visit www.myspace.com/emotionzuk for more information.
Sunday, 31 January 2010
Political structures in England (mainly)
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?
(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?
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.
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