Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Forest of Bowland hosts MP peatland visit [October 2022]

The press release issued by Lancashire County Council on 18 October 2022.

Lancashire has secured £1.4m investment to restore peatlands, as part of the UK’s efforts to tackle climate change.

Lancashire’s peatlands have the potential to capture thousands of tonnes of CO2.

Trudy Harrison MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defra, recently visited Grosvenor’s Abbeystead Estate in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) to see how the government funding is being put to good use.

She was joined by representatives from a number of local organisations to discuss the restoration of Lancashire’s peatlands, which is being carried out as part of the wider Great North Bog West Project.

Restoration of these areas is vital as healthy peatlands are resilient and ecologically diverse habitats that provide benefits for people and nature.

County Councillor Shaun Turner, cabinet member for environment and climate change and chair of the Forest of Bowland AONB Joint Advisory Committee, said: “We’re pleased to have secured £1.4m of funding for Lancashire from the Government’s Nature for Climate Peatland Restoration Grant Scheme, which means the Forest of Bowland AONB Partnership can continue working with the county council and local partners to restore this important natural asset across our county.

“It is crucial that we work together to restore and maintain peatlands across Lancashire and the Forest of Bowland AONB project is a key part of our plans.

“Restoring our peatland will reduce carbon emissions and even capture more CO2 from the atmosphere, offsetting the carbon that is produced from burning fossil fuels.

“Research shows that restored peatlands are more effective at slowing water that flows from the fells, helping to make our natural environment more resilient to flash flooding.

“Holding water on the peatlands for longer is a double win – it is also beneficial for the habitat itself as keeping peat wet protects it from erosion, drought and promotes the growth and resilience of specialised bog vegetation like sphagnum mosses.

“Restored peat also reduces the severity and impact of moorland fires such as the ones we saw on Winter Hill in recent years.”

The Great North Bog West (GNBW) project is a joint peatland restoration project between the Lancashire and Cumbria Peat Partnerships. Key organisations involved with the partnerships are Cumbria Wildlife Trust, the Forest of Bowland AONB, National Trust, United Utilities, Grosvenor’s Abbeystead Estate and Lowther Estates.

For more information about the Great North Bog project, visit www.reatnorthbog.org.uk

October 22, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Record pay offer for NHS staff in Scotland [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Scottish Government on 21 October 2022.

NHS staff are set to receive a record pay rise of £2,205 – an average 7% pay uplift – to help tackle the cost of living crisis and retain staff during the tougher winter months.

This increased offer was made after constructive negotiations between the Scottish Government and NHS Unions, which lasted into the early hours of Friday morning (21 October).

The offer would mean the lowest paid seeing a rise of more than 11%, with qualified nursing staff receiving up to 8.45%, helping the lowest paid staff through the cost of living crisis.

If agreed, the pay uplift, which amounts to almost half a billion pounds (£480m), will benefit more than 160,000 employees including nurses, paramedics, allied health professionals and healthcare support staff.

This is the largest pay offer given to NHS Scotland Agenda for Change staff since devolution and will mean they remain the best paid in the UK. If accepted, the offer will be backdated to 1 April 2022, and could be added to pay cheques in time for Christmas.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said:

“I am grateful to trade union colleagues and NHS employers for constructive discussions on pay. This has been another exceptionally challenging year for our health service and we have a difficult winter ahead, but I am pleased that we are able to recognise the service and dedication of our healthcare and support staff with this pay offer.

“We owe NHS staff a debt of gratitude for leading us through the greatest public health crisis in recent history.

“This improved pay offer – which is the largest of its kind since devolution – reflects their hard work and will go a long way to help them through the cost of living crisis. We are rightly focussing the biggest increases for those who are the lowest paid, as we know the cost crisis is impacting them disproportionately.”

October 22, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Tackling the energy cost crisis in Scotland [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Scottish Government on 20 October 2022.

First Minister convenes second summit with energy companies and advice organisations.

Further actions to support consumers and businesses through the winter have been agreed at a virtual summit between energy companies and advice organisations and Ministers.

The energy cost crisis summit discussed this week’s reversals to UK Government measures set out since the previous summit, and agreed longer-term certainty is urgently needed ahead of the anticipated energy price cap increase, currently due in April.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

“The curtailing of the Energy Price Guarantee by the Chancellor of the Exchequer earlier this week has eradicated what meagre certainty people and businesses had over their bills and finances in the short to medium-term. Even the current cap of £2,500 until April – while better than a rise to £3,500 – is still a very significant increase for households who are already struggling to pay their bills and heat their homes. Without further mitigation the increase to £2,500 under the Energy Price Guarantee will see an additional 150,000 households in extreme fuel poverty.

“The deficiencies in the UK Government’s package mean we are still in an emergency situation. The economic outlook has been made far worse by other aspects of the mini-budget – most of which have now had to be reversed entirely.

“The Scottish Government is working hard within its limited powers and finite budget to support people, business, public services and the economy. Part of that work will involve ongoing engagement with energy companies and advice organisations throughout the winter to see how, individually and collectively, we can alleviate the huge challenges people are facing as well as signposting existing schemes and support that is available.

“It is clear however that more substantial reform of the energy market is needed to address the issue in the long term, and the power to do so lies with the UK Government.”

October 22, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Menai Bridge closes for essential maintenance work [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 21 October 2022.

Structural engineers have recommended that Menai Bridge should close to all traffic to allow essential maintenance work to take place. This will take effect from 14:00hrs on Friday 21 October.

The announcement was made following recent testing of the bridges existing hangers. As part of UK Highways A55 ongoing maintenance of the Menai Bridge, it was identified that further testing would need to be carried out on the Menai Bridge alongside the replacement of some of the hangers.

As a result of further investigation, serious risks have been identified and structural engineers have recommended to close Menai Bridge to all traffic. The findings that led to the recommendation to close the bridge are currently being reviewed which could take up to two weeks. Available options to reopen the bridge as soon as possible are being actively assessed.

Temporary hanger strengthening works may need to be installed to ensure the safety and integrity of the Menai Bridge. This programme could take between 14 to 16 weeks, with the bridge reopening in early 2023.

In the meantime, traffic will be diverted to the Britannia Bridge.

Following discussions with UK Highways and their structural experts, the footway across the bridge has been re-opened for pedestrians and dismounted cyclists.

People must remain on the pedestrian footways and numbers will be limited. Marshalls will be in place from Friday, 21 October to Monday, 24 October to manage pedestrian flows and monitoring will be put in place to ensure compliance moving forward.

Plans have been discussed with partners including Welsh Government, UK Highways A55, NMWTRA, Emergency Services and the local authorities.

The Welsh Government is developing further strategies to increase resilience on the Britannia Bridge to mitigate the risk of both bridges being closed in exceptional circumstances. In the last five years, the bridge has been closed to high-sided vehicles on average seven times a year.

A spokesperson for UK Highways A55 said

We have received a recommendation from structural engineers to close the bridge for safety reasons. We have passed on this recommendation to the Welsh Government and are working closely with them to ensure the safety and integrity of the Menai Bridge is maintained.

While this issue will cause disruption, we must act in the interest of public safety. We are currently peer reviewing the findings that led to the recommendation of closure and assessing all available options to reopen the bridge as soon as possible so people can get back to using the bridge regularly.”

Deputy Minister for Climate Change with responsibility for transport, Lee Waters said:

This urgent work is being carried out for public safety, unfortunately it is unavoidable, but we are fully aware of the implication this will have for people in the local area.

We are working closely with UK Highways to ensure this work is carried out safely and as quickly as possible with minimal disruption to the local community.

October 22, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Greens call for General Election after Truss resigns as Prime Minister [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Green Party on 20 October 2022.

Responding to the end of Liz Truss’ short time as Prime Minister, Green Party co–leader Carla Denyer said:

“The Tory chaos has spiralled beyond any pretence that the country has a viable government.

“It is reckless for the Tories to claim that they can replace Liz Truss with any leader capable of commanding authority, nationally or internationally.

“The Tories want to impose Austerity 2.0 with no electoral mandate. That means more cuts to vital public services and more suffering for people across the country.

“The government simply cannot govern – it is unfit for office.

“We need a General Election now so people can vote for the policies they want to see that will turn this mess around.

“The Green Party will always stand for a fairer, greener country. We believe the way out of this crisis is to do the opposite of what the government has done – to reduce inequality rather than making it worse, through progressive taxation, including a Wealth Tax, and windfall taxes on the companies making super profits during this cost-of-living crisis.

“We would use the money to invest in a nationwide insulation programme to make sure people can afford to keep their homes warm, reduce inequality by ensuring that those with the deepest pockets help fund proper public services for all, and fund the beginnings of a just transition to a sustainable economy that protects the people and planet.

“It is time for the people to be given their chance to decide on the country’s future.”

October 22, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Greens back new campaign to end NHS privatisation [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Green Party on 20 October 2022.

The Green Party has thrown its support behind a new campaign to ask NHS leaders to pledge to end NHS privatisation. The We Own It campaign is launched against a backdrop of new Oxford University research that links outsourcing in the NHS between 2013 and 2020 to 557 preventable deaths.

Zack Polanski, deputy leader of the Green Party, will speak at the launch event today. He is expected to say:

“We need to keep the NHS publicly funded, publicly provided and free at the point of use. That’s all health services including dental services – people’s health should never be up for auction.

“The Green Party have, and will always, oppose introducing market forces and competition into our NHS. It was Green Party MP Caroline Lucas who in 2015 put forward the cross-party NHS Reinstatement Bill in Parliament, to reinstate the NHS based on its founding principles and reverse the creeping marketisation of the health service.

“Let’s remember the NHS belongs to us all – and we will always be there to make the argument alongside you that we own it.”

In 2021 Green Party conference passed a motion calling for a 15% pay rise for NHS workers and at this year’s conference voted for the introduction of a £15 an hour minimum wage for all workers and pledged support for all trade union campaigns that aim to achieve wage increases to match the cost of living.

October 22, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Wealth tax will lead to real action on “incentivising energy efficiency” say Greens [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Green Party on 18 October 2022.

The Green Party has repeated its call for a wealth tax in response to chancellor Jeremy Hunt saying that the government will “better incentivise energy efficiency” in his statement yesterday [1]. Co-leader Adrian Ramsay said that such a tax could ensure real action on efficiency savings by raising the funds for a national programme of home insulation.

Ramsay said:

“With the chancellor calling for spending cuts, it looks like ‘incentivising energy efficiency’ will amount to little more than public information campaigns or asking citizens to reduce energy consumption. We need real action to help people cut their energy use. A national programme of home insulation could shave thousands of pounds off energy bills while cutting emissions.

“A modest tax on the wealthiest 1% of households could raise in the region of £70bn [2], which could contribute significantly to creating warmer, more comfortable homes and bringing bills down for good.

“A more progressive tax system is also the fairest way to avoid another round of damaging austerity and will help to genuinely level up the economy, since it would be paid by the very richest who are generally in more affluent areas and be redistributed across the country.

“Never has the case for a wealth tax been stronger. It would help reverse years of damage caused to both society and the climate by successive Tory governments.”

October 22, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : “This chaos has to end”: Greens call for general election after Chancellor signals more austerity [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Green Party on 17 October 2022.

Responding to the emergency statement from Chancellor Jeremy Hunt this morning [1], Green Party co–leader Adrian Ramsay said:

“The Chancellor’s emergency statement today is yet another symbol of the country’s economic and political instability caused by the recklessness of a Conservative government with no regard for the needs of ordinary people or the environment.

“As well as completely ripping up what was left of the Prime Minister’s credibility, what the Chancellor has signalled today is more austerity.

“That means more cuts to vital public services and more suffering by everyday people who did not vote for and do not want the dangerous ideologically-driven policies the Conservatives brought forward and are now desperately scrambling to overturn.

“The government can no longer govern – this chaos has to end. We cannot continue to lurch from crisis to crisis, while people are left struggling to get by and the natural world around us is destroyed.

“We need a general election now so people can vote for the policies they want to see to turn this mess around.

“The Green Party would do exactly the opposite of Truss’ reckless economic policies, which were designed to make the rich richer and would have driven up inequality. We are not afraid to say that the very richest should pay more to ensure we have the public services we need for a successful economy and society.

“For example, a wealth tax on the richest 1% could help fund a huge insulation and renewables programme that would help reduce rampant inequality, keep bills down for good and tackle the climate emergency.”

October 22, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Have your say on tax and spending plans for Norfolk County Council [October 2022]

The press release issued by Norfolk County Council on 21 October 2022.

People can have their say on the county council’s Council Tax and spending proposals, until 16 December 2022.

Norfolk County Council wants to hear people’s views on the level of general Council Tax, plus the adult social care precept, for 2023-24.

You can have your say at www.norfolk.gov.uk/budget and paper copies of the consultation can be requested via email at haveyoursay@norfolk.gov.uk

Councillor Andrew Jamieson, cabinet member for finance, said: “We all know the cost of living is rising sharply and that has made our efforts to bridge the £60 million gap much more challenging.

“That’s why I’m so keen to hear people’s views on our Council Tax and key savings proposals.”

The council is consulting on:

A proposed total increase of 2.99 per cent – 1.99 per cent for general Council Tax and one per cent for the adult social care precept – in line with the current budget planning and the expected level which will be set by the Government.
People’s view on a rise of 4.10 per cent, as the council has set in previous years, and 10.1 per cent – in line with inflation – which would require a referendum.
The other savings proposals the council is consulting on include:

Reducing the opening hours of the Norfolk Record Office (NRO) from 28 hours a week to 22.5 hours a week.
Reducing weed spraying activities on the highway from twice a year to once a year.
Reducing summer opening hours at Norfolk’s recycling centres and closing all recycling centres on Wednesdays.
The consultation will run from 21 October 2022 to 16 December. Findings will be considered by the cabinet on 30 January, before the full council finalises the budget on 21 February, 2023.

October 22, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Leading the country’s way forward with Adult Social Care in Dorset [October 2022]

The press release issued by Dorset Council on 21 October 2022.

Examining how Dorset Council residents access adult social care could inform national changes to how care is provided, due to a unique partnership with the government.

The council was selected out of 15 local authorities which bid to work with the Department of Health and Social Care. The partnership with look at how residents currently get referred into the adult social care and how their experience could be improved.

What is discovered could be used to change the way people access social care in the future and create new ways of working for older people, people with a learning disability or mental health needs, across the country’s 151 local authorities. This could be in the form of better access via the internet to tweaking how assessments and reviews happen.

A team from the government department’s Digital Policy Unit will be working with the adult social care and digital teams until the New Year. The team will make recommendations at the end of the 12-week partnership.

As part of the fact-finding partnership, which includes asking questions of those who use the service, new models will be suggested and tested in a bid to find a solution for residents and the council.

The work is part of government charging reforms programme revealed in the People at the Heart of Care which, from October 2023, changes how much residents will pay towards their care and will introduce a cap on care charges.

As a result, how residents interact with local authorities will fundamentally change. All solutions are being considered which will allow each resident to track qualifying spend on care provision for adults aged over 18 years and hold this information in an individual care account.

Councillor Peter Wharf, cabinet member for Adult Social Care and Health, said innovative solutions were needed for residents now and in the future.

He said: “Dorset Council is leading the country’s response to the very difficult issue of adult social care.

“We are at the forefront of this early work around what, and how, changes can be made to the way people interact with council to get the best option for adult social care, for them.

“More solutions to adult social care are being found online independently by residents and families, and this could mean the resources at the council can be directed to residents who need it the most.

“This partnership is great for an ambitious council committed to embracing technology and smart ways of working which meet the aspirations for residents to be at the heart of their own care provision. We should be proud to be making this contribution for the benefit of residents and all local authorities.”

A Department of Health and Social Care team member, said: “After weeks of planning, we have launched our informal DHSC and Dorset Council adult social care partnership.

“Our aspiration is to go a bit beyond the limits of the traditional discovery. We would like to co-design a model that could be re-used across multiple local authorities. Perhaps, even applied to solve an important business problem.”

Dorset Council’s population has the highest percentage of over 65s and over 85s in the country, which creates huge challenges and pressure on resources. More than 40 per cent of the council’s total budget was spent on Adults Social Care in the 2022/23 financial year and is estimated to increase seven per cent each year.

October 22, 2022