http://modgov.sefton.gov.uk/moderngov/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=13945&T=9
Yesterday Caroline Lucas tweeted about the vote on Royal Mail:
"CarolineLucas Commons just voted to sell off Royal Mail - sad day for post offices, since no assurance that privatised Royal Mail will use PO for business"
The BBC reported:
"The Postal Services Bill, which could see 90% of the firm end up in foreign hands, was approved by the Commons with a government majority of 81."
According to the Save EMA website:
"We can announce they the Labour party have listened to our calls for a vote to take place on the scrapping of the education maintenance allowance (EMA). And are using a their parliamentary backbench business day next week to pass a motion in the house to make a vote essential."
More information about EMA and why it is important, to help poorer students with books, travel and prevent then having to get Saturday jobs that interfere with the ability to study to name but a few very important reasons, can be found on the Save EMA website.
Celia Watson student spokesperson and SACC contributor posted the following on the SACC Facebook page:
"Update on EMA: announcement that there is now a Vote on EMA next week - wed 19th. They weren't bothering with an actual vote before. NUS has called day of action for Tues 18th and lobbying 19th. I'll let you know as soon as I know what is happening in the region. But I think it would be great if people could be persuaded to support students who do something - whether it's just walking alongside those who may walkout (even if you can't condone them walking out). If you are a teacher and pupils leave - please - little things like marking them as present (if threat of losing their current EMA is an issue etc). Or making sure school gates are not illegally closed to prevent people going."
Crown Green Bowling:
I have invited representatives from Southport Parks Bowling to come to the Monday meeting. At the 16th December Council Meeting the Council voted to reduce the numbers of Sefton Council bowling greens from 22 to 16. Although the council has promised to speak to bowlers (see minutes of 16th Dec meeting) about which these might be, Southport Parks Bowling say they have not been consulted up until now despite 11 of the 22 falling within wards covered by the Southport Area Committee. This has lead to many rumours and speculations about which may be lost and much uncertainty for the many people who use them.
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra:
Sefton Council voted to cease their grant of over £22,000 to the Philharmonic Orchestra. This is in addition to the Arts Council Cuts in which the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society have already lost over £11,000.
Prison Closures Announced:
The Government announced today that three prisons will be closed (by March) and the inmates transfered to more "modern facilities".
The BBC reported:
"Ashwell prison, a former Army camp, is a facility for medium-risk males with a capacity of 214. It will close by the end of March.
Lancaster Castle is leased from Lancashire County Council while the land itself is owned by the Duchy of Lancaster. It has a capacity of 238 and will also close by the end of March.
And Morton Hall, a former RAF base used to house female prisoners, has a capacity of 392. The government said it would be operational as an immigration centre by some time next year."
All these prisons are North of Birmingham. The people employed by the Prison Service at Ashwell and Lancaster will be offered transfers or voluntary redundancy packages and all inmates will be transferred according to The Guardian. Although they do not state where.
Regional Prisons are important so that relatives of prisoners are able to visit. Moving prisoners away from their families punishes the children, parents, siblings e.t.c. of prisoners by geographically denying them access to their imprisoned relative. Stable family relationships have been identified as important for rehabilitation and demonstrated to influence re-offending rates as is referenced in this British Society of Criminology paper. Is the Government going to guarantee that prisoners are offered alternative local prison places and likewise the staff are offered local employment?
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