18/07/2014 BBC London News

and humid. That is all from the BBC News at

Six. Goodbye from me. We reveal how some councils

in the capital are refusing to tax homeowners with empty properties

despite having the power to do so. This shows the scandal of elpty

homes and we need to act. But councils say enforcing

the tax would deter crucial foreign Under investigation,

the primary school where te`chers claim they were forced to buy

equipment out of their own pockets. Damaged during last night's

electric storm ` one south We heard thunder and saw thd

lightning intermittently, but it wasn't for a few minutes th`t we

wasn't for a few minutes that we realised what had happened.

Plus, From Sunday services to postal services ` how a north London church

Good evening, welcome to the programme.

First tonight, local authorities who have the power to tax home owners

who leave their properties dmpty but are refusing to do so.

BBC London has discovered that seven councils in the capital are failing

to use a flagship Government policy which allows them to charge an extra

50% of council tax on homes left unoccupied for at least two years.

Labour leader Ed Miliband has called it a "housing scandal"

The government promised to bring empty homes back into use, to raise

money for more affordable housing and ease the housing crisis. In

London, that meant foreign hnvestors London, that meant foreign hnvestors

who failed to rent out propdrties would be targeted. But we have

would be targeted. But we h`ve learned that the empty homes premium

has been completely ignored, overlooked and written off across a

swathe of central London. Sdven swathe of central London. Seven

councils have so far refused to use the premium. Six of them ard

the premium. Six of them are Conservative`run, prompting this

rebuke from the leader of the Opposition. I am deeply concerned

about this and I think it is essential not that the `` not only

that the empty homes premiul essential not that the `` not only

that the empty homes premiul is used to avoid the scandal of empty homes

and people not paying a fin`ncial and people not paying a financial

penalty for that, but that we extend the power. At the moment it is a

power to charge only 50% of council tax. We believe it should bd 10 %.

tax. We believe it should be 100%. This is an important investhgation

This is an important investigation and it shows the scandal and that we

need to act. There are more than 80,000 empty properties in the

capital and the empty homes premium was levied on just over 4000. The

biggest individual charge w`s was levied on just over 4000. The

biggest individual charge w`s an extra ?4700 in council tax on a

property in Richmond. What is extra ?4700 in council tax on a

property in Richmond. What hs most property in Richmond. What hs most

surprising is that seven cotncils have so far refused to use the empty

homes premium at all, including boroughs with the highest property

prices, like Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster. Rupert panders to

the privileged. His company will, fill the fridges, arrange flowers in

preparation for when the owner preparation for when the owner

annual shopping or business trip. annual shopping or business trip.

For a fee, he will spend thd rest For a fee, he will spend thd rest of

the year managing a deserted property, and he cannot unddrstand

why we would want to deter rich foreign investors. Foreign owners

have a right to live here and we need their investment in London We

need the money they bring in, the contributions they make in stamp

duty, for example. By raising council tax, it's just another

reason, potentially, not to invest in the city. But how can cotncils

like Westminster claim they cannot afford to build the number of

affordable homes London needs, while at the same time refusing to use a

power designed to give them the money to do so? We are a low tax

borough. We are proud of that money to do so? We are a low tax

borough. We are proud of th`t and money to do so? We are a low tax

borough. We are proud of that and we borough. We are proud of that and we

think you need to tax efficiently and properly. We do not think this

would raise enough money to make any meaningful difference in the city.

meaningful difference in thd city. We make significant amounts of money

through developers investing in the city, building in the city, that

allows us to deliver over 5000 new homes over the last few years. That

is of little comfort to anyone struggling to get on the property

ladder, who will ask why a tax designed to raise money for more

affordable homes is being ignored by the same councils that have the most

unaffordable property anywhdre in the country.

And this isn't a Tory versus Labour issue.

Has the Mayor got strong vidws on this?

He has said he will write to those councils to demand why they are not

using these powers. The mayor has gone even further, demanding that

the government increased thhs premium to ten times council tax. He

is critical of some foreign investors who he says are using the

London property market as a stock market, which is completely

inappropriate. And he is mindful of how removing property from the

rental market increases prices throughout the market. The councils

for their part have put up a robust for their part have put up ` robust

defence, the councils which are not using the premium. They say it

raises relatively low levels of revenue and not all of the dmpty

revenue and not all of the empty properties that I mentioned are

actually eligible for this tax. Above all, they say this is a pan

`London problem and requires a pan`London solution, and not all the

blame should be levelled at them. Thank you. I meet someone from this

Bowls club in Reading who h`s Thank you. I meet someone from this

Bowls club in Reading who has been Bowls club in Reading who h`s been

selected to represent England in the Commonwealth games. And he is really

Commonwealth games. And he hs really rather good.

An investigation's been launched into the finances of a failhng

It comes after teachers clahmed they were forced to buy basic equipment

BBC London has seen a confidential letter sent to

governors at St Mary's Catholic Primary listing alleged failings.

Teachers first started raising concerns a year ago. Initially, they

put their worries into a letter. put their worries into a letter

Signed by the majority of staff, put their worries into a letter.

Signed by the majority of staff it Signed by the majority of staff, it

was confidentially sent to the governors and we have seen ` copy.

governors and we have seen a copy. They say it was not clear how the

pupil premium money for disadvantaged pupils, running to

tens of thousands of pounds, was spent. There was apparently no

budget for Supply teachers and budget for Supply teachers `nd

teaching assistants were left covering lessons. Support for

children with special educational needs was sporadic, if at all, and

staff say they had to buy basic staff say they had to buy b`sic

resources themselves, pens, printer ink, Staples, glue, out of their own

pockets. Managers often became pockets. Managers often bec`me

confrontational and defensive. They list numerous issues. We have seen a

letter back from the governor is pretty much dismissing their

concerns. Many of the staff have now left. I met with a group today who

were too scared to go on calera left. I met with a group today who

were too scared to go on calera but they painted a picture of fear

were too scared to go on camera but they painted a picture of fdar and

they painted a picture of fear and intimidation. That appears to have

spread to parents, too. This lady who have a child at the school

agreed to speak on condition of anonymity. It came to my attention

that children were shouted at, that children were shouted `t,

intimidated, even little chhldren, and that is heartbreaking. Lots of

people thought the same? Many parents feel the same, yes, and have

lost confidence in the school, saying it is not the school it used

to be. The National Union of Teachers says that staff did

everything by the book and they are concerned that the use of teaching

concerned that the use of tdaching assistants to take classes alone.

Only qualified teachers shotld be Only qualified teachers should be

teaching classes in school. It is not lawful. They should not be

teaching. They are entitled to supervise on certain occasions, but

not to teach. In March, Ofsted stepped in, and its report rated the

school as inadequate. Among the failings it says the provision

school as inadequate. Among the failings it says the provishon for

pupils with special educational needs is weak, and even the

governors don't appear to know where the pupil premium funding is spent.

It recommends the school be put into special measures. Brent Council has

launched a forensic audit of the school's finances and would not

comment further. The diocesds of Westminster is aware of the

allegations and is cooperathng with allegations and is cooperating with

the investigation. The headteacher and governors would not comlent

and governors would not comment. These were Ofsted's findings and

knowing that teachers raised this a year ago and this could have

knowing that teachers raised this a year ago and this could havd been

year ago and this could have been prevented, we were disappointed

sad, angry. They failed our children. Things could get worse.

Parents claim that year six exams have been withheld. The Dep`rtment

have been withheld. The Department for Education has confirmed a review

is being carried out into how the tests were conducted at the school.

We understand the head has resigned. The welfare of 400 young children is

at stake and the search for answers continues into how this oncd

successful school collapsed so badly.

A pensioner has been jailed for raping a three`year`old boy he

was babysitting, after befriending a family to gain their trust.

Barry John Britton from Westminster admitted four counts of sexual

He received a life sentence with a minimum term of five years.

A south London man has been found not guilty of supplying drugs

following the death of a 16`year`old boy at a rave.

Daniel Spargo`Mabbs died after taking ecstasy in Hayes

Ryan Kirk from Beckenham was cleared of three counts of supplying class A

Sentencing of Nicqueel Pitrora from Croydon is due to take place

in August after he earlier pleaded guilty to supplying

High Court judges have taken the rare step

of ordering a third inquest, following the death of a woman at a

Carmel Bloom died after a routine kidney stone operation at

the Roding Hospital in Ilford, which was managed by BUPA at the time.

It's now run by Spire Healthcare, and met all key standards

Ms Bloom's family requested a further inquest

This gives some indication of the storms overnight

which lit up London's skyline in the early hours of this lorning.

It left one home in south London devastated.

Tarah Welsh is in Streatham this evening.

Just look at the damage caused by the lightning. It struck at about

2am and has completely destroyed this roof. The chimney collapsed,

bricks went through the conservatory, and you can still see

debris on the floor. It took 30 firefighters two hours to put out

the fire in the roof. London Fire Brigade have told me the falily had

a lucky escape. They all got out unhurt. Terrifying for them and for

neighbours. The first thing was the noise. It was an almighty crash.

noise. It was an almighty crash Then we heard thunder and saw the

lightning, intermittently. But it wasn't for a few minutes th`t we

realised what had happened. After a few minutes, smoke came out. After

the smoke, you saw flames come out. And then very big smoke. All of the

people were leaving, they started to run out, screaming. Everybody woke

up around here. Serious implications the storm had for the familx

up around here. Serious implications the storm had for the family here.

They have told me they don't know when they will be able to go home,

but many of you will have seen, heard and being woken by thd storm.

You have been sending us photos, You have been sending us photos

because the sky was lit up for about an hour. It was caused by a mixture

of heat and humidity. Weathdr of heat and humidity. Weather

experts have told me that whll only experts have told me that whll only

get worse tonight because it has been so hot today. London Fhre

been so hot today. London Fire Brigade have given out some

warnings, asking people to unplug warnings, asking people to tnplug

any unnecessary appliances. What happened here, when the lightning

hit the area will it caused a fire in the electrical appliances in the

house. They do not want to panic people, but if you unplug anything

unnecessary, particularly the television, it is better to be safe

than sorry. We will have more on the weather later.

children out of school without permission, have told a court the

decision to prosecute them is a breach of their human rights. In

what's being considered a ldgal test case James Haymore and his wife

Dayna took their three children on holiday to America earlier this

James and his wife, in the coloured blouse, leaving the Magistr`tes

blouse, leaving the Magistrates' Court with a legal representative.

They face legal action for failing to ensure that their son regularly

attended school, after taking him to a family reunion in America. They

pleaded not guilty and the case was adjourned until November whdn

pleaded not guilty and the case was adjourned until November when they

will face a two day trial. During the trial, they are expected to

argue that the prosecution is the trial, they are expected to

argue that the prosecution hs unfair under the European Convention on

Human Rights. In particular, Article eight of the convention, which

eight of the convention, whhch guarantees the right to a private

and family life. Their three children go to school here `t

Chancellor Park primary in Chelmsford, where the headtdacher

did not authorise the trip to America. They were fined ?60 by

Essex County Council but refused to pay. New rules brought in bx the

former Secretary of State for education, Michael Gove, banned

parents from taking children out of school unless circumstances are

exceptional. At court, keephng her exceptional. At court, keeping her

office up to date with developments, a legal officer from the

organisation liberty which campaigns for Civil Liberties. Common`sense

must prevail. Criminalising parents for taking children out of school,

is that the best use of court money. The rules that led to this

ordeal go no way to addresshng money. The rules that led to this

ordeal go no way to addressing the ordeal go no way to addressing the

deeper and more compact sochal deeper and more compact sochal

problems that contribute to some children repeatedly missing school.

If they lose their legal fight, they could each be fined ?1000.

Still to come this Friday evening ` your full weekend weather forecast.

Plus: The church where parcels now sit alongside prayers ` as ` vicar

Time for the weekend sport ` and Sara Orchard is here with all

Thanks, Riz, and it's this lan who takes top billing in the capital

on Sunday as quadruple 2012 Paralympic champion David Wdir

Whilst the Olympic stadium in Stratford continues

its renovation into West Hal's ground, this year the Games take

place in a very unique setthng as Chris Slegg explains.

On Horse Guards Parade today, they were not just changing the guard,

they were changing everything. Seats were installed and attract was laid

to welcome some of the world's top athletes. I must say, the UK knows

how to put athletics on the map What an amazing surroundings we have

here. It is incredible and ht What an amazing surroundings we have

here. It is incredible and it makes here. It is incredible and ht makes

athletics fun. Sunday's event marks two years since the Olympics. Last

year's first Anniversary Games were year's first Anniversary Gales were

held at the Olympic Stadium. Impossible this year because it is

Impossible this year becausd it is being rebuilt. They may not have the

Olympic Stadium but they have brought the Olympic track whth them.

brought the Olympic track with them. This is the exact servers that

Jessica Ennis`Hill, Mo Farah and Usain Bolt won their medals on. That

is the sound which will be used in is the sound which will be used in

the long jump and shot put areas. There will be 20,000 fans inside

this temporary arena. I havd There will be 20,000 fans inside

this temporary arena. I have been to a lot of meets but this has to be

one of the most amazing. Thd scenery one of the most amazing. The scenery

is amazing. Just being able to be here and compete here, I have to say

is really exciting. Tickets for the stadium are almost sold out but it

is free to watch the long`distance is free to watch the long`distance

events on the MoU which is where David Weir will compete. It is going

to be raped on Sunday. The British public always support all the

athletes from all over the world. `` it is going to be great on Sunday.

Well, if you are going to the games I hope it stays dry.

Now onto football and last night QPR confirmed the signing

of former England captain Rio Ferdinand, but could another

The club have agreed a fee with Cardiff City

for defender Steven Caulker, but the player is understood to

QPR manager Harry Redknapp is keen for Caulker to

Now one of the sports that you only really get to see when the

Commonwealth Games is on ` hs Lawn Bowls, and it starts next week.

A team of 15 athletes will represent Team England, with Tilehurst Bowling

Club's Andy Knapper selected in the pairs and fours.

His selection marks an incredible year for the Reading

player who only got his first England call up last year.

At Delhi 2010, the lawn Bowls athletes just had the heat, humidity

and insects to contend with. In Glasgow it will be different. The

Kelvingrove Bowls club has ` great Kelvingrove Bowls club has ` great

backdrop. No doubt it will be one to remember. Selected in the pairs and

remember. Selected in the p`irs and fours, this will be Andy Knapper's

fours, this will be Andy Kn`pper's first Commonwealth Games. His

first Commonwealth Games. Hhs passion for the sport started by

passion for the sport startdd by watching his dad and grandad. Are

used to play cricket. One d`y watching his dad and grandad. Are

used to play cricket. One day I watching his dad and grandad. Are

used to play cricket. One day I went down and watched him and got the

bug. Lawn bowls at the Commonwealth Games will attract the most diverse

athletes from all ages and backgrounds. Andy is 32 and only got

his first call`up for England last year. To be selected was a highlight

of my career. It just happened overnight. It definitely ch`nged my

life dramatically! 2014 promises to be further life changing for Andy.

His wife Laura will not beghn to Glasgow because she is expecting

their first child and they both owe much to the sport. It is a massive

much to the sport. It is a lassive part of our life. We met playing

bowls. We both play outdoors and we enjoy it. We could not have asked

for a better year. Everything is going right, thankfully. While

going right, thankfully. Whhle winning a medal as a priority, the

opportunity to enjoy everything that a multisport event offers is an

added extra. The most excithng thing is the ceremonies and the

opportunity to walk round the stadiums with the rest of the team

and meet the other athletes. I would quite like to meet Usain Bolt. We

are similar athletes obviously! Lawn bowls starts at Kelvingrove on

Thursday. Good luck to Andy

and the Bowls team and we'll have plenty more on London's Commonwealth

Games athletes next week. That's all the sport, back to you,

Riz. Next ` how one community saved

their local post office. A vicar

in Kilburn has allowed his church to be used for postal services after

the post office was closed down. He says he believes it's part

of the church's duty to serve Churches and post offices, both

institutions which have suffered a fall in visitor numbers. In west

Hamstead, they think they have fall in visitor numbers. In west

Hamstead, they think they h`ve found Hamstead, they think they have found

the solution. Today, the post office at Saint James 's welcomed hts first

customers. I think it is a good idea because it is very sad to lose our

post office. I think it is ` post office. I think it is a

brunette idea but I wish thdy could brunette idea but I wish they could

have separated the sales arda brunette idea but I wish thdy could

have separated the sales area a have separated the sales arda a

little bit more. Why is that? It is a church and you need that

separation. I think it is fantastic separation. I think it is fantastic

because it is different. Opdning separation. I think it is f`ntastic

because it is different. Opening it because it is different. Opdning it

out means there will be more people out means there will be mord people

who do not necessarily come to our church but will walk through our

church, because I love it. There is also a cafe and children's play

area. It cost ?600,000 to sdt up with help from the council, the

parish and a private donor. The idea that any profits from the btsinesses

will pay for the businessoutreach work `` the Church's outreach work.

We will do mother and Todd liquids and also some debt advice work, the

anti`wonder work the Archbishop is keen on. `` we will do mother and

keen on. `` we will do mothdr and toddler groups. I think we are

returning to the medieval model of the church where the church is the

centre of the community when the church was used for the people for

markets, meetings, gatherings and social events. That is what we have

returned to. We will be very much returned to. We will be verx much

the centre of this local community. the centre of this local colmunity.

With the post office open from am six days a week, the task now will

be to convert customers into Congregational members.

So after last night's storms, today, as predicted, was the hottest day of

the year so far with temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius.

Whilst many Londoners have been out enjoying the weather, others have

Not least the actors in Regents Park Open Air Theatre,

If you cannot keep cool likd this on the hottest day of the year? What

can you do? Children from St Pancras were in granary Square at King's

Cross as an end of term tre`t. were in granary Square at Khng's

Cross as an end of term treat. We Cross as an end of term tre`t. We

cannot all chill out. Across the capital there are hot jobs to be

done. It will be the glare of the sun rather than lights on the stage

at Regents Park open`air stage this at Regents Park open`air st`ge this

evening. We are out here, it is glorious and magical. Do you all

your fellow actors share your opinion or will some die in the

heat? I am sure there are a few going lord, get me out of this heat.

Keeping cool in the sizzling kitchen is challenging enough. Harder

Keeping cool in the sizzling kitchen is challenging enough. Harddr still

is challenging enough. Harder still when you have been fasting `ll day

for Ramadan. It is not hunger, when you have been fasting all day

for Ramadan. It is not hungdr, for for Ramadan. It is not hungdr, for

1819 hrs you do not have anything in 1819 hrs you do not have anxthing in

your stomach, it is when it gets hot it is so difficult without drinking.

We also value our open spacds it is so difficult without drinking.

We also value our open spaces on days like this, something not lost

on the city planners. There is a bit of shade if you want to sit in the

shade. There is water and sunbathing. It has proved more

popular than we thought it would. Resourceful Londoners will always

Resourceful Londoners will `lways keep cool. Thanks for your Twitter

tips. Loiter around the chilled aisle in the supermarket. Stick your

pillow in the freezer. Get out of town or sleep with a hot water

bottle filled with cold watdr. town or sleep with a hot water

bottle filled with cold water. Just bottle filled with cold water. Just

as it snows in winter, it always gets hot in summer and it is always

a challenge. On that note, let's get a check on

the weather with John Hammond. More storms?

Yes, indeed. Many of us were woken up last night and we could get woken

up tonight. The Met Office had issued an amber warning. We had this

line of storms that pushed `way line of storms that pushed `way

northwards. Then a gap, the sun came out. We got as high as 32 ddgrees in

one or two places. Now we h`ve more cloud looming down over northern

France. That is heading tow`rds us. France. That is heading towards us.

It will give us a repeat performance. It will not be as

straightforward as that. Thd straightforward as that. The

position of the storms will be different. The potential is there

for further quite violent storms as we go through tonight. A lot of rain

locally which could cause some issues. Are the places locally will

avoid the showers. A steamy night. Temperatures staying in a hhgh

avoid the showers. A steamy night. Temperatures staying in a high teens

all night. Tomorrow could start off under it. We will see some hazy

sunshine developing. Don't be fooled. We will see more storms

developing as we get into the afternoon. The distribution will be

difficult to nail down. The potential is there for the heat and

humidity. That clutch of storms clears away northwards. This is

going into tomorrow night. It will probably be dry, another muggy one.

Then we will get into Sundax. The main focus will be on the eastern

side of the region. The distribution of the storms could be subtly

different. The potential for some lively showers. Not just as hot but

in the sunshine feeling very lively showers. Not just as hot but

in the sunshine feeling verx warm in the sunshine feeling verx warm

and humid. Few showers we think as we head into the early part of next

week. Still quite warm and luggy. Hopefully, we will see some sunshine

at times. Thank you.

The United Nations has called for a full and independent

investigation into the Malaxsian plane crash that killed 298 people,

Air crash experts are heading to the rebel held site in Eastern Ukraine

The Israeli Prime Minister says he's prepared for a significant dxpansion

into Gaza ` less than 24 hotrs after Israel began a ground offensive.

The UN estimates the number of people who've fled

their homes over the last day has almost doubled to 40,000.

A leaked draft of the offichal report into the so`called

Trojan Horse plot has found there is evidence of a sustained `ttempt

to impose a hardline Islamist agenda in some Birmingham schools.

BBC London has discovered that seven councils are failing to use a

flagship policy which enables them flagship policy which enables them

to charge tax on homes left unoccupied for two years.

That is all we have got time for. That is all we have got time for.

Thank you for joining us. Vhctoria Thank you for joining us. Vhctoria

Hollins will be back with the late news. From me and the team, whatever

you are up too, have a lovely weekend. Goodbye.