Shropshire Council highlights the Home Access Scheme
by jontandy on January 26, 2010
in Community, General, Local Council
Shropshire Council is raising awareness of a programme to provide low income families with a free computer and free internet access. The council wants to ensure that all eligible families across the county are made aware of this opportunity and apply for a Home Access computer and internet package.
The Government scheme is being rolled out nationally and is designed to close the digital and educational divides and to help parents keep in touch with their child’s progress. It has been proven that using technology for learning can help children achieve more, do better in their studies and have fun while they learn.
Shropshire Council is one of the three local authorities nationally to have secured approval to run a special group ordering system which aims to provide families with further support and assistance in applying for a package. If a family qualifies for a Home Access Grant they can either use it themselves to purchase a computer and internet package or they can take part in the council’s group ordering scheme.
Families may be able to apply for a Home Access Grant if one of their children is in years 3 to 9 and is in full-time education in an English state-maintained school and are eligible for free school meals or are receiving income based Job Seeker’s Allowance or Income Support. Families can only apply for one package per household. Further details on the scheme can be found on the following website: www.homeaccess.org.uk
Councillor Cecilia Motley, Lead Member for Children and Young People’s Services said: “We are seeking to maximise the number of Shropshire families who are able to secure a computer and internet package and to benefit from this programme. It is essential that we raise awareness across the county and, where appropriate, support those families who need assistance in applying for a Home Access Grant. We are currently briefing schools and other agencies and partners working with families about the programme.”
Families who believe that they are eligible for a grant should ring 0333 200 1004 to get an application form.
Mansion Tax Muddle is Typical of the Lib Dems
The Lib Dem proposals are in a muddle and their sums don’t remotely add up.
Following a campaign by Lib Dem MPs in wealthier London suburbs, the Lib Dems now say they would raise their mansion tax threshold from £1m to £2m.
The Lib Dems have been unable to convincingly say how they’ll work out the value of people’s homes that aren’t being sold. The available figures on sales show relatively small number of houses worth over £2m. According to the latest Land Registry figures, there were just 86 properties in the whole of England and Wales that were bought for £2m or more (July 2009)
Sarah McCarthy-Fry MP, Labour’s Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, said:
“Their mansion tax muddle is typical of the Lib Dems. Because they are trying to face both ways, their plans keep falling apart.
“They’ve made a complete mess of costing their proposals. The only thing that is consistent is that their sums don’t add up.”
Looking at the detail of Lib Dem proposals, it’s clear they are in a muddle and their sums don’t remotely add up:
Raising Personal Allowances to £10k: The Lib Dems have underestimated the cost of their headline tax policy by over £5bn. They have claimed this costs only £16.5 billion. But figures already available on the Treasury website show that increasing the personal allowance from around £6500 to £10,000 next year would cost over £22bn (i.e. each £100 rise costs £650m for tax year 2010/11)
The Lib Dems claim they could save £5bn from closing loopholes, but these figures are just plucked from the air. Even Vince Cable admitted at the press conference today, they were just hunches.
The Lib Dems say they would raise £2.2bn from replacing Air Passenger Duty with a per plane tax. But Budget 2009 (p154) shows that switching back to this proposal would raise only another £190m next year.
The Government announced it would switch from the ‘Aviation Duty’ single plane tax that it consulted on to the Four-Band Air Passenger Duty that came into effect on 1 November 2009. The Lib Dems seem to have missed this.
SHREWSBURY MOSTON ROAD DEVELOPMENT
This development is of course a great improvement in the area. However, it was only through intervention by the local Labour Councillors that any shops were included. We immediately saw that those without access to cars need a shop to provide for their local needs. I welcome the 20 new affordable houses here, but it has to be recognised this is just a drop in the ocean when compared to the housing needs of Shrewsbury.
In particular we need more bungalows for our elderly residents. Not only does this give them the accommodation they need, but it also allows much needed 3&4 bed houses to be released for families.
Homelessness in Shrewsbury
by jontandy on June 30, 2009
in Community, General, Local Council
Today the press have been phoning me about the shortage of housing in Shrewsbury for homeless people. The way single people are told by the council to go away you don’t need housing because your not a vulnerable person. IE been in prison have kids or been in the forces. It should be the right of all people to have a roof over there head!.
This is something that really needs to be recognised as a problem and discussed because I think that the current situation is totally appalling.
