The Tenant Services Authority has identified failings in the way Somer Housing Group is run.The group, which manages 11,000 homes in the south west comes under fire in the regulator’s latest judgement on its governance. The TSA downgraded Somer’s governance performance due to disagreements at board level which reached an impasse after the board for one of its subsidiaries, Somer Community Housing Trust, opposed decisions made by the group board. The judgement says there are ‘indications that relationships at group board level have started to break down’. It also criticises the group for failing to comply with some aspects of its code of governance. It highlights ‘significant weaknesses and deterioration in service delivery’ found in an Audit Commission short notice inspection of Somer Community Housing Trust in March 2010. The group has now volunteered to address the problems identified in the report. It has appointed three independent members to the group board, who will form the majority membership of a governance review panel to oversee improvements in governance arrangements. The panel will also commission an external governance review. The TSA says It will continue to monitor the way the association is addressing its weaknesses.A spokesperson for Somer Housing Group said: ‘We accept the TSA’s judgement as a fair reflection of our current position. We are determinedly pursuing the voluntary undertaking we have give the TSA, appointing new board members to Somer Housing Group’s board with considerable skills in governance and in social housing." Full article

Catalyst Radio a new 24 hours a day, seven days a week activist radio station was launched on Saturday 11th June at the Barncamp convergence in the Wye Valley, Wales.

Catalyst Radio was initially conceived in late 2010 during a Hacktionlab convergence in Bradford, UK, by a number of radical radio producers and independent media makers, including Dissident Island (London), Radio Interference (Bradford), Radio Kebele (Bristol), Redbricks Radio (Manchester) and other independent media producers, such as Radio Vague.

It was born from a desire to create a UK wide radical radio network that collectively uses a single Internet platform for the streaming of live and pre-recorded radio content presenting points of view generally diverging from those of the more established, and mainstream, media.

Given its political and techno-social foundations, Catalyst is designed to encourage and multiply independent, DIY (do-it-yourself) and DIT (do-it-together) media production, specifically radio, as well as connect and support radical radio makers and media enthusiasts.

http://www.catalystradio.org/

The next Rising Tide Cafe will be at 7.00 pm (for food) on Monday, 13th June at Cafe Kino (on the corner of Stokes Croft and Ashley Road).

We will be discussing the new lunatic method of extracting fossil fuels called 'Fracking' and showing the Academy Award nominatated documentary film 'Gasland' (about Fracking in the USA see www.gaslandthemovie.com). There are various plans for fracking projects in the UK including in S.Wales and we have invited Welsh activists to this event.

This is a FREE EVENT and food is available to buy at Cafe Kino - everyone is welcome (apart from the cops). This event is hosted by Bristol Rising Tide which is part of the international Rising Network of groups and individuals taking action against the root causes of climate injustice.

http://nofrackinguk.com/ This is the campaign page by the South Glamorgan group who we have invited to the event. They have so far managed to block planning permission in their area and are now mounting a national campaign.

Nick Clegg recently made an issue of nepotism (favoritism granted to relatives or friends regardless of merit) as the country heads towards a  royal wedding. While most of the media seems to be excited about the prospect, not everyone in the UK is.  In Bristol there will be an alternative event: "As part of Pay it Forward Week Trinity Community Arts, The Love of It and Let’s Do Nice Things are Free Alternative Royal Wedding Day on Friday 29 April 12pm-9pm. The event will also be supported Cambrian Street Promotions and Weddings of Mass Distraction who will be helping us to programme an exciting, alternative and fun-packed day." (Full article.)

In Bath there is an event too: "So, instead of gawping at the box on Friday the 29th April, why not join us in Royal Victoria Park (oh, the irony!) in Bath, for a Picnic Against Parasites! Meeting at the war memorial at midday, please dress for the occasion, and bring food, drink, music, friends and banners; oh, and the odd effigy to burn, too." (Full article).

Some other articles of interest: Republican Street Party Vetoed By Council (londonlist.com) | From London Indymedia: Moronic lies in the Evening Standard | parliament square protests to continue for royals | London raids (summary so far) - which some think are linked to wedding policing operation