26/11/2013 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

That is all from BBC News At Six, I will be back with more from

Hello, welcome to Look North. In the programme tonight. Bottom of the

class. A warning to schools in Northumberland that they must do

better, and the council gets a caning too.

Can we have our money back? Calls for two former police chiefs to

return nearly ?100,000. Never mind the Scots ` should the

North have its own form of devolution? And the strangers who

became an old soldier's family. Hundreds pay their respects to a man

most of them never knew. And will Sunderland defender Wes

Brown still be in civvies at the weekend ` as the FA reach a decision

over his controversial red card! Flagyl

Urgent action is needed to improve failing schools in Northumberland,

according to the education watchdog Ofsted. It comes after emergency

inspections of 17 schools put four inspections of 17 schools put

of them into special measures ` the of them into special measures ` the

lowest grade possible. Ofsted said the downward trend was particularly

affecting middle and high schools. It criticised the local authority

for not giving teachers sufficient support in key areas. Luke Walton

reports. This school was rated goods by

Ofsted earlier in the year but many others in Northumberland have seen

their ranking downgraded in the latest inspections. The conclusions

make grim reading for parents and the local authority. Of 17, just one

was just as outstanding and three as good. A total of nine were said to

be quiet improvement and four got the lowest rating of special

measures. Ofsted accused Northumberland county council of

lacking clarity and of not supporting schools. The local

authority have not acted soon enough when it was clear of the school was

slipping and also they have not acted with enough vigour when a

school was in serious difficulty. Northumberland county council's

Labour leadership has only been in charge since May and it says it is

already taking steps to increase support for schools. We need to work

in team work with the professionals here than the teaching scarf in the

schools but also the community. What would you say to parents who are

upset that their children are any school put special measures. I want

every child in Northumberland to go to a good school and I accept the

situation at the moment is not acceptable. Is outside intervention

from the Department for Education a possibility? Speaking yesterday

before the findings were published, the schools minister did not rule it

out. We would expect to make a judgement over whether any

particular local authority is capable of improving, whether it has

a strong plan or it recognises the criticisms. If it does those things

we might give it more time. With the government and Ofsted watching

closely, the pressure for improvement is intense.

Luke's with me now. Luke, a lot of parents will be asking which schools

have fared better or worse in these inspections, but that information

isn't all available yet? The situation is that some but not all

of the inspection results have gone up. Ofsted says there is an

obligation to tell parents but it has a number of days before it goes

public and looking on the website tonight, I could not find any of the

schools put into special measures, but what I found was the number

judged to require improvement. It includes the Northumberland Church

of England Academy in Ashington. More information on other schools is

about to come out over the next few days and in its wake, plenty of

anxiety for parents and teachers. And for the rest of the week, Look

North and your local radio stations will be looking at the issue of

education standards for all age groups across the North East and

Cumbria. That's in the Big Question from

tomorrow on Look North. North Yorkshire's Police

Commissioner is demanding that the county's former Chief Constable,

Grahame Maxwell, and his one`time deputy, Adam Briggs, should repay

almost ?100,000, which it's claimed they should never have received.

Julia Mulligan says that the former Police Authority apparently

overstepped their legal powers in making the payments. Our Crime

Correspondent John Cundy reports. Controversy continues to follow

former chief constable Graham Maxwell and his former deputy ad

breaks even into their retirement. In the later years of their careers,

they both had been accused of favouring relatives. His contract

was not renewed and Adam Briggs retired three years ago. Fresh

controversy surrounds the two go through no fault of their own. Julia

Mulligan believes Mr Maxwell and brakes had been paid ?100,000 in

certain allowances by the previous police authority they should never

have received. It is believed to have included personal development

allowances. Now the chair said they paid the allowances in good faith

and with real legal advice but the police commissioner says in

hindsight the payments appear not to have been legal. This is yet another

example of the long`running side of the North Yorkshire police force

where were made that were unclear. Tax payers money was spent with very

little regard for financial control. Julia Mulligan said she carried out

the payment review after public concern was expressed. She says she

is determined to be transparent and open about such matters in North

Yorkshire which she claimed had been kept under lock and key in the past.

Today Scots were told what independence north of the border

might look like if they vote to leave the UK next year. But should

people in the North East and Cumbria also be given more say over their

lives? Some campaigners believe our region needs its own form of

devolution to compete with Scotland. But as our Political Editor Richard

Moss reports it's not a new debate. Imposing and impressive. For

centuries Auckland Castle was the power base for the Prince Bishops of

Durham. Rulers of what was effectively an independent state

within England. The Prince Bishops could print the Roman coins and

raise taxes. It would be ambitious to expect most powers to come back

any time soon but the Scotland debate is focusing minds on whether

the North needs more control over its destiny. And this former Labour

MP believes we need to learn from our neighbours. He says a new North

East political party could match the success of the Scottish

Nationalists, by pushing for power. Look at Scotland, look at Wales, and

I think that could work here. The north`east could do with the little

spice and ginger from a new party committed to regional power and to

regional democracy. But what do people in the North East's old power

base of Bishop Auckland make of the idea of a new drive for devolution?

Most areas need more say and I think devolution within England is

something to be looked at. I would be against it because we would be

separating ourselves. It would be nice for the people of the North to

have a voice again. We are part of the United Kingdom. But you may now

be experiencing deja vu. Nine years ago the North East was offered a

regional assembly. But four out of five voters rejected the idea. And

today's Labour MPs don't believe the region needs an assembly or a new

party. I do not think there is a democratic mandate to have a party

which would specifically represent the north`east. We have a number of

MPs and politicians who represent its interests already very well

indeed. But existing politicians do want

change. Seven North East councils are about to form a combined

authority stretching from Berwick to Barnard Castle. It's not a merger

they say but an attempt to gain more cloud. Because of the economic

challenge we face on the northern border and also from the south of

England, we need to change the way we work together and do things

better because it is senseless for councils to compete against each

other. Durham's Prince Bishops also used to keep a close eye on their

northern neighbours. They feared invasion, now it's the possible

separation of Scotland which could pose a threat or an opportunity.

The High Court has halted a judicial review by campaigners who want

Richard III to be buried at York Minster. Archaeologists found

Richard's skull and bones under a Leicester council car park last year

and they were to be re`interred at the city's cathedral. But a group

which includes some of the king's distant relatives, say his wishes

were to be laid to rest at York Minster. The hearing's been

adjourned until the New Year. The BBC has been told that energy

firms are pulling the plug on projects to improve the efficiency

of homes until the Government makes up its mind about green taxes. Work

was supposed to start on Monday to install solid wall insulation on 100

homes in Springwell in Sunderland. But social housing company Gentoo

says it can't go ahead with the project because the energy firm

involved, withdrew the funding. Alison Freeman reports.

Gladys's home is her pride and joy. But keeping it warm is costly. She

and husband Fred have done the house up themselves but were due to get

help to insulate it. That work was meant to start in Springwell in

Sunderland this week. But hasn't. It would take the worry away. You could

say, at least I would save ?20 a month and could use that. You still

have to curb the heating where you can. Housing company Gentoo were due

to carry out the improvements. But it says the energy firm which was

going to pay them has called a temporary halt. It says this is

happening across the country while they wait for the government's

decision on green levies ` that's the money we pay on our yearly bills

to help low income households become more energy efficient. I was very

disappointed to hear we would not be able to treat these 100 homes this

side of spring which would have meant people being warm this winter.

This work was a 14 week programme and it would have been for 25 trades

men so we would have been generating employment. The work that was due to

start here on Monday would've cost half a million pounds and it would

have seen a hundred homes insulated. That means, people like the Lambs

would have shaved around a third off their heating bill, saving them ?300

to ?400 per year. The Government says it's still reviewing green

levies and will announce its findings soon. But with more than

30,000 people dying unnecessarily last winter due to the cold, many

hope there'll be practical help for those struggling with their bills.

A body set up to help parts of our region hit by steel industry job

losses has just made its 6000th cash investment into a UK business. UK

Steel Enterprise operates on Teesside, in Derwentside and West

Cumbria, and claims it's helped to create 16,000 jobs since being set

up 40 years ago. Our Business Correspondent Ian Reeve reports.

Martin has a job today because steel workers in the past lost theirs.

He's an apprentice at a Teesside plastics company. It was given cash

by a body set up by British Steel in the 1970s. Back then the steel`maker

had started to make big cut backs. To make amends for the cuts to

places like Consett, British Steel put millions of pounds into a job

creation fund. Today the fund is part of Tata Steel, but money is

still being loaned in areas affected by changes in the industry. And

Martin is on his way to being a time served technician. I hope they gain

that rack to gain skills and knowledge and progress in the

company. This company is only one of many though. The fund, called UK

Steel Enterprise, has just notched up its 6000th investment into a UK

business. Without it, we would probably have to look at maybe

downsizing the business and moving into a smaller facility and it would

have meant job losses. The money invested ranges from a few thousand

to ?750,000. In our region, ?17 million has been given to small and

medium`sized businesses. And 16,000 jobs have been created in those

companies. A fine track record. But will the investment keep on coming.

Where they are businesses that set up and want to grow and expand, we

will be here to help support them. That commitment will go down well in

the region. Because, even 40 years or so on from the cost cutting of

Ian Mcgregor, the steel industry is still a pretty parlous place to

work. Coming up next, the send`off an old

soldier could never have dreamed he would receive. And good news at last

for a seaside town's iconic dome, after years of neglect.

Any good news for the weather? Temperatures should make it into

double figures and all the details later.

He was a veteran soldier, described as a hero and honoured for his

bravery. But when Frederick Leach, who was 94, died in a care home in

Eston earlier this month there was a fear nobody would come to his

funeral. He didn't seem to have any family or relatives so the local

council put an appeal for people to come to the service. This afternoon,

hundreds gathered for his funeral, as Stuart Whincup reports.

This was an incredible tribute. Hundreds of people paying their

respects to a man they never met. He was a proud man, proud of the

service he had given to his country, wrote to have served. Seeing these

people is fantastic. The time`out has not been forgotten and I do not

know what the figures are but I am gobsmacked. In 1940, his Battalion

came under fire in Norway from 200 German bombers. Despite being

heavily outnumbered, they held their position and was later invited to

Buckingham Palace where he was honoured by King Harald of Norway.

This individual clearly had quite a hit study and went through to Norway

in the Second World War and lived through that, hence the importance

of this occasion today. He had been the last surviving Green Howard from

that battle and the message today was clear. Rest in peace. You were

not alone and you will never be forgotten.

One of the North`East's most iconic buildings, which has been derelict

for 14 years, is to be brought back to life following a grant from the

Heritage Lottery Fund. To The Spanish City site in Whitley Bay,

which includes the famous Dome, has been awarded nearly ?4 million.

When it was built in 1910 Spanish City was the biggest freestanding

dome this side of St Paul's Cathedral and for decades, it

attracted tens of thousands of visitors from across the UK. With

the advent of cheap package holidays to places where the temperature is

above four degrees, Whitley Bay went into decline and Spanish City closed

in 2000. But now, following a long campaign, the dome is coming back.

This has been going on for years and every time I drove along and saw

this for a long building, I was determined to do something if

elected. We will have a restaurant and facilities for young people and

we want to make it a family place. If the weather is pure, where else

can they go? The Heritage Lottery Funding is just the start ` more

money will be needed, including taxpayer funding, but the initial

sum will get the dome to a state where other businesses can move in.

I think the strategic plans the council have for the development of

this area and the innovative plans for the building itself will go in

the people for extra funding. The days where the dome was a top

holiday destination are long gone, but it now has a different kind of

future, and for many people in the North`East, that's all that matters.

We were talking about the weather and temperatures but your mind is on

next summer? Christmas might still be a month

away but the 2014 cricket fixtures came out today. County champions

Durham will begin their season with the traditional curtain`raiser

against The MCC, in the heat of Abu Dhabi, on March 23rd. But the good

news is, when the season starts for real, two of their most experienced

staff will be back in business. It all ended in smiles, with the

Championship trophy back at Chester`le`Street for the third time

in six years. But for one`day skipper Dale Benkenstein and head

coach Geoff Cook, 2013 was a roller`coaster ride. Cook suffered a

heart attack while out for a morning jog. And injury cut Benkenstein's

season short by mid`summer. So what next? He has got another year of his

contract is always spending time in South Africa with his family and

recovering from a shoulder operation. He is doing some coaching

but is looking forward to coming back and finishing his career

somewhere he has enjoyed playing. What about you? I feel fine now and

click it is in my blood. `` crickets. The incident was a shock

to my family. I am looking forward to getting back into cricket. So

despite the fact there was frost on the ground this morning, the

region's cricket followers can start planning for the summer with most

Championship games now beginning on a Sunday. Durham open the defence of

their title against newly`promoted Northamptonshire at Northampton on

April 13th, the same day Yorkshire travel west to Taunton, to start

their game with Somerset. The two derby matches are at

Chester`le`Street, from May the fourth, and at Headingley, starting

on July the 7th. For Durham, the challenge is to maintain the high

standards they set last year. People will look at us differently next

year because we surprised quite a few teams and they were predictions

we would be relegated. Some of the lads made fantastic progress and if

we do it again the team will keep moving forward.

There was good news for Sunderland manager Gus Poyet today. He received

the phone call he was hoping for from Mike Riley, the head of the

referees' governing body, as the Football Association rescinded the

red card given to defender Wes Brown at the weekend. Brown was sent off

for this challenge on Stoke's Charlie Adam, but will now be

available for this weekend's clash against Aston Villa. Last night he

watched his team`mates in action on the catwalk, strutting their stuff

for the club's annual charity fashion show. The event has raised

more than ?40,000 for the Foundation of Light which works with thousands

of youngsters across the north east every year. Midfielder Adam Johnson

is happy on the walkway and at the club under the new boss, despite the

Black Cats dropping back to the bottom of the Premier League. It is

just a bit different and out of our comfort zone, but just walking on

the stage as a lot more nerve wracking. It is the happiest I have

been in my time at Sunderland and I am enjoying the way we are playing

although not where we are in the league.

Plenty of action in the football league tonight. In League One,

Carlisle will be looking to pull further away from the relegation

zone when they take on second bottom Crewe. Commentary on BBC Radio

Cumbria. York City, who're just three points off the League Two

relegation places, could also do with a victory. They're at

Morecambe. Radio York has commentary on that one. And in`form Hartlepool

United could move into the play`off places if they beat struggling Bury.

You can listen to all the action there on BBC Tees.

The former Sunderland ladies' footballer Jill Scott has been

talking about her move to newly`promoted Manchester City. The

midfielder, who won the women's FA Cup with Everton and was captain

last year, was arguably England's player of the tournament in the 2011

World Cup. Her signing, and that of England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley,

shows Manchester City Ladies mean business in the FA Women's Super

League. I just feel the time is right to

have a new challenge and that 206I feel the time is right and I have a

lot of ambition and I want to be a part of this. I know that the top

half of the table is definitely where we want to finish if not

better. And good luck to her.

A fairly mild night on the cards but great spells of sunshine earlier

today before it clouded over. Although the sunshine broke through

at Whitley Bay certainly. The clouds thickened up through the day and

tomorrow the clouds will be a feature in western areas and it will

be mostly cloudy with the few spots of rain. We saw highs of nine

Celsius and I think we will meet that tomorrow. `` on that. Through

the night, the odd spots of rain become more confined to western

areas but it stays reasonably mild. It may freshen up across

Northumberland and temperatures no lower than five Celsius. A frost

free starter tomorrow I'm fairly cloudy but any clouds will linger

across Cumbria through the day. For the least, some shelter with a

westerly breeze. Temperatures into double figures and 11 Celsius in

parts, but even if you have a fairly cloudy day, temperatures on the mild

side. The temperature will stay with us for a couple of weeks yet and it

brings the rain with it for a time into Friday and we have a cold

north`westerly wind, so it will be breezy by the end of the week. If

you are out and about over the next few days, you will notice the drop

in temperature into the weekend. We are likely to see the outbreaks of

rain for a time and it will feel cooler as the temperature dips again

for Saturday. Showers fewer and farther between with many places dry

on Thursday and Friday sees the sun come out. Strength increasing in the

wind as well so it will feel fresh and cool if you are out and about

and after the success of the 2014 weather calendar, we may well do it

again so keep your pictures coming in. We can keep you updated

throughout tomorrow morning on your local BBC radio station.

Next year, already! Thanks, Paul. Time for a look at tonight's

headlines. The Scottish government has published its blueprint for

independence. The first minister Alex Salmond calls it a mission

statement but his opponents say it's a work of fiction.

And schools in Northumberland are warned they must do better after an

Ofsted emergency inspection leads to four being placed in special

measures. That's it from us tonight, back

after 10pm. Goodbye.