UK falls in school rankings
UK teenagers have fallen behind their counterparts in Solvenia, Lichtenstein and Estonia. A report out today by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has revealed that the UK has fallen from 17th to 25th place for reading and from 24th to 28th for maths. The study covered 65 developed nations.
Mirror p22, FT p4, Express p2, Mail p1, Star p2, Times 19

Council merger proves too big a deal
Camden and Islington Council’s proposed £500m merger is off, with the authorities having decided they will not now be sharing a senior management team. The article quotes a report from Local Government Improvement and Development which states that a key factor for a merger being successful lies in ensuring there are no large cultural differences between the prospective partners.
Society Guardian p7

1.6m who have never worked
Analysis by the Department for Work and Pensions shows that 700,000 young people between 16 and 24 have not held a job, while more than 800,000 adults from 25 to 64 survive on benefits. The 2010 data shows an increase of 300,000 non-workers on the 2009 total.
Express p1

Another 4 weeks chill
The big freeze is set to thaw at the end of this week but will be back with a vengeance throughout the rest of December. Temperatures are expected to drop well below the average until the new year.
Guardian p17, Sun p28, Express p3, Star p9Learning disability spending relies on poor data, says David Brindle
David Brindle writes that council spending on learning disabilities is not reflective of the scale of the problem. Overall spending on residential care for learning disabled adults fell in 2009-10 for the first time.
Society Guardian p4

Street credentials
Government cuts may mean a bleak future for black and minority ethnic housing associations.
Society Guardian p1 & 2

Council bin war spills on to chief’s doorstep
A secretary was threatened with police action after she threatened to dump rubbish outside the council chief executive’s house following complaints that her bins were not being collected. Lesley Wright complained four times about wheelie bins left outside homes in Torquay, Devon but noticed that the street where Torbay Council’s chief executive, Elizabeth Raikes, lived did not have the same problem.
Telegraph p9, Sun p36

Police were ‘poisoned’ by food from filthy café
A café owner inadvertently poisoned 47 police officers with contaminated chicken and tuna sandwiches. A Birmingham City Council investigation following the incident revealed “filthy” conditions including mouse droppings.
Express p32Guardian
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