Society daily 06.12.10

student-protest-education-cuts-topshop — Students on Oxford Street, London, protest last week against cuts in higher education spending. Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi for the Guardian

Today's top Society Guardian stories

• Most children living in poverty are not from workless households, report finds

• Judge to rule if budget is biased against women

• Government proposes to scrap need for scientific advice on drugs policy

• Tory bill will let homeowners extend without traditional planning permission

• People with rare diseases face years of misdiagnosis, study finds

• David Nutt: 'The government cannot think logically about drugs'

All today's Society Guardian stories

Other news

• Lewisham council in south London has become one of the first major local authorities to experiment with Big Society-style cultural services provision by asking community groups to come forward to run local libraries threatened with closure, says LocalGov.co.uk.

• Retailers may face a code of conduct on "age appropriate" marketing as part of a bid to halt the sale of sexualised products to young children, reports the Independent.

• NHS North Yorkshire and York has been labelled "despicable" and "a disgrace" by MPs after giving 18 voluntary organisations one month's notice of the withdrawal of grants already pledged this financial year, according to Third Sector.

• Premature delivery and birth defects are major causes of high neonatal death rates in families from deprived areas, according to researchers from the University of Leicester, reports Nursing Times.

On my radar ...

• This great post from Julian Dobson, on his Living with rats blog, which suggests that students and UKuncut protesters are models of "Big Society" engagement:

"The protestors don't just exemplify civic engagement. They are also paragons of self-help. They get off their butts and get things done, using their time and resources for causes they care about. They share food and money. And while some of the slogans are tired, there are also examples of imagination and creativity. Of course you don't change the world (at least in the short term) by staging sit-ins and occupations or marching on parliament. But you can change the most important thing, which is your own willingness to get involved. "

• Nottingham city council, which has been given the green light to challenge Michael Gove over his decision to axe building schools for the future funding for two schools. The judicial review will also consider similar challenges made by Luton, Kent and Waltham Forest councils.

• Localism, which is set to be the word of the week. As ministers prepare to unveil the localism bill this week, John Tizard speculates on the Public Finance blog that the bill will be published on the same day that next year's grant settlement for town halls is announced. Despite the financial gloom, Tizard says there is much for the sector to welcome in the bill:

"Local authority leaders have to respond to whatever the government throws at and to them in a positive manner. With the public, local businesses and the third and community sectors facing hard choices and a difficult environment, it is the time for local government leaders to demonstrate their community leadership.
They should not wait for instruction or even permission from central government. They have to act boldly and resolutely to protect and promote the interests of their communities. This will mean making some hard and often painful decisions about what services to stop or close; which to alter fundamentally; which to charge for; which to ration; and which to deliver through partnerships or contracts with others.
It may sometimes means making the 'least worse' rather than the 'best decision'. It certainly will mean persuading and influencing partners in the public and other sectors. And it will require the willingness to cede authority and resources to others."

• This blogpost from Rich Watts, which responds to concerns that personal budgets could be an area where councils look to make cuts.

• Benefit reform. A Policy Exchange event today asks Welfare to Work: Where will the jobs come from? Coverage from the event will be uploaded to the PE YouTube channel.

• The INTERREG IVB NWE, which distributes €355m EU funding to cohesion projects in north-west Europe that focus on innovation, sustainable management of natural resources, improving connectivity and promoting strong communities. It is holding its annual event in Manchester today and tomorrow, which will include visits to innovative projects around the city.

• Coronation Street. The ubersoap marks half a century this week and, as well as marking the milestone by ratcheting up the drama, the cast have launched an anniversary charity appeal, which will raise money for the NSPCC, Cancer Research UK and Manchester's Christie hospital.

In case you missed them ... SocietyGuardian weekend highlights

• Ministers accused of 'burying' damning report on impact of benefits cuts

• Crime and rehabilitation: one woman's story

• Catherine Bennett: Oh, Mr Cameron, do stop all that annoying nudging

All Sunday's SocietyGuardian stories

All Saturday's SocietyGuardian stories

Guardian and Observer Christmas Charity Appeal 2010

Charities working with disadvantaged young people in the UK will be the beneficiaries of this year's Guardian and Observer charity appeal. For a limited time, the Big Give is pledging to double donations to the appeal up to £100,000. Today's matched funding has already been snapped up, but tomorrow from 10am every pound donated will be - for a short period, possibly as little as a few hours - automatically doubled until the limit is reached. Read profiles of our 10 chosen charities, see our pick of their photographs and make a donation in the Christmas Charity Appeal area of our site.

Events

HR Summit, 18 January, London.

Creating the workforce you need to meet the challenges ahead

2 for 1 delegate place offer if you book before 17 December

Public Services Summit New models, new relationships, a new era. 10 & 11 February, St Albans.

Join leading thinkers, practitioners and policy makers for discussion and debate about the future of our public services. 15% early bird available.

Mobile and Wireless Healthcare Enabling access to care at the point of need. 16 February, Birmingham.

This conference is aimed at ICT and service delivery teams in the NHS to give them practical advice and guidance at a time where all we can be certain of is a reduction in public sector budgets. 2 for 1 delegate place offer available.