Weekly media roundup – 09/06/12 to 15/06/12
203 LGA mentions in national, regional, trade and online publications
3 mentions in national newspapers
LGA warns £500 million council tax benefit cut will hit those on low incomes
Tuesday 12 June
'BBC radio news' featured concerns raised by the LGA over plans to cut £500 million from council tax benefit funding. The LGA warned that the cut, which is being introduced alongside moves to pass responsibility for administering council tax benefits from Whitehall to local authorities, could see more than two million people, including the working poor and young unemployed, paying on average £247 more in council tax each year. A number of councils say they are being put in an impossible position in which they will have to handle the cut by reducing services, increasing council tax for everyone or asking the working poor and young unemployed to pay more.
Road crossing lights too fast for elderly
Thursday 14 June
The 'Express', 'Mail' and BBC covered a University College London study which claimed many elderly people cannot use pedestrian crossings safely in the time allowed. It was based on Government guidance that an average person walks at 1.2 metres per second. Cllr Peter Box, Chair of LGA's Economy and Transport Board, was quoted: "The formula councils use for timings at pedestrian crossings actually gives people far longer to cross the road than this flawed research suggests. Timings have to strike a balance between traffic flow and pedestrian safety, but the emphasis is always on safety. Drivers are required by law to wait for a slow-walking person at a pedestrian crossing, even if the light does turn green while they're still progressing." Our line was also quoted on 'BBC Breakfast' and the 'One O'Clock news'.
Problem families face harsher punishments
Monday 11 and Tuesday 12 June
'The Times' quoted the LGA in a story about troubled families and the problems they cause in their neighbourhoods. Eric Pickles, the Communities Secretary, had earlier told the 'Independent on Sunday' that there will be a tougher approach to problem families under a £448 million three-year programme in which trouble shooters will attempt to turn around their lives. Sir Merrick Cockell said: "Councils have a longstanding commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable families and their communities, so it is unsurprising that so many have signed up to this new scheme to take the agenda forward." CYP Board Chairman Cllr David Simmonds appeared on BBC Radio 4 'You and Yours' on Tuesday lunchtime to discuss the issue.
Council staff rights ‘ripped up'
Wednesday 13 June
On Wednesday the 'Mirror' reported that public sector workers faced having their terms and conditions "torn up" by council. The GMB said town halls wanted to replace the Green Book of national agreements with "reduced, dumbed-down deals". The LGA criticised the union for publishing details it shared in confidence and issued the following statement; "We are disappointed that information that was shared with the GMB in confidence has been made public in this way, especially as it comes at a time when we are trying to build a new and more cohesive relationship with the unions. We hope that the GMB will also make public a willingness to get around the table and discuss constructively a package of reform of pay and conditions which delivers for workers, employers and council taxpayers."
27 July 2012
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