Making good use of the Pupil Premium and accounting for it
Sarah Teather made a welcome announcement just before Christmas: the government is to increase to increase the value of the Pupil Premium from its current level of £480 to £600 and will extend the range of pupils eligible for this extra funding. The amount allocated for services children will also be increased.
A recent Lib Dem Focus castigated Luminus regarding the bungalows at Thongsley and The Whaddons.
This scandal first came to light during the election where Sam Kemp became the youngest councillor in the the County. That was in 2007.
At that time were told by local residents that some of the bungalows had been empty for 2 years. Since then more bungalows have been emptied and remain vacant.
Bungalows are a hugely sought after resource. To leave 20 empty for so long is appalling. Luminus did not immediately drag empty the remaining homes. They let the matter drift on for year, so the bungalows cannot have been dangerously unsafe.
So why didn't they issue short term lets providing short term lets to vulnerable and needy people whilst the company made its preparations for redevelopment?
After years of apparent inactivity shortly after our Focus hit the streets Luminus concluded a deal with the Council to acquire the site. Obviously just a co-incidence. Or is it?
County Councillors and the increase in their allowances
At the October County Council the Conservative majority voted themselves an immediate 25% pay rise. This was justified, they claimed, by a report from an Independent Remuneration Panel. A few days later it was discovered that the Panel had been incorrectly set up, its report was therefore invalid and the decision to raise the allowances was quashed.
Everyone is invited to the Huntingdon Branch Quiz Evening at Brampton Memorial Centre on Friday, February 17th at 7.30.
The quiz will be presented by our two local expert quizmasters, John Morgan and Michael Black, whose previous quizzes have been greatly enjoyed.
Tickets @ £5 to include light refreshments in the interval can be booked in advance by e-mail from peter.downes@cambridgeshire.gov.uk and paid for on the night. Bring your own preferred liquid refreshments. Hot drinks served at the interval. And a raffle to raise funds for the Liberal Democrats and their campaigning activities.
