In the continuing debate relating to public sector pay caps, the rhetoric is being consistently presented that the choice is between responsible restraints or tax rises. What is being quietly ignored is the vast amount of money, counted in many £Billions, that continue to disappear from the UK into secrecy jurisdictions each year. Austerity is an ideologically motivated policy designed to transfer wealth from ordinary people (in this case nurses, teachers, police and fire officers, etc.) to the pockets of the wealthy, and it continues to work just as designed. Ordinary people continue to suffer real-terms pay cuts whilst businesses and wealthy individuals carry on cheating the system.

The services they provide is very important to the people of thurrock, and closing Orsett will put even more pressure on Basildon Hospital which is under immense pressure already not helped by the proposed closure of the A&E at Southend Hospital. With thousands of new homes planned for the borough, it would be better to save Orsett Hospital and expand some other services, to help cope with a rise in demand in the area.

Batley ITI Tennis Centre was purpose built for grass roots tennis and as an indoor tennis training centre, and is the only indoor Pay and Play Centre outside of Leeds suitable for players of all levels and abilities. The centre is only in decline because KAL have not appointed a suitable dedicated tennis manager at the centre who would develop grass roots tennis in the locale and surrounding areas and build the centre back to its former popularity with mini-tennis training and tournaments and adult classes and sessions for all. The centre is also the home ground of Batley ITI Tennis Club who have mens, womens and mixed teams playing competitively in the HADTL league and the Wakefield Tennis League, and these members also pay and regularly attend the Pay and Play Sessions. The Club was born out of the first users of the Tennis Centre when it opened as an Indoor Tennis Initiative over 25 years ago and the club members are dedicated pay and play attendees at the Centre on a regular weekly basis. We believe the Centre should remain a dedicated Tennis Centre and by carefully selecting a Tennis Business Development manager in co-operation with the LTA, the Centre can return to a thriving tennis centre of excellence once again. It would also pay for itself that way. The costs involved in attracting the right personnel to run the centre are far less than the costs involved in changing the use of the centre to be a multi-sport non-tennis environment. Let's keep Tennis a grass roots sport in Batley available for every child to be able to experience tennis. Please keep Batley ITI Tennis Centre open for Tennis for all, as that is what it was built for, and let's rebuild the centre attendance up to its potential again by working in close association with the LTA to bring in the right Tennis Development Manager.

We all saw the brave police tackling the terrorists at London Bridge, the firefighters rushing in to tackle the Grenfell fire, the paramedics running to help the people caught up in the Manchester terror attack. And every day nurses working round the clock to keep our NHS going. Our public sector workers keep the country ticking over, from the emergency services who are there when we need them to the teachers who pass on knowledge to future generations. These people shouldn't have to worry about whether they can pay their rent or the electricity bill at the end of the month.

Tenant's living in rented housing in the UK shouldn't need to set up protest sites to have their voice heard. This type of site is not effective and serious concerns can be missed, as often the message will never be seen by the intended recipient. Tragedies like Grenfell Tower might have been avoided had the residents had a direct line of communication, that delivered their concerns directly to the desk of the relevant housing team. The majority of housing staff are doing everything they can to make a difference, however, reduced budgets, staffing and available resources are having a significant impact. A system needs to be deployed immediately to provide 360 degree protection. The system needs to free up valuable staff time, whilst providing protection to all sides and a complete record of all communication between connected parties (provider and tenant). Every event and communication (on both sides) throughout the tenancy must be logged, date stamped and digitally signed. This will ensure, in the event of a dispute, or worse, ALL the facts and supporting information is available...signed, dated and in complete chronological order.

Manchester Activist Network agree and campaign in line with the same principles as Housing First, who stand by the following philosophy: - Housing as a basic human right - Respect, warmth and compassion for all clients - No requirement regarding housing readiness - Consumer choice and self-determination - A recovery orientation - Harm reduction rather than abstinence with regards to substance misuse. Receiving an intensive case management team This approach is guided by the belief that people need basic necessities like food and a place to live before attending to do anything less critical, such as getting a job, budgeting properly or attending to substance use issues. The Housing First approach views housing as the foundation for life improvement and enables to permanent housing without prerequisites or conditions beyond those of a typical renter. The traditional supported accommodation, addressing addiction issues and subsequent move-on to long-term accommodation had failed repeatedly. (Laura's Story) http://icmblog.shelter.org.uk/a-housing-first-future/ Housing First, widely replicated in the US, Canada, Europe, has been actively growing interest in developing better housing responses for people with multiple and complex needs. - provides strong and consistent outcomes for tenancy sustainment of between 70% to 90% - Potential annual savings ranged between £4,794 and £3,048 per person in support costs - One study found an average cost savings on emergency services of $31,545 per person housed in a Housing First program over the course of two years. However, the future of the initiative is struggling due to: - Very little funding comes from other sectors including social services (4%) criminal justice (2%) and substance misuse (2%) - By far the biggest barrier to setting up a Housing First project was reported as access to suitable and affordable accommodation in both the social and private rented sectors. Inspiring Change Manchester ‘now know more than ever of the importance of a tailored support offer; which is the crucial element in supporting men and women who have led complex lives into stable accommodation. Not just ceasing at the point where a tenancy is signed, but continued and wrap-around support has brought the immeasurable benefit of people developing real relationships with peers who in turn link them into what is happening in their locality’ . Wayne's Story: http://icmblog.shelter.org.uk/wayne-talks-housing-first/ “I believe that when you build a life it’s like building a building. You start with the foundations; you don’t start with the roof. I was being offered jobs and training courses, but no housing.” - Wayne, Housing First resident. As one of the largest landowners in the country, Network Rail, has a portfolio that is shifting the landscape towards gentrification of our inner Cities. M.A.N. believe Network Rail have a corporate responsibility to minimise the negative social ramifications of this change, such as the rise in homelessness in Manchester. Manchester Activist Network

“This puts lives at risk unnecessarily. As lifeboat crew members, we are happy to give our time voluntarily; all we ask for is the right equipment for the job.” - Volunteer RNLI crewman Huw. To give you some background, the RNLI has decided to downgrade New Quay Lifeboat Station to an Inshore Lifeboat when the service life of its current All-Weather Lifeboat expires in 2020. The proposed new lifeboat will not be able to launch in bad weather (over force 7 in daylight or force 6 at night) whereas the current lifeboat can launch in any weather. This doesn't just affect New Quay: The All-Weather Lifeboat also covers Cardigan, Aberporth, Tresaith, Llangrannog, Aberaeron, Llanon, and Aberystwyth. After 2020, there will be no All-Weather Lifeboats in the whole of Ceredigion, leaving a gap of 70 miles between the All-Weather stations of Barmouth and Fishguard. What this means is that the nearest All-Weather Lifeboat, even travelling at 25 knots, will take an hour and a quarter to reach some parts of Cardigan Bay. We, the undersigned, call on the RNLI to retain the All-Weather Lifeboat capability of New Quay Lifeboat Station. (Photo credit: Emyr Rhys Williams)

The maternity unit is an excellent (and essential) local facility - it should be held up as an example of excellent, local, dedicated care to the rest of the NHS, not closed. Please sign the petition to raise awareness of the plight of the maternity unit and hopefully draw it to the attention of the Prime Minister.

The cuts Lincolnshire County Council have made to the grass cutting service has resulted in - Unsightly messy verges. Litter and dog mess has increased. It is counter productive, we should be taking pride in our towns, not letting them look a mess. Its causing a hazard at road junctions. The council should increase the amounts of cuts back to once every 3 weeks, still saving money but at least the grass will look better.

My nan has lived on the 12th floor of a Shepherd's Bush Tower block for 40 years. She is 77, if a fire broke out in the flats on her floor or higher she couldn't be reached. She walks with a walker and wouldn't make it down the stairs. Who would save her ??? In light of the Grenfell Fire it's now More important than ever. The firefighters did an Amazing Job but they didn't have the resources to reach the top. This isn't their fault it's due to cuts, those victims had to wait for a crane from Surrey!

Since 2012, when the Conservatives came into power, funding to children and teenagers mental health care has drastically decreased. Now only 0.6% of NHS budget goes CAMHS, who give help to these people. This is not a beneficial way of spending the money as children and teenagers mental health is a growing problem. These cuts mean charities like Young Minds and Mind have to fill the gaps and help vulnerable kids who don't get the help they need from CAMHS.

Each year, 5,000 children under 16 are seriously injured or die on Britain’s roads. The incident rate for children peaks between 8am and 9am, when they are travelling to school, and again at 3pm when they are on their way home. Without the lollipop/ school crossing patrol service, the community will be put at risk as they try to cross such a busy road at peak times to and from school.