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School of the stars celebrates
A LIVERPOOL school which boasts 2 top flight football
managers, TV's best loved slob and an MP among its ex-pupils is
celebrating its 75th anniversary.
Former Everton and current Ipswich Town manager Joe Royle, and
Reading FC boss Steve Coppell were both taught at Ranworth Square
Primary School in Norris Green. Also on the school roll were
Geoffrey Hughes - Onslow in Keeping up Appearances and bin man Eddie
Yeats in Coronation Street, and Liverpool West Derby MP Bob Wareing.
An open day for former staff and pupils is being held on Tuesday,
December 6, during which Lord Mayor Alan Dean will join pupils in
1930's costume looking through archive school records - including
pictures of the famous ex-students.
Head Teacher Eryl Owen said:- "We are very proud of our long
history and it will be a chance for former pupils to share their
memories with today's youngsters, so they can learn more about how
school life used to be. The day is about celebrating 75 years
of learning at Ranworth Square, and looking at how the school has
changed over the years."
Also on show will be punishment books which show that teachers
didn't hesitate to hand out a short, sharp shock to unruly children!
Councillor Paul Clein, executive member for children's services,
added:- "This is a day of celebration for all pupils and staff
at Ranworth Square. The school has given a wonderful grounding
to tens of thousands of youngsters, and its longevity is testament
to the quality of the teaching."
The school, which has 178 pupils on roll, is 1 of 18 to be rebuilt
as part of the city's £300 million PFI programme. The new building
opened in September 2003.
Brown’s dividends tax u-turn damages small business
GORDON Brown’s decision to abolish the 0 rate of corporation
tax on dividends paid out by small businesses on their first £10,000
of profits capped a disappointing pre-Budget report for that sector
says ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants).
Chas Roy-Chowdhury, ACCA Head of Taxation said:- “Many small
businesses took advantage of what the government itself described
just three years ago, as a gift horse and incorporated because the
tax system was being skewed in favour of doing this rather than
remaining self-employed or in partnership. Many are now considering
if the company structure is still appropriate for them, but disincorporating would subject them to heavy capital gains tax bills
on their assets. Today’s announcement, dressed up as an
anti-avoidance measure, is not consistent or joined-up tax policy. There was precious little else in the
Pre-Budget report for small businesses. There seems little
acknowledgement of the compliance costs they face, small businesses
pay almost 60 times as much per employee in this area as
multinationals. This was an opportunity wasted to take some action
to help them.” |
JUDICIAL REVIEW SOUGHT BY MERSEYTRAVEL
MERSEYTRAVEL is to seek a judicial review into the decision
by the Department for Transport not to release £170 million towards
Merseytram. The Authority is also looking to recoup from the
Government the money it has already spent on the scheme. Neil
Scales, Chief Executive and Director General of Merseytravel told
members of the Authority that a Judicial Review could be heard
before the end of February next year and, if successful,
construction could start the following month with completion in
2009.
A Letter of Intent will be sent to the Government. The Government
has 7 days in which to respond before action begins.
That the PTA..
1. notes with dismay and concern the decision of Ministers announced
on 29 November 2005 to withdraw the £170m government funding pledged
since December 2002;
2. notes the advice of
two leading counsels (QCs) that there is a strongly arguable case
that Ministers have acted unlawfully as a result;
3. reaffirms its belief
in the overriding importance of Merseytram Line 1 as a public
transport project and as an aid to Merseyside’s regeneration and
social inclusion objectives;
4. believes that
Ministers should be held to account for their action in withdrawing
funding unlawfully and so preventing the Merseytram project from
proceeding;
5. considers that the
Authority should accordingly apply to the High Court for permission
to bring an expedited action for a judicial review of Ministers’
decision on the grounds of unreasonableness and breach of legitimate
expectation with the intention of reviving the project so that
construction may start by 31 March 2006;
6. authorises the Chief
Executive to take any steps and to incur whatever expenditure he
considers necessary in connection with bringing an action for a
judicial review and thereafter prosecuting it or, if this does not
enable the scheme to continue, recovering all or part of Merseytravel’s scheme expenditure from the Department for Transport.
7. welcomes the total
support shown by Members and officers of Knowsley Metropolitan
Borough Council in relation to the project and their commitment to
providing £6 million of any contingency requirement;
8. welcomes the total
support shown by Members of Liverpool City Council in relation to
the project and their commitment to providing £18 million of any
contingency requirement;
9. reaffirms the
Executive’s willingness to cover all and any contingency
requirements over and above the first £24 million.
Councillor Mark Dowd, chair of Merseytravel, said:- “We have a strong
case and I am hopeful the scheme will go ahead.
We have
acted honourably and been honest with the Government all the way
through.
The Government has embarked on a trail that was dishonest
and we will fight this matter through the courts.” |
