Make teaching the Countryside Code compulsory, CLA urges Education Secretary

THE Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has written to the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson again calling on him to include the Countryside Code in the national curriculum. The CLA, which represents 28,000 landowners and rural businesses in England and Wales, recently partnered with LEAF Education to develop a resource pack for Teachers and youth group leaders to help them show young people how to behave safely and responsibly in the countryside. But at present, there is little by way of Whitehall directive encouraging schools to teach the Countryside Code.

Mark Bridgeman, President of the CLA, said:- �Speak to farmer or landowner and they will tell you that we need to do more to introduce children to the countryside, and with it, teach them how to be safe and responsible. We initially wrote to the Education department in 2020 and were, to say the least, frustrated y the reply. That's why we took the matter into our own hands and a year later we have done much of the work for them. But we need a conversation about how to properly embed the Countryside Code into Schools. There is too little being taught, and many farmers see the consequences on their own land, be it from wildfires, litter or dog attacks on livestock.�

The pack is free to download from the CLA�s website and is also available on the Countryside Classroom; a website regularly used by Teachers seeking materials related to rural affairs. CLA members are encouraged to share the resource with their local Primary Schools.

To read the letter to the Education Secretary from the CLA, please visit:- CLA.Org.UK.

Commenting on the Government's high street strategy, Ian Walters, Managing Director Distribution, Metro Bank

COMMENTING on the Government's high street strategy, Ian Walters, Managing Director Distribution, Metro Bank said:- "Now, more than ever before, there is an opportunity for high streets to get their mojo back. While the composition of high streets has been changing for years, the Pandemic has thrown into sharp focus the need for them to adapt in order to survive. High streets can reclaim their place at the heart of local communities and Metro Bank is committed to serving communities across the country. Our customers tell us that they want to be able to bank in a way that suits them; that might be online for the most part, but for the key moments in their lives and businesses, they want face to face interaction with a real person who understands what they need."

LGA responds to PHE report on alcohol consumption and harm during Covid19

RESPONDING to a Public Health England report on alcohol consumption and harm during the Covid19 Pandemic, which shows a 20% increase in alcohol specific deaths in 2020, Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the Local Government Association�s Community Wellbeing Board, said:- "These shocking statistics are a stark wake up call about the wider impact of Covid19 on our general health, including for those with alcohol related conditions. Councils, which are responsible for public health services, are committed to continue supporting people with alcohol and other substance misuse problems despite ongoing pressures made worse by the Pandemic. The worrying increase in alcohol consumption during this period will create further health problems later on, including increased hospital admissions and exacerbating existing health inequalities, with a 3rd of all alcohol specific deaths occurring in the most deprived 20% of areas. Every life lost to alcohol misuse is another tragic reminder that there is still more work to do as we look to build back better from the Pandemic, while reducing pressure on the NHS and social care. Sustainable, long term funding of Councils' public health services can help us achieve this shared ambition with Government."

Staff vote to strike over pay in 15 further education Colleges

MEMBERS of the University and College Union (UCU) in 15 further education colleges in England have voted for strike action. Colleges were balloted in a row over pay. Staff at 3 Colleges that are part of Capital City College Group, London, have also voted to strike over working conditions and compulsory redundancies alongside pay. An overwhelming 89% of members who voted backed strike action, on an average turnout of over 62% (62.6%). UCU said the turnout and vote for action reflected the anger staff feel over having their pay held down for so long.

The pay ballots covered:- Carshalton College, City College Plymouth, City of Bristol College, City of Liverpool College, Croydon College, Kingston College, Lambeth College, Merton College, New College Swindon, Sheffield College, Wandsworth and Tooting College and Weymouth College. The working conditions, compulsory redundancies and pay ballot covered City and Islington College, Westminster Kingsway College and the College of North East London.

Staff are angry that employer body, the Association of Colleges (Aoc) recommended a pay offer of just 1% in December 2020, a decision that was criticised by UCU, Unite the Union, Unison, GMB and the National Education Union (NEU). After years of UCU's joint campaigning with employers, further education won ₤400m of increased Government funding, ₤224m of which arrived in August 2020 and should have been used for staff pay, with the AoC indicating it would make a more significant pay recommendation as a result. The pay gap between College and School Teachers currently stands at ₤9,000 as staff working in further education have suffered real terms pay cuts of over 30% in the past decade. UCU is demanding a pay increase of greater than 5% in an effort to close the School College pay gap, and after more than a decade of below inflation FE pay increases. UCU said employers have until September to meet its demands or they will face strike action.

UCU General Secretary Jo Grady said:- "This ballot result is an emphatic message from College staff to principals that they will not sit back while their pay is held down. Thanks to UCU�s campaigning, Colleges received an injection of government funding, but they have failed to work with us to prioritise pay. Instead, employers have recommended a derisory 1% pay rise, which is a real term pay cut. College leaders urgently need to come to the negotiating table or they will face severe disruption in the autumn. Colleges need to understand that delivering top class education is reliant on looking after your staff and ensuring they are paid fairly. The employers who engage with us on pay and conditions will receive a positive hearing, but those who refuse should not be surprised at the determination of staff to take action. Pay in further education is a problem, and it is time for colleges and the AoC to get serious and do something about it."

Make teaching the Countryside Code compulsory, CLA urges Education Secretary

Commenting on the Government's high street strategy, Ian Walters, Managing Director Distribution, Metro Bank

LGA responds to PHE report on alcohol consumption and harm during Covid19

Staff vote to strike over pay in 15 further education Colleges

Total UK cases Covid19 cases in and around Liverpool City Region