[unable to retrieve full-text content]The Charity Commission has responded to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Select Committee’s questions on ‘the work of the Charity Commission.’
Press release
Work to overhaul Keadby pumping station near Scunthorpe has taken a significant step forward thanks to the arrival on site of the first 2 of 6 new pumps.
The new pumps at Keadby pumping station
It is all part of a £35 million investment to upgrade the 80-year-old pumping station which will bring both flood-risk and environmental benefits to the Isle of Axholme area which takes in some 500km of North Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire and North Nottinghamshire.
The two pumps were tested in Holland before they were shipped to England. Together, they have the combined power to fill an olympic swimming pool in about 5 minutes.
They have now arrived at Keadby as work on the project continues with contractors and staff from the Environment Agency following recent Public Health England safe working advice.
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said:
The first 2 pumps will be installed over the next 2 months; the remaining 4 pumps will be delivered and installed before the end of the year.
After the pumps are installed we will be able to finish refurbishing the pumping station and re-constructing the outfall to the River Trent.
Throughout the work we will continue to operate the pumping station to manage flood risk and water levels. The work is on schedule and the new pumps will be operational in early 2021, with the rest of the refurbishment complete by the end of 2021.
This project is part of the Environment Agency’s £140 million asset repair programme for 2020. Work on the projects continue where it is safe for our teams and delivery partners to do so.
We are following the latest guidance from Public Health England to ensure the safety of our staff, partners and the communities we work in is a priority.
The current station has reached the end of its working life because the pumps and the equipment are unreliable, costly to maintain and are increasingly at risk of breaking down. However, they will be maintained and will be fully operational until the station update is complete.
The scheme also includes the construction of new electrical equipment buildings within the existing site and rebuilding of the outfall headwall.
The contract was awarded to GBV, a joint venture between Galliford Try and Black & Veatch.
The pumps and motors are the first 2 of 6 to be installed. Each weighs around 10 tonnes. They have been delivered as part of GBV’s scope of supply. They are Pentair Fairbanks Nijhuis pumps (from Holland). The new pumps are also ‘fish-friendly’ and will allow safe navigation for fish and eels on their natural migration. The measure is recognised as vital to protecting wildlife and improving the health of rivers.
Published 13 May 2020
[unable to retrieve full-text content]Latest information and actions from the Education and Skills Funding Agency for academies, schools, colleges, local authorities and further education providers
Decision letter and Inspector’s Report for a recovered appeal for 516 residential units, a local centre, a sports pavilion and associated infrastructure, the demolition of existing buildings and structures, and creation of an Ecological Protection and Enhancement Zone and vehicular access arrangements.
To ensure those affected by Windrush can continue to access help and support during the coronavirus pandemic, the Home Office will be running a series of online engagement events.
These will start later this month and will follow a similar format to the engagement events that have already been held around the country.
Those affected can get advice from members of the Commonwealth Citizens’ Taskforce and the Windrush Compensation Scheme, who will explain what help and support is available and how to make a claim for compensation.
The digital solution has been devised to ensure vital outreach and engagement can continue on Windrush. The government continues to be absolutely committed to righting the wrongs experienced by the Windrush generation and ensure nothing like this happens again.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said:
Reaching all those affected by Windrush is a priority and these online events make sure that the vital outreach and engagement on Windrush continues during the pandemic.
This will help ensure that all those who need help applying for compensation or to the Windrush Taskforce can continue to get any support they need.
The Home Office will work closely with stakeholders who will host or co-host the events using their own online conferencing channels and manage any registration for the event.
This will be guided by stakeholders, who will identify the most effective platforms for the communities they work with, subject to those channels meeting security requirements.
These measures have been put in place whilst the UK continues to observe social distancing, but the Home Office plans to revert to face-to-face events as soon as it is safe to do so. So far, the Home Office has held or attended over 30 events across the country since April 2019.
The department continues to work closely with stakeholders and partners trusted by the community to develop and deliver communications activity to raise awareness of the Windrush Taskforce and Windrush Compensation Scheme.
The events will be promoted using a range of methods, including adverts on social media and through trusted community networks. Details on the timings of online engagement events will be available here.
The Home Office continues its work to right the wrongs experienced by the Windrush generation, which is shown by the fact that over 12,000 people have been provided with documentation confirming their status so far.
The Windrush Compensation Scheme also continues to make payments to compensate for those who suffered.
Citizens Advice, funded by the Home Office, are continuing to provide free, independent claimant assistance during the pandemic for those wishing to apply to the Compensation Scheme. This can be accessed by referral through the Windrush Helpline: 0800 678 1925.
As announced by the Home Secretary in March, the Home Office will shortly launch a separate £500k fund for grassroots organisations to promote the Windrush Schemes and provide advice services. We will work with stakeholders to co-design the fund.
The Wendy Williams Lessons Learned review was published in March 2020. The Home Secretary made clear in her statement to the House of Commons on the day of publication that the department will carefully consider the detail of the report and its recommendations to develop a comprehensive plan for changing the ways of working of the Home Office.