
£7m grant to tackle fuel poverty in Stoke-on-Trent
Funding is set to become available to help people facing fuel poverty. Stoke-on-Trent City Council will receive a grant of up to £7m from the government to help pay for energy efficiency improvements for homeowners and private tenants who find themselves struggling to heat their homes. The improvements include installing wall and loft insulation, solar panelling and heating systems which will make homes warmer and reduce energy bills.The authority said latest figures showed 24.7% of households in the city faced fuel poverty, compared to the national average of 13.1%.
"Everybody deserves the right to live in a safe and warm home and we are already making significant improvements to council-owned homes to ensure this is the case for all our residents, councillor Chris Robinson said.The improvements, which would most likely be implemented from June, are expected to reduce energy bills, raise housing standards and reduce carbon emissions.The city council's cabinet is set to agree to accept the funding from the government's Warm Homes scheme at a meeting on 25 February. The authority will then find out exactly how much it has been awarded from government before releasing information on how to apply for funding.
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BBC News
17 hours ago
- BBC News
Moore will have 'competitive' Vale budget
Port Vale chief executive Matt Hancock says the club feels "ready" for life back in League One and boss Darren Moore will have the finances to build a "competitive" secured a return to the third tier this term after only one season away following their relegation in failing to pip Doncaster Rovers for the title on the final day of the campaign, Vale finished second, three points clear of the play-off success marked Vale's second promotion to League One in the last four seasons but Hancock says the feeling around the club this time, compared to the aftermath of their play-off final win in 2022, is different."The last time the club got into League One there was a bit of an 'Oh my gosh' moment, 'What are we going to do?'," said Hancock, who was appointed CEO in January 2024."I wasn't here for the last promotion but I haven't felt that at all this time."It actually feels like we should be in League One, we're ready for League One, we've got a structure that's right, we've got a senior staff that's ready and a manager that needs to be in League One. I'm so optimistic." 'This summer feels more controlled' Hancock was promoted from his previous role as community and social responsibility director at the start of last year as part of a restructure of the club's football replaced Colin Garlick as chief executive in a newly-defined role that saw him work closely with director of football David Flitcroft, with one of his first major jobs appointing Moore on a five-and-a-half-year said the football departments had previously felt "quite disconnected" and that the added support of a football administration team had helped improve the connections between has all led to the club feeling "completely different to last summer" when relegation from League One saw a massive overhaul of the squad with 14 players brought in during the summer transfer window."Last year was a complete and utter rebuild," Hancock told BBC Radio Stoke."We were speaking three or four times a day because there was so much going on. This summer it feels a lot more controlled."We're going into League One with a real plan - of what Darren wants to go after in terms of players." That plan - and how Vale spend their money strengthening the squad for League One - will now be key to their hopes of staying in the division next season."I can guarantee we're not going to have a summer like last year - the number [of signings] will be a lot less. But the focus is on the quality," Hancock said."All we ever say is we want players to represent Port Vale in a way we'd all want."Their character is a huge bit - what's their make up as a person? Naturally, high performance has to be part of it."Hancock confirmed owners Carol and Kevin Shanahan are talking to potential targets at the moment and feels the club is in a much better position to attract players than it was a year ago."We feel like we've got a story to tell - we've got some momentum, we've got structure and vision from Carol over where she and Kevin want to take the football club and that will be coming across when they talk to players", Hancock said."I know the calibre of players they're talking to and they're League One footballers. "We're in those conversations now and I feel 12 months ago we maybe had to force our way into those - they'd take a lot more time, effort and energy in getting someone to entertain [joining] Port Vale."Of course Darren is the main reason players come but we now feel, as a club, we are a really good opportunity for people." Vale preparing for 'very different' season Following relegation back to League Two last May, the Shanahans admitted they reviewed their commitment to the club and considered walking instead they approached their promotion challenge with renewed energy - and a significant financial outlay - to get the club back said the owners' generosity had been vital last season and is sure Moore will have what he needs to keep the club up."To get automatic promotion, we've out-performed but we'd expected to be at the top end [of the table]. "This year is going to look different - that's not being defeatist. I'm being a realist, as much as I'd love to think we're going to win every game."Although Hancock said he "highly doubts" the club will have the clout to be in the frame for another promotion, he is not expecting another relegation fight."Will Darren be given a competitive budget? Yes," he said."That's been committed to by the Shanahans. Is it going to be a budget that will be for in and around the top six? I highly doubt it."Will it be enough to enable Darren to outperform, to bring really good footballers in and for us to be a League One club and keep progressing? 100%."


Daily Mirror
17 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Martin Lewis helped me get £14k in council tax but I'm not happy
One of the consumer champion's fans shared a story on how he successfully challenged his council tax payment, only for there to be a sting in the tail Consumer champion Martin Lewis was heaped with praise online after his sage advice helped a man claim back more than £14,000 in excess council tax payments – yet the story took a bittersweet turn. One of his followers heeded the expert's advice and was over the moon to get tens of thousands of pounds back after discovering his property was placed in the wrong council tax band, only later to share there was a "sad" twist to the tale. Martin had initially uploaded a video on his X account encouraging the public to tune in to the latest instalment of his self-titled BBC Sounds podcast. In it, he complained about the council tax band system in England and Scotland. His message was paired with the caption: "Are you in one of 400,000 homes that are in the wrong council tax band? If so, you could be due £1,000s back!" He added: "It really is quite unbelievable that if you live in England and Scotland, the council tax band you are in today is still dictated by a stop-gap, drive-by valuation done back in 1991 that was only meant to last a couple of years. "And when I say drive-by, I'm literally talking a couple of estate agents in a car often, with a clipboard in second gear going, 'Band C, Band D, Band E' – and that is still in place today. So no surprise up to 400,000 homes are in the wrong band. If you're in the wrong band and if you challenge it, not only can you get it lowered, you can get a backdated payout back to when you moved in or 1993, whichever was sooner." The expert, who also hosts The Martin Lewis Money Show on ITV, later told people not to dispute their council tax band without doing their research first, adding: "However, don't just do this speculatively because then you could get it wrong and they put your band up or even your neighbour's band up. You need to follow my full, step-by-step check and challenge process that I go through in detail in the podcast." Taking this advice on board, one fan, Rob Dean, sought about correcting the council tax band for not only his mother's property but also that of his neighbours. He replied to Martin's video: "Did that for my mum following your guidance and got £6000+ back and then told the three neighbours who were also in the wrong band. Overall total was £14.5k. Only sad part is that we'd all overpaid the water rates too!" He made no suggestion that he had managed to claw back any of that money. Others also shared their experiences of challenging their council tax bands. One person said: "I've been waiting for a decision for more than six months," while another follower added: "Just checked mine as I've always thought it seemed too high – turns out I am in the right band, but right at the bottom of it!" A third person sought Martin's help, saying: "My sister challenged her band last October. VOA [Valuation Office Agency] said it can take up to a year before they decide!! Is this right??" Challenging your council tax band Martin's Money Saving Expert website offers a comprehensive guide on how to contest your council tax band, detailing the steps homeowners can take to secure a refund if they believe they've been incorrectly categorised. For an in-depth look at the procedure, click here. But in brief, he proposed two approaches for those looking to challenge their council tax band. The first step is to compare your band with that of neighbours in similar or identical properties, with resources available on his website for residents in England and Scotland to facilitate this comparison. The second step involves a valuation check, where individuals can use the Money Saving Expert site to estimate the value of their property back in 1991, which was when the current bands were established, despite the tax being introduced in 1993. Martin pointed out that anyone who purchased their home after 1991 can "use its price and date of sale" as a basis for valuation. However, he warned: "This can't be used as evidence if you challenge your band. But it enables you to check out various property prices on your street and is an important test that you're on the right track." If both criteria are met, Martin said that you can then present a challenge to the VOA, either formally or informally, recommending the formal route although acknowledging it's "available to fewer people". Those eligible to lodge a formal challenge must have "lived in the property for six months or less (it doesn't matter whether you own or rent, though if renting you should notify the landlord as a courtesy)". For individuals who can't make a formal challenge, Martin suggested: "Over the years we've heard feedback from people who've been told they can't challenge as they've lived in their property too long – yet the VOA has a statutory duty to uphold the integrity of Council Tax bands list. "This means you can still submit a request for an 'informal review' of your Council Tax band, though the burden is on you to provide compelling evidence that your band is wrong, to persuade the VOA to do the review."


Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Martin Lewis explains new ISA rule change for anyone with more than one account
Martin Lewis has explained how a change in the rules now means savers can take out several different cash ISAs or stocks and shares ISAs within the same tax year Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has offered crucial guidance for individuals with more than one Cash ISA, in light of a recent change in government regulations. On the latest episode of The Martin Lewis podcast, the founder of MSE clarified to his listeners and co-host Adrian Chiles how Cash ISA rules now operate following a fiscal rule alteration in 2024. Previously, a long-standing rule restricted people to only one Cash ISA or Stocks and Shares ISA per year, but this has now been scrapped. This means savers can now utilise several different Cash ISAs and Stocks and Shares ISAs, including fixed-rate and easy access, all within the same tax year. During the July 5 episode of The Martin Lewis Podcast on BBC Sounds and Spotify, Martin Lewis explained: "Ever since ISAs were set up, there's been a limit on the amount of money you can have in, and you've been able to open a Cash ISA and a Stocks and Shares ISA in the same year. "But you've only been able to open one of each type. But, from April 6 2024, the rules were changed, and the restriction on subscribing to one ISA of each type, in a year, was removed. "You may now open as many different ISAs of one type, for example a Cash ISA, you can have a fix, and you can have two different Cash ISAs, all of which you've opened and put money into, within one tax year." There are whispers that changes to Cash ISAs could be imminent, after the government declined to dismiss a potential reduction to the limits in the future, reports the Express. Currently, savers can stash up to £20,000 into Cash ISAs within a single tax year, across various accounts. However, there's buzz that the government might slash this limit to as little as £4,000, potentially from 2026. This move could, insiders claim, nudge more Brits towards investing rather than hoarding cash in ISAs, with stocks and shares ISAs reportedly not facing the same cuts. Earlier in the year, money guru Martin weighed in on the potential changes, remarking: "The concept behind it is that it'd encourage people to put the money in shares ISAs instead (personally, I'm sceptical if it'd work - many will just keep saving but pay more tax). "Of course, everything is pure supposition - I doubt any firm decision has been made yet. But if it happens as rumoured, it WOULDN'T impact money already in cash ISAs, it'd just cut what you can put in, in future. "Whether it'd start immediately, or in January or April 2026, no one knows (including at this point, I suspect, Rachel Reeves). Yet if you plan to save in a cash ISA, all of this would suggest getting it in sooner would seem safer."