Jun152017

Wales is having a Good Air Day

Welsh Government
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Lesley Griffiths has today issued new guidance to Local Authorities on air quality management. The guidance stresses the importance of planning for the long term, integrating policies which can impact on air quality, involving local communities in solutions to local air quality challenges, collaborating with others and preventing problems from getting worse or from arising in the first place.

The new guidance follows the Welsh Government’s commitment to developing a clean air zone framework for Wales as part of a UK-wide consultation to develop a new air quality plan for nitrogen dioxide.

The Cabinet Secretary said:

“The average levels of air pollution across Wales continue to improve but we must do more to ensure the overall improving trends continue across Wales and compliance is achieved in pollution hotspots.

“The responses to our recent consultation on local air quality management were very supportive of our air quality proposals for Wales. This new guidance and our commitment to develop a clean air zone framework for Wales marks our determination to ensure clean local environments for the wellbeing of our future generations”. 

The UK’s first Clean Air Day is being co-ordinated by the charity Global Action Plan. It offers people a chance to find out more about air pollution, to share information with friends and colleagues and to take action to make the air cleaner and healthier for everyone. Clean Air Day activities will focus in particular on the cities and regions of the UK already known to be putting in place low emission zones or clean air zones.

Clean Air Day (external link) in Wales will also mark the development of a much-needed programme of awareness-raising and educational activities in Wales.

Jun152017

News story: Interim Manager appointed to Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators

HM Government
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The Charity Commission has appointed an Interim Manager to Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators (registered charity number 303167). The appointment comes as part of the regulator’s inquiry into the charity, which began in August 2016.

The inquiry is examining a range of concerns, including the trustees’ failure to comply with a previous action plan set by the Commission. A statement about the investigation is available on GOV.UK.

The Commission has now appointed Gordon Reid of Barlow Robbins Solicitors as Interim Manager of the charity. He has been appointed to fulfil specific functions, including to consider the trustees’ decision not to take action to recover a loss suffered by the charity when it granted an easement for access rights over charity lands at a significant undervalue. The Interim Manager will assess whether the trustees’ decision was taken properly and was in the best interests of the charity. The charity’s trustees remain responsible for the day-to-day management of the charity.

The Interim Manager was appointed on 31 May 2017.

The Commission’s investigation continues. 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 are available on GOV.UK.

The charity’s registered number is 303167.

The charity has also published its own announcement regarding the appointment.

Jun152017

News story: Interim Manager appointed to Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators

DEFRA
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The Charity Commission has appointed an Interim Manager to Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators (registered charity number 303167). The appointment comes as part of the regulator’s inquiry into the charity, which began in August 2016.

The inquiry is examining a range of concerns, including the trustees’ failure to comply with a previous action plan set by the Commission. A statement about the investigation is available on GOV.UK.

The Commission has now appointed Gordon Reid of Barlow Robbins Solicitors as Interim Manager of the charity. He has been appointed to fulfil specific functions, including to consider the trustees’ decision not to take action to recover a loss suffered by the charity when it granted an easement for access rights over charity lands at a significant undervalue. The Interim Manager will assess whether the trustees’ decision was taken properly and was in the best interests of the charity. The charity’s trustees remain responsible for the day-to-day management of the charity.

The Interim Manager was appointed on 31 May 2017.

The Commission’s investigation continues. 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 are available on GOV.UK.

The charity’s registered number is 303167.

The charity has also published its own announcement regarding the appointment.

Jun152017

Vince Cable: Fall in retail sales shows brutal reality of Brexit hitting consumers

Liberal Democrats
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Retail sales fell by 1.2% between April and May, worse than economists had expected, figures from the Office for National Statistics have shown.

The ONS said that average store prices have risen by 2.8% over the year, which has been a significant factor in slowing growth.

Liberal Democrat MP Vince Cable said: “The economy has been kept going for a year on the basis of consumer debt, which was always artificial and unsustainable.

“The brutal reality of a hard Brexit is now starting to hit businesses and consumers.

“Unless the government takes a cross-party approach to Brexit, reflecting the need for compromise, we will inevitably see a continuing slowdown and possible slump in the economy.”

Jun152017

Buildings fire safety review urgently needed after Grenfell Tower fire

Liberal Democrats
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The Liberal Democrats have called on the government to urgently publish a long-awaited review of building regulations on fire safety and implement its recommendations, following the deadly fire at Grenfell Tower.

Sal Brinton, Liberal Democrat Party President and member of the All-Party Parliamentary Fire Safety and Rescue Group, commented:

“My heart goes out to the victims of this tragedy, their family and friends and the emergency services who have shown such bravery in appalling circumstances.

“It is too soon to say the exact causes of this deadly fire, but we must not shy away from asking difficult questions.

“In particular, we need to look at why the lessons of the past seem not to have been learnt.

“Ministers have been asked repeatedly to upgrade fire safety regulations but have done nothing, including on sprinklers and strengthening compliance rules.

“The government must conduct an urgent review into fire safety and building regulations, with recommendations implemented as soon as possible.

“We must also hold a public inquiry into what caused this tragic fire and how it could have been prevented.”