24/07/2014 BBC Points West

strong criticism today, for spending nearly three quarters of a lillion

pounds ` on three temporary members of staff. They work as managers in

the children's services dep`rtment, and were brought in just before the

council was given an "inadepuate" rating by Ofsted for its chhld

protection services. The top Director alone cost nearly ?320 000

And in came the Somerset with a big reputation in a big price t`g. He

was the man in the government set to sort out the Haringey children's

services after the ABP case. Somerset Council brought hil in

after problems in their services Department. Its social workdrs are

meant to look after the most vulnerable children in Somerset

Last summer at the council was told that its child protection work was

inadequate and in the autumn the government give it an improvement

notice. If big changes were not made within one year it could send in

civil servants to run the department. Peter Lewis brotght with

him a deputy and operations director. The three of them soon and

agency cost the council ?740,00 last year. One local MP thinks

taxpayers are being ripped off and tailed protection is close to the

heart of Tessa who recently revealed that she was a victim of sexual

abuse as a child. This is about the protection of children. It hs about

spotting the risk and doing something about it. She does not

believe that managing the rhsk should come at such a cost. One of

these individual is played `t least ?103,000 more than any other council

officer in the country. That money could employ ten social workers In

a statement the council said immediately improvement was needed

so they made the decision to invest in high`quality temporarily

directors with a proven track record. They say they have seen

improvements and are now looking for replacements. Here in Taunton Peter

Lewis is due to update councillors on his progress, he will also hear

from the Department for Education who will say that well steps have

been taken work is still at an early stage and there is more to do.

Undoubtedly the three quartdrs of ?1 million team will face questions.

Two hospitals in the West have been referred to the

Health Secretary because of serious concerns over their finances.

Weston General ` the smallest trust in the l`nd `

one of the largest, Southme`d ` ?33 million.

Here's our Health correspondent Matthew Hill

. Two hospitals, the smallest and lightest in the West, facing the

same financial strain. The trust that serves Weston`super`Mare has

not been able to break even 40 years and in the past hospitals lhke this

were bailed out by trusts that were flush. Under the NHS reforms they

must now stand on their own two feet. The new chief executive has

cut the deficit to just unddr ? million but that is not good enough

for the audit commission who have referred the matter to the secretary

of state for health. The trtst that runs the new super hospital in

Southmead find themselves under ministerial scrutiny with a ?33

million deficit. That is 6% of its budget. But its boss thinks it will

break even. It is part of the costs associated with bringing two

hospitals together and moving to this site. We believe we can recover

most of those costs was then two or three years and our plan seds a

return to the surplus posithon in three years time. It includds things

like we will have reduced energy costs, being in the new hospital, we

are already negotiating better deals with our suppliers as one hospital,

and in standardising our repuests for kit and equipment. And things

like bringing staff together and operating in a standard way.

Breaking even over future ydars will get increasingly difficult for these

hospitals as they have to contribute to the ?20 billion saving t`rget set

by the government. It's been an evening full

of medals for west country `thletes at the Commonwealth Games,

but we're still waiting for a first Home favourite Michael Jamidson

who trains at the Universitx of Bath, was beaten

in the big race of the night. Alistair Durden is live in Glasgow

now. There was enormous pressure on

Michael Jamieson, the Olymphc silver medallist from two years ago. The

bookmakers fancied him to whn gold, so that the home crowd, his face has

been on billboards right across Glasgow. Is it University of Bath

team`mate was hoping to be the man to upset the odds, but in the end

the threat came from elsewhdre. The West Country competitors have won

five medals in the pool the night, including two silvers for Shobhan

Marie O'Connor but the headlines will belong to Jamieson.

After all the talk, time for the showdown. Scotsman Michael Jamieson

at the home support. Could his University of Bath team`matd Andrew

Willis upset them and the odds? The star was cagey but both werd in the

heart going into the last 100 metres. But it was another Scot

Ross Murdoch, who had the stronger finish to beat them both. Shlver for

Jamieson as it was in the Olympics. And bronze for Willis. Ross has been

on great form all season, hd has dropped huge chunks of his best

today so he deserves to win. A good race. It is great for these two It

is not the time I wanted but I am on the podium.

A fire at a farm on Salisbury plain has destroyed crops this afternoon.

This footage was taken by the farmer whilst the blaze was at its height.

Fortunately no one was hurt and buildings were spared.

The military fire service at Boscombe Down, the policd,

army and ambulance service have all been working with Wiltshire Fire

That is all from us. There hs more news on the BBC website and news

channel. We are back tomorrow from 630. Here is the weather.

Temperatures will come down eventually as we head into the

weekend, we get a drop in temperatures by Sunday and Londay of

next week but for tomorrow ht is another hot day more in the way of

sunshine and just the chancd of an isolated showers developing at some

point in the afternoon. Overnight the lake, another 11, perhaps for

many of us uncomfortably warm with temperatures no lower than 06 or 17

degrees. More in the way of close creeping in from the east, for

tomorrow we have a lovely d`y again. We could see more in the wax of

cloud bottling up into the afternoon. By the end of thd

afternoon if you sharp showdrs could start up with most others gdtting

away with another fine and warm day. Top temperature of 27 or 28 degrees.

Sure into the weekend, tempdratures dropping by several degrees and by

Monday the top temperature hs 2 or 22 degrees. Goodbye.

is getting too much for many people. By Sunday, the temp will be cooler

than today. Tonight, another warm and comfortable night for sleeping.