w/e 16 May 2008

Draft Legislative Programme

The Draft Legislative Programme (DLP) sets out the Government's proposals for new laws for the next session of Parliament in draft form and gives you the chance to comment on the Bills before they're finally published in the Queen's Speech.  Closing date for responses: 6 August 2008.

Click here to view the Bills in the 2008 Draft Legislative Programme.   This list includes the Community Empowerment, Housing and Regeneration Bill.

Regional consultative events are being organised throughout the UK. Click here to view full details of where, the type of event and who will be at each event.

Community Empowerment

Publication – Empowerment through Community-led Planning: How to deliver genuine empowerment in both rural and urban communities.  This joint briefing paper to Communities and Local Government demonstrates that community-led planning could be the one-stop solution to delivering a wide range of government objectives and initiatives under the forthcoming White Paper and Bill.  Partners to this proposal include ACRE, the Urban Forum, National Association of Local Councils (NALC) and Action for Market Towns (AMT)

Conference – Community Empowerment in Action:  ACRE’s annual conference at Keele University on June 12/13 is a participatory event that aims to explore how innovative rural experience across the country can be strengthened and adapted to meet community empowerment aspirations in both rural and urban areas.  Click here for conference programme and booking form.

Publication – Routes to Empowerment – A community sector perspective: The Community Sector Coalition has published a research report that outlines how its member networks support an extensive range of activities that contribute to strengthening community action and highlights the Coalition's key role in future delivery of government's empowerment initiatives. The report includes coverage of the work of ACRE's members in supporting and facilitating community-led planning across the country.  (Warning - Think before you print! This document is 40 pages long.)

Communities and Local Government

News - Three new rights to right local wrongs - New Community Empowerment Bill to harness petition power: Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has outlined plans to give every citizen in England three new rights to have a greater say to trigger action on local issues they care about. These could range from directing more money from councils to tackle anti-social behaviour and graffiti, to taking over the running of local assets like community or leisure centres, or forcing a public debate on local issues they are concerned about.

Commission for Rural Communities

Evidence – Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA): Graham Garbutt, CRC’s Chief Executive and Roger Turner, Head of the Strong and Prosperous Rural Economies programme gave evidence to the EFRA’s committee inquiry on ‘The potential of England’s rural economy’.

Workforce Hub

Publication - The new Good Guide to Employment: Launched by the Workforce Hub and NCVO the guide is aimed at voluntary and community organisations that may not have a dedicated Human Resources (HR) function or where staff don’t have HR experience or training.  The book contains helpful example template policies and HR documents, which are all available to download for free. Cost: £25 or £17.50 to NCVO members. Click here to order.

Pilot Programme - Trustee Accredited Learning: In June 2007, the UK Workforce Hub took part in a test and trial project.   The aim was to test the trustee units that had been written by a voluntary and community sector related steering group. The overall project involved two elements; the first was to gain a better understanding of the new Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF). The second element was to see how the voluntary and community sector could engage with the new QCF and benefit its workforce by offering accredited training.  Click here to read more about the project. 

Local government

Event – LGA annual rural conference and exhibition 2008: This year’s conference will showcase the rural perspective on issues being debated across local government, ranging from; attracting and retaining young councillors, Eco Towns, responding to climate change challenges, the impact of immigration and integration on rural service provision and RDPE.  Date: 10 September 2008.  Venue: Colwick Hall, Nottingham.  Cost: £335 +VAT, member organisations £229 +V AT.

Communities

Event - Neighbourhood Policing and Safer Communities Conference:  Speakers from organisations dedicated to fighting crime in the community will provide innovative strategy and practical guidance for you to implement and develop within your crime reduction strategy.  Date: 8 July 2008.  Venue: Central London.  Click here for more details.

Award - UK Catalyst Awards: The Community Awards for Social Technology will reward inspiring stories of people who have helped their communities by using social technology in new and exciting ways. Social technology includes any internet, mobile or gaming software that lets people connect and communicate with others.

Transport

News - Extra funding for rural stations: Passengers on rural and regional rail services across the country are set to benefit from a £60,000 fund for Community Rail Partnerships.  The new Designated Community Rail Development Fund will help deliver improvements to make a real difference at local stations, such as more seats at stations, cycle parking and better information for passengers. It can also help fund awareness campaigns to encourage more people to use these lines.

Children & young people

News - £35million for parents with disabled children to get easier access to childcare: Children’s Minister Beverley Hughes has announced £35million of Government pilot projects.  The aims of the projects are to address the concerns of parents of disabled children, who often struggle to find suitable childcare, are less likely to be in work and whose children are consequently more likely to live in a poor household.

Environmental management

Event – People & Resources: Third Sector, First Choice: A Community Sector Recycling Network UK conference which includes the launch of the government’s third sector capacity building programme, which will be providing funding to support not-for-profit organisations as they increase their impact in the world of resource efficiency, recycling and reuse.  Date: 4/5 June 2008.  Venue: Jury’s Hotel, London.

News – Wasted food now costs UK homes £10 billion a year:  New research by WRAP gives detailed new insights into the nature and amount of food waste thrown away in the UK and is believed to be the most comprehensive study of its kind ever carried out.