Latest news stories at top of page

TORIES WIN HEYSHAM SOUTH
27/2/04: Local Conservative Kenneth Brown won the by-election for the Heysham South ward last night fighting a campaign based on antipathy toward the council tax and no doubt helpled by recent visits to the town by leading Conservatives, including Conservative leader Michael Howard. Mr Brown won by just six votes (after two recounts) with Labour's Darren Clifford coming second. In a ward where both nuclear power and the bypass have a lot of support the Greens secured just 20 votes.
The last rites are being said for the Morecambe Bay Independents, having lost a seat that they won last May with more than 500 votes. Their vote totally collapsed, few of their members were on the ground and they looked very weak against the two major parties. "This could well be the end of the line for the MBI," feels one Labour Party member, delighted by an increase in Labour's share of the vote but disappointed at losing so narrowly.
Worryingly, the Morecambe Bay Independents were beaten into fourth place by the far right England First Party, who managed to get 191 votes.
Some 50 Anti-Nazi protestors braved heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures outside the count to highlight the presence of far right candidate Paul Bamford. An Anti Nazi League spokesperson told Virtual-Lancaster they were extremely pleased that the EFP lost, but are shocked to see the amount of votes they mustered.
"Our activity will obviously have to be stepped up a bit because they'll almost certainly want to stand in the next round of elections.
"In some ways an exceedingly good result but I think it's fair to say that we're disappointed. 191??? Bad news."
It has been reported elsewhere that the EFP are planning to run for election in Cumbria.

Results in full:
Ken Brown - Conservatives: 499
Darren Clifford - Labour: 493
Paul Bamford - England First Party: 191
Chris Greenall - Morecambe Bay Indepdendents: 143
Terry Taylor - Liberal Democrats: 37
Ashley Toms - Green Party: 20
The turnout at the by-election was 27.74%, up slightly on elections last May.
• Comments on the result on the IndyMedia website:
www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/02/286067.html

TOM McCONVILLE GIG ANNOUNCED
Local fiddler Gwenda Meredith has arranged a concert by the legendary Tom McConville at Warton Village Hall on Saturday 20 March, 8.00pm.
Tom has toured the UK and beyond for the last 30 years with his unique combination of virtuoso fiddle playing, brilliant singing and gentle Geordie humour.
Tickets cost £5.00 and can be obtained from Warton Post Office, or contact Gwenda on (01524) 39507.
Tom's official site: www.tomcatmusic.com

BEHIND THE SCENES
An exhibition about band leader Jack Hylton will be on view at Lancaster University library from 1 March - 23 April. Entitled "Behind the Scenes" the exhibition offers a backstage view of Jack Hylton Productions including photos, programmes and memorabilia.
The University's Jack Hylton archive contains memorabilia from the life and work of the famous band leader, whose career spanned the early 1920s up until his death in 1965. He was a successful bandleader setting trends within popular music of the time in the UK.
• For opening hours please phone 01524 592517. For further details please visit http://libweb.lancs.ac.uk/hylton

PROTEST AT HEYSHAM COUNT TONIGHT
26/2/04: In a bid to keep up the pressure against the presence of the far right in the area, protestors have organised a demonstration outside tonight's count for the council by-election in Heysham South tonight at St James Community Centre is on Heysham Road, Heysham.
Lancaster and Morecambe Trades Council are organising the demonstration from 8.30pm.
Paul Bamford of the England First Party is among several candidates for the vacant seat. In a letter to the Lancaster Guardian last week Mr Bamford claimed a number of people who previously voted Morecambe Bay Independent had said they would be voting for the EFP.
Both Bamford and EFP chairman Mark Cotterill have denied claims in letters to local papers that the party is both racist and fascist. In a letter to the Citizen, Mark Cotterill says the EFP "are an English Nationalist party who oppose most strongly... anti-white racsim."
He revealed some members of the EFP are also members of the extremist White Nationalist Party but there is no official connection between the EFP or the WNP.
Cotterill freely admits to being a former member of both the National Front and British National Party. The now defunct American Friends of the BNP, led by Cotterill, raised thousands of dollars for the party and helped establish the BNP as the leading British far-right organisation in the eyes of the US right.
In September 2000 the anti-fascist magazine Searchlight reported Cotterill was one of 20 people who had been expelled from the Reform Party in the US, following widespread allegations of racism and extremism within the party. Those who were asked to leave the Reform Party were accused of adhering to nazi ideas.

WEB GURU WANTED
26/2/04: Fairtrade campaigners Global Link has issues a plea for a web-guru to oversee a ten-cities web-link on 5th March from La Lancaster Town Hall. The event is part of a national Fairtrade celebration, during which Lancaster will be presented with a certificate of FT status.
The Town Hall can provide a webcam and Broadband connection, Global Link can provide a laptop, can you provide the expertise? If so, contant Global Link on 01524 36201.


SPECIAL FILM NIGHT AT THE FOLLY
25/2/04: Argentinian director Ana Fraile will be on hand to talk about her three short films about one of the most protracted and violent labour disputes in South America in recent years at Lancaster's Folly on Friday night.
Since December 2001, the Brukman textile factory in Argentina has been the focus of confrontation between a strong workers' movement and the forces of capital. Following attempts to close the factory, it was occupied by the workers and production continued in the face of an increasingly violent response from their former bosses, backed by government forces. Last April, 16 months after workers reoccupied Brukman, the government sent hundreds of police to evict workers (see news item here on ZNet), but they're still fighting to get the factory back in a continued campaign to defend their jobs and a movement for dignified work.
Fraile's series of short films follow the turbulent fortunes of this revolution.The event at starts at 7.00pm and there will be a discusion about the situation in Argentina after the screenings. Donations on the door, with any profits going to the workers fighting fund.
• Download a promotional flyer for this event (PDF)
• This news item on indymedia details more of the situation at Brukman: Go

CASH BOOST FOR STOREY DEVELOPMENT
25/2/04: A £693,000 cash injection from the Arts Council will help breathe new life into the Storey Institute, one of Lancaster's best loved buildings.
The Arts Council grant will enable Lancaster City Council to take forward its plans to transform the Storey Institute, in Meeting House Lane, into a Centre for the Creative industries.
The city council's long-term aim is to develop the building into a 'hub of activity' that will create an environment where creative industries can thrive and contribute to the district's economy. This will include the development of workspaces specific for creative industries, the refurbishment of the existing Storey Gallery, the creation of a new exhibition spaces for Folly and Litfest, as well as support for the development of these organisations' artistic programmes and audiences.
"This funding is a first step forward for our plans to develop the Storey Institute as a Centre for the Creative Industries," says Lancaster City Council's Corporate Director of Regeneration, John Donnellon. There's now a clear recognition of the role creative industries play in the region's cultural, social and economic regeneration plans. This contribution is reflected by Lancaster City Council's commitment to the development of the Storey Institute as a creative industry resource that will contribute to the economy, image and tourism profile not only of Lancaster, but also of Lancashire and the region as a whole.
"The council does not simply wish to reinstate and repair the Storey Institute as a local cultural asset," John explains. "Instead it intends to deliver a much more radical facility which will act as an innovative, sub-regionally significant space for the production, promotion, sale, enjoyment and experience of creative and commercial visual culture that has a lively public programme of arts and cultural activity".
Cabinet member for Regeneration, Coun Abbott Bryning added: "This welcome news offers an opportunity not only for arts development in the district and beyond but also for the creation of jobs. A public open day is currently being organised for March to enable local people to find out more about the project. Community support is important to us and we will be liaising closely with residents, the local Chamber of Trade, Civic Society and tenants in the building.
"With Arts Council funding now secured the city council is now in a strong position to attract additional funding which will be required if the full aspiration for the building is to be achieved."

AREA FORUMS PUBLIC MEETING
25/2/04: Lancaster City Council is considering a pilot Area Forum -- a venue for several organisations to get together and discuss local issues -- for the Morecambe Area. If successful, they would be introduced elsewhere in the District.
Area Forums -- which are already in operation in other Lancashire towns such as Blackpool and Preston as well as elsewhere in the country, are meetings for the local community, including Councillors, voluntary organisations, the public and others, to work together on local issues to help improve the district for everyone.
Lancaster City Council is inviting local organisations and local people to an informal consultation meeting on Tuesday 2 March at 7.00pm in the Platform, Marine Road, Morecambe, where officers will explain what an Area Forum is, its role and how organisations can be involved in the future. They will also be available to answer any questions. The meeting will also include a brief presentation from an authority already successfully hosting Area Forums.
Lancaster City Council's Cabinet member with responsibility for External Affairs Coun Gina Dowding said: "We hope the public will use this opportunity come and hear more about the Area Forums. At present, Lancaster City Council has not yet finalised how Area Forums would work, or whether to introduce them and consultation with organisations and the public on this issue is very important to us."

DUKES EXPANSION PLANS?
25/2/04, updated 1315: The Morecambe Visitor reports the Dukes -- Lancaster's independent theatre and cinema -- is in the early stages of considering a £9 million expansion.
The Dukes board has discussed proposals to create bigger theatre spaces, a dedicated cinema, reharsal rooms, workshops and a new cafe and music bar on an extended site, using land at the rear of the existing building.
Following the article in the Visitor, the Dukes have released the following statement from the Dukes Chief Executive: Amanda Belcham, which we publish here in full:
"Allen Tod Architecture Ltd and Theatresearch were asked by the board of the Dukes to carry out a development appraisal. This appraisal explores the implications for the theatre and cinema providing new opportunities and benefits for audiences and visitors to the Dukes, enhancing and underpinning the creative and economic potential of the Dukes Company to deliver proven quality dramatic adventure.
"The plan includes a mid-scale sized auditorium, a dedicated cinema space, a studio theatre and café music bar linked by a spacious foyer area. The present structure presents problems both in terms of maintenance and compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act
"It should be understood that this is not a detailed design exercise. It suggests a possible sketch proposal of sufficient detail to establish feasibility and a budget cost estimate.
"The theatre currently occupies about 70% of its leased site and any development will need to draw on City Council-owned land that has been specifically set aside for the Dukes development and this enlarged site has been assumed for the purposes of these proposals.
"After this appraisal the Dukes now needs to look at the feasibility of these plans to decide if they represent the right away forward for the Dukes and for the district. We need to ensure that any proposals make the building more accessible for everyone to enjoy theatre and cinema.
"This is just one option of the many currently being discussed for the development of arts venues in the district which could make for an exciting future."

The Georgian Theatre, Richmond

Allen Tod Architecture who are specialists in renovating historic buildings, involved in wide-ranging projects throughout Yorkshire and the UK. The award-winning architectural practice based at The Calls in Leeds has recently led a £1.5 million restoration scheme of the Georgian Theatre in Richmond - the UK's only surviving Georgian Theatre which is regarded as the most important surviving provincial theatre in the development of the English playhouse.
The scheme entailed sensitively combining the original stone-built theatre with a striking, contemporary new building to house the front-of-house activities, and providing disabled access. The architects successfully linked the historic with the present to create a modern day working theatre within an authentic Georgian auditorium.

KINGSWAY PLANS BAD NEWS FOR CITY?
25/2/04, updated 26/5/03: The local Green Party has described approval for Liberty Properties plans for the Kingsway Baths area of Lancaster as bad news for the city -- and a slap in the face for local people who had suggested other uses for the site.
Council leader Ian Barker has told Virtual-Lancaster he is also concerned about the development. The approval has been welcomed by Conservatives.
The Council's Planning Committee approved plans for an eight-storey tower block on Monday from Liberty Properties plc, along with 300 car parking places, a new PC World superstore and Pizza Hut restaurant.

Bulk Ward Green party were among objectors to the plans, describing the proposed development as "an environmental disaster" which will make the city's traffic and pollution problems much worse. The Greens also feel the plans are "irrelevant" to the needs of local people.
Lancaster's Civic Society also presented detailed arguments about the poor quality architecture and design.
Both Green councillors voted against the outline application for the flats on top of the bus garage at the meeting. Coun Chapman abstained on the other two votes -- for full permission for PC World, Bridge House etc. and for the listed building consent associated with this. "The application was not very good, but there again the buildings are falling apart and something needs doing with them," says Anne.
Kingsway Baths is a listed building so the approval needs to be ratified by the deputy prime minister, John Prescott -- so there's still a chance the proposals may not go ahead.

"We are now in the situation where we have to make the best of the situation we have been landed with by the previous Cabinet. I hope some of these concerns can be addressed at detailed application time." Council leader Ian Barker

"This is very bad news for Bulk and for the city as a whole," feels John Whitelegg, Green Councillor for Bulk ward. "It shows a complete lack of imagination on the part of the developer and a lack of vision and courage on the part of the committee. It is a poor quality development which we will now be stuck with for 60 years or more.
"This decision marks another stage in the decline of Lancaster. Lancaster will now look as exciting and attractive as Basingstoke and Slough."
"As a ward councillor I have my own concerns about development on this site," Council leader Ian Barker told Virtual-Lancaster. However he points out that many of the decisions about the site were made well before the current council came to power.
"I'm concerned that the previous Cabinet decided not to develop the whole of the Kingsway island at the same time," he says. "Unfortunately Abbott Bryning and myself were the only councillors to raise these concerns at the time. The pass was sold then and we got no support from John Whitelegg or Bulk Ward Green Party at the time.
"This means it is very hard to deal with traffic problems," adds Ian. "If we had had a comprehensive development of the whole of the island site then we could have insisted on improvements that could have mitigated some of the traffic problems. This will now have to be done on a more piecemeal basis.

"I also have concerns about a building that will dominate houses in Bulk Road," Ian says. "I didn't like the design originally submitted by Liberty and made my feelings very plain at the time and helped organise a call-in. Again, the pass was sold by the previous Cabinet deciding to go ahead.
"We are now in the situation where we have to make the best of the situation we have been landed with by the previous Cabinet. I hope some of these concerns can be addressed at detailed application time."
"It's so frustrating that when presented with a really strong message from local people about what they want that the big wheels of the inflexible planning system steamrollers them," says Alistair Kirkbride, who made a presentation at Planning Committee for Bulk Ward Greens. "I didn't get up this morning craving to visit PC world or Pizza Hut. Our consultation showed that people want local facilities for local people. How will the planning system deliver this when big money seems to be driving every decision?"
But Ian Barker isn't sure the suggestions by Real Planning or local Greens are achievable. "Suggestions about what could be on the site by Real Planning for Lancaster do not address the issue of how the finance for the desired developments can be found," he feels. "Certainly the Council does not and is never likely to have the money. We should not raise unrealistic hopes of what can be achieved.
"We should try to get the best possible development out of Liberty consistent with the Planning brief that was unfortunately agreed by the previous Cabinet."
While some have reservations about Liberty's plans for the area, Councillor James Airey, the Prospective Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Morecambe and Lunesdale has welcomed them. He was the city's Cabinet member with responsibility for regeneration when the present proposals for the Kingsway site were first mooted.
"I welcome the fact that some deliverable plans for the Kingsway site have been brought forward and passed," Mr. Airey told Virtual-Lancaster.
"The plans provide for a good mix of uses with some vital and imaginative residential properties situated at the northern gateway to Lancaster.
"The Kingsway site has been a derelict eyesore for so long that it has become a site that needs developing as sooon as possible."

CUMBRIA FINDS A WAY WITH WORDS
25/2/04: Since there's been some recent debate on word-related matters in these pages, particularly about the Lancaster LitFest, those who are keen on literature might like see how other people do it, and savour the delights of the offerings available in Kendal on Sunday 7 March, and thereafter in Keswick from the 9th to the 14th.

FISHERIES MINISTER IN MORECAMBE
25/2/04: Ben Bradshaw, Defra's Fisheries Minister is visiting Morecambe Bay tomorrow at the invitation of Geraldine Smith MP -- and will meet with representatives from the local authority, Lancaster City Council, the local Sea Fisheries Committee, the Health & Safety Executive and local community leaders. The meeting has been convened to discuss progress made to improve safety for those working on the Morecambe Bay cockle beds.

LANCASHIRE HOME FOR ERIC'S ROLLER
Eric Morecambe's Rolls-Royce car, which sold at auction in December for £36,000 has found a permanent new home. A group of friends from East Lancashire bought the 1974 Silver Shadow from Eric's widow, Joan and have set up a company, Legend Cars, to use the classic vehicle for functions, publicity and charity work. The owners brought the car -- which still has the comedian's personalised number plate, EM 100 -- to Morecambe last week to photograph it in front of the the Eric Morecambe statue and told the Morecambe Visitor they hoped to return to the town in future.

IS COUNTY'S VISION BLURRED?
25/2/04: Green councillors have challenged County plans to increase the circulation of its in-house newspaper Vision, which already costs over £400,000 a year to produce.
The challenge comes shortly after local Labour MP Hilton Dawson criticised the County Council for using the paper to "mislead" the public over local government reform and using public money to do so.
The County Council plans to increase the circulation of Vision from 4 to 12 copies per year. The paper already costs £417,000 a year to produce and is circulated to thousands of homes and public buildings throughout the County.
In contrast, the City Council's equivalent news-sheet, Your District Matters, recently praised for helping better promote Council acitivities, is produced twice per year.
"At a time when all Councils are desperately trying to reduce their Council tax levels without decimating services, I find it bizarre that the County Council is to continue to pump out its own publication twelve times a year," commented local city councillor Jon Barry. "The County Council's own research shows that Vision has very low levels of awareness amongst the general public and even when shown a copy, only 33% recall having seen it before."
"Although I think it is important that Councils communicate with the public, this level of expenditure and monthly circulation is excessive."
Vision has also been criticised by Hilton Dawson, who recently reported Lancashire County Council to the District Auditor, the Boundary Committee for England and the Deputy Prime Minister claiming that they are misleading the public over local government reform in the paper.
Over the past two months the paper has urged its readers to respond to the Boundary Committee's proposals for local government reorganisation in Lancashire.
Headlining figures of £12.9million for option 1, £23.1million for option 2 and £25.9million for option 3 the document makes a number of statements that option 1 ­ the proposal to make the whole of Lancashire a unitary Council would be the cheaper. However, the Boundary Committee's own consultation document explicitly warns that these figures are not comparable because options 2 and 3 take in the two Cumbrian Districts of Barrow and South Lakeland.
"The statements made by the County Council are completely misleading," says Hilton, "and I believe render any support for option 1 completely invalid. I'm assuming that this total failure to understand the Boundary Committee's document is an honest mistake but it has taken place in the context of ridiculous scaremongering by the Council Leader about potential job losses with reorganisation. In addition it's a pretty poor information document that fails to point out that a unitary Lancashire would have 168 Councillors and be 40% bigger than the next biggest local authority in the land.
"Lancashire County Councillors are obviously pretty keen to hang on to what they have so I've asked the District Auditor to look out for political propaganda being paid for by Council Tax payers.'
Jon Barry has similar concerns about the use of Vision. "There's an awful lot in Vision about the possible demise of the County Council if a North West regional assembly is put in place. I very much hope that Vision is not being used as a vehicle by the County Council to try to stop this happening. If so, I believe this would be an abuse of public money."

PLAY MOVIE RETURNS
24/2/04: There will be another chance to view selected works from 'Play Movie' the international selection from the First Lancaster Film and New Media Festival 2003 this Thursday.
Folly will be showing the short films, giving people who missed the programme last summer the opportunity to see them again. The works, each lasting up to 10 minutes, are from as far afield as the USA, China and Brazil.
The works will be shown at 7.00pm with an introduction by Folly Director, Taylor Nuttall at Folly on Castle Park and forms part of Revision: A monthly celebration of short film and video practice. The cost is £2 or free to members of Folly.
• For more information please call 01524 388550 or visit:
www.folly.co.uk/filmfestival/az.htm

WIND FARM PLANS REJECTED
24/2/04: Green Party Councillor Chris Coates today slammed members of the City Council's Planning Committee after they again rejected plans for a wind farm on Caton Moor, accusing them of paying lip service to environmental issues and being hypocritical in the face of the evidence.
Plans for a wind farm on Caton Moor were narrowly defeated for a second-time by eight votes to seven, despite the applicant providing all the additional information requested by the committee. The application was refused with Independents, some Labour members and Conservatives voting to turn it down -- although the Conservatives had previously voted in favour of the application.
"It seems that some members of other parties are simply pretending to be concerned about the environment," feels Chris Coates, "but when they are faced with difficult decisions they search for any excuse to get out of making any real commitment."
Chris Coates was particularly angry by the actions of two members of the committee, Labour's Eileen Blamire and Independent Keith Budden. "They quite clearly said previously that they really wanted to support the wind farm, but couldn't because of the lack of an alternative sites survey -- but now the survey has been done they simply moved the goalposts revealing their true colours.
Given the shaky grounds on which the application was refused, against the advice of the Chief Planning Officer, the Green Party is concerned that costs will be awarded against the council when the application goes to appeal. At the same meeting the Planning Committee also approved the controversial plans for the Kingsway development put forward by Liberty Properties.

MORECAMBE BAY CHINESE VICTIM SUPPORT FUND
23/2/04: The North West Chinese Council has established the Morecambe Bay Chinese Victim Support Fund following the recent cockling tragedy. People wishing to contribute to the Support Fund can do so by contacting Chairman Dr. Lee Kai Hung, 449 Chester Road, Manchester M16 9HA, Tel: 0161 8737788, Fax: 0161 8737799 or email him on . Their web-address is www.nwcc-uk.org.
The Mayor, Councillor John Gilbert said "It was wonderful to see so many local people at the Memorial Service on Sunday, and I am sure many people will want to show their support to the fund."
In a letter to the city council, the Chinese Consulate has praised the people of Lancaster district for their support and thanked them for all the sympathy and kindness expressed for the families of the victims of the Cockling Tragedy.

TOWN GREEN BID STOPS DIGGERS ON CASTLE HILL
23/2/04: Local people today applied to Lancashire County Council to recognise the Priory graveyard/Castle Green as a town green.
This means that work on constructing the proposed car park, believed to have been imminent, cannot now begin.
If the bid is successful the Priory will have to abandon its plans for the car park in the well loved beauty spot. However work to improve access to the Priory for the disabled -- which has already begun -- and to restore the damaged monuments, will be allowed to continue as planned.
The group of Castle Ward residents have gathered the evidence they need to prove to the council that the land should be registered as a commons -- also called Town Green, upon which local people have the right to enjoy 'lawful sports and pastimes'.
The County Council will now have to consider this evidence, and if they agree then area around the Priory on Castle Hill will be saved from the current plans to build a new car park there.
Over 100 residents have already completed the evidence form, but Grassroots Lancaster is encouraging anyone who has used the area to complete a form, so that the County Council has as much evidence as possible when it considers the application.
"We have a strong case for this area to be recognised as common land," explains local resident Tom Furniss, "and this means that it will be preserved for local people to enjoy. However the more evidence we have, the better our chances -- so if you live in Castle Ward and have used the area around the priory then you can help us save the site by filling in an evidence form."
The group has been campaigning against the Priory's car park plans for the last year, and has been joined by local notables as Lancaster's best known photographer Jon Sparks.
Jon feels a car park would not only ruin the beautiful image in this year's official Lancaster Calendar: "It will not just put the Calendar photo out of date but many other shots too -- and they won't be easily replaced because the foreground will be ruined for so many angles."
• Forms are available from Grassroots Lancaster and the website www.eco-action.org/lancaster/grassroot

FAIR TRADERS!
23/2/04: The Mayor of Lancaster, John Gilbert, will be presented with a certificate by the Fairtrade Foundation on Friday 5 March 2004 to celebrate the District's attainment of Fairtrade Status.
The presentation will form part of the celebrations of Fairtrade Fortnight (1 - 14 March) which is the trigger event for a year-long 10th Birthday celebration of the FAIRTRADE Mark. During this period, five pairs of UK cities are putting aside their traditional rivalries to jointly declare their Fairtrade Town/Zone status - Lancaster & York, Oxford & Cambridge, Southampton & Portsmouth, Aberdeen & Dundee, and Leeds & Liverpool.
The philosophy behind Fairtrade is to help disadvantaged communities in the 'global south' by guaranteeing a fair price, directly paid, for commodities, such as tea, chocolate, sugar, coffee and bananas. It embraces concerns for all small producers who would be otherwise subject to the vagaries of market forces.

A Fairtrade District Celebration is being held on Friday 5 March 2004 from 12.30Pm. to 1.30pm. in the Banqueting Suite at Lancaster Town Hall. Brian Namata, a sugar producer from Malawi will be present to talk about his life as a sugar producer and the difference that fair trade makes. Bruce Crowther of the Fairtrade Foundation will also be in attendance. At 1.00 pm, Mr Namata will present the Mayor of Lancaster City Council, on behalf of the people of the Lancaster & Morecambe District, with a Fairtrade Certificate.
There will be Fairtrade tea, coffee and cake served and there will be an opportunity to find out more about Fairtrade including stalls, information and Global Link's interactive exhibition about the coffee trade 'Spilling the Beans'.
"Two local organisations, Global Link and the Faith and Justice Commission, have been working in partnership with the Council over the last two years to achieve 'Fairtrade District' status," commented council leader Ian Barker. "I'm delighted the hard work on this important issue has resulted in the achievement of Fairtrade District status for the area and look forward to the benefits that this will bring to our District."

DUKES WINS TOP TOURISM AWARD
23/2/04: The Dukes Theatre Box Office Team has won the award for Tourism Team of the Year at the first Lancashire Excellence in Tourism Skills Awards 2003.
This award, presented at an event at Blackburn Rovers Football Club last Friday, is for teams of any size whose combined skills have made an outstanding contribution towards success. The Dukes Box Office team have demonstrated that their unique approach to working together and their collective attitude has resulted in remarkable improvement of the service they provide. Providing excellent customer care the team's friendliness and efficiency are often commented upon and during Summer 2003 they broke all previous sales records. The Dukes' team has also helped implement new initiatives including online ticket sales and a new membership system.
The new award scheme is seen as a way for Lancashire to be put firmly on the tourism map, as a great place to work and an attractive and interesting tourism destination.
The Dukes' theatre and cinema attracts around 50,000 visitors a year, including the open-air plays in Williamson Park ­ with people travelling from all over the country (and beyond) to see the plays.
The Dukes is delighted that the Box Office Team have received this award in recognition of the great contribution they make to the company. "They have proved that great teamwork is a key to a successful tourist industry, said the Dukes Chief Executive, Amanda Belcham. We're extremely proud that they have been recognised in this way".

SETTING A GOOD EXAMPLE
23/2/04: A new practical guide to help councils improve their services has highlighted the achievements of Lancaster City Council's Communications Team.
In his book, New Targets, Net Tools, New Rules, author Chris Sellers, says for the Council's Communications Team to be highly commended as Communications Team of the Year in the 2003 Local Government Chronicle Awards was a particularly noteworthy achievement. Only a couple of years earlier, he says, the Improvement and Development Agency (IdeA) had identified severe weaknesses in the council's communications efforts.
Chris, who is the co-founder of Digital Thinking Partners Ltd., a consultancy specialising in helping people deliver improvement through technology, has praised the Council's for appointing a dedicated Communications Officer who introduced a series of changes, improving the way Council communicates not only with the public but also its staff. Within a year, the author says, independent research showed staff, councillors, partners and the media has all noticed the positive impact the changes had brought about.
Mr Sellers says: " Whilst many authorities are involved in a range of communication activities, Lancaster City Council's experience highlights what can be achieved in a short space of time and on a shoestring budget by making the most of the existing systems."
"This is further recognition of the council's communications achievements," says Gina Dowding, Cabinet member with responsibility for External Affairs. "We've worked hard to develop good two-way 'conversation' with both the public and our staff and we're committed to keeping up the good work."

PLANS TO LIMIT COUNCIL TAX RISES
23/2/04: Radical plans to limit future Council Tax rises are to be put before Lancaster City Council's Cabinet this week. Council Leader Ian Barker will ask the Council to cap rises in 2005/06 and 2006/07 at 5%. This will form part of a Medium Term Financial Strategy that Council will be asked to agree on March 3rd. It will mean the Council will have to look for extra savings or increased income of £1 million for 2005/07.
"These are tough targets," explained Coun Ian Barker, leader of the City Council. "We've already reduced the projected Council Tax increase for 2004/05 from the 21.1% put forward in the last Independent Group budget to 9%. To do this we have found efficiency savings of £600,000 and a further £600,000 from policy driven changes and increased income. Nevertheless, if we stop now, Council Tax will still rise by 7.9% in 2005/06 and 10.8% in 2006/07. This a lot less than we inherited, but above inflation rises of this size are still unacceptable."
"The Coalition Cabinet knows we have to improve council services. However, we cannot find the resources to do this just by putting Council Tax up. We have to finance growth by being more efficient and focussing on the essentials. To meet the new Council Tax targets and finance some modest growth, we will have to find a further £1 million savings over 2 years.
"I am asking Cabinet and Council voluntarily to put on financial straightjacket. It will be uncomfortable, but it will help us match our ambitions to our resources. Only if the public can see us exercising financial discipline will we deserve their support."

LETTERS
Our letters page is finally up - so if you've incisive comment, steam to let off, news to share or just want to prattle on, address your emails to The editor reserves all the usual rights with respect to publication. The page will be updated weekly - usually on Mondays. Deadline for Monday is 12 noon Sunday.
• Check out the letters page

Last Week's News Items: Go