Media Roundup

Sunday Herald 8th May -Before you book be your own food inspector
"A number of councils are preparing to place confidential inspection reports on their websites. Glasgow City Council is likely to be the first in the UK to publish findings, with hygiene and food safety standards available within months."

Sunderland today-Tide of violence for hospital staff
"Doctors, nurses and other NHS staff have been subjected to vicious beatings with weapons including nunchucks – a kind of martial arts weapon – and knives in the last year, according to City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Trust. Figures released today under the Freedom of Information Act show 338 assaults were carried out on staff – the highest in the North East."

West Cumberland Times & Star 7th May-Council collects £500k parking fines in a year
"ALLERDALE council collected more than £500,000 in parking fines last year. The authority raised £522,095 after issuing 18,652 parking tickets in the borough, with the area’s tourist and shopping hotspots hit hardest. The council released the figures after the Times & Star requested to see them under the new Freedom of Information Act."

Cambridge Evening News - Public inquiry costs hit £2.2m
"THE public inquiry into the Guided Bus plan has cost Cambridgeshire taxpayers a whopping £2.2 million, the News can reveal. The inquiry was held last year and involved a team of experts, lawyers and Cambridgeshire County Council staff who were trying to convince a Government inspector to give the go-ahead for the controversial scheme. Since then, under new Freedom of Information rules a member of the anti-guided bus group Cast.Iron has put in a request for the cost of the inquiry. The county council has been forced to reveal the amounts it paid to top solicitors, transport experts and advisers at the inquiry, which lasted for several months."

ICBerkshire - Information overload takes its toll on schools
"A SOUTHCOTE headteacher says schools could struggle to cope with the burden placed on them by the Freedom of Information Act unless they are given extra resources. Paul Barras, head of Blessed Hugh Faringdon School, says he supports the act, which is designed to make public bodies more open and accountable. But the 52-year-old Burghfield headteacher, says requests are already arriving at the Fawley Road school and there is still some confusion as to what is reasonable and how much time to spend on each one."