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Summer 2014

L ocal students are getting the opportunity to receive

a first-class vocational education in Harlow, thanks to The Sir Charles Kao University Technical College, which opens its doors this month. This follows a lengthy campaign by local MP Robert Halfon who joined forces with Harlow College and Anglia Ruskin University to secure up to 10 million of government funding, which was needed to get the project off the ground. The University Technical College (UTC) will offer free, first class, vocational training to young people from Harlow aged 14-19. Students will be able to study new technologies in science, computing and medicine, as well as gain valuable work experience. They will follow GCSE and A-level courses alongside technical qualifications in Smart Environments or Medical Technology. The Prime Minister visited the UTC site earlier in the year, saying, It will be a major addition to Harlows educational landscape, and a really positive one for young people, parents,

and local employers.

The opening of the UTC confirms the Governments commitment to vocational education. Evidence shows that qualified apprentices are 25% more employable than university graduates and, on average, earn over 100,000 more than other employees throughout their lifetime. Since 2010, this Government has created a record 1.7 million apprenticeships, which have increased by 83% in Harlow alone. For more information about the Harlow UTC, please contact: enquiries@sircharleskaoutc.com.

Im very keen to support Robert and the work that he is doing locally...hes pushed really hard to get this University Technical College here

- David Cameron

From the beginning, Rob has worked tirelessly to make this happen. He is passionate about apprenticeships - and even employs a Harlow College apprentice in his office - Colin Hindmarch, Former Harlow College Principal

Robert Halfon meeting local students with Prime Minister

David Cameron and Harlow College Principal Karen Spencer

HARLOW SEES RECORD FALL IN UNEMPLOYMENT

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R obert Halfon MP has called for Essex Police to use their powers

quicker and with more consistency to deal with the problem of illegal traveller sites. Since October last year, there have been multiple cases of illegal traveller sites springing up around Harlow. Figures up until August show that dealing with this has cost local taxpayers over 41,000. Following a visit by Local Government and Communities Minister Brandon Lewis, who spent a morning in Harlow looking at the sites affected and advising senior members of the Council and Essex Police on what powers are available, Robert said that he was furious about the sites. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4...

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Page 3

JOIN THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST RIP-OFF

PARKING FEES Page 4

2 | Harlow Sun

Community News

O ld Harlow Councillors Joel Charles and Sue Livings have successfully lobbied Essex County Council to hold special meetings with local residents to discuss the link to a new M11 junction.

OLD HARLOW COUNCILLORS

SECURE J7A COMMISSION

(Left to Right) Former Cllr Mike Garnett with

Cllrs Joel Charles, Sue Livings and

Muriel Jolles

Joel Charles said, I am pleased that Cllr Rodney Bass at Essex County Council has agreed to attend two public meetings. This will be an opportunity for local residents to have their say and explore the alternatives. It is essential that we have better roads in Harlow to ensure that we have the right infrastructure to deliver more housing and the Enterprise Zone which will create jobs and boost the local economy.

H arlow Conservatives forced Labour into a retreat over their shambolic budget consultation by getting the Council to speed up publication of the results. Labour planned to keep the results secret until they produced their budget in early 2015. Harlow Conservatives questioned why there was such a delay with Cllr Andrew Johnson, leader of Harlow Conservatives, calling for the results to be made available sooner in order to spark a public debate. Cllr Johnson said, Harlow Conservatives welcome the fact that Labour have changed their mind and now agree with us. However, the consultation is taking place during the summer holidays, when people may be away, denying some residents the chance to have their say. Labour said they wanted to be a council that listens, but their big test of listening has failed at the first hurdle.

Harlow Conservative Cllrs Simon Carter (left)

and Joel Charles (right)

HARLOW COUNCIL FAILS TO PROVIDE VALUE FOR MONEY

C ouncil figures show that only 30% of residents felt the Labour-run authority provided value for money. When challenged by Harlow Conservatives, Labour failed to answer basic questions on why Harlow Council is performing so badly since they came to power. Performance indicators on the street scene, volumes of residents complaints and satisfaction levels across all council services are all heading in the wrong direction. Cllr Andrew Johnson, leader of Harlow Conservatives, said It is a real sign of failure by Labour that one person in four calling Contact Harlow hangs up before they get through and they have no plan to improve it. It was also revealed that the discretionary fund, the

Big Society Fund we created, which funds Pets Corner and the Playhouse will only be able to fund them until March 2016. Labour are creating uncertainty for staff and residents, and should urgently resume talks with private and voluntary

sector groups in order to identify long-term solutions. Only a Conservative Administration would freeze Council Tax, save money by sharing services with other authorities and set out a long-term plan to keep our community services open.

A Conservative move to take down the EU flag at Harlow Council and replace it with the Cross of St George was defeated by Labour at a recent Council meeting. Labour Councillors claimed that residents had not raised concerns about the European Union on the doorstep during the European election campaign in May. Councillor Joel Charles, Deputy Leader of Harlow Conservatives, said, Only a Conservative Government promises to renegotiate Britains relationship in Europe and offer Harlow the final say with an In/Out referendum. Labour Councillors proved they are not interested in what residents have to say on the European Union. By taking down the EU flag and replacing it with the Cross of St George we would have sent a message to residents that the Council is listening to them.

It is also important that we re-capture the Cross of St George from groups who use our national flag for the wrong reasons. We should not be afraid of celebrating our national identity. There is no longer any legal reason why we have to fly the EU flag, so why do we do it?

Harlow MP Robert Halfon has long campaigned for an In/Out EU referendum in Parliament. He voted in favour of the EU Sovereignty Bill, which guarantees a referendum before the UK signs up to any more European treaties and strongly supported the Conservatives Referendum Bill in 2013.

Harlow Conservatives with the Taxpayers Alliance,

who came to Harlow to campaign against

Council waste

Harlow Sun | 3 ..

Robert Halfon at the Potter Street War Memorial

O n the 4th August, Harlows MP joined local residents to mark the centenary of World War I. Robert Halfon was among the hundreds of Harlow residents who came together at the newly refurbished Potter Street Memorial to remember those who lost their lives during the four year conflict. Robert said, The mark of a civilised society is how it remembers the past, and how it commemorates those who sacrificed their lives, so that future generations could live in freedom. It was a very memorable service and it was good to see many family descendants of WWI soldiers in attendance. Later that day, the Royal British Legion held a candlelight service at

the Netteswell Memorial, where Robert was privileged to read Wilfred Owens moving poem, 1914. By 1918 its estimated that the Allies had lost around 6 million servicemen and over 120 of them came from Harlow. This was a proud day for Harlow and one that should rightfully be in our towns history. Quite simply, Im honoured that I was able to be a part of it remarked Robert.

S ince July 2013, the number of Harlow residents reliant on Job Seekers Allowance has fallen by 710, a drop of 30%. This is reflected nationally, where unemployment has fallen more in the past year than it has in any of the previous twenty five. Since 2010, two million new private sector jobs have been created, 84% of which in the last year have been full time. Local MP Robert Halfon has welcomed these figures, saying; Its excellent news that there has been such a significant drop in unemployment in Harlow since 2010. If more people are getting into work, this means more local residents are getting the security of a regular pay packet. The news is even better for young people, as youth unemployment in

Harlow has dropped by 55% since its peak. For the third year in a row, Robert Halfon is organising a Jobs Fair in Harlow on the 12 September. Last year, 2000 Harlow residents attended to pick up useful tips, meet prospective employers and consider the hundreds of job vacancies that were on offer. This good news shows that the Governments long term economic plan is working. It is keeping the economy growing, and helping businesses create more jobs by scrapping employers National Insurance contributions for employees under the age of 21, and cutting all business National Insurance bills by up to 2000. This means that half a million small businesses wont pay any NI contributions at all, and these savings will help them expand and hire more people.

Organised by Robert Halfon MP

Vacancies

Employers will be actively recruiting people for jobs and immediate vacancies!

Apprenticeships

Learn more about training opportunities and apprenticeships that are available in and around Harlow.

Skills

FREE advice sessions: - How to start your own business - Interview practice - Career advice - CV Skills

10.00am - 3.30pm

Harlow Leisurezone, Second Ave, Harlow, Essex, CM20 3DT

Robert Halfon (centre) with Frank Bruno and Pop Up

Talent at the Second Harlow Jobs Fair

O ver the last four years, Robert Halfon has been on a tireless crusade to help Harlow motorists by campaigning for cheaper petrol and diesel prices. The previous Labour Government planned yearly hikes in fuel duty, to help them reduce the deficit the only way they knew how: by taxing and spending. Alongside organisations such as

FairFuelUK, Robert was able to

stop the fuel duty increases from

going ahead and even achieved a

cut in 2011.

In total, fuel duty will have been

frozen for nearly four and a half

years, saving the average Harlow

family 20p per litre - 680 per

year.

However, more needs to be done. Oil companies are still quick to raise petrol prices whenever the international cost of fuel goes up, but they are slow to bring it down. This is why Robert has also called for an official investigation into the oil market and stood up for independent petrol retailers, who are penalised by an unfair tax scheme. If smaller independent retailers weren't being forced out of business it would mean better competition and better value for local Harlow motorists.

After pressure from Robert Halfon, a planned fuel duty hike was AXED. Thanks to Robert Halfon your petrol is a tiny bit cheaper

4 | Harlow Sun

I n 2012, the BBC found that Harlow had the highest business growth in the whole of England, and its not hard to see why. Our town has a thriving network of small businesses, independent retailers, shops, bars and restaurants, all run by hard-working local residents. To help celebrate this, Robert Halfon is holding a competition to find the best small businesses that Harlow has to offer. This is all about thanking local business owners and helping them promote themselves to new customers Robert has said.

These awards give residents the opportunity to recommend their favourite business and I really look forward to seeing who gets nominated. Rob Halfons Business Awards has five separate categories:

Best Retailer / Shop Best Caf / Restaurant Best Hairdresser / Salon Best Pub / Bar Best Other

The winner in each category will receive a custom-made trophy and anyone who nominates a business will be entered into a prize draw, with the chance to win a 50 shopping voucher or a collectable wristwatch.

If you would like to nominate a business for one of the categories, please email Rob at halfon4harlow@roberthalfon .com. Alternatively, you can call him on 0207 219 7223. Please provide the name of the business, its address, the category and the reason for the nomination, as well as your own name and address. Your details are required to ensure a fair nomination process, which closes on the 6th November. Robert says, You can nominate any business you want, so long as its based in Harlow and locally run. If you have any questions about the competition, please get in touch.

U nder Labour, immigration was out of control with 2.5 million more people coming into the country than those leaving it. The Conservatives have a long-term economic plan to secure a better future for Britain and controlling immigration is a vital part of it.

We need an immigration system that puts Britain first. This can be achieved by clamping down on abuse, making sure that the right people come to Britain for the right reasons, and ensuring that immigration is fair to taxpayers.

Already, 750 bogus colleges have been shut down, immigration is at its lowest level in a decade (having been cut by one-third), and the Government have

adopted a deport first, appeal later approach when dealing with serious criminals.

This Government has also changed the rules so that no one can come to this country and expect to get out-of-work benefits immediately.

Plus, in Harlow, you now need to have had a connection with the area for five years or more in order to be put on the housing waiting list.

www.RightToBuyHarlow.com

A free service provided by Robert Halfon MP

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buy your council house or flat

- Up to a 60% discount on a council

HOUSE

- Up to a 70% discount for a council

FLAT

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www.RightToBuyHarlow.com Promoted by Simon Carter on behalf of Harlow Conservatives, all of Kao Hockham House, Edinburgh Way, Harlow CM20 2NQ

Printed by Mortons Media Group Ltd, of Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincolnshire, LN9 6JR

Robert Halfon with local IT training business, Robust IT, at their Christmas

prize draw last year.

H arlow MP Robert Halfon has been successful in bringing the cost of parking in NHS hospitals to the attention of the Prime Minister. Robert conducted research across the country which revealed that Harlows hospital, the PAH, was one of the most expensive places to park in the country for patients and visitors, charging 3 for 1 hour of parking. He also revealed that one hospital in London charged over 500 per week for parking. This comes on top of research that reveals NHS nurses pay nearly 200 a month on

average to park at their workplace. Robert has been running a campaign in Parliament asking the Government to look at scrapping the fees. He has raised the issue in the House of Commons, secured a debate on the subject, and got over 100 MPs to support his campaign. He has argued that the NHS could adopt a token system to ensure that free car parks are not abused, and has suggested where savings can be made in the NHS budget so that patient care is not affected.

Mr Halfon said, These fees hit the most vulnerable at a difficult time in their lives and stretch NHS worker pay packets. Often, people have no alternative but to drive to hospital. For example, cancer patients who have weakened immune systems cannot use public transport. It is outrageous that many hospitals expect people to pay through the nose whilst they receive life saving treatment. Already, these fees have been scrapped in Scotland and Wales, and I believe that hospital bosses need to stop using vulnerable patients as easy revenue.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The MP, who has raised this issue in the House of Commons on a number of occasions, has been advocating for the more regular use of Section 61, a police power that allows illegal encampments to be moved on almost immediately. He went on to say, Whilst I welcome the work of individual Harlow officers, it is clear that Essex Police have been using the legislation inconsistently, and it seems that Section 61s were only used after an enormous amount of public pressure. In Harlow we currently have 4000 people on the housing waiting list. Theyre not allowed to set up illegal camps and live on other peoples property - so why are the travellers? I would also like to extend my thanks to Harlow Councils Anti-Social Behaviour Team and our Conservative Councillors, such as David Carter in Great Parndon, who have worked extremely hard on this issue.

Hospital parking fees are a stealth tax, and need to be cut or abolished, says MP Rob Halfon

@halfon4harlowMP thank you so much for supporting @HarlowFalconry, its great to know that a politician actually cares about local business

Thanks @halfon4harlowMP for supporting Lea Valley Growers in Parliament today #buybritish #freshproduce