Jun202017

Finance Secretary confirms commitment to new communities scheme as Landfill Disposal Tax Bill progresses

Welsh Government
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The Landfill Disposals Tax (Wales) Bill, which introduces a new landfill disposals tax to replace landfill tax in Wales when it is devolved in April 2018, today reaches stage three, in the National Assembly.

The Welsh Government introduced an amendment, which, if the Bill is passed, places the new Landfill Disposals Tax Communities Scheme on the face of the Bill.

The amendment places a duty on Welsh Ministers to prepare and publish a communities scheme, which will be targeted at activities which promote or improve the social or environmental wellbeing of communities close to landfill sites and waste transfer stations.

The scheme will be funded by using some of the revenue raised by landfill disposals tax. A decision about how much will be allocated will be made in the autumn.

A procurement exercise to appoint the single distributive body that will run the scheme has begun. It is anticipated the contract notice will be launched at the end of July – the contract is expected to be awarded by the end of the year.

The Welsh Government will administer the overall governance of the scheme.

Professor Drakeford said:  

“In a year’s time, Wales will introduce the first Welsh taxes in almost 800 years. This is an historic milestone in Wales’ devolution journey as we become responsible for raising our own money to spend on public services.

“I am fully committed to having a new communities scheme when landfill disposals tax is introduced in April. The benefits it provides communities located around landfill sites and waste transfer stations are clear and numerous.

“The new grant scheme will focus on three areas – biodiversity, environmental enhancements and waste minimisation. It will maximise the amount of funding reaching community projects most affected by the disposal of waste to landfill and help improve our environment.

“The details of the scheme will be published separately but work is already underway to prepare for its introduction. I will make an announcement about the amount allocated to the scheme in the autumn.”

The Landfill Disposals Tax (Wales) Bill is the third of three Bills to establish tax arrangements in Wales – a series of crucial legislation to prepare for the introduction of the first Welsh taxes in almost 800 years. The Welsh Government has also adopted a collaborative approach to gain cross-party support for the Bill, agreeing non-government amendments to further improve the legislation.

The Finance Secretary added: 

“This Bill is the third piece of legislation to establish tax arrangements in Wales. It has been extremely important to work with colleagues across the Assembly to build consensus so we have a strong piece of legislation to help pave the way to a smooth transition to tax powers.”

Jun202017

Press release: New charity investigation: Youth Development Summer Camp Project

HM Government
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The Charity Commission, the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales, has opened a statutory inquiry into Youth Development Summer Camp Project, registered charity number 1086721. The inquiry was opened on 2 September 2016.

The charity has objects to provide youth development activities at summer camps to children up to the age of 17.

On 28 August 2016 the Commission was made aware by the Metropolitan Police Service that a charity trustee was arrested under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups and Adults Act 2006. A serious incident report was not made to the Commission by any of the trustees in regards to this matter. The Commission is investigating whether any Disclosure and Barring checks have been conducted.

The charity’s annual returns for financial years’ ending 2014 onwards indicate that the charity has no written safeguarding policies in place, including in relation to risk management or vulnerable beneficiaries. Due to the nature of the charity’s activities, these factors have raised serious regulatory concerns for the Commission and require further examination by way of statutory inquiry.

In order to address these concerns, the investigation is looking at whether:

  • the trustees have properly managed the risk to the charity’s beneficiaries and services
  • the trustees have complied with their legal duties and responsibilities in the governance and management of the charity particularly in relation to policies and procedures regarding safeguarding
  • the trustees have protected the charity’s assets, including its reputation

It is the Commission’s policy, after it has concluded an inquiry, to publish a report detailing what issues the inquiry looked at, what actions were undertaken as part of the inquiry and what the outcomes were. Reports of previous inquiries by the Commission are available on GOV.UK.

The charity’s details can be viewed on the Commission’s online charity search tool.

Ends

PR 49/17

Notes to editors

  1. The Charity Commission is the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales. To find out more about our work, see our annual report.
  2. Search for charities on our online register.
  3. Section 46 of the Charities Act 2011 gives the Commission the power to institute inquiries. The opening of an inquiry gives the Commission access to a range of investigative, protective and remedial legal powers.
  4. The Commission’s decision to announce the opening of a statutory inquiry is based on whether it is in the public interest to do so and with consideration of our objective to increase public trust and confidence in charities.

Jun202017

Press release: Chance for public to find out about Calderdale flood risk work

Environment Agency
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The public are being invited to give their views on plans to reduce flood risk in the Calder Valley at a number of drop-ins this month.

People will have the opportunity to find out about the work the Environment Agency and partners including Calderdale Council, Canal and Rivers Trust, Yorkshire Water, National Trust and Slow the Flow Calderdale are doing to reduce flood risk in the area.

The Hebden Bridge drop-in will be the first time residents will get to see plans for the town’s flood alleviation scheme, which will improve the protection to up to 500 homes and businesses. This scheme will be available for consultation at the 27 June event at Hebden Bridge town hall.

Also on show at the drop-ins will be the early findings of the second phase of the Upper Calder flood risk reduction schemes. These will investigate, and where feasible, improve the protection to homes and businesses in Brighouse, Walsden, Todmorden, Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd, Midgley, Luddenden Foot, Sowerby Bridge, Copley, Ripponden, and Halifax.

The drop-in events are being held on the following dates:

  • 26th June,11am to 7.30pm – Brighouse civic Hall, Bradford Road, Brighouse, HD6 1RW
  • 27th June,11am to 7.30pm – Hebden Bridge Town Hall, St Georges St, Hebden Bridge, HX7 7BY
  • 29th June,11am to 7.30pm – Todmorden Town Hall, Bridge St, Todmorden, OL14 5AQ
  • 3rd July,11am to 6.30pm – Sowerby Bridge Methodist church, Tower Hill, Sowerby Bridge HX6 2EQ.

Environment Agency Flood Risk Manager Adrian Gill said:

We are working hard with our partners to help the communities of Calderdale prepare for and reduce the risks of flooding. We are keen to incorporate the views of local people to help us deliver the best possible solutions.

Cllr Tim Swift, Calderdale Council’s Leader, said:

We encourage residents across Calderdale to come along to the drop-in events to find out more about the ongoing work to improve flood resilience, and to share their views on upcoming and proposed schemes. There will also be opportunities to ask questions to the Council and our partner organisations about flood recovery and protection.

To find out more visit www.eyeoncalderdale.com and www.slowtheflow.net.

Jun202017

Press release: Chance for public to find out about Calderdale flood risk work

DEFRA
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The public are being invited to give their views on plans to reduce flood risk in the Calder Valley at a number of drop-ins this month.

People will have the opportunity to find out about the work the Environment Agency and partners including Calderdale Council, Canal and Rivers Trust, Yorkshire Water, National Trust and Slow the Flow Calderdale are doing to reduce flood risk in the area.

The Hebden Bridge drop-in will be the first time residents will get to see plans for the town’s flood alleviation scheme, which will improve the protection to up to 500 homes and businesses. This scheme will be available for consultation at the 27 June event at Hebden Bridge town hall.

Also on show at the drop-ins will be the early findings of the second phase of the Upper Calder flood risk reduction schemes. These will investigate, and where feasible, improve the protection to homes and businesses in Brighouse, Walsden, Todmorden, Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd, Midgley, Luddenden Foot, Sowerby Bridge, Copley, Ripponden, and Halifax.

The drop-in events are being held on the following dates:

  • 26th June,11am to 7.30pm – Brighouse civic Hall, Bradford Road, Brighouse, HD6 1RW
  • 27th June,11am to 7.30pm – Hebden Bridge Town Hall, St Georges St, Hebden Bridge, HX7 7BY
  • 29th June,11am to 7.30pm – Todmorden Town Hall, Bridge St, Todmorden, OL14 5AQ
  • 3rd July,11am to 6.30pm – Sowerby Bridge Methodist church, Tower Hill, Sowerby Bridge HX6 2EQ.

Environment Agency Flood Risk Manager Adrian Gill said:

We are working hard with our partners to help the communities of Calderdale prepare for and reduce the risks of flooding. We are keen to incorporate the views of local people to help us deliver the best possible solutions.

Cllr Tim Swift, Calderdale Council’s Leader, said:

We encourage residents across Calderdale to come along to the drop-in events to find out more about the ongoing work to improve flood resilience, and to share their views on upcoming and proposed schemes. There will also be opportunities to ask questions to the Council and our partner organisations about flood recovery and protection.

To find out more visit www.eyeoncalderdale.com and www.slowtheflow.net.

Jun202017

News story: SMS alerts system for licence variations currently unavailable

DEFRA
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The MMO regret to advise that the electronic notification system via SMS is currently not working. As a result licence holders or a nominated representative whose mobile phone number has been given to the MMO will not currently receive a text message when a variation has been issued.

Licence holders should therefore monitor the MMO website so that they are aware of relevant variations, as it remains the legal responsibility of the licence holder to check the conditions of the licence.

Please note:

S. 4. (5) of the The Sea Fishing (Licences and Notices) (England) Regulations 2012 states: “A notice communicated by publication on a website is treated as given immediately it is published.”

We are in touch with the service provider and hope to fix the fault as soon as possible, but we are unable to give a time scale for resolution at the current time.

Notifications sent via email are not affected. Please contact your local MMO office for further information and to register an email address with us if you have not already done so to receive licence variation notifications.

For further information contact:

Hubert Gieschen on 0208 225 6947 or Hubert.gieschen@marinemanagement.org.uk