News story: Submit your evidence to assist Carillion investigation

The Official Receiver is asking for anyone who dealt with Carillion before it went into liquidation to take part in a questionnaire that will help feed into the statutory investigations.

The questionnaire is now live and you have till 9 May 2018 to get your submissions in.

The Official Receiver is responsible for investigating the cause of the insolvency, including any business dealings and affairs, as well as reporting on the conduct of the directors.

The information you provide through the questionnaire will assist the Official Receiver in their enquiries and they want to hear from anyone who did business with the companies in liquidation, whether they are a creditor or not.

There are around 30 questions to answer and it is possible that not all will apply to you. Nonetheless, the Official Receiver will welcome all submissions, even if you cannot remember all the relevant details or do not have a particular document to hand.

The questionnaire is being hosted by the Special Managers, who have been assisting the Official Receiver conduct an orderly liquidation while continuing public services, and will be online for four weeks.

All information provided will be treated as confidential, as well as being kept private and secure.



News story: Northamptonshire PCC to take on responsibility of fire and rescue service

Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Northamptonshire Stephen Mold’s proposal to take on responsibility for Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue service has today been approved by the Home Secretary, marking an important step in the government’s drive to see police and fire collaborate further and faster to benefit their local communities.

He is now set to join Roger Hirst of Essex, who became the country’s first police, fire and crime commissioner in October 2017, alongside the three other PCCs who have recently had their proposals to take on responsibility for their local fire and rescue services approved. These are John Campion, PCC for West Mercia, Matthew Ellis, PCC for Staffordshire, and Jason Ablewhite, PCC for Cambridgeshire.

Through the Policing and Crime Act 2017, the government has introduced a range of measures to drive greater collaboration between emergency services, enabling services to share best practice and become more efficient and effective. This includes enabling PCCs to take on governance of fire and rescue services where a local case is made.

Before submitting his proposal, the PCC was required to undertake local consultation, considering the views of the public and relevant local stakeholders. Northamptonshire County Council agreed to the PCC’s proposal and the consultation showed high levels of local support from the public and the Fire and Rescue Service.

The Home Secretary carefully reviewed the PCC’s proposal, the results of the consultation and the PCC’s responses to the views expressed when making a decision.

Considering all available evidence, the Home Secretary was of the view that the proposal demonstrated that a transfer of governance would be in the interests of the local economy, efficiency and effectiveness, without having an adverse effect upon public safety.



News story: LLW Repository Ltd earns Gold award

LLW Repository Ltd’s (LLWR) Engineering, Design and Construction Framework (EDCF) with GRAHAM Construction has won a Gold award in a prestigious national scheme.

Delighted team members from both organisations were on hand at the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) ceremony in Manchester to receive the honour, which recognises high standards in the construction sector.

It was only the second time the Framework had entered the scheme and it earned a bronze award last year. In addition to striking gold, a Most Considerate Site runner-up accolade was also awarded to the west Cumbrian facility.

“We are on a journey of continuous improvement, so to better last year’s pleasing performance amid stiff competition was superb,” said Cath Giel, LLWR’s Head of Public Affairs.

“We received more points from our CCS monitor this year than last so we were hopeful of improving on a bronze, but to win gold was outstanding.

“High standards are set for the organisation and for individuals, so this recognition is another feather in our cap.

“We take our community responsibilities extremely seriously, and a lot of hard work went into our entry.”
In the Framework’s inaugural year in the scheme, the better of two scores awarded by a CCS monitor was 43 marks out of 50.

Two visits this time merited scores of 45 and 46 with maximum 10s scored in the ‘Protecting the Environment’ and ‘Secure Everyone’s Safety’ categories.

The CCS monitor noted: “This project continues to be managed at the highest level, not only achieving an exceptional level in all five of the scheme’s checklist sections, which in itself is an achievement, but also by being innovative.”



News story: LLW Repository Ltd earns Gold award

Elaine Woodburn, of GRAHAM Construction, pictured left, and LLWR’s Cath Giel with team members celebrate their Considerate Constructors Scheme Gold award.

LLW Repository Ltd’s (LLWR) Engineering, Design and Construction Framework (EDCF) with GRAHAM Construction has won a Gold award in a prestigious national scheme.

Delighted team members from both organisations were on hand at the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) ceremony in Manchester to receive the honour, which recognises high standards in the construction sector.

It was only the second time the Framework had entered the scheme and it earned a bronze award last year. In addition to striking gold, a Most Considerate Site runner-up accolade was also awarded to the west Cumbrian facility.

“We are on a journey of continuous improvement, so to better last year’s pleasing performance amid stiff competition was superb,” said Cath Giel, LLWR’s Head of Public Affairs.

“We received more points from our CCS monitor this year than last so we were hopeful of improving on a bronze, but to win gold was outstanding.

“High standards are set for the organisation and for individuals, so this recognition is another feather in our cap.

“We take our community responsibilities extremely seriously, and a lot of hard work went into our entry.” In the Framework’s inaugural year in the scheme, the better of two scores awarded by a CCS monitor was 43 marks out of 50.

Two visits this time merited scores of 45 and 46 with maximum 10s scored in the ‘Protecting the Environment’ and ‘Secure Everyone’s Safety’ categories.

The CCS monitor noted: “This project continues to be managed at the highest level, not only achieving an exceptional level in all five of the scheme’s checklist sections, which in itself is an achievement, but also by being innovative.”



Press release: Sajid Javid announces details of review of local government finance governance and processes

Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid, has today (11 April 2018) announced details of an independent review of the processes and procedures that underpin the Ministry’s governance of the business rates system.

The review will be led by former Director General for Public Services at Her Majesty’s Treasury, Andrew Hudson. Andrew has also previously held the position of chief executive of the Valuation Office Agency, as well as having worked in local government and has significant experience of working at the interface of policy and operations.

Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid, said:

As we move towards local government retaining 75% of locally collected business rates, it is vital that the business rates retention system operates as smoothly as possible. This review, led by an independent expert in this field, will ensure robust processes across the board.

Published today on GOV.UK: