Parents to Help Design Fresh Start in County Classrooms
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A 4-star council Awarded top marks by the Audit Commission April 2006 Providing • schools • highways • trading standards • social services Busy babies’ 785 tonne bottom p2 Win a first-class Ask Shirley trip to London - p4 Vision's Shirley gets you the answers you need! Audit report points to county’s value for money INDEPENDENT auditors say that Lancashire County Council is one of the best-performing councils in the coun- try and that it offers good value for money. The Audit Commission audits and inspects the zTHE new Burnley Campus, which should be complete in September 2008. A Whitehall go-ahead is to be sought for school refurbishments or new buildings across the county. council each year and its “management letter” cov- ers accounts, performance management and financial management of corporate governance. Mike Thomas, district auditor, added that the council is well placed to deliver good services. County Councillor Hazel NEW SCHOOLS Harding, leader of the county council, said: “The county council provides around 85 per cent of local authority services in Lancashire so it is impor- tant for people to know that the organisation is well run. “The first page of the HERALD report states that the coun- ty council’s financial state- ment is sound and that we are continuing to improve outcomes for local people. “That means the servic- es we provide for children and young people are doing well, and adults and older people are receiving REBIRTH even better services. “Recycling is up and we PARENTS, pupils, governors and teachers are to are also making good progress on Lancashire’s Parents to be asked what they want in a huge £250m zNEW: Shuttleworth College will boast a circular hall for assemblies, exhibi- rural recovery plan. schools building programme that will eventual- tions and even performances. “However the audit is ly be a blueprint for schools in the whole of not just designed to tell us help design Whitehall go-ahead to renew schools across the entire county. Schemes everything that we are Lancashire. elsewhere in Lancashire may be on a smaller scale than Burnley and doing well – it also points Before the month is out, a variety of people involved in schools Pendle’s £250m project – but all will involve bringing schools up to 21st out where the council can fresh start in Burnley and Pendle will be asked to workshops to say what century standards. improve. they want in the next phase of school renewal in their area. About 500 people attended an exhibition of plans for the proposed “Setting longer-term The scheme for Burnley and south Pendle involves seven new col- Burnley Campus, Pendle Vale College and Shuttleworth College at goals for customer access in county leges, a sixth form, three special schools, a primary and nursery school Burnley FC last month. and strengthening part- - a wholesale replacement of old and unsuitable existing facilities. Janet Newton, project director for Building Schools for the Future, nerships are areas that The first buildings will open in September 2008 with the entire proj- said: “What we are doing in Burnley and Pendle is a once-in-a-lifetime still need attention. The classrooms ect due for completion in 2010. opportunity to create exciting, high-tech learning environments for level of sickness absence is Education chiefs in Lancashire have already said they will seek the pupils. cont back page also of concern.” The presence of promotional leaflets delivered inside Vision does not imply Lancashire County Council endorsement. YOUR LANCASHIRE: A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE MATTERS 2 April 2006 Providing • nurseries • pedestrian crossings www.lancashire.gov.uk WATCH this space – decisions He was speaking after a tour of “There is also a particular issue of on some road repairs could be roads in Tarleton, Hesketh Bank and ‘moss’ roads in the area. The good news Road tour Banks at the invitation of County is that a report is now going to be pre- Paid work devolved to local level. Councillor Malcolm Barron. pared on the roads in the area.” Roads chief County Councillor Tony Councillor Barron said: “There are Councillor Martin added that huge sparks Martin said Lancashire Local commit- tremendous numbers of heavy wagons food wagons were damaging B roads for students tees - which devolve power down to using roads in this area because of the and that he hoped that district councils elected representatives at district level intensive nature of agriculture – and across Lancashire and the county local look – were ideal bodies to direct parts of the small roads can barely take this council could work together to priori- to boost the county’s roads budget. type of traffic. tise road budgets. business AskAsk ShirShirleleyy Are you having difficulties knowing who to contact when you need help? Are you baffled when you open the phone book to zWORK experience: student placement ring for help? Then this new section is for you Liz Cam with prospective entrants. RURAL tourism businesses in IF you are having problems getting Lancashire are benefiting from hold of someone to help, Lancashire a special paid undergraduate County Council has many staff placement scheme offered trained and willing to assist. through Lancashire County Sometimes you just can’t think who to ask Council’s economic develop- - and this is where Vision’s Shirley can help. ment company – Lancashire Shirley answers all the letters she receives County Developments Ltd. and some will feature on this page. Others The three-year project is being run in may take a while as Shirley will seek partnership with the Lancashire Rural responses from other council teams. Tourism Initiative (LRTi), Lancashire Shirley is not able to offer legal advice. County Council and the Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board. The project aims to help small and Break the boundaries medium-sized rural tourism businesses with marketing and associated projects MRS B from Preston writes: and to help undergraduates gain valu- lease help, I have heard so many able experience in the world of work. conflicting stories regarding the With the first three students nearly proposed free travel for the over- half way through their placements, P LCDL is now recruiting applicants for 60s. 2006/7 and is offering 11 to 12 place- I am 67 and have had an over- ment opportunities. Successful appli- 60s concessionary bus pass (NoWcard) cants will take part in a 12-month placement with the first three months for the past few years and use it regu- spent at a relatively large organisation, larly. I currently travel for half fare. zFREE travel bonanza on Lancashire buses: see “Break the boundaries”. followed by nine months at a much How will this affect me? smaller operation. ou should contact the Lancashire es, your friend is correct. If you are Companies benefiting from the first rom 1 April if you are aged 60 and Highways Partnership on 0845 053 taking a van to the Household placements made under the scheme over or are disabled, living in 0011. Recycling Centre you will need to included the Lancashire and Blackpool Y Tourist Board, Bashall Barn and Y You failed to mention whether the hedge is Lancashire and a Nowcard holder apply for a “tip permit”. Oswaldtwistle Mills. F on the highway or is privately owned. Hedges A van shall be deemed to be any vehicle without side you will be able to travel for free with- Undergraduates interested in work- which are the responsibility of the highway authority windows at the rear, any “flatback’”vehicle or any “pick- in your district boundary after 9.30am will be trimmed as required on receipt of a omplaint. ing on tourism-related marketing proj- up” vehicle. ects in Lancashire for a year should Monday – Friday, all day Saturday, Sunday The highway authority cannot take arbitrary action However any vehicle with more than four wheels, on private property; they must serve notice of at least contact Louise Kite at Lancashire and bank holidays. Your current concession- any trailer more than 3m long or any vehicle carrying County Developments Ltd on 01772 ary fare will apply before 9.30am. 21 days on the owner of the hedge, giving them notice trade waste will not be permitted to deposit rubbish at to remove the obstruction. 551888 for application forms and fur- As an added bonus, for a limited period, you will only a HWRC. ther information. have to pay a flat fare of 50p for journeys which cross If they do not trim the hedge adequately within the You can apply for a permit by calling the Waste time given, the highway authority can do the work and Companies willing to offer place- district boundaries. Helpline on 0845 0500 957 or you can apply online by ments should also contact Louise. If you have any further queries please contact the charge them. visiting the Lancashire County Council website NoWcard Helpline on 0845 058 1096. www.lancashire.gov.uk Mum’s the word Help with school travel Your flexible friend Ask now to MISS J from Padiham writes: MRS A from Garstang writes: am on benefits and my daughter y son is eight-months-old and I Mr F from Bacup writes: save cash with is due to start high school in am due to return to work after am planning to start my own September. M my maternity leave so I need business and wondered if there free booklet I Will she qualify for a free bus pass to to arrange childcare for him. are any grants available from get her to and from school? If so, how do I apply How do I go about finding a childmin- I the county council to help me get SIMPLE steps to a new and and when? der or nursery? going? healthier life are outlined in a booklet that Lancashire ligibility for free school travel is not ou can get all the information you nfortunately we cannot give grants County Council travel planners income-based.