Waverley Borough Council outlines planning fees review
CIL are fees issued by local authorities on any new developments and are used to pay for infrastructure, such as schools and roads."Where a CIL liability notice has been incorrectly served by the council, it will be withdrawn where the law permits, and any charge that has been paid…will be refunded," the documents said.The report added that legal advice to WBC was that the "regulations do not provide general discretion…to withdraw liability notices in order to relieve householders of the consequences of their misunderstandings or omissions, which have resulted in them not complying with the steps they need to follow…to benefit from an exemption".WBC said it was proposing measures relating to the way CIL is collected and allocated.
'Put this right'
Councillor Liz Townsend, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economic Development, said: "We recognise that some homeowners feel they have been treated unfairly under these national rules. "I would like to thank them for sharing their experiences and in response to this, we are proposing to introduce a formal process so that these cases can be reviewed. "This discretionary review will give homeowners the opportunity to have their case reassessed if they believe CIL was applied incorrectly. "If the council has made an error, we will work to put this right, because we are committed to making CIL work for all of our residents."The report will be discussed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at WBC on Friday 23 June and then the Executive will make decisions on the options at a meeting on Tuesday 1 July.
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Wales Online
30 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Absolutely fur-bulous! 90 years in pet care with a tail-wagging paw-ty for Battersea's oldest residents
Absolutely fur-bulous! 90 years in pet care with a tail-wagging paw-ty for Battersea's oldest residents Mars has spent nearly a century delivering science-backed nutrition, veterinary care, and innovation through its iconic brands The celebration spotlighted all the love senior pets can give (Image: 2025 Getty Images) A pet care specialist is marking 90 years in the business by hosting a heartwarming "paw-ty" for senior dogs this August – the universal birthday for shelter dogs. While also behind well-loved snacking and food brands, Maltesers, Galaxy, Ben's Original and Skittles, Mars first ventured into pet care in 1935 with the acquisition of UK-based Chappell Brothers, the maker of Chappie canned dog food. Since then, Mars has grown into one of the world's most trusted names in pet care. Throughout the 1950s and '60s, the company expanded its pet offerings with pet food brands such as Pedigree, Whiskas and Sheba while establishing the pioneering Waltham Petcare Science Institute. Mars has spent nearly a century delivering science-backed nutrition, veterinary care, and innovation through its iconic brands. Caring for the nations' dogs, cats, horses, and even fish, the business has a love for pets that runs deep throughout its 90-year history. Mars celebrates 90 years in Pet Care with a Tail-Wagging Paw-ty for Batterseas oldest residents (Image: 2025 Getty Images) That's why, as Mars marks this impressive milestone, the company has chosen to celebrate with Battersea Dogs & Cats Home VIPs (very important pooches), as a joyful reminder that great things come with age. The event saw spritely Sue, Battersea's nine-year-old Jack Russell Terrier, mark her special day surrounded by decorations, treats, friends, tail wags, and fellow senior pup Gioia, a 10-year-old Maltese, who brought an extra touch of senior sparkle as the two enjoyed the celebrations side by side. The celebration spotlighted all the love senior pets can give. Each year, many older pets arrive and stay at UK shelters, often overlooked in favour of puppies and kittens. In fact, a recent Mars Global Pet Parent Study of more than 20,000 people revealed that only 16% of dogs and cats acquired globally are over the age of one. Despite this, new research commissioned by Mars reveals that it's not just puppy love, with UK adults most likely to associate senior dogs with loyalty (50%) and a loving nature (41%). Meanwhile, a third believe senior dogs to be gentle (33%) and trusting (32%). In fact, four fifths (80%) of UK adults who have sadly lost a pet believe that the emotional bond with their pet grew stronger over time, while another 64% believe that their pet understood them better as they aged – with almost half (47%) considering adopting a senior pet. Speaking about the celebrations, Nick Foster, general manager for Mars Pet Nutrition UK, Ireland, and Nordics, said: 'For 90 years, we've championed the well-being of pets, from dogs and cats to horses and even fish! "As we reflect on nine decades of wagging tails and nourished bellies, and mark DOGust, it felt only natural to work with our long-term partners at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. "We're proud to feed all the dogs and cats in Battersea's care and together, on Mars 90th anniversary in pet care, we're shining a light on our shared mission: helping pets of all ages find their forever homes, and celebrating the joy, companionship and wellbeing they bring to people's lives.' With Global data from the Mars' State of Pet Homelessness Project revealing that nearly one in three dogs and cats are homeless, Mars Petcare is continuing its works with Battersea, and shelters across the world, to raise awareness and end pet homelessness, for dogs and cats of all ages. Jay McGuinness, rehoming and welfare manager at Battersea said: 'Senior dogs, despite their age, still have a lot of love and affection to give, and Battersea works to find them suitable homes for their twilight years. "That's why we are delighted to be celebrating Mars 90th anniversary in pet care by honouring these golden oldies and raising awareness of just how wonderful older pets can be, and all the love they have to give. "Our partnership with Mars, now in its 17th year, has been instrumental - not only providing the animals in our care with the nutrition and care they need, but also through shared initiatives that help more pets find the loving homes they deserve.' Dr Tammie King, animal behaviour scientist at Waltham Petcare Science Institute, part of the Petcare business at Mars, added: 'Senior pets are often overlooked but make excellent companions. 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Auto Express
30 minutes ago
- Auto Express
Car finance compensation: am I eligible?
You can't go on social media or switch on the television these days and fail to hear about the ongoing car finance scandal. Lenders have put aside billions of pounds in potential compensation for consumers, but court rulings have shaken things up a bit, meaning fewer people are now eligible. Advertisement - Article continues below The Supreme Court recently overturned a decision made by the Court of Appeal last October that declared that any type of hidden commission involved within a car finance deal was unlawful. Such a decision originally led to thousands signing up with claims firms in the hope of securing a slice of the billions set aside by lenders in case the Supreme Court ruled against them. Now, however, it looks as if only those who had previously signed up to a finance deal involving a Discretionary Commission Arrangement (DCA), or potentially those whose finance deals involved 'excessive' levels of commission, will be able to claim. Already lost? We don't blame you, so let us answer all of your most burning questions. The ongoing car finance scandal started at the beginning of 2024 when the UK regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, announced that it was launching an investigation into what's known as Discretionary Commission Arrangements (DCAs). Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Outlawed in 2021, DCAs essentially mean lenders artificially inflating interest rates in order to provide the dealer with additional commission, thus pushing up the cost of finance for the customer. This, according to experts, was the case in roughly 40 per cent of finance deals between 2017 and 2021, costing consumers as much as £500 million per year as opposed to flat commission rates. Advertisement - Article continues below This came to a head after a Court of Appeal case between customers and some of the UK's largest lending firms ruled that any part of a finance deal involving commission that's not overtly outlined and agreed to by the consumer is unlawful. Such a decision sent shockwaves through the industry because this meant almost all car finance deals from 2007 could be eligible, with experts originally estimating as much as £40 billion being up for grabs in compensation. In early August, the UK's highest court, the Supreme Court, overturned the Court of Appeal's judgement, claiming that dealers do not have a fiduciary duty to act in their customer's interest, rather than their own. Lord Reed, the President of the Supreme Court, delivered the judgement, saying that 'At no point did the dealer give any kind of express undertaking or assurance to the customer that in finding a suitable credit deal it was putting aside its own commercial interest as seller'. 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The Independent
30 minutes ago
- The Independent
BP announces further staff cuts amid new AI policy
BP is set to eliminate an additional 1,500 jobs and 1,200 contractor roles across its global workforce by the end of the year, bringing total expected job losses to 6,200 – approximately 15 per cent of its office-based staff. This figure, up from 4,700 cuts announced earlier this year, signals further potential reductions as the oil giant intensifies its cost-saving drive, partly through artificial intelligence (AI) efficiencies. BP also confirmed 3,200 contractor roles have already been shed since January, with a further 1,200 set to be removed by the close of 2025. The firm stated it would "continue to rigorously review the remaining contractor activity across our businesses and functions." The prospect of more redundancies looms as executives plan additional cost savings and a "thorough" portfolio review, driven by mounting shareholder pressure. BP's 100,000-strong worldwide workforce is expected to undergo further scrutiny as part of this renewed efficiency drive. While a country-specific breakdown for the latest job reductions was not provided, BP confirmed the cuts would impact both its UK and international sites. The firm employed about 14,000 UK workers at the start of 2025. It comes as chief executive Murray Auchincloss pledged the FTSE 100 firm would do 'better for its investors' and said there was 'much more to do' under its current three-year plan. BP has been under pressure from shareholders to boost profits and cut costs, with activist investor Elliott Management recently taking a 5 per cent stake in the group. Half-year profits on Tuesday showed profits tumbled by nearly a third as weaker oil prices weighed on earnings, although it posted a better-than-expected performance for the second quarter. It reported a 32 per cent fall in underlying replacement cost profits – the group's preferred profit measure – to 3.73 billion US dollars (£2.81 billion) for the six months to June 30. Underlying profits fell 15 per cent year-on-year to 2.35 billion dollars (£1.77 billion) between April and June, although this was a significant improvement from 1.38 billion dollars (£1.04 billion) in the first quarter and better than most analysts had forecast, helping shares lift nearly 2 per cent. BP is already working on a plan announced in February to cut costs by up to five billion dollars (£3.8 billion) by the end of 2027. It has also said it will offload 20 billion dollars (£15.1 billion) of assets by the end of 2027. The group's results showed it has already stripped out 900 million dollars (£677 million) in costs over the first half, or 1.7 billion dollars (£1.3 billion) since 2023. BP aims to ramp up its overhaul process following talks with incoming chairman Albert Manifold who starts next month, Mr Auchincloss said. Mr Auchincloss said: 'He and I have been in discussions and have agreed that we will conduct a thorough review of our portfolio of businesses to ensure we are maximising shareholder value moving forward. 'We are also initiating a further cost review and, whilst we will not compromise on safety, we are doing this with a view to being best in class in our industry.' 'BP can and will do better for its investors,' he added. In a presentation to analysts and investors, Mr Auchincloss said AI was playing a key part in its overhaul, adding 'technology is helping improve capital productivity and drive cost reductions across the portfolio'. In another move to appease shareholders, the FTSE 100 firm also said it would buy back another 750 million dollars (£565 million) in shares and hike the quarterly dividend payout by 4 per cent. Mr Auchincloss said: 'We are two quarters into a 12-quarter plan and are laser-focused on delivery of our four key targets – and while we should be encouraged by our early progress, we know there's much more to do.' Mr Manifold was recently named to replace incumbent chairman Helge Lund after a difficult past few years in the role. Formerly chief executive of building materials firm CRH for 10 years, Mr Manifold joins the oil giant as chairman-elect on September 1 before taking over as chairman on October 1.
