News story: Caroline Corby appointed as the interim Chair of the Parole Board

Caroline Corby will take up her new position as interim Chair of the Parole Board on 23 April.

Mrs Corby worked in the City for 13 years specialising in private equity where she also served on a number of private sector boards across a range of industries. In 2007, she joined the Board of London Probation Trust (LPT) and she served as Chair of LPT from 2012 until July 2014.

As well as being a member of the Architects Registration Board, Caroline is also a Non-Executive Director of the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (CAFCASS), the Criminal Cases Review Commission and One Housing. Mrs Corby is also a Non-Executive member of the Parole Board management committee and chairs interim order panels for the Nursing and Midwifery Council as well as chairing the General Optical Council’s Investigation Committee.

Appointments to the Parole Board are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. This appointment has been made in line with the Governance code on Public Appointments. Mrs Corby has no political activity to declare.

Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice David Gauke said:

I am pleased to announce that I have appointed Mrs Caroline Corby as the interim Chair of the Parole Board. Mrs Corby’s interim appointment will run from 23 April until a permanent Chair is in post.

I am confident that Mrs Corby, an existing Non-Executive Director of the Parole Board, appointed after fair and open competition, will ensure that the Board has the necessary leadership while a campaign takes place to identify a permanent Chair.



News story: Government appoints new board members to the UK Atomic Energy Authority

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has today (23 April 2018) announced new appointments to the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA).

The UKAEA leads the commercial development of fusion power and related technology and position the UK as a leader in sustainable nuclear energy. Nuclear fusion, the process that powers the sun, can play a big part in our carbon-free energy future. UKAEA manages the UK fusion programme at the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE) which is one of the world’s leading fusion research laboratories.

Shrinivas Honap, Sue Scane, and Professor Sir Adrian Smith have been appointed as new non-executive board members for a 3-year term from 1 April 2018. All 3 bring a wealth of valuable experience to the UKAEA board that will help ensure that it continues to deliver world leading research, innovation and training in nuclear fusion. The non-executive directors will provide advice and oversight across academic, financial and other areas of interest.

Shrinivas is currently a board member at the British Transport Policy Authority and a lay member at Speakers Committee of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA). Previously he has held senior roles at Vodafone and Capita and as a non-executive within the NHS. He is currently chair of Audit at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and a non-executive on the board of Registrars of Scotland.

Sue was the Director for Environment & Economy at Oxfordshire County Council until her retirement, having previously been its Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer. In her career she helped to get the Oxfordshire City Deal, which aims to maximise the science facilities throughout the county including Harwell, Milton Park and Culham. Sue also serves on the Boards of the Oxford Diocese and of Didcot First.

Knighted in 2011 and elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2001, Sir Adrian is a distinguished statistician and currently the vice-chancellor at the University of London. He previously served as Director General, Knowledge and Innovation at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and was Principal of Queen Mary University of London for 10 years. He has also worked with the UK Higher Education Funding and Research Councils, along with his appointment as Deputy Chair of the UK Statistics Authority in 2012.

These 3 members replace 2 non-executive directors who have reached the end of their terms, and we thank them for their years of service.



News story: Powering the vehicles of the future: apply for business funding

A hybrid car tachometer.

The Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) has up to £30 million to invest in technologies that support the long-term development of low and zero emission vehicles in the UK.

The APC is a government-industry body that aims to make the UK a global centre of excellence for low carbon vehicle development and production.

The funding is part of a 10-year, £1 billion joint government and industry investment to accelerate development of low carbon propulsion technologies and help the UK to take advantage of the huge opportunities in this field.

The competition process is delivered by Innovate UK.

Developing low and zero emission technologies

The APC is seeking projects that develop low and zero emission on-vehicle technologies for on or off-road vehicles. They must be in the following areas:

  • alternative propulsion systems
  • electric machines and power electronics
  • energy storage and energy management
  • lightweight vehicle and powertrain structures
  • thermal propulsion systems

Projects must have a proven technology concept and demonstrate that there is a clear route to market.

Competition information

  • the competition opens on 30 April 2018 and the deadline for applications is midday on 27 June 2018
  • projects must be led by a business working in partnership with others and must include an SME and a vehicle manufacturer or tier 1 supplier
  • we expect total project costs to range between £5 million and £40 million and for projects to last between 18 and 42 months
  • businesses could attract up to 70% of their project costs
  • a briefing event will be held on 7 May 2018


Detailed guide: Household waste bins: when and how councils may issue fixed penalties

The Government wishes to encourage a measured and balanced approach, where householders are not penalised for minor breaches of waste bin rules. The use of these penalties should focus on those who cause genuine harm to the local environment. It is good practice to try and inform the household about any issues on the presentation of their waste bins. For example, you could use a letter or information notice. You should do this before moving to the process of issuing penalty notices outlined here.

Where you chose to do so, you must follow these rules when issuing fixed penalties under section 46A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

When you can issue fixed penalties

You may issue them when householders do not follow your waste collection rules, and their failure to comply does one of the following:

  • causes or is likely to cause a nuisance
  • has a negative effect or is likely to have a detrimental effect on local amenities

Examples

You can issue fixed penalties if householders put waste out so it:

  • causes an obstruction to neighbours, such as forcing people using wheelchairs or buggies to walk on the road
  • restricts access to the pavement or street, for example leaving waste receptacles (bins or bags) out for several days
  • is likely to attract vermin like foxes and rats, such as leaving bags or open receptacles out days before a waste collection
  • is unsightly (torn bags or overturned receptacles are left out)

London councils can issue penalty charges instead of fixed penalties – the same rules apply.

When you cannot issue fixed penalties

You cannot issue them for minor problems, such as when householders:

  • put something in the wrong receptacle by mistake
  • forget to close receptacle lids
  • leave receptacles out for a few hours before a collection

How to issue fixed penalties

You must follow 3 stages.

1. Written warning

Write to the householder and explain:

  • how they have broken your waste collection rules
  • how this has (or is likely to) cause a nuisance or have a negative effect on local amenities
  • what they must do and how long they’ve got to fix the problem
  • what will happen if they don’t comply
    ·
    If the householder does not comply, you can issue a notice of intent.

2. Notice of intent

Your notice of intent must name the householder and tell them:

  • they may get a fixed penalty and why
  • how much they’ll have to pay
  • they have the right to explain why they shouldn’t have to pay the penalty within 28 days of the date on the notice

3. Final notice

You can issue a final notice 28 days after the notice of intent. You must consider any responses from the householder before you do this.

The notice must name the householder and tell them:



News story: Crime news: revised AGFS fee calculator and paper forms

We’ve published a new fee calculator and paper forms for AGFS work in the Crown Court.

Revised fee guidance and documents showing offence bandings have already been made available.

These reflect the new way of calculating criminal advocate payments for Crown Court legal aid work.

Paper forms should only be used when the Crown Court online billing system is not available.

Further information

Graduated fee calculators

AF1: claim for advocate graduated fees – paper form

Legal aid: crime claim forms

Crown Court Fee Guidance – to view supporting guidance and frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Offence bandings in AGFS – to find the correct offence banding for a claim

servicedevelopment@justice.gov.uk – to submit questions about the revised AGFS