Sandwell Council is supporting the proposal that it together with West Midlands Metropolitan and City Councils of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton together with a number of district and county councils and Local Enterprise Partnerships from across the region form a West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). As part of the proposal there has to be regard to the following in order to establish a new body; - The need to reflect the identities and interests of local communities; and - The need to secure effective and convenient local government. Many within Sandwell have expressed concerns that they have not been given enough information on the structure, powers, accountability and scrutiny that a body of this nature will have. There are concerns that we shall lose our identity and that Sandwell and The Black Country will be engulfed by Birmingham and play second fiddle to it. At a recent Council meeting Sandwell Labour Leader Darren Cooper when asked about holding a referendum replied with “Err No” and “he was not prepared to run a referendum”. There are other considerations that don’t appear to have been discussed at any length one being the EU’s push towards regionalisation which a Combined Authority would be. This is tied to the EU’s City 2020 targets. There is a real danger that local democracy and the voice of our communities will be lost as well as our proud Black Country heritage. You really have to ask why there appears to be a race to create a Combined Authority that could include a number of Council with reported failings coming together. Sounds like having a bosted bucket and trying to fill it with water. In my opinion a decision of such magnitude about the future of Sandwell will impact on us all and generations to come and can not be left to Councillors of which in Sandwell 71 of the 72 are Labour members. In notes available from the Sandwell Council website concerning the meeting held on the 21st July point 6.17 states the Chief Executive in consultation with the Mayor may determine the date of an Extraordinary Meeting. The purpose of which would be to approve the proposal and submit to the Secretary of State in late September/early October in order for the Combined Authority is operational from 1st April 2016. No decision should be made without full, proper and representative consultation and all documents are open to view and upon the result of a referendum of the residents of Sandwell. Due to the timescales involved this petition requires your URGENT ATTENTION.

A new museum gained planning permission by promising ‘the only dedicated resource in the East End to women’s history’, but has now been unveiled as a venue dedicated to the violent crimes of Jack the Ripper Originally billed as a celebration of East London women and the suffragettes this museum now celebrates the life of the serial killer who viciously murdered women across London's East End, from 1888 and 1891. The original application for the museum said: “The museum will recognise and celebrate the women of the East End who have shaped history, telling the story of how they have been instrumental in changing society. It will analyse the social, political and domestic experience from the Victorian period to the present day.” The document cited the closure of the local Whitechapel’s Women’s Library in 2013 to stress that the “Museum of Women’s History”, as it was billed, would be “the only dedicated resource in the East End to women’s history”. Now we are faced with a museum that celebrates gory violence against women. The founder (a former Head of Diversity at Google) claims "It is not celebrating the crimes of Jack the Ripper but looking at why and how the women got in that situation in the first place”. This victim blaming attitude is unacceptable and cannot be condoned. Shut this museum down now.

It saves lives! its quick and easy and quite a pleasent experience believe it or not!

As you may know we raised nearly 10,000 signatures previously and will raise even more this time if they fail to get the message. Our libraries should be off-limits to all corporate destruction! . Following the initial success, we are well aware the battle is not yet over as the impact assessment forms produced by HCC are a complete travesty, along with consultation guides which still include the original proposal in disguise. This battle continues .... The amazing response to this campaign forced the Tory led cabinet to bring this issue to a full council meeting on the 24th May 2013. A little victory in itself. Volunteers can assist, but not run libraries or museums. For example it requires 18 volunteers to keep Peterchurch Library open for 10 hours per week. Further denigration of services, for instance the cancellation of inter-library lending, have since been introduced without consultation, continuing the secrecy operated by the council cabinet. Illegal under the 1964 act. We apparently have three Turner paintings in the county ... do you think these paintings that belong to us the people should be sold off into the hands of private enterprise? We don't! Many people, of all ages and from all backgrounds, are adversely affected when a local library is closed: • As well as a place from which to borrow books, the local library provides information and free ICT. It’s a place to meet friends and join social activities such as, reading groups, bounce & rhyme sessions, storytelling sessions etc. • Children need libraries to support their literacy and reading development. The library also provides them with a place to study, with staff that can help them with their homework.The Summer Reading Challenge ensures that children continue to develop their reading skills during the long summer break. • There are many people, especially the elderly, and those living alone, who value the opportunity offered by the library and its staff, for conversation and companionship. • The local library is a place where vulnerable members of the community feel safe and receive support. • There are very few indoor, public spaces which are warm and welcoming, where one can linger without spending money. • People visit the local library if they need help; for example with form filling, letter writing, using ICT, or when they need information that they are unable to find elsewhere. There are still large numbers of people who do not have access to IT, other than in their local library. • Job seekers, make use of the library’s ICT to look for and apply for jobs; they also borrow books on job seeking techniques, writing CVs, interview skills etc., and books to help them improve their work based skills. An economic downturn is the worst time to close libraries. • When Universal Credit is introduced applications will have to be made online, those without computers at home will need to make use of ICT in their local library. • Many visitors to the county use the libraries for tourist information; they also value the ICT for communicating with friends and family back home and for printing airline, coach and train tickets for their return journeys. • The provision of ‘Books on Prescription’ supports the work of the health service. • Researchers in, Family and Local History rely on the library to provide them with the relevant source materials. Hereford Library has been closed to the public for 3 months, due to asbestos problems, long known about. One might legitimately ask why they started interfering with the building when already armed with that knowledge. The temporary library is not fit for purpose due to the lack of study space, computer facilities, space for children's activities, homework facilities etc. Herefordshire council is no longer providing the people of Hereford with a 'comprehensive' library service as required by the Public Libraries & Museums Act 1964: http://bit.ly/1Oz7fcK It is surely time to ask Ed Vaizey, Minister of State for Culture Media and Sport, and Jesse Norman local MP and chair of the DCMS committee, to intervene. Contact details for Ed Vaizey: http://bit.ly/1TRuLlt and Jesse Norman : http://bit.ly/1NAwJpn Please share with all who are missing their library service.

The Grind on the island of Vagur at Borg Beach is underway. On this same beach on June 10th 2015 they viciously slaughtered 110 whales and now they want to take between 100 and 200 more. It does not look like the whales can escape. The BRIGITTE BARDOT has been stopped by the Danish Navy.Two Sea Shepherd crew from the BARDOT have been arrested by the Danish Navy. All the courage and determination in the world cannot overcome the power of a Naval Frigate and an armed patrol ship. The police are on the beaches protecting the armed mob of whale killers from any acts of kindness that might occur. What is happening is a disgrace to humanity, to the Faroe Islands and to the nation of Denmark and every Danish citizen. It is a disgrace to Europe and is a blatant violation of European Union law. We call on the British Government to boycott all imports from Denmark and its protectorate countries until such time the people of the Faroe islands join us in the 21st Century.

The Secretary of State for Health has recently gone on record to demand a 7 day NHS, at a time of crisis of recruitment and retention in General Practice as well as unprecedented levels of burnout amongst staff across the Health Service. As such, it is important to restore a sense of being 'all in this together'. Seven day availability of MPs will go some way to achieving this.

Over the past few years, the Ministry of Justice has sought to dismantle the public's access to justice - be it by Legal Aid cuts, Judicial Review destruction or the appalling Dual Contract system. The British media have stood silent, they have been complicit by that silence in the MoJ's destruction of the Criminal Justice System as we know it. They have failed in their duty to call the Government to account for its numerous failings in this area. Judicial Reviews of Government mismanagement and other failures come and go with barely a whisper. Legal Aid strikes occur with virtually no news coverage. Courts are in chaos. Solicitors are going out of business. Barristers are going bankrupt. The media keeps schtum. Prime example: BBC 5 Live were due to interview Franklin Sinclair of Tuckers Solicitors on the morning of 20th July re legal aid cuts, dual contracting and current industrial action. However, it would appear that as the MoJ - the party on the "other side" of the conflict - has refused to participate in the interview, the interview has been cancelled. That would appear to give carte blanche to Govt departments to stifle complaint and debate about the dismantling / destruction of the Legal Aid system and Criminal Justice System. They cannot be called to account in the media do not report what is going on - for example the significant and substantial disruption caused by the action to date but disingenuously denied by the MoJ. How can we, legal aid lawyers, engage with the other side and with the public if THE public service broadcaster in this country remains silent on the topic with minimal to no reportage? How can the public be properly informed? How can the MoJ be scrutinised and called to account? Very simply it can't be and it won't be unless the media, especially those such as the BBC with fine traditions of impartiality and scrutiny, fulfill their duties and refuse to give in to Governmental tactics such as this blatant stonewall by the MoJ. First they came for the lawyers. Next they will may come for you. You never think you will need a lawyer.... but when you do, it may be too late. Encourage debate, don't stifle it!

Any of us could lose our jobs, become disabled or find ourselves struggling and in need of help, and we will hopefully all grow old, so let’s change our language when we talk about ‘state benefits’. Change the term to ‘state support’ and we start to talk about it for what it really is. Whilst the government is not likely to make the change (it would highlight how morally corrupt their policies have become), I hope this campaign will raise awareness about the true nature of social support and show the government how proud we are as a nation to have a welfare system, and that we are determined to protect it. Let’s show the government that we haven’t lost our compassion as a nation.

Sir David, now in his ninetieth year, has contributed so much towards our understanding of the natural world. He is the consummate broadcaster, and his recent interview (on his 89th birthday) with President Obama has shown him to be a strong advocate for understanding climate change. As an expert communicator, unique broadcaster over so many years, and for his potential contributions in the Upper House (in regard to the environment) he is worthy of consideration of a Peerage in the next New Year's Honours

1. Children play the sports they can watch on TV. They are inspired by their sporting heroes. But if they're unable to see the most famous competition in cricket - the pride of our national summer game - cricket will wither away. The vastly larger TV audiences of non-subscription channels will include a new generation of children inspired to play cricket - getting more kids into sport and improving the talent pool. 2. The last time the Ashes was on non-subscription TV - 2005 - saw the nation rally around to will England to an extraordinary victory. Showing the games only on paid TV makes it harder for everyone to enjoy our national culture. Cricket is central to English culture: we should all be able to celebrate it, not only those who can afford to pay. 3. In 2009, an independent review panel recommended that the government re-list the home Ashes series. The government didn't act then - and the longer it ignores it, the more the game loses support. It's time to act on the report - and make the #AshesForAll Photo: "Ashes Urn" by danielgreef/Dan - http://www.flickr.com/photos/danielgreef/ Licensed under CC BY 2.0

Mr Ellwood's recent claim that his MP's salary is insufficient shows a disregard for and disconnect from his many constituents who have accepted limited or no pay increases over recent years in order to boost the nation's economic recovery. Furthermore we feel that his enthusiasm for a pay increase of 10% at a time when public service employees are being restricted to rises of 1%, shows contempt for his electorate and a self-serving attitude which is not in the interest of his constituents.

The BBC is meant to be an independent organisation run by trustees. It's unacceptable that the government can just walk in and confiscate several millions of licence payers money to fund an aspect of its social policy.