Two local education authorities are being warned they will face a detailed challenge from the Church of England over any future plans to close village schools. Both Shropshire and Herefordshire County Councils have postponed plans, which would have seen the closure of almost 40 rural schools and which led to strong local protests.
Herefordshire council said a further review was needed but it intends to prepare new proposals for September. 

More doubts have been raised over plans for a centralised National Health Service database with nine out of ten doctors in a poll saying they had no confidence in the government’s ability to safeguard patient data. The poll by ‘BMA News’ shows doctors doubts have been fuelled by recent cases of data going astray. 

This note supports local government in making the most of the new local performance framework and provides signposts to other guidance and recently published information. The key feature of the framework is collaboration between public bodies in an area and a new drive for partnership working to meet local challenges.
The Lyons report on the future of local government was clear that the place-shaping role of local councils includes maintaining the cohesiveness of communities.