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Powys County Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
Which Powys projects get £11million in Levelling Up funds
Resurfacing works, active travel routes and a new footbridge are among the projects in Powys set to benefit from £11million of Government cash. Powys Council has revealed which projects in Mid Wales will be backed with the latest cash from the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund for the 2025/26 financial year. The council says there is a focus on delivering projects that aim to boost recreational tourism and contribute to local economic growth, specifically ones aimed at transport investment. Among these projects is a resurfacing scheme to improve access to tourist hotspots and support the National Cycle Network. Another is active travel projects in Llandrindod Lake, Brecon promenade, the next phase of the Llandrindod Wells to Howey route and a section of the Crickhowell to Llangattock route, designed to improve access between towns and surrounding tourist destinations, which the council hopes will make it easier for visitors to explore Powys using active modes and improve accessibility for key locations. Replacing the Pont y Milgy footbridge in Ystradgynlais will be the first project in a wider scheme to improve visitors' accessibility to Powys' Rights of Way network. Cllr Jake Berriman, Leader of Powys County Council, said: 'This latest contribution of Levelling Up Funding from UK Government will allow us to begin making the improvements needed to the county's transport infrastructure. 'Through this timely investment, we aim to improve accessibility to key services, encourage active travel and support recreational activities, providing better journeys for everyone and improve connectivity to tourist hotspots. 'We are hopeful to receive confirmation of additional Levelling Up Funding to enable us to complete further projects in the future.' The Levelling Up funding aims to address regional disparities across the UK by investing in vital local infrastructure projects to increase pride in place and bring people closer to opportunity. Cllr Berriman added: 'This latest contribution of Levelling Up Funding from UK Government will allow us to begin making the improvements needed to the county's transport infrastructure. 'Through this timely investment, we aim to improve accessibility to key services, encourage active travel and support recreational activities, providing better journeys for everyone and improve connectivity to tourist hotspots.'
Business News Wales
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Business News Wales
Cllr Jake Berriman Elected New Leader of Powys County Council
Cllr Jake Berriman has been elected as the new Leader of Powys County Council. Cllr Berriman takes over from Cllr James Gibson-Watt, who announced earlier this month that he was to stand down after three years. Having first been elected to the county council as councillor for the Llandrindod North ward in October 2019, Cllr Berriman was appointed Cabinet Member for a Connected Powys in May 2022. 'I'm honoured to be elected the new leader of Powys County Council and I'm deeply aware that this council's strength lies in its diversity and collaboration,' said Cllr Berriman. 'No one group holds all the answers, and every voice and vote matters. I see a chamber united by a shared commitment to serve our communities, and I believe we can build on that to deliver better outcomes together. 'My leadership will be visible, accessible and rooted in listening. We must work together, with mutual respect, to tackle the challenges ahead – especially in education, social care, and the cost of living. 'I'm committed to inclusive decision-making, fair budget planning, and maintaining strong frontline services. Together, we can shape a stronger, fairer, greener Powys. As part of his acceptance speech, Cllr Berriman paid tribute to his predecessor for his work as Leader during challenging times and for championing Powys locally and nationally. Cllr Berriman said: 'I'd like to take this opportunity to thank James for the steady hand he has brought to the role since 2022, and for the support he has shown me as I step forward at this time. He has laid strong foundations both within the council and across Wales through his collaborative approach. 'James has played a major role in the political life of Powys, and his name is synonymous with dedicated public service. He is a hard act to follow, and I am truly grateful for the confidence and support he has given me. 'I am really pleased that James has agreed to continue to play a key role within the council as Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys until the end of September and I look forward to continuing working with him.' Following his election, Cllr Berriman confirmed the membership of his new Cabinet: Cabinet Member Portfolio Cllr Jake Berriman Leader and Cabinet Member for People, Performance and Partnerships Cabinet Business Developing and maintaining partnerships including Corporate Joint Committee and the Public Service Board People Services – Workforce and Member development and support Corporate Health & Safety incl. joint Chair of JCNC Corporate Performance Management Strategic and Local Development Planning Property including County Farms Cllr Matthew Dorrance Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for a Fairer Powys Housing Service, including Gypsies and Travellers Tackling Poverty including Money Advice Service Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse & Sexual Violence, incl. White Ribbon Pledge Equality & Diversity Armed Forces Partnership and Champion Refugees Cllr James Gibson-Watt (up to 30 September 2025) Cllr Glyn Preston (from 1 October 2025) Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys Developing Strategic Economic Framework for Powys, identifying sustainable growth and regeneration opportunities Securing economic investment opportunities across Powys Localities to support sustainable place making, urban regeneration and rural renaissance Supporting the Mid Wales Growth Deal and Regional Skills Partnership to create and deliver economic and learner opportunities Post-16 Learning and skills development, partnerships with HE, FE, WBL & Community-based providers Cllr David Thomas Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Transformation Delivering Sustainable Powys Transformation programme Finance Procurement, Income & Awards & Integrated Business Planning Risk management Cllr Sian Cox Cabinet Member for a Caring Powys Adult Social Care & Commissioning North Powys Wellbeing Programme Integration of Care System with Powys Teaching Health Board Developing Community Engagement to support locality working Cllr Richard Church Cabinet Member for Legal and Regulatory Services Environmental Health and public protection Trading Standards Emergency Planning and Community Safety Development Management and Building Control Services Legal Services Ombudsman, Coroner & Registrar Services Cllr Pete Roberts Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys Education Schools' Transformation Programme Cllr Jackie Charlton Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys Climate Change and decarbonisation Highways and Recycling Transport, including home to school transport Countryside Services Environmental matters Cllr Sandra Davies Cabinet Member for Future Generations Children's Services Youth Justice Youth Services Future Generations Act Welsh Language Cllr Raiff Devlin Cabinet Member for Customers, Digital and Community Services Customer Services & Information Governance Digital Powys Programme Leisure and Culture, including Theatres, Libraries, Museums and Archives Supporting the Sustainable Food Partnership for Powys including Catering & Cleaning
Powys County Times
15-05-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Powys cabinet member steps down for medical reasons
A SENIOR councillor has stepped down from Powys County Council's Cabinet due to medical reasons. Cabinet member for a more prosperous Powys, Cllr David Selby (Liberal Democrat) announced his decision at the council's annual general meeting on Thursday, May 15. A visibly emotional Cllr Selby said: 'The reason I'm standing down is because I've developed a medical condition which means that I cannot continue to provide the energy required as a cabinet member. 'However, I am very much committed to continue my role in Newtown (Newtown Central) as an active councillor. 'I owe it to my family and myself to take a bit of extra time to tackle what I need to tackle.' Outgoing council chairman Cllr Jonathan Wilkinson (Conservative) said: 'I would like to thank on behalf of Powys County Council for your service as a cabinet member. ' Following Cllr Berriman's election as leader he unveiled changes to the cabinet portfolios which sees a blend of fresh faces and continuity at the top table. It was revealed that former council leader Cllr James Gibson-Watt (Liberal Democrat) would take over the prosperous Powys brief until September 30 when he is expected to pass the role on to Cllr Glyn Preston (Liberal Democrat). Cllr Berriman will take over the briefs for performance, people services and partnerships, while continuing to be responsible for property and strategic planning. Deputy council leader Cllr Matthew Dorrance (Labour) will have responsibility for refugees added to portfolio as cabinet member for a fairer Powys. Cllr Raiff Devlin (Liberal Democrat) is brought into cabinet to take over responsibility for customers, digital and community services, leisure, and cultural services. Cllr David Thomas (Labour) the cabinet member for finance and corporate transformation is now responsible for delivering the sustainable Powys programme. Liberal Democrat Cllr Sian Cox continues as cabinet member for a caring Powys (Adult social services). Liberal Democrat Cllr Richard Church will be looking after legal and regulatory services and due to this his job title as cabinet member for a safer Powys is set to change. Cllr Peter Roberts (Liberal Democrat) continues as cabinet member for a learning Powys. Cllr Jackie Charlton (Liberal Democrat) continues as cabinet member for a greener Powys.
Powys County Times
15-05-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Jake Berriman voted in as leader of Powys County Council
LIBERAL Democrat nominee Cllr Jake Berriman has been named the new leader of Powys County Council after seeing off a challenge from the county's Conservative group leader. Ahead of the council's annual meeting on Thursday, May 15, Cllr Berriman had received the backing of his Liberal Democrat group to take the helm at county hall and lead the coalition which includes Labour and Green Party to the next local elections in May 2027. But at the meeting a rival candidate emerged to succeed outgoing leader Cllr James Gibson-Watt, as Conservative group leader Cllr Aled Davies also threw his hat in the ring. In a pitch to councillors, Cllr Berriman said: 'My group may be the largest, but this administration has no overall majority, and, in this fragility, I think lies our strength it means that every voice and vote counts for something. 'There can be no room for complacency and every vote earned if we are to take the tough decisions that lie ahead of us. 'We have more in common than separates us and that is a solid platform on which we can build better collaborative approaches for what remains of our term in office. 'I'm talking about harnessing our collective experience and knowledge, working in communities to make every penny count. 'Neither I nor the administration have the answers to all the difficulties we face in delivering our ambitions and meeting the pressing needs of those we serve.' He said he would try to strengthen his relationships with all councillors and be a 'listening leader'. Cllr Davies appealed to councillors by saying that there is a need to 'accelerate' the council's transformation of services. Cllr Davies said: 'When resources are tight, we need to focus on the council's core business and deliver true value for money at all times, my priorities are our highways, social services and on top of that list our schools. 'We must not pour resources into unachievable targets such as Net Zero by 2030 and other environmental targets unless there is a clear financial case that benefits the residents of Powys. 'Education is number one, Estyn's recommendations are crystal clear, we must get back on track, all our learners deserve an excellent education experience here in Powys, but we are asking our school heads to do the impossible, limited resources are spread too thinly.' Cllr Davies said that he had 'struggled' with some of the decisions taken by the cabinet over the last couple of years, and was 'frustrated' that progress had been too slow. But he pointed out successes by the cabinet, with social services, housing and homelessness and planning services singled out for praise. Cllr Davies said: 'We are all passionate about delivering the best services we can, but we must not shrink away from change. 'It's time to put our communities first, I will lead from the front and want to put together a coalition of the willing and the able and a strong team together from across the council.' Following the speeches both councillors left the chamber as the vote took place.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sir David Berriman, financier who pioneered satellite television and spoke up for loss-hit Lloyd's Names
Sir David Berriman, who has died aged 96, was a merchant banker who played a role in the creation of Sky Television, chaired a large component of the NHS and became a doughty spokesman for loss-stricken Lloyd's Names. A creative financier with industrial experience, Berriman made his name in the City as a director of the merchant bank Morgan Grenfell and was later managing director of Guinness Mahon. For both firms one of his specialisms was film finance: he sat on a number of trade bodies in that sector and through those connections became a pioneer of the satellite television industry. In the late 1970s, Thames Television had embarked with the electronics manufacturer EMI and other partners on the creation of a pan-European satellite channel to emulate the early US ventures of the media tycoon Ted Turner. The film producer and EMI director Lord Brabourne asked Berriman to become the principal banker to the consortium, and Satellite Television came into being in 1981 with Berriman as chairman. But the company faced continuing financial challenges as it launched its first service in continental Europe and in 1983 its board of directors were fiercely divided in response to an offer from Rupert Murdoch to inject capital for a controlling two-thirds interest. An alternative bidder emerged, but Berriman gave his backing to Murdoch's proposal – which prevailed. The venture evolved into Sky Television, of which Berriman remained a director until its four-channel UK launch in 1989. In 1985 he had also become a Name at Lloyd's – a member of the City insurance market with unlimited liability. When Names' losses mounted in the early 1990, he was enraged by the widespread malpractices revealed; having led two action groups which sought to sue errant underwriters, he served from 1994 to 1998 as chairman of the Association of Lloyd's Names in what he called 'a battle for the soul of Lloyd's' which eventually led to a £3 billion settlement. One historian of the scandal wrote that 'had there been military awards for those involved… Sir David Berriman would have deserved the George Cross.' David Berriman was born on May 20 1928 to Algernon Berriman and his wife Kathleen, née Sutcliffe; Algernon was an automotive engineer who became chief executive of the Daimler company in Coventry. Brought up in Kenilworth and Oxford, David was educated at Winchester. After National Service with the Royal Corps of Signals in Egypt, he read economics and political science at New College, Oxford, and began his banking career with First National City Bank of New York (now Citibank) in 1952, serving in an international inspection team. From there he moved to Ford Motor Co and later to the appliance manufacturer AEI Hotpoint. He also studied at Harvard business school and went on to work for a leasing business that was acquired in 1964 by Morgan Grenfell. He joined Guinness Mahon in 1973 and served on its board until 1987. He was also a non-executive director of Cable & Wireless, Britannia Building Society and other companies, and sat on numerous public committees. In 1981 he was one of the first businesspeople to be headhunted into senior NHS management, first as chair of the Lewisham and North Southwark district health authority which included Guys Hospital – and from 1984 to 1990 as chair of the North East Thames regional authority which deployed some 10 per cent of the entire NHS budget. An important strand of Berriman's life beyond the boardroom was his commitment alongside Kenneth Newton Wright as founding trustees of McIntyre, a charity providing accommodation and support for children with learning disabilities; both Berriman and Newton Wright had sons born with Down's Syndrome. Morgan Grenfell financed the first McIntyre home for eight children at Westoning in Bedfordshire and Berriman chaired the charity from 1977 to 1992; it now cares for some 1,400 young people and adults, including his son James. His elder son John also chaired McIntyre for 20 years. David Berriman was knighted in 1990 for his work in the health service. Having played tennis for Oxford University, he was later a member of the All England Club at Wimbledon and was also an accomplished golfer. He married first, in 1955, Margaret Owen (dissolved 1970); secondly, in 1971, Shirley Hicks, née Wright, who died in 1993; thirdly, in 1995, Patricia Salter, née Walker, who died in 2013; and fourthly, in 2014, Caryl Ann Ayscough, née Spinks, who survives him with the two sons of the first marriage. David Berriman, born May 20 1928, died March 13 2025 Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
