lottery cash: Kingston Voluntary Action has been awarded a grant of £107,125 from the National Lottery Charities Board, to boost its work in helping voluntary groups. KVA general secretary Hilary Garner said the money will enable more focused work with small and emerging charities over the next three years.

council revamp: The next stage of Kingston Council's modernisation was agreed last week by councillors. A draft timetable of meetings for the coming year has been approved so that the new structure, which will have a central cabinet of seven councillors, can officially start on May 10.