Sunderland Council announce £37m spending cuts

Sunderland City Council has confirmed £37m of spending cuts are to be made in the 2013 financial year, with job losses likely and library closures possible.

A meeting at Sunderland Civic Centre saw councillors discuss proposals to begin making almost £100m of savings by 2016, with £37m of those to be made during 2013.

A full review of library services will be carried out, while the Council agreed to take control of the city’s museums instead of paying Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums to run them.

Cuts to children’s services will also continue in the third of a four-year plan to make them more efficient by reducing costs at management level.

Parking costs could also go up as the Council agree to find a way to run a “breakeven operation”, as could the cost of leisure facilities which will be run on a greater commercial basis.

Further details of the spending cuts are expected to emerge as consultations on the agreed budget proposals get underway over coming months.

For more information please go to  http://tyneandwear.sky.com/news/article/58706/sunderland-council-confirms-cuts-to-jobs-libraries-and-school

Millfield kids among UK’s fattest

A report has suggested taxing fizzy drinks

Children in Millfield are among the fattest in the country with Sunderland above the national average for obesity.

The areas in the city with the highest levels of childhood obesity are Castletown, Hetton, Washington Central and Millfield.

Across Sunderland over 21 per cent of year six children, 10 and 11 year olds, are fighting weight issues which is well above the national average of 18.7 per cent.

The news comes as experts have called for taxation on fizzy drinks and a ban on junk food adverts before the watershed.

Story first seen on the Sunderland Echo – http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/health/sunderland-children-among-fattest-in-the-country-1-5435127

Children flee manic Millfield driver

A driver who led police on a dangerous 80mph chase which left children running to safety has appeared in court.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Ryan Hellens’ potentially-deadly driving forced children playing in a Sunderland street to flee to safety.

Stuart Michie, prosecuting, told the court how on November 1 last year, Hellens drove a Suzuki Jimny 4X4 around the city.

Hellens, 22, drove the car down Hylton Road, Holborn Road and Front Road, in the South Hylton area of Sunderland.

Mr Michie told the court how Hellens led police on a three-minute chase at speeds of up to 80mph.

He said: “Children playing in the streets were having to run for safety.”

Hellens, of Ferndene Crescent, Millfield, pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving.

The case was adjourned until later this month to allow for pre-sentence reports to be drawn up.

Hellens was released on unconditional bail until his next court appearance.

The judge, Recorder Tim Hirst, told him: “All of the sentencing options will be available when this case is sentenced.”

As first seen on the Sunderland Echo – http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/crime/children-flee-manic-driver-on-road-1-4995963