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Latest News
Date: 10/03/2010
Budget Will Be On 24 March, Brown Says
This year's Budget will be held in "two weeks' time", Prime Minister Gordon Brown has confirmed. The 24 March statement will be six weeks ahead of the widely expected general election date of 6 May. In a speech on Wednesday, Mr Brown said the government had guided the economy through a "storm".
Please access the full article via the following link.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8559268.stm
Date: 08/03/2010
Hundreds More Town Hall Staff To Get Police-style Powers
Almost 1,700 people, also including car park attendants and dog wardens, already have powers to hand out a string of fines and even take photographs of low level offenders under the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme. But the Government has quietly announced it plans to review the scheme with chief police officers to see how it can be expanded further. It will further fuel concerns that, with increasing budget pressures, the Government is keen to push for policing on the cheap.
Please access the full article via the following link.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/7378224/Hundreds-more-town-hall-staff-to-get-police-style-powers.html
Date: 07/03/2010
Residents Fill With Anger At Pothole Tax
People in North Yorkshire face an annual hike of almost £5 in their council tax bills to cover the cost of filling in holes in their roads. Across Britain there has been a 60% increase in holes in the past two years and the Local Government Association has asked the government for a £100m emergency fund. The Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA), which represents the road menders, says the average cost of fixing a pothole is £70. But the cost to local authorities is likely to increase again when motorists bill them for the cost of ruined tyres.
Please access the full article via the following link.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article7052511.ece
Date: 07/03/2010
1,000 New School Bursars To Help Primaries Save £30,000 Each
One thousand school bursars are to be appointed over the next four years to help primaries in England save up to £30,000 a year each from administration to go to frontline teaching, Schools Secretary Ed Balls announced. Each of the ''school business managers'' will cover four or five schools, giving advice on effective management of budgets, maximisation of resources and securing additional income. The announcement came as Mr Balls unveiled the first £300 million of a total £500 million in savings in the education budget to be implemented by 2013 as part of the Government's plan to halve Britain's record deficit.
Please access the full article via the following link.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/7392628/1000-new-school-bursars-to-help-primaries-save-30000-each.html
Date: 03/03/2010
Spending Pledge Fears
Fears that local government will bear the brunt of cutbacks under a Conservative Government have grown after a succession of shadow ministers made budget commitments at the party’s weekend spring conference. Shadow justice secretary, Dominic Grieve, said a Conservative Government would ‘ensure we have prison capacity so the early release system is consigned to history.’ Shadow Treasury chief secretary, Philip Hammond, promised more university places, and Caroline Spelman reiterated her pledge to match council tax from all new housing for six years and from affordable housing match it to the tune of 12.5%. She also repeated Mr Osborne’s commitment to match-fund a rise of 2.5% in council tax for two years, thereby freezing it.
Please access the full article via the following link.
http://www.localgov.co.uk/index.cfm?method=news.detail&id=86964
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