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Publication date:- 2017-02-09

user-generated Headlines and reports on this page = 4 news items. Page - 7.

82 year old jailed for historical sex offences

ON Friday, 1 September 2017, Merseyside Police welcomed the sentencing of a pensioner for historical sex offences against children. John Joseph Joughin, 82, from Warrington, pleaded guilty to 16 charges of serious sexual offences against children on Merseyside. Joughin groomed and molested 3 different children, of both sexes, including 1 aged as young as 4 years of age, between 1966 and 1990. He was sentenced today at Liverpool Crown Court to 11 years and 3 months, was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and was subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Speaking after the case, Detective Constable Julia Jennings said:- "Joughin's victims have shown immense strength and resilience throughout the prosecution process. I hope that today's sentencing has released a huge weight from their shoulders and they can now put 100% into their recovery. Specially trained officers and lawyer's from Merseyside Police's Unity Team have been by their side throughout the investigation and prosecution to provide support, to ensure their evidence was presented to the court and to see justice served. I would like to remind people that time should never be a barrier to obtaining justice and I hope today's sentence give's Joughin's victims some sense of closure and vindicates their decision to come forward and formally report these horrific offences." People can call Merseyside Police on:- 101. Information can also be passed to Crimestoppers, anonymously, on:- 0800 555 111.

'Friday Night Football' kicks off

THE new football season is upon us, and young people from across Wirral are being asked to join in with 'Friday Night Football.' The Oval Leisure Centre in Bebington, is inviting boys and girls aged 12 to 19 years to play in small sided football matches and tournaments with their friends on 3G pitches, for free. The football 'kicks off' on Friday, 15 September 2017, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm and continues at the same time every week. Wirral Council's Sports Development Team promotes and manages schemes to help young people access physical activities and will be leading the free sessions with FA qualified and DBS checked coaches. Cllr Phillip Brightmore, Cabinet member for Environment said:- "Regular, free football sessions for young people are a great way to increase involvement in healthy, safe activities and will improve the long term wellbeing of future generations."

Invitation to Hospital Trust's Annual General Meeting

MEMBERS of the public and Trust staff are invited to the annual general meeting of Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust, on Wednesday, 20 September 2017. The event will be hosted by Trust chair Richard Fraser and attended by members of the Board, including interim Chief Executive Karen Jackson. There will be presentations by the Director of Nursing and the Director of Finance. Members of the public will also have the opportunity to meet and ask questions of Board members. The meeting will be held in the lecture theatre of the Clinical Education Centre at Southport and Formby District General Hospital, starting at 3.30pm. Light refreshments will be available from 3pm. The event is expected to conclude no later than 5.30pm. The Trust annual report is available online under the "How we are performing section." Alternatively, copies are available on request from the Trust. Please call the Marketing and Communications Department on:- 01704 704714.

Councils at risk of being unable to meet rising demand for Secondary School

49% of Councils across the country are at risk of being unable to meet rising demand for Secondary School places within the next 5 years, local Government leaders have warned.

New analysis of Department for Education figures and local pupil forecasts by the Local Government Association warns that more than 125,000 children face missing out on a Secondary School place by 2022/23.

The LGA said Councils urgently need to be given powers to force academies and free Schools to expand if additional places are needed in a local area and voluntary agreement cannot be reached.

With nearly ⅔ of Secondary Schools now academies, this is the only way to make sure Council's can fulfil their statutory duty to ensure every child has a School place.

Councils also need to be given back powers to build new Schools in areas where they are needed if it is logistically impossible for local academies or free Schools to provide the places needed.

Currently, although Councils have a duty to make sure there are enough places in an area, all final decisions about new Schools have to be made in Whitehall.

The LGA, which represents more than 370 Councils in England and Wales, has repeatedly warned of the looming crisis in Secondary Schools places.

A surge in demand for Primary School places has seen Councils help deliver an additional 600,000 Primary School places since 2010.

This surge has been achieved mostly by expanding existing Council maintained Primary Schools, where Councils have the powers they need to require Schools to expand.

The LGA analysis reveals that unless more Secondary School places are created, 12 local authorities will face a Secondary School place shortfall in 2018/19.

This will rise to 23 in 2019/20, 41 in 2020/21, 57 in 2021/22 and 66 in 2022/23.

More information and data about this can be found on the Government's Digital Service website.

Cllr Richard Watts, Chair of the LGA's Children and Young People Board, said:- "As the LGA has previously warned, the School places squeeze is now about to hit Secondary Schools. More and more families will face growing uncertainty when trying to secure their child's Secondary School without action. Councils have worked hard to help create almost 600,000 additional Primary places since 2010. This is no small feat. However, as those children move on to Secondary Schools, the majority of which are now Academies, securing new Secondary places in the areas where they are needed is becoming increasingly difficult. Councils are working with one hand behind their backs to help as many pupils as possible receive a place at their 1st choice School. If we are to avoid this looming Secondary School places crisis, Councils need to be able to force existing Academy Schools to expand if voluntary agreement is impossible and must be given back powers to open new maintained Schools themselves."

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Deceased estates notice - Lilian May Jackam

Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925, any persons having a claim against or an interest in the Estate of Lilian May Jackam (also known as Lillian May) Jackam (Deceased), late of Birch Abbey Rest Home, 55 Alexandra Road, Southport, Merseyside, PR9 9HD, UK, who died on 04/10/2018, are required to send particulars thereof in writing, to the undersigned Solicitors, on or before 24/05/2019, after which date the Estate will be distributed having regard only to claims and interests of which they have had notice. Churches Solicitors, 12 High Street, Fareham, Hampshire, PO16 7BL, UK. Ref:- 'T553015.'

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