Householders whose homes face a particular risk of flooding may be able to benefit from new funds announced by Defra. It has set out a plan to make at least five million pounds available to people whose houses are at a high risk but which are not protected by traditional community level defences.
The money for eligible home owners in England is in addition to any help already provided by local authorities or the insurance industry. 

Thirty-six schemes have been shortlisted for a possible share of a 200 million pound transport infrastructure fund for new housing developments. The money is being made available to support local councils in ensuring developments of new homes include steps to improve access to jobs.
The shortlisted schemes are all in areas where local authorities are
committed to building more homes and keen to deliver improved transport to support the growth of communities. 

This Cabinet Office review explored how to involve communities more
effectively in the fight against crime whilst also raising public confidence in the criminal justice system. The starting point was that without public action, support and confidence, the police and other criminal justice agencies cannot make communities safer. However, for the public to play their part, they need to see and experience services that tackle crime effectively, give them confidence and back them up. 

Councils will get more help to tackle bad car parking under proposals which have been put out for consultation. The parking framework, introduced by the Department for Transport earlier this year gave councils in England the power to issue Penalty Charge Notices to motorists parking at dropped kerbs or who double park, now the Department wants to make the power more effective. 

This report, published by the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, reveals that the UK public service industry represents 6.2 per cent of GDP. This is similar to Sweden and Australia. Spending on the US public service industry is broadly similar to the UK, but with a lower share of GDP, at 5.3 per cent.
The share of GDP in the larger continental European countries, for example France and Spain is lower at just under 3%. 

New figures show that food retailers have stopped the growth of packaging used in Britain in spite of an increase in sales. Statistics from the Waste and Resources Action Programme - Wrap shows that the retailers put the same amount of grocery packaging on
the market in 2007 as they did the year before.
The news will be welcomed by local authorities which have been campaigning for action to ensure the level of packaging is reduced. 

For the third year running, Manchester has been named as the country’s leading authority when it comes to parks and open spaces. Twenty seven of its parks and green spaces have been placed on a list of the best in England and Wales.
The city council collected its Green Flag Awards at an event in Liverpool. The award scheme, which is managed by the Civic Trust, sets national standards for parks and public green spaces. 

Guidance for conducting place surveys has been published by Communities and Local Government. The surveys will seek to capture local peoples’ views, experiences and perceptions, so that the solutions for an area can reflect local views and preferences. The surveys will also track people’s changing perceptions, as a way of determining whether interventions made in an area result in the right outcomes for local people. They should reveal if people
feel happier, healthier or safer. 

More money is being made available to improve planning services in Wales. It will include some funding for a small number of bursaries for future planners. The announcement comes just days after a committee of Westminster MPs said shortages of staff and of skills
meant planning authorities might struggle to meet Government targets on regeneration and building new homes. 

Fire and Rescue Authorities across the country are being invited to bid for a share of 130 million pounds being made available for Private Finance Initiative schemes. The PFI credits are intended to be used for long-term projects such as new fire stations or updating vehicle fleets.