Latest news with #AndrewHusband
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Elon Musk-style Doge audit planned for Durham County Council
A council is set to undergo an Elon Musk-style review into its UK, which took charge of Durham County Council following the elections in May, has set up a unit to look into "wasteful spending", inspired by Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) in the United party said teams of software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors would "visit and analyse" local authorities it controlled, starting with Kent County Council this the party's scheme, Durham County Council leader Andrew Husband posted on social media: "Coming to a county near you." Party chairman Zia Yusuf has said that Lancashire and West Northamptonshire would be the next local authorities visited by the unit, but no timeframe has been confirmed for Durham yet."The taskforce will identify wasteful spending, increasing transparency and ensuring taxpayer money is spent solely on activity that benefits local people," a Reform party spokesman US Doge advisory body was created by an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump to cut federal boss Musk has since left the Trump administration and his role in the body. Reform said it would use artificial intelligence, advanced data analysis tools and forensic auditing techniques to "identify wasteful spending and recommend actionable solutions". The extensive review would consider contractual arrangements with suppliers and consultants, all capital expenditure, and the use of reserves and financial resilience, the Local Democracy Reporting Service recently played down a warning from Nigel Farage that council staff working on diversity or climate change initiatives should seek "alternative careers" and said staff should not be becoming leader of the local authority, he said the party would take its time to review council data before making any decisions."We have to work with transparency and we want to share as much information as we can with the public and do things differently," Husband said."We have to do the due diligence and take our time to make sure we have the right information to fulfil our objectives. It feels like we don't have enough raw data to start making some immediate decisions."Husband added that due to budget shortfall, there had to be "honest conversations" with the management team on "what is justifiable and can we spend the money better". Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Brexit deal: Carlisle biscuit boom or Tees fishing wipeout?
Reform UK's newest council leader has claimed the government's trade deal with the EU will see the "wipeout" of the British fishing industry. On Monday, the government announced a new agreement to reduce red tape in areas including food standards, passport control and defence, while in turn allowing EU fishing boats continued access to UK waters until 2038. Durham County councillor Andrew Husband said the government had "given away quite a lot to go through the airport a little bit quicker." However, Labour MP Julie Minns defended the policy on fishing, as did Conservative peer Lord Kirkhope, and proclaimed the new deal as "fantastic news for biscuits" manufactured in her Carlisle constituency. Speaking on BBC Politics North, Husband said: "What you've got now is an ageing population in the fishing industry, especially in the North East of England, who now are going to see a further 12 years of massive competition in the British waters."That is not going to encourage new fishermen to come through, in fact what will happen is you'll see a wipeout of the British fishing industry in the next 12 years unless there's a change of government in four years time."Minns retorted: "It's exactly the same Brexit freedoms deal that the last Conservative government negotiated, this is about actually future proofing it." Speaking on behalf of the Conservatives, Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate - who describes himself as "pro-EU" - said the deal was in fact good news for the fishing industry. He told presenter Helen Richardson: "Lobsters on every restaurant table in Paris and Brussels now will not cost as much and so will be sold in greater numbers. "Our inshore fishermen all round Yorkshire for instance are really going to benefit here from this deal."I'm reluctant to give too much to the government, but this deal is a good start." Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch had hit out at the deal, saying: "We're becoming a rule-taker from Brussels once again,"When pushed, former MEP Lord Kirkhope accepted significant differences with the party leader. "I don't agree about some of the things that have been said by my leader, and others, on this particular theme."He added: "I am saying that it would be madness in the world in which we now live, with all the new international pressures, that we do not make the very best of the relationship with our biggest market and our closest neighbours." Julie Minns' Carlisle constituency is home to one of the UK's oldest biscuit factories, now owned by McVities, which first opened in 1831. On Tuesday she celebrated the impact of the new trade deal in the Commons, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer branding the deal "good for biscuits." Minns told the BBC: "He said it was good news for biscuits, good news for business."I'd also add it's good news for Britain as well."We live in a very very uncertain world. We need that closer tie with our nearest European neighbours. BBC Politics North airs at 10:00BST on BBC One. Catch up with latest episodes now on the BBC iPlayer. Follow BBC North East on X and Facebook and BBC Cumbria on X and Facebook and both on Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Durham County Council departments renamed as Reform UK takes charge
Reform UK has officially taken over control of Durham County Council, renaming several key departments to remove references to climate change and equality and party, who has 65 councillors, swept to victory in the local elections to gain an overall majority. New council leader Andrew Husband said he had "positive" discussions with the most senior non-political managers about their plans for the local authority, which is one of England's largest comes after Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said council staff working on diversity or climate change initiatives should look for "alternative careers". "It may be that over the next four years, hopefully a lot sooner, we do look at random projects or irrelevant projects that don't fit in within our objectives," said Husband, who was officially elected leader in an uncontested vote."Naturally, if projects start getting closed down, the resources are less required, but I'm hoping for more of a case of redeployment than mass firing across departments."He said the party had to "work with transparency" and wanted "to share as much information" as it could with the public "and do things differently". Several departments and cabinet titles were renamed at a meeting previous neighbourhood and climate change position is now neighbourhoods and environment, while equality and inclusion has been changed to stronger communities and belonging. Former council leader Amanda Hopgood, Liberal Democrat, warned that County Durham would be "the guinea pig for the experiment of the Reform Party".Hopgood, who led the council as part of a coalition between 2021 and 2025, criticised the party for making several promises it is unable to deliver while in control of a local authority."It is a tragedy that County Durham will be the guinea pig for the experiment of the Reform Party leading one of the biggest councils in the country," she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service."Their statements so far seem not to recognise their strong local inheritance from the administration I led for the past four years."Labour councillor Rob Crute suggested the party will "hit a brick wall" when attempting to set a zero per cent council tax increase next year and repair potholes within 24 hours of being reported."I think they might find it quite uncomfortable," he 65 new councillors also voted through new rules giving the party and its members greater autonomy over committee and scrutiny meetings, in a move political rivals likened to marking its homework. New deputy leader Darren Grimes will combine his role with being the portfolio holder for finance, policy and Quinn and Cathy Hunt, who both defected from the Conservative Party earlier this year, also landed key Quinn will head up the council's resources, investments and assets portfolio, while Willington and Hunwick's Hunt will oversee the children and young people's services councillor for Crook Robbie Roddiss was elected as council chair, describing it as a "great honour". The role, which requires the occupant to be politically neutral, represents the council at community events and in neighbouring authorities and members paid tribute to outgoing chair Joan Nicholson, who lost her seat at the election, for her dedication to the role. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
County Durham Reform UK party elect leader as Andrew Husband
A newly elected Reform UK councillor has been selected to be the party's leader in County Durham after it took control of the Husband, member for Chester-le-Street North, was elected by fellow councillors on Wednesday and is expected to be voted in as leader of the council next GB News presenter Darren Grimes, councillor for Annfield Plain and Tanfield, is the party's deputy a Reform candidate at the 2024 General Election, said the people of Durham had given the party a "clear mandate for serious change". Reform UK swept to victory in the 2 May local elections by winning 65 just days later, one of its new councillors, Andrew Kilburn, was forced to resign after he failed to declare he worked for the council, triggering a by-election in party's numbers remain at 65 councillors after Paul Sexton, former independent councillor for Chester-le-Street South, joined Reform earlier this week. 'Proven track record' Husband said it was "an honour and a privilege" to have been elected leader."What we have achieved here is incredible. From a standing start, we now have full control of the council. "The people of Durham have given us a clear mandate for serious change and we fully intend to deliver that."He is expected to be voted in as leader of the local authority at next week's full council meeting before setting out the party's key priorities for the administration, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. The council was previously run as a coalition between the Liberal Democrats - who are now the second largest party - the Conservatives and independent councillors.A Reform spokesperson said: "Andrew is a business leader with a proven track record of growth in start-ups and building successful teams."Evenwood Reform councillor Robert Potts, who defected from the Conservatives in December, was initially believed to be a front runner for the UK leader Nigel Farage MP recently caused controversy by saying a Reform-led county council would scrap working from home and cut spending on diversity, equity and he admitted local members were aware of the challenges and responsibility ahead. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
