Latest news with #LocalCouncil
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
HMO with 18 beds approved for former Grimsby accountants' office
Plans to turn a former accountants' office into an 18-bed house in multiple occupation (HMO) have been approved, despite concerns about traffic and East Lincolnshire Council passed the proposal for the building on Dudley Street, Grimsby, by five votes to three on agent, Matt Deakins, said the development would only need six parking spaces due to its proximity to the town centre and transport Augusta, a Park ward councillor who opposed the plans, described it as "overdevelopment, plain and simple" in an area "already oversaturated" with HMOs. Augusta said people living on neighbouring Pelham Road already faced parking issues and raised the prospect of a potential impact on community cohesion."A full building housing 18 unrelated inhabitants is not compatible with this part of Grimsby town centre," he to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the building would be the third HMO on Dudley Mickleburgh, a councillor for the south ward, argued there had been a noted increase in demand for people who wanted to live on their own, which the HMO would cater for. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
10-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Powys: 'Smallest school' close to England border to close
Councillors have voted to close the smallest primary school in Powys, in a move some have warned could see students move to schools outside council announced the closure of the 25-pupil Ysgol Bro Cynllaith in Llansilin from 31 August, with students expected to move to Ysgol Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, about six miles (9.6km) critics said parents could choose to send their children to schools in Oswestry, Shropshire, which is a similar distance Bro Cynllaith was one of three schools due to close in late 2021, but offered a reprieve as the plans were deemed unfeasible. Richard Jones, director of education on the council, said the proposal had received 20 objections, adding that the 31 August closure was "preferable" for pupils moving to a new school "so they can move at the start of a new, fresh academic year".Richard Church, also from the council, acknowledged concerns that students could move to schools in England, but questioned whether it "would be right" to make exceptions to keep schools open because they are close to England or another local authority in Wales."I don't believe it is sustainable to continue operating schools of this size - we can't make exceptions," he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Sandra Davies, another council member, said she had previously campaigned against school closures in the area, but now had a different view."Having bigger schools does enhance children as individuals - they do thrive, and they are given more opportunities to grow," she council voted unanimously for the school to close.
BBC News
04-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Southend council refunding £2.3m in overcharged care fees
A council has said it will pay about £2.3m in refunds after overcharging people for the cost of City Council said there was a technical error when new software was set up in 2018.A total of 586 people had been contacted already, including 335 people who still received this care, a spokesperson said."I sincerely apologise for this error," said Labour council leader Daniel Cowan. "I am pleased to report that council officers have moved quickly to assess its impact, and we are putting things right."The council said it discovered that disability premium, enhanced disability premium and the carer premium were not factored in when new software was set up in 2018 to calculate a person's minimum income Care Act 2014 dictates that local authorities can charge for care, so long as these fees do not reduce an individual's income below this meant some people who received Personal Independence Payments or Disability Living Allowance, and some people receiving Employment and Support Allowance instead of Income Support, were paid too much for care in their homes; while living with family members; supported living; shared lives; extra care and day care, the council spokesperson said people who had overpaid and who were not in arrears would be offered a refund or given the option of using the overpayment to cover future fees."We are confident that we now have the systems and processes in place to stop this happening again," said Cowan. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Pride and Ukraine flags at Reform-led Durham County Council removed
A council under new control by Reform UK has taken down an LGBTQ+ Pride flag at its move was made on the first day the party officially assumed control of Durham County Council. A Ukrainian flag has also been Democrat councillor Ellie Hopgood condemned the decision and said it was a "disrespectful mean-spirited act" ahead of Saturday's Pride in Armed Forces event in council's deputy leader Darren Grimes, who is gay, defended the decision and said the party was not anti-gay but was "anti-tokenism". Hopgood told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the council should apologise and put the Pride flag back up."It's a petty and mean-spirited act to haul down the Pride flag ahead of Saturday's Pride in Armed Forces event here in Durham."It is disrespectful to the Britons of all sexualities who served in our armed forces and many who gave their lives for their country." The council was previously run as a coalition between the Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and independent whose landmark local election victory saw it secure 65 seats in Durham, officially took control of the local authority earlier, with the party's Andrew Husband elected as council has renamed several key departments to remove references to climate change and equality and said he was proud the council was flying the union jack, flag of St George and the County Durham flag."Together, they represent every Briton, gay or straight, black or white, Christian, Sikh, or otherwise, who has fought, died, and sacrificed under those colours," he said. "Flying our national and local flags is an act of unity. Swapping them out for niche political symbols is just more toxic identity politics." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
17-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Domino's appeals against council refusal of Sheringham branch
A pizza chain lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate after a council blocked its plans to open a branch in a seaside hoped to open a takeaway shop in a former department store in Church Street, councillors on North Norfolk Council's planning committee rejected the application and said it would lead to an overconcentration of hot food chain hoped the inspectorate, which presides over planning disputes, would find in its favour by citing "unjustified reasons for refusal". An agent for Domino's also said the council had "misinterpreted planning guidance" in its appeal against the American multinational business said more chains opening could not be a reason for an application to be discussing the application were concerned that the takeaway would harm the vitality of the high street, due to the loss of a shop, and disturb people living in flats above, the Local Democracy Reporting Service had objected and claimed they did not want chain restaurants opening up in the seaside destination over fears it could harm smaller local Town Council is also against the proposal, and argued there were already nearly 40 food firms operating in the Planning Inspectorate will look at the evidence and make a decision later this year. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
