It was announced yesterday that the cost of staging the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games has risen by £81m to £454m. The cost is to be divided between the Scottish Government, who will pay £297m, Glasgow City Council, contributing £69m, and the organising committee, providing £88m. Games chairman Lord Smith said: “This organising committee is committed to running a tight ship. We understand our responsibilities to the taxpayer, as well as the athletes, spectators and other stakeholders in the games.”
Suffolk County Council and a secondary school which tried to prosecute the parents of a boy who didn’t regularly attend school because of a “school phobia”, have been ordered to apologise for descriminating against him. The Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal found that more consideration should have been given to the boy’s mental health and the prosecution stopped.
Sutton Council is urging people interested in adopting groups of siblings to get in touch as part of National Adoption Week. Councillor Tony Brett Young, executive member for young people in Sutton, said: “Adoption is a lifelong commitment, it can be challenging like all parenting, but is ultimately extraordinarily rewarding. Keeping brothers and sisters together is really important, so please get in touch with us if you are interested in adopting.”
Scaffolders recently found themselves hit with heavy fines from parking wardens, despite the fact they were carrying out necessary maintenance work for Calderdale Council. Malcolm Speak, managing director of Haven Scaffolding said: "It is ridiculous when we are doing work for the council but still get ticketed by them. It's like the different departments don't even talk to each other.”