Press release: Planned roadworks in Devon and Cornwall: weekly summary for Monday 20 February to Sunday 26 February

Planned new and ongoing road improvements over the coming week.

The following summary of planned new and ongoing road improvements over the coming week is correct as of 17 February but could be subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances. All our improvement work is carried out with the aim of causing as little disruption as possible.

Devon

A38 Belvedere Cross, Haldon to Splatford junction, Kennford, south of Exeter: bridge inspection

Eastbound carriageway will be closed overnight from 8pm on 27 February until 6am on 28 February. Diversion will be in place via old Haldon Hill.

A38 Smithaleigh, east of Plymouth: drainage work

Westbound carriageway will be closed overnight between the exit and entry slip roads from 8pm on 3 March to 6am on 4 March. Diversion via the exit and entry slip roads.

Cornwall

A38 between Dobwalls and Turfdown, east of Bodmin: stabilisation work

24-hour one-way system will be in operation between the Halfway House and Trago Mills until 14 April. A 30mph speed limit will be in place between Two Waters Foot and St Neot junction with a 24-hour westbound diversion via the A390 and North Lane to rejoin the A38 west of Two Waters Foot. Trago Mills can be accessed via the A38 as per normal.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.




News story: Technology Products 2 flash sale

CCS have been working with a number of suppliers on our Technology Products 2 agreement (RM3733) to offer you huge savings on a range of products including desktops and laptops.

The sale begins on 1 March and runs throughout the month, or until stock is sold out. Stock availability is limited and will be sold on a first come, first served basis.

These short-term deals with manufacturers, including HPE, HPI, Dell and Lenovo, samsung, Apple, XMA and Toshiba could help you save up to 35% for your organisation – whether you are a school, college, local council, NHS trust, charity, police force or government department.

To view the deals, simply log in to the Purchasing Platform (TP2) and some of the Flash sale products will appear on the landing page. Clicking through will take you to the full listing.

These Flash Sale deals are only available through Technology Products 2 (RM3733 Lot 6) via the catalogue content on the Purchasing Platform.

If you do not have a log on, you can find out more about the Purchasing Platform and how to register here :- https://purchasingplatform.crowncommercial.gov.uk




Press release: Charity Commission to hold public meeting in York

The Charity Commission, the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales, will hold its next public meeting on 30 March 2017 at York CVS.

William Shawcross, Chairman of the Commission, will open and chair the meeting, followed by a range of presentations from senior staff including the Chief Operating Officer, David Holdsworth. The keynote speech will be delivered by Julia Unwin CBE, Chair of the Independent Inquiry into the Future of Civil Society and former Chief Executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF).

The meeting will focus on the work the Commission does to support charities, including how to engage with us digitally, as well as updates on our key guidance for trustees and what lessons there are from our casework. Attendees will hear an update on the Commission’s activities and have the opportunity to ask questions before the meeting concludes.

The event is free to attend and is aimed at providing charity trustees, employees and advisers with best practice guidance and encouraging good governance.

The meeting will take place from 12 noon to 4pm at York CVS, 15 Priory Street, York, YO1 6ET.

To confirm your attendance, please register to attend through Eventbrite. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please note that only 2 attendees per organisation will be permitted to attend. Members of the press are also welcome to attend the event and are asked to register their interest with the press office directly at pressenquiries@charitycommission.gsi.gov.uk.

Papers for public meeting 30 March 2017

Ends

PR 11/17


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.



News story: Efficiency Review to drive productive public services

Putting the public finances on a sustainable path is vital to securing a strong and stable economy, and the government will ensure it is delivering value for money while maintaining its commitments on public spending in this Parliament.

The review, which was announced at Budget 2016, will generate £3.5 billion of savings in 2019 to 20, with up to £1 billion to be reinvested in priority areas.

Government departments have today been commissioned to begin drawing up proposals for contributions by modelling scenarios of 3% and 6% savings.

This is part of an ongoing commitment to modern, flexible public services that deliver the best value for money for taxpayers.

The NHS and core schools budgets are protected and do not come under the scope of the review. The government also recognises the important role that social care spending plays and so efficiencies found within local government will be used to help meet existing pressures.

The government will also maintain its commitment to meet the NATO target of spending 2% of GDP on defence and for the defence budget to rise by 0.5% above inflation each year of this Parliament.

An update will be provided in autumn 2017.

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, David Gauke and Ben Gummer, the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, have commissioned the work and it will be aligned with a refresh of Single Departmental Plans, so that departments can consider savings options in the context of their business planning.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury, David Gauke, said:

We are committed to a modern, high-quality public sector that delivers the services people need in the most efficient way possible. There has been considerable progress, but there is further to go and the whole of government is working together to consider how we can live within our means while delivering maximum value for every pound of taxpayers money.




News story: Accelerator webinar: revolutionise the human information relationship for Defence

The webinar provided information about the £6 million Innovation Fund competition, for those who couldn’t make it to the main networking event on 23 February 2017.

The competition is seeking new technologies, processes and ways of working to improve the way we analyse and exploit data. With the relationship between human and information at the centre of war-fighting we need Defence leaders to have access to the right information on critical issues to enable decision making that outpaces our adversaries.

Phase 1 proposals are now invited and must be received by no later than 12 noon on 21 March 2017.