Latest news with #GaleWaller
BBC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Rutland County Council leader survives no confidence vote
The leader of Rutland County Council has survived a confidence vote held during a special meeting of the Waller, a Liberal Democrat who has led the council since elections in 2023, was the subject of a vote of no confidence brought by the Conservative vote came amid an uncertain future for the authority, with upcoming local government changes potentially threatening its existence.A total of eight councillors voted in favour of the motion of no confidence at Tuesday's meeting, while 14 voted against and two members abstained. 'Continuity and stability' An overhaul of local government proposed by Labour could see smaller district councils merged with county councils to create single bodies, known as unitary authorities, representing populations of about 500, only has a population of about 40,000, meaning it could lose its independent status if the changes are issue has been the subject of a number of public meetings, some arranged by Rutland and Stamford's Conservative MP Alicia told the meeting she is in "further discussions" with neighbouring councils about what their plans are and how it would affect Rutland. County councillor Lucy Stephenson, who brought the no-confidence motion, said she and her colleagues were "using our constitutional rights to speak out".She said Waller "has persisted in her position" without consulting constituents, and called for Rutland residents to have a say in the county's future."Local government reorganisation will impact how our services are designed and delivered," she said."The independence of Rutland could be lost - it must not be confused with devolution."As well as discussing the future of the county, councillors clashed over how they felt the leader was running denied ignoring residents, but said the decision on the county's future was out of their hands, and said she had to base her actions on advice from council defended her record, claiming her Lib Dem-led administration had improved the authority's finances to a point where they may be able to freeze council tax for the first time in a told the meeting residents would be best served by her remaining in position."Negotiations with our neighbours are continuing, and so at this delicate time it would be an advantage for Rutland to have continuity and stability," she said."Make no mistake, the white paper and subsequent bill gives neither Rutland councillors nor Rutland residents any say as to what happens to us."The decision and the power lies with ministers - all any of us can do is to try and influence that decision."
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Vote to be held to remove Rutland County Council leader
A move to oust the leader of Rutland County Council will be voted on by councillors Conservative group said it had no confidence in Liberal Democrat Gale Waller and a vote will take place "to remove the leader from office".They claimed the council should be considering wider options in the Local Government Reform process, which could see the end of the authority Conservatives recently won a by-election, leaving the make up of the county council as 11 Liberal Democrats, seven Conservatives, seven independents and two Labour councillors. A major reorganisation of local government could see smaller district councils merged with county councils to create single bodies, known as unitary authorities, representing populations of about 500, as Rutland has a population of about 40,000, it cannot remain Waller had previously said while there were informal discussions with South Kesteven in Lincolnshire, her understanding from the government was reorganisation must follow health and policing boundaries, linking it with Leicestershire.A number of meetings have been organised by Rutland and Stamford's Conservative MP Alicia Kearns to discuss the has backed the new vote, posting online: "In January, the leader set Rutland on an irreversible path to losing our independence and ending Rutland as we know it. "She informed the government there was "unanimous in-principle agreement to a mayoral authority… and local government re-organisation". "This was without any consultation with me as the member of parliament, Rutland's councillors, or residents."Ms Waller and the Liberal Democrat group have been approached for special council meeting will be held on Tuesday at 19:00 BST.
BBC News
01-07-2025
- BBC News
Rutland on-demand bus service to roll-out to entire county
An on demand bus service is to be rolled out across Rutland following a Callconnect service launched for towns and villages in north-west Rutland and north-east Leicestershire on 31 County Council said the currently free scheme - which sees passengers able to book journeys on a phone app or by calling, with at least an hour's notice - had led to a 20% increase in public transport scheme will now be rolled out across all of Rutland in August, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service, alongside the introduction of a £1 charge for the service. In June the council said 1,500 passengers had used the service since leader Gale Waller told a scrutiny meeting on Thursday: "The joy of the demand response system is when it is rolled out in August every single villager in Rutland will have the opportunity to have a bus to go somewhere, whereas at the moment, in an awful lot of our villages, you cannot get a bus, as there isn't one." But the meeting was told there had been "teething issues" with the Ray Payne said some people had been booking a bus in advance and then deciding not to travel without cancelling - preventing other users from ordering added in one instance a villager had booked the whole bus for their community but been the sole person wanting to travel.
BBC News
06-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Rutland: Plans for sea dragon centrepiece at new-look museum
The UK's largest complete ichthyosaur skeleton could form a major part of plans to transform a County Council is set to discuss proposals to turn the Rutland County Museum into a cultural and civic work will begin if it is given the go-ahead and the authority hopes it will be able to acquire the famous sea dragon skeleton from Anglian Water and make it the centrepiece of the skeleton of the ichthyosaur - an ocean-going reptile from the time of the dinosaurs - was found at Rutland Water in 2021. In addition to the skeleton, a digital visitor experience of the county's rare Roman Mosaic, discovered alongside remnants of a Roman villa in 2020, would also be part of the leader Gale Waller said, if approved, the proposals would help boost tourism, support businesses and ensure the sustainability of "Rutland's priceless heritage assets". The cost of enhancing the museum would be covered by UK Government Funding, formerly known as Levelling Up Funding, worth £ would be spent on re-designing the building and Catmose Cottage site, where it is based in Oakham, as well as on interactive digital exhibits of the historic the council's cabinet will discuss taking ownership of the ichthyosaur fossil from Anglian Water, the authority said it would need to secure extra funding before putting it on display. Waller said the proposals would "see the magnificent Rutland Ichthyosaur brought to life alongside other valuable local treasures inside a much-improved museum building"."This has huge potential in terms of attracting more visitors to our area, supporting local businesses and ensuring the long-term sustainability of Rutland's priceless heritage assets," she said. The county council's cabinet will discuss the plans on Tuesday.
