There are now only two days you can access Port Seton library in the morning and afternoon and two further afternoons per week. No evenings. No weekends. Our community deserves a better library service. We pay our council tax to have access to places like this regardless of how heavily they are used. East Lothian Council need to stop quietly reducing access to our local library. They need to consider library opening hours to encourage use rather than discourage. For example, the opening hours of North Berwick library, albeit a full time branch, (6 days per week, with at least 6 hours per day) have much more continuity and are much more inviting. Another comparison is Longniddry library where their new opening hours mean they are open 9 hours more per week than Port Seton with a population of under 3,000. As a community of well over 4,000 people we deserve an equal opportunity to access our local library.

The UK Government is looking to outsource Veterans Services without public consultation taking place. Notice of tenders were issued in April 2018 which considerably expand the services that will form part of the Future Service Delivery Contract (FSDC). This contract provides provision of Armed Forces Pay, Pensions and Military HR and Administration Services and will be expanded to include: • Administration of the War Pensions Scheme and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (including payment and financial accounting with interfaces to other Ministry of Defence and other government department financial systems); • MoD Medal Office – the administration and issue of medals and awards; • Provision of Veterans Enabling and Supporting Services; and • Maintenance and development of existing Information System (IS) and enquiry services in support of the above services. We are concerned about the impact outsourcing these services will have on the quality of service provision that veterans currently receive. We are also concerned that the MoD is reserving the right to include/add any other work related to delivery of Military Human Resources or Veterans Services during the lifetime of the contract. The contract is worth up to £800 million and an estimated 400 jobs are being put at risk.

The importance of this school to it's pupils and their parents is clear from their personal testimonies - This is a unique setting for our medal winning sportswomen and men of the future and present, many of the children at PSS will struggle to find schools with the same provisions, not only in sport, but the SEN support that's available. Dispite a recent disappointing OFSTED report (that we feel does not reflect the diverse work being done at Plymouth Studio School), children are thriving here.

On Thursday 28th June 2018, Herefordshire Council’s Cabinet will meet to discuss the possibility of starting a tendering process to privatise these vital services, based on the “Soft Market Test” report, published in January 2018 and the recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee, which met on 9th April. At a time when there is much evidence to suggest that other local authorities are having to take these services back in-house due to the failure of private companies to run them effectively, we need to control and safeguard the future cultural service provision for our community, particularly for our children, young people, and isolated, vulnerable groups, such as elderly and disabled people. UNISON believes that the public deserve the best possible service when it comes to Museums, Libraries and Archives and our policy is always to keep services in-house. The Council say they need to do this to save money. However, the total budget spend for all 3 services last year represents a spend of less than £8 per head of population. Official figures for the library service already show a below average spend in comparison to similar authorities so it’s difficult to see a reason for taking these services out of local council ownership, when the figures show that it is already a very cost-effective service. UNISON is committed to working with Herefordshire Council to find a solution to its budgetary pressures without undermining our loved arts and library provision. Ealing, along with Croydon, Harrow and Hounslow recently had to take back their library services due to the collapse of Carillion. Staff at privatised library services in Bromley, run by Greenwich Leisure Ltd, have been on strike. UNISON believes Museum, Library and Archives staff deserve to be recognised for the trained, professional job they do, and the threat of future closures, reductions in hours and the loss of friendly, knowledgeable staff is unacceptable, These things are at risk if they are transferred over to a private company or charitable trust. Finally, UNISON has part funded work with We Own It. They are running a pledge for councillors and council candidates in elections to commit to ending all privatisation in local council services. The detail can be found here: https://weownit.org.uk/local-pledge Thank you, Herefordshire Local Government UNISON

The artefacts will go to Lincoln if we do not take action. This building is a community asset and the future of the building and contents will be secure under Stamford Town Council guardianship. The artefacts are of historical importance and should be displayed in our Town for all the enjoy.

The Children's ward at Boston's Pilgrim Hospital is under threat of temporary closure because of staff shortages. As the largest county in England, with it's population spread over a large area of mostly agricultural land it is imperative we keep this vital children's ward open. Grantham Hospital is also scheduled to close, so where are all the children going to go? This could put lives of children at risk! Telling parents they simply have to drive further is not acceptable. Not all parents can drive, or have access to transport over long distances. What happens when the other hospital children's wards are all full? Surely this will just increase the pressure on other hospitals which are already at breaking point. Will children be refused treatment if no beds are available? As the population is expanding why are essential services shrinking? What impact will this also have on the maternity ward, and children born requiring treatment or special care.

This is the last bank in the community and must remain open and a fully functioning bank branch to allow the residents and businesses in the town to function, trade and undertake their financial affairs. Whilst there remains a Post Office and some banking can be undertaken through this two kiosk facility in part of the co-operative supermarket it is not an adequate or appropriate banking facility for our town. The nearest alternative bank is at least 2.5 miles away in the neighbouring town of Cannock. This branch is constantly busy and transport links and times of access will hinder the trading hours and conditions of businesses; increase the risk of crime with cash takings being transported greater distances and routes; isolate vulnerable members of our community with limited access to longer public transport journey times. Hednesford has been undergoing considerable housing and business expansion over the last few years and this will accelerate further in to the next few years including a significant increase in tourist and leisure visitors through the town to Cannock Chase an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and premium destination for mountain biking. Hednesford has always had a Lloyds, we implore you therefore to reconsider.

I have always regarded Clifton Hill sports centre as an asset to the city and understand its importance within the community. The facility has attained excellent user numbers over the years and its closure would not be in the best interests of the city The centre closed in March due to a roof leak and a burst pipe, but the council won't commit to a reopening. Help the city get its much loved Clifton Hill sports centre back in service! It has left an irreplaceable void in peoples lives. It was a real community hub used by all ages from toddlers to pensioners and all socio economic groups. Exeter is bidding to be the UK's most 'active city' and so closing the centre is insanity! Come on Exeter City Council tell us it will reopen - it was only some snow through the roof and a few burst pipes!

This another important service to Coventry people that is stealthy been made private. This service is vital to local people but also needs to be kept public and not fall into the hands of private companies such as Virgin or Care UK. In a city of over 300,000 people the GP Out of Hours Service at the Stoney Stanton Walk-in-Centre is essential to help stop our local A&E departments being overwhelmed. Please take the time to sign this important petition which we plan to hand into the CRCCG by the end of May. Many thanks from all at Coventry Keep Our NHS Public (COVKONP) campaign group.

We, the residents of Gresford need our Health Centre for GP appointments and Practice Nurse services to stay in Gresford. The other options offered involve 1 or 2 bus journeys each way for those without transport, and little or no parking provision for those with a car. If Llay is to be the main surgery, the chance of being offered an appointment involving 2 bus journeys will be extremely high. The current waiting list for a GP appointment is several weeks and we are also concerned that this will worsen with only 2 surgeries.

When you visit your GP, you want to know that the only thing on their mind is giving you the care you need. But our NHS is struggling because the government hasn’t given it the money it needs. It means NHS bosses are looking for any opportunity to save money. But setting financial incentives and arbitrary targets for GPs simply doesn’t make sense. And when it comes to the care our families get when we’re sick, it’s not right to force doctors to compromise. The Royal College of GPs, and medical experts have raised the alarm about the cash incentive schemes. The head of the Family Doctor Association said they’re a “serious dereliction of duty”. The Royal College of GPs said "Cash incentives based on how many referrals GPs make have no place in the NHS, and frankly, it is insulting to suggest otherwise." Tell local health bosses that patients’ needs should always come before profit!

Formby is set to expand faster than it has since the 1970's due to Sefton Council's push for 1100 new homes in Formby. Despite this we have seen our health provision stretched to breaking point with the Hightown Doctors Surgery now becoming part of Formby Chapel Lane Practice. Formby cannot afford to lose any more health care provision, losing this vital service will simply put more pressure on an already stretched service, in the face an aging population in Formby.