06/11 Five new parish plans funded in Hertfordshire

Five new parish plans funded in Hertfordshire

Rural communities across Hertfordshire have received grants to help
create parish plans thanks to Defra funding.

In 2005-06 Defra made £1 million available nationally for parish plans,
a tool which can help local voices be heard by decision makers and give
local communities more control over their own affairs. Now five new
parish plans are being funded in Hertfordshire.

Parish plans involve a whole village in identifying their priorities
and setting out an action plan to tackle them. This process has already
led to direct action by rural residents in Hertfordshire that has
improved the way their local area and services are managed.

Parish plans are tangible evidence of local priorities for local
planners, service providers, grant-giving organisations, and local
authorities.

A parish plan is not just a wish list: it sets out specific action
points, and identifies who is responsible for acting on them. Although a
plan can take a year or even two to complete, and needs a dedicated,
committed team of volunteers in a parish plan steering group, planners
agree that this is time well spent.

The potential benefits can include:
* highway safety improvements;
* village hall refurbishment;
* planning permission and grants for health facilities;
* installation of IT facilities; and
* grants for sheltered housing to enable the elderly to remain in their
village.

These plans can generate new community spirit, with everybody pulling
together as volunteers, all trying to create a better life for local
people. Unexpected local talents are discovered and parish councils can
be revitalised.

In 2006-07 support for rural communities continues to be available
through Defra's new Rural Social and Community programme, which supports a
range of activities including parish planning.

Decisions on activities are made by those best placed to decide: local
people. Each Rural Community Council played a key role in defining the
Rural Social and Community programme in their local area, and can be
contacted for information about funding for parish plans.

22/08 HM Revenue & Customs Officers dismantle illegal tobacco factory

HM Revenue & Customs Officers dismantle illegal tobacco factory

HM Revenue & Customs officers have seized and dismantled an illegal
tobacco factory in Stevenage Hertfordshire. Four men were arrested at the
factory and a further 2 arrests were made in Hornchurch Essex.

Officers entering the premises found two machines each approximately 15
feet in length used for shredding tobacco and several tons of raw
tobacco with an estimated street value of £848,000. The machines are capable
of making considerable quantities of tobacco products, including
hand-rolling tobacco. A quantity of counterfeit tobacco pouches and
packaging equipment was also seized.

John Phillips HMRC's Head of Detection said

" We are delighted with the result achieved on this case. Not only does
this type of criminal activity have a detrimental effect on the local
economy by depriving local shopkeepers of legitimate income but the
chemicals used in the counterfeit process can cause a great deal of harm
when smoked. I would urge anyone who has been offered cigarettes or any
product that may have come from an illegal source to telephone our 24
hour Confidential help-line on 0800 59 5000."

The operation took place on Friday 11 August 2006.

Details of those charged and bailed to appear before Ipswich
magistrates Court on 24 August 2006 are:
Brian Charles
Address: 17 Arden Crescent, Dagenham, Essex, RM9 6TJ
DOB: 29/05/1957
Michael James
Address: 29 Rockingham Avenue, Hornchurch, RM11 1HH
DOB: 08/04/1957

Ray Blackburn
Address 21 Tintagel Drive, Stanmore, Middlesex HA7 4SR
DOB: 30/05/1965

Eric Cuerton
134 Elsenham Road, Grimsby DN31 2QT
DOB: 12/06/1957

Stephen Warr
5 Kingston Avenue, East Horsley, Surrey KT24 6QT
DOB: 30/08/1963

A sixth man has been released on bail.

02/08 13 Hertfordshire VA and Foundation schools

Adjudicator publishes decisions on objections to the admissions arrangements of 13 Hertfordshire VA and Foundation schools


The Office of the Schools Adjudicator has published decisions on objections by Hertfordshire County Council to the admission arrangements of 13 VA/Foundation Schools for September 2007.

The Council believed the admission authorities had failed to comply with Regulations which came into force in February 2006 giving priority to looked after children.

The adjudicator, Alan Parker, upheld the objections but acknowledged the willingness of the schools to comply with the regulations as soon as it was brought to their attention.