02 February 2006

Report is a whitewash

EDUCATION campaigners say a council-commissioned report into the siting of a new school is a "whitewash". The New School Campaign has criticised the report into delays surrounding the plan to build a secondary school on the Ladywell Leisure Centre site. The campaigners are angry the scruitny committee report appears to clear Mayor Steve Bullock and his advisers of blame over the delays.

Excluded pupils’ second chance

Deptford charity Positive Mental Attitude has helped more than 300 excluded pupils get back into mainstream education. Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) was established in 1996 to meet the high demand of excluded pupils from black and minority ethnic backgrounds in Lewisham. The agency has established a track record of working with 311 young people in the past five years who do not access mainstream services and for whom there are few opportunities.

Borough’s news can be heard worldwide

A BUDDING broadcaster is doing his bit to spread the News Shopper gospel across the globe. Jon Jacob's weekly internet podcast carrying news and views from the borough has fans everywhere from the USA to Iran. Podcasts are audio or video files put on the Internet, which web users can subscribe to. To hear Mr Jacob's latest podcast, visit www.thoroughly-good.com

£5m cuts needed to stop increase

COUNCIL chiefs claim a proposed £5m package of cuts is needed to protect the borough's council tax payers. Two council committees have advised Mayor Steve Bullock council tax will have to rise without the savings package. And the Government has warned the council it could be capped if it increases the tax by more than five per cent.

Email Blunder

DEPUTY Mayor Gavin Moore was left red-faced after a confidential email was leaked to a packed council chamber. The email ordered Labour councillors to avoid speaking to a group who opposed a motion supporting its Building Schools for the Future programme. The email read: "It goes without saying but we need to ask you all not to have dialogue with the New School Campaign who are opposing the group motion to council tomorrow night."