The government decision taken last December to increase from 2012 the maximum amount universities can charge for tuition could deter people from going into higher education. It is now the duty of all of us - government, politicians of all colours and the public - to make sure that nobody makes a decision about going to university without knowing exactly how it will be paid for and the support available.
The facts, figures and costs of a degree for future graduates are: nothing at all for those earning less than £21,000 and £7.50 a month for those earning £22,000.
It might be possible with big effort, the right language and the commitment of all involved in advising future graduates to prevent the new policy on higher education deterring people from going to university.
The Hughes report contains over 30 recommendations directed towards schools and colleges, universities, government and regulators on what they can do to encourage participation in higher education. You can download a copy of the report from the Cabinet Office website here: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/hughes-report
Wednesday 27 July 2011
Friday 17 June 2011
Pensions: ensure the young do NOT cop for a double whammy
This is my letter to Ms Dorries, my MP:
I am emailing as one of your constituents, regarding the issue of the State Pension Age.
I am asking you NOT to vote against the Pensions Bill at its Second Reading on Monday.
While these proposals do not give those affected much notice to plan for their retirement, it's a darned sight more that the student 2012 intake whose tuition fees are being hiked.
While they hit women much harder than men, as no men will have to wait over a year longer for their pension, we women have to admit we've had it cushy compared with men for a long time on pension age. Do we want equality? Yes!
They will also hit those with the smallest savings and no occupational pensions hardest, as they are most reliant on the State Pensio. Some will have been feckless; others will be people who need help and that is society's/HMG's job to provide for at base level.
Of concern to me, is how you communicate equivalence: the plans break a clear commitment in the Coalition Agreement.
In the Coalition Agreement, the government said they would "hold a review to set the date at which the state pension age starts to rise to 66, although it will not be sooner than 2016 for men and 2020 for women". The proposals in the Pensions Bill mean the state pension age for men and women will now be starting to rise to 66 in 2018, so fine, bite the bullet but keep pointing out that silver surfers are not the worst hit. The half of young people who aspire to go on to higher education will be, as pensions have always been paid for by the current young, not by what past generations put in.
So the young cop a double whammy: pay up to £9k p.a. for their higher education AND therafter be hit by higher taxes to pay for the oldies not wanting to take a share of the pain.
These plans break the government’s own promise, but then much else has had to be broken, not least the start for our young people. Please vote for the Bill on Monday.
I am emailing as one of your constituents, regarding the issue of the State Pension Age.
I am asking you NOT to vote against the Pensions Bill at its Second Reading on Monday.
While these proposals do not give those affected much notice to plan for their retirement, it's a darned sight more that the student 2012 intake whose tuition fees are being hiked.
While they hit women much harder than men, as no men will have to wait over a year longer for their pension, we women have to admit we've had it cushy compared with men for a long time on pension age. Do we want equality? Yes!
They will also hit those with the smallest savings and no occupational pensions hardest, as they are most reliant on the State Pensio. Some will have been feckless; others will be people who need help and that is society's/HMG's job to provide for at base level.
Of concern to me, is how you communicate equivalence: the plans break a clear commitment in the Coalition Agreement.
In the Coalition Agreement, the government said they would "hold a review to set the date at which the state pension age starts to rise to 66, although it will not be sooner than 2016 for men and 2020 for women". The proposals in the Pensions Bill mean the state pension age for men and women will now be starting to rise to 66 in 2018, so fine, bite the bullet but keep pointing out that silver surfers are not the worst hit. The half of young people who aspire to go on to higher education will be, as pensions have always been paid for by the current young, not by what past generations put in.
So the young cop a double whammy: pay up to £9k p.a. for their higher education AND therafter be hit by higher taxes to pay for the oldies not wanting to take a share of the pain.
These plans break the government’s own promise, but then much else has had to be broken, not least the start for our young people. Please vote for the Bill on Monday.
Friday 6 May 2011
Local election results for Barton-le-Clay, May 2011
Thank you, fellow Bartonians, for voting on Thursday and in particular for those 456 of you who voted for me, your local Lib Dem candidate.
Sadly for me, it wasn't enough. I came in second after Ian Shingler, a former Lib Dem councillor and Bartonian, who is now your independent representative on the council.
I have enjoyed my two years on Central Beds Council enormously. It gave me a good insight into and understanding of public service in general and the internal workings of this unitary authority in particular. The work to improve efficiency and cost effectiveness will continue and I shall follow its progress and continue my blog.
As for the casework I have been privileged to be involved with, I shall hand it over to Ian openly and with my best wishes for the next four years of his tenure.
Election results were:
Ian Shingler Independent 615
Janet Nunn Lib Dem 456
Martin Hawkins Con 406
Lyndon Davison-Williams Independent 225
Michael Wingrove Labour 137
Mr Wildman UKIP 88
Sadly for me, it wasn't enough. I came in second after Ian Shingler, a former Lib Dem councillor and Bartonian, who is now your independent representative on the council.
I have enjoyed my two years on Central Beds Council enormously. It gave me a good insight into and understanding of public service in general and the internal workings of this unitary authority in particular. The work to improve efficiency and cost effectiveness will continue and I shall follow its progress and continue my blog.
As for the casework I have been privileged to be involved with, I shall hand it over to Ian openly and with my best wishes for the next four years of his tenure.
Election results were:
Ian Shingler Independent 615
Janet Nunn Lib Dem 456
Martin Hawkins Con 406
Lyndon Davison-Williams Independent 225
Michael Wingrove Labour 137
Mr Wildman UKIP 88
Tuesday 3 May 2011
Stephen Fry worth a one minute watch on AV
Take a look at this clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J31QkzWmmUc because it's worth it:-)
Sunday 1 May 2011
Plannng application for marquee at the Grove
Central Beds Council received a planning application for the erection of a marquee for weddings and corporate events on land to the rear of The Grove, Barton Road, Pulloxhill, Reference: CB/11/00235/FULL. The application was registered on 28th January and is now under consideration, having been through a formal consultation period. In line with the relevant legislation a notice detailing the application was erected close to the site.
All planning applications are published on the Council's website. The links to the application in question are as follows:
Planning application: http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/portal/showimage.asp?j=The%20Grove,%20Barton%20Road,%20Pulloxhill&index=373786.
Design and access statement: http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/portal/showimage.asp?j=The%20Grove,%20Barton%20Road,%20Pulloxhill&index=373798
Site plans: http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/portal/showimage.asp?j=The%20Grove,%20Barton%20Road,%20Pulloxhill&index=373795
CBC say that, "All relevant planning issues will be taken into account in making a final decision."
CBC say that both Pulloxhill and Barton Parish Councils were consulted, although the site is wholly within Pulloxhill Parish. Barton Parish Council claim they were not consulted; I expect this will be discussed at their next meeting on Monday 9 May.
All planning applications are published on the Council's website. The links to the application in question are as follows:
Planning application: http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/portal/showimage.asp?j=The%20Grove,%20Barton%20Road,%20Pulloxhill&index=373786.
Design and access statement: http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/portal/showimage.asp?j=The%20Grove,%20Barton%20Road,%20Pulloxhill&index=373798
Site plans: http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/portal/showimage.asp?j=The%20Grove,%20Barton%20Road,%20Pulloxhill&index=373795
CBC say that, "All relevant planning issues will be taken into account in making a final decision."
CBC say that both Pulloxhill and Barton Parish Councils were consulted, although the site is wholly within Pulloxhill Parish. Barton Parish Council claim they were not consulted; I expect this will be discussed at their next meeting on Monday 9 May.
Tuesday 19 April 2011
PwC blagging for Central Beds Tories
The mid-Beds Tory glossy distributed in my ward has had serious money thrown at it and not just for the printing.
No less a source than Pricewaterhouse Cooper's (PwC) has been quoted as saying that Central Beds gave better "Value for Money" service delivery in 2010/11 than Bedford, MK and Luton (while curiously calling only Luton "our geographical neighbours").
Anyone who has ever worked with PwC will know precisely what happened here. As business consultants, PwC would have been paid to devise a methodology that would spit out the desired answer first thought of. And they'll have charged through the nose for it.
Good luck to PwC, say I, for fleecing the Tories. But you don't fool me and I hope it won't fool most of the voters on 5 May.
The best indicator on value for money is how we each, as constituents, feel about the Council tax we pay. Mine is two-fifths, getting on for half, of my mortgage (which has less than 10 years to run), and is the third biggest outlay in our household budget.
Do take a look at my blog 10 April to see how Central Beds Council tax is dearer than that of our three neighbours, like for like (Band D charges).
The old adage, "All fur coat and no knickers" springs to mind for how the Tories have chosen to spend their money at this time on this PR spin-piece. It would be funny if I weren't a Central Beds tax payer.
No less a source than Pricewaterhouse Cooper's (PwC) has been quoted as saying that Central Beds gave better "Value for Money" service delivery in 2010/11 than Bedford, MK and Luton (while curiously calling only Luton "our geographical neighbours").
Anyone who has ever worked with PwC will know precisely what happened here. As business consultants, PwC would have been paid to devise a methodology that would spit out the desired answer first thought of. And they'll have charged through the nose for it.
Good luck to PwC, say I, for fleecing the Tories. But you don't fool me and I hope it won't fool most of the voters on 5 May.
The best indicator on value for money is how we each, as constituents, feel about the Council tax we pay. Mine is two-fifths, getting on for half, of my mortgage (which has less than 10 years to run), and is the third biggest outlay in our household budget.
Do take a look at my blog 10 April to see how Central Beds Council tax is dearer than that of our three neighbours, like for like (Band D charges).
The old adage, "All fur coat and no knickers" springs to mind for how the Tories have chosen to spend their money at this time on this PR spin-piece. It would be funny if I weren't a Central Beds tax payer.
Sunday 10 April 2011
Central Beds Council tax 2010-11: no excuse
These are Band D Council Tax figures for 2010-11:
Central Bedfordshire (Tory) £1615
Bedford (Lib Dem) £1538*
Aylesbury Vale (Tory) £1492
South Northants (Tory) £1448
Northampton (Lib Dem Borough Council) £1445
Most Councils will be levying a zero percent increase for 2011-12, since they get 2.5% more from the government if they do.
*Lib Dem Bedford are reducing their Council Tax this year. Both Bedford and Central Bedfordshire took over from the expensive Tory-run County Council.
Message for Tory-run Central Bedfordshire Council: it needs to try harder to cut costs.
Central Bedfordshire (Tory) £1615
Bedford (Lib Dem) £1538*
Aylesbury Vale (Tory) £1492
South Northants (Tory) £1448
Northampton (Lib Dem Borough Council) £1445
Most Councils will be levying a zero percent increase for 2011-12, since they get 2.5% more from the government if they do.
*Lib Dem Bedford are reducing their Council Tax this year. Both Bedford and Central Bedfordshire took over from the expensive Tory-run County Council.
Message for Tory-run Central Bedfordshire Council: it needs to try harder to cut costs.
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