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STORY

Essex County Council’s new Reform UK leadership is facing questions over what it means to cancel the authority’s net zero agenda. Council leader Peter Harris has described net zero as “net stupid zero” and said he was not a scientist when asked about climate change and whether it was caused by human activity.

The move has prompted debate about whether the council is only abandoning emissions targets or whether it will also change wider climate adaptation work. Essex’s existing climate strategy includes measures relating to flooding, coastal erosion, overheating and water shortages, all of which have practical implications for communities across the county.

Supporters of the change argue that councils should focus on immediate public concerns and value for money. Critics say the new administration has not yet explained whether flood resilience, adaptation planning and other practical climate measures will continue, making the policy shift one of the first major tests for Reform’s control of the authority.

STORY

A Conwy councillor has submitted a formal complaint about transparency at Conwy County Borough Council after a cabinet meeting row in which his microphone was cut. Councillor David Carr wrote to council leader Julie Fallon and chief executive Rhun ap Gareth after he was stopped during a discussion about the council’s annual governance statement.

The dispute followed comments by fellow councillor Paul Luckock about the controversial Mochdre HGV depot, which has cost the council more than £3.2 million and remains unusable because its floor cannot accommodate HGVs. Fallon told the meeting that the matter was constrained by legal issues and should not be discussed publicly in that way.

Carr’s letter criticised the council’s record on transparency, citing Audit Wales findings that only 54 per cent of Freedom of Information requests were answered on time in 2024/25. A council spokeswoman said the leader had noted the councillor’s opinion and had replied to his email accordingly.

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Torfaen County Borough Council’s leader has defended spending on climate change and decarbonisation schemes after being challenged by Reform UK over local priorities. Labour council leader Anthony Hunt said the authority had also spent a record amount on road repairs and resurfacing, after Reform councillor David Thomas argued that residents were more concerned about roads and anti-social behaviour.

The exchange came after Thomas asked for a breakdown of spending on climate, decarbonisation, equality, diversity and inclusion programmes. Hunt said the largest sum was just over £2 million for climate and decarbonisation work, much of it funded by grants that could not simply be diverted elsewhere.

Hunt said support from the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund had helped 38 community groups cut energy use and save around £200,000 a year in costs. He said technologies such as solar panels and battery storage were already saving some community organisations hundreds or thousands of pounds each month.

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Hillingdon Council’s new leader has set out his priorities for the borough after the Conservatives strengthened their position at this month’s local elections. Councillor Steve Tuckwell, the former MP who has replaced Ian Edwards as Conservative leader of the council, said the party had retained public support because it had offered a clear plan for local services.

Tuckwell said the Conservatives had increased their vote share and majorities in their strongest wards, while Labour and Reform UK had both failed to make the breakthrough they had hoped for. He said the administration would continue to focus on high quality and value for money services, with the new leadership now seeking to define its programme for the next four years.

The new leader was also questioned over the controversy surrounding Cowley Meeting Hall, after earlier reports revealed that the council had planned to write off money owed by a former Conservative councillor. The council later changed course and said it would pursue all routes to recover the debt, leaving the issue as one of the first scrutiny tests for the new administration.

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The Council has published its forward look for the first half of June, setting out ministerial discussions on Schengen, migration, justice and the EU’s longer-term spending priorities. Home affairs ministers are due to meet on 4 June, followed by justice ministers on 5 June.

The home affairs session will examine the overall state of the Schengen area, progress on large-scale IT systems including the Entry/Exit System and ETIAS, and implementation of the migration pact. Ministers are also expected to discuss the future legal status of displaced persons from Ukraine and security issues linked to the Middle East.

Justice ministers are expected to agree a position on the new justice programme for 2028 to 2034 and hold a policy debate on parenthood. The Presidency and European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kövesi will also update ministers on the work of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.

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The Council has appointed Cornelia Taylor as the new head of the European Union Advisory Mission for Civilian Security Sector Reform Ukraine. She will take up the post on 1 July 2026, replacing Rolf Holmboe.

Taylor, a German lawyer, has more than 20 years of experience in international missions and fragile security environments. She has held leadership roles in UN and EU missions in Kosovo, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Afghanistan, and has served as deputy head of the OSCE mission in Kosovo since February 2024.

EUAM Ukraine was established in 2014 at the invitation of the Ukrainian authorities and its mandate has been adjusted since Russia’s full-scale invasion. The mission now supports investigations into international crimes, border management, liberated territories, hybrid threat work and veteran reintegration.

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The Council of the European Union has adopted a recommendation setting out a new framework for EU science diplomacy. The framework is intended to strengthen the EU’s position in science and technology while using scientific cooperation to support the bloc’s wider foreign policy objectives.

Ministers said scientific collaboration could help build trust with third countries and support dialogue at a time of geopolitical fragmentation and technological change. The recommendation also links science diplomacy to issues such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, research security and the EU’s economic competitiveness.

The Council called for stronger partnerships with the global south, including the creation of a Mediterranean science diplomacy centre. The framework also asks the Commission to monitor major global developments in research and technology and assess their implications for the EU’s external action.

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The European Union has condemned what it called a reckless violation of EU airspace after a Russian drone carrying explosives crashed into a residential building in Galați, Romania. The incident occurred on 29 May during an overnight attack against Ukraine and injured civilians in a member state on the EU’s eastern flank.

The Council said the incident was a direct result of Russia’s war against Ukraine and expressed full solidarity with Romania. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc remained committed to the security of all member states and would work to strengthen protection against similar threats.

The statement said the EU would continue efforts to reinforce defence readiness, including measures focused on the eastern flank, while maintaining support for Ukraine. Brussels also said the incident strengthened its resolve to raise the cost for Moscow through further sanctions and international pressure.