General News
TfL: A new online ‘Penalty Checker’ service that will allow people to verify if the vehicle they are purchasing has any outstanding penalty charges for the Central London Congestion Charge has been launched by Transport for London.
This free service, which was brought about following feedback from customers, has been introduced to help those customers who are considering purchasing a new vehicle and are looking for assurance the vehicle they are buying has no outstanding penalties.
Press release ~ Send Requests to OutstandingCCPenaltyCharges @TfL.gov.uk ~ TfL Congestion Charging – penalties and enforcement ~ Consumer Direct
HL: Homeless Link has applauded the Mayor of London’s commitment to affordable housing and changing lives for London’s most vulnerable citizens, following the launch last week of the Draft Mayor’s Housing Strategy for London with its substantial references to homelessness and solutions to address the issues, as it heralds a very significant move forward.
They also welcomed the Mayor’s strong support for solutions that will deliver ‘move on’ accommodation for people leaving hostels, including Homeless Link’s Move On Protocol.
FDA: Whitehall departments must practise what they preach and carry out their duties under race equality legislation, the FDA said in response to the final report from the Commission for Racial Equality which highlighted government departments’ lack of compliance.
FDA equalities officer Wendy Jones said: “Whitehall should be leading by example rather than perpetuating the inequalities it claims to be stamping out. The report makes clear that some public sector organisations have done good work to monitor and improve equalities, but many government departments are not among them.
It is extremely disappointing that Whitehall will not comply with its own laws. We will be watching the legal proceedings by CRE and the Commission for Equality and Human Rights with great interest.”
Press release ~ 'A lot done, a lot to do: Our Vision for an integrated Britain' ~ Commission for Racial Equality ~ FDA ~ Commission for Equality and Human Rights ~ Civil Service 10-point plan for diversity ~ Workforce Reform at the Cabinet Office ~ Professional Skills for Government (PSG) framework ~ Civil Service diversity - What works
Natural England: The recovery of the bittern - one of Britain’s most threatened birds - has taken a tentative step forward in 2007 with news that male bitterns were recorded at more sites than any other year since 1990, when detailed annual monitoring began.
Significantly, the survey has revealed that these sensitive birds have been recorded nesting in the East Anglian Fens for the first time since before the Second World War.
Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB’s Conservation Director, said: “The spread of the bitterns into areas of newly-created reedbeds is a testament to all those involved with habitat creation, especially in the East Anglian Fens”.
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