Latest news with #IanEdwards
The Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Tory-run council considers legal action against Labour government over asylum seeker costs
A Tory-run council with the highest concentration of asylum seekers in the country is considering legal action against the Labour government after it was refused a claim for more money for housing. Hillingdon accommodates the highest proportion of asylum seekers - 94 in every 10,000 residents - in the UK because of the number of hotels near Heathrow Airport. Some 3,010 people are being supported by the Home Office, according to latest figures, but when their cases are decided, they are evicted from six hotels in the borough and become the responsibility of Hillingdon Council. The local authority is paying for more than 100 asylum seeker families in temporary accommodation, while others are sleeping rough in tents in the area. Council leader Ian Edwards said the demand on council services had left the authority with a £5.3m shortfall in 2024/25 - but this week, the Home Office refused a claim for the money, claiming cash already provided under a grant was sufficient. Speaking to The Independent, Mr Edwards said: 'We are now in discussions with our lawyers, my expectation is that we will have to challenge that decision. 'This is not about attacking asylum seekers, they need the support... but the idea that the government can intensify the locating and housing of these people in our borough, and then expect our residents to pay for it is just breathtaking.' After coming to power, Labour pledged to speed up asylum seeker applications in a bid to bring down the backlog and save money on hotels. Figures published last week showed the number of people waiting for a decision on an asylum application in the UK had fallen 12 per cent in three months to 109,536 in March this year. However, this had led to a higher number of people needing council support, such as housing, said Mr Edwards. With a 3,000-household waiting list for social housing in the borough, the local authority is buying up more homes for temporary accommodation in an attempt to meet demand. Further strain is also felt by the council's services in education and health. Now, following the government's refusal to make up last year's shortfall on supporting asylum seekers, bosses at the local authority are considering cuts to services for this financial year. Mr Edwards said: 'It is the expectation from the government that the council has staff sitting around waiting to deal with this increase in work. 'It is putting intolerable pressure on our employees. We just aren't configured to deal with this enormous pressure let alone the cost, which is falling onto the shoulders of our residents. 'Once they're evicted and they come to our door, we pay from that moment on. 'The government needs to stop burdening a local authority with the cost of a national problem. This is a national issue. It should be funded nationally. It should come from government and they should be stumping up this cash for us.' London Councils, an organisation representing London's boroughs, told the BBC more funding was needed, with the group estimating a funding shortfall of at least £500m this year across its councils. During a debate in the House of Lords last month, Labour Baroness Taylor said the government was working to ensure a smooth transition for asylum seekers leaving hotels after being granted refugee status. She said: 'We are working hard to make sure that asylum seekers get a decision quickly and that we help local authorities plan more effectively as we reduce the number of asylum seekers waiting for the decision.' The burden on the council from supporting asylum seekers is strained further by arrivals to Heathrow Airport from the Chagos Islands, which were handed over to Mauritius as part of a deal last week. With some Chagossians resistant to Mauritian control, it's not yet clear how many more will come. But last week, 129 British nationals arrived from the Chagos Islands in the London borough, said Mr Edwards, and the council is supporting 93 households. Mr Edwards said: 'The concern for the local authority is that the government, having made that deal, provide the right support to local authorities who will now have to manage the consequences of that decision.' The Home Office said it was working with councils to reduce its reliance on hotels and funding has been announced to support local authorities. A spokesperson said: 'This government inherited a broken asylum system, with tens of thousands stuck in a backlog and claims not being processed, wasting millions in taxpayer money. We are immediately speeding up decisions and increasing returns so we can end the use of hotels, and save the taxpayer £4 billion by 2026. 'We remain committed to working closely with local authorities to work towards a fair and equitable spread of accommodation and provide the financial support required.'
The Market Online
16-05-2025
- Business
- The Market Online
AtkinsRéalis secures major contract to refurbish historic Isle-Maligne hydropower plant
AtkinsRéalis Group (TSX:ATRL) has been awarded a significant seven-year contract by Rio Tinto for the refurbishment of the Isle-Maligne hydropower plant in Alma, Québec Commissioned in 1926 as the world's largest hydropower facility at the time, the Isle-Maligne plant is set to undergo a comprehensive modernization to extend its operational life well into the future Under the terms of the agreement, AtkinsRéalis will deliver execution engineering, integrated procurement, and construction management services. AtkinsRéalis Group stock (TSX:ATRL) opened trading at C$84.30 AtkinsRéalis Group (TSX:ATRL) has been awarded a significant seven-year contract by Rio Tinto for the refurbishment of the Isle-Maligne hydropower plant in Alma, Québec. Commissioned in 1926 as the world's largest hydropower facility at the time, the Isle-Maligne plant is set to undergo a comprehensive modernization to extend its operational life well into the future. Under the terms of the agreement, AtkinsRéalis will deliver execution engineering, integrated procurement, and construction management services. 'We've specialized in executing large-scale hydropower projects for over a century and the life extension work on this historic hydropower plant will be guided by our commitment to sustainability and our purpose—to engineer a better future for our planet and its people,' AtkinsRéalis' president and CEO, Ian Edwards said in a news release. 'Our long-standing partnership with Rio Tinto is based on effective collaboration and our proven ability to work and deliver on complex, high-impact projects.' Stéphanie Vaillancourt, AtkinsRéalis' Canadian president added. 'Collaboration, excellence, resilience and health-safety will be the driving forces behind our work on this project. These principles are essential for empowering the surrounding communities and advancing the development of a low-carbon economy.' The refurbishment will involve replacing eight of the plant's 12 turbine-alternator groups and upgrading associated water passages. Additionally, the project will include architectural, structural, electrical, and mechanical enhancements across the balance of the plant. AtkinsRéalis will leverage its cross-regional teams to execute the project, drawing on its extensive experience in hydropower modernization. The company has previously led major refurbishment efforts including Rio Tinto's Shipshaw Expansion Project, Ontario Power Generation's Calabogie Redevelopment, and BC Hydro's John Hart Generating Station Replacement. The Isle-Maligne project is expected to contribute significantly to the region's energy resilience and economic development. AtkinsRéalis provides engineering and nuclear energy solutions across the world, including consulting, advisory and environmental services, intelligent networks and cybersecurity, design, procurement, project and construction management, operations and maintenance, decommissioning and capital. AtkinsRéalis Group stock (TSX:ATRL) opened 0.09 per cent lower at C$84.30 but has risen 62.26 per cent since this time last year. Join the discussion: Find out what everybody's saying about AtkinsRéalis on the AtkinsRéalis Group Inc. Bullboard and check out the rest of Stockhouse's stock forums and message boards. The material provided in this article is for information only and should not be treated as investment advice. For full disclaimer information, please click here.
Globe and Mail
15-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Nuclear deals power 52% profit surge at AtkinsRealis, prompt brighter forecast
Nuclear projects fuelled a big surge in revenue at AtkinsRealis Group Inc. ATRL-T last quarter, paving the way for better financial results in the year ahead, the engineering firm said. 'We cannot overstate our belief in the significant opportunity in front of AtkinsRealis in the nuclear sector,' chief executive Ian Edwards told analysts on a conference call Thursday. 'We continue to position extremely well to take advantage of the ongoing nuclear supercycle.' The Montreal-based company formerly known as SNC-Lavalin raised its 2025 nuclear revenue outlook to between $1.9-billion and $2-billion from the previous range of $1.6-billion to $1.7-billion. It also increased its projections for adjusted earnings. AtkinsRealis shares were up 14 per cent to $86.45 on the Toronto Stock Exchange as of midday. Edwards also brushed off any concerns about the impact of the global trade war set off by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has also tried to freeze hundreds of billions of dollars in federal grants and loans. 'We are not directly impacted by tariffs, and we are minimally exposed to federal agency contracts,' he said. During its latest quarter, AtkinsRealis boosted its backlog of nuclear work to a record $5.25-billion in a 185 per cent leap from a year earlier. Revenue in the segment grew organically by 77 per cent year-over-year to a quarterly record of $538-million, accounting for the vast majority of the company's total revenue increase and its 52 per cent jump in profits. Last quarter, Atkins subsidiary Candu Energy signed a multibillion-dollar contract for a life extension on four reactors at Ontario's Pickering nuclear power station. It also secured a contract to extend the life of a reactor at the Cernavoda nuclear plant in Romania, after winning a bid late last year to build two new multibillion-dollar reactors there. In March, the federal government announced a preliminary agreement to finance half the cost of Candu's proposed Monark reactor – AtkinsRealis' latest homegrown nuclear technology – with a $304-million loan. 'We're negotiating both for additional life extensions in Korea, additional phases of life extensions in Canada and obviously new builds (in Europe and Asia),' Edwards said Thursday. The one drain on the company's income statement remained three so-called lump-sum turnkey (LSTK) construction contracts: Toronto's Eglinton Crosstown light-rail transit system, Ottawa's Trillium Line and the greater Montreal area's REM light-rail network extension. But, the losses totalled far less than the $84.4-million from the previous quarter. The legacy segment yielded $14.9-million in adjusted losses before interest and taxes. The loss was owed mainly to 'overhead costs from the ongoing efforts to bring the remaining projects to completion' – particularly the REM in Montreal, where most of the construction backlog lies – the company said. The backlog for the costly LSTK division – its fixed-price contracts mean companies must pay for any cost overruns themselves – sat at $200-million last quarter, down from $299-million the year before. AtkinsRealis halted all bidding on new construction contracts in 2019. It also continues to hunt for a buyer for its money-losing joint venture with Hitachi Energy, Linxon, which focuses on electrical substations. On Thursday, the company reported a net income $70.6-million for the three months ended March 31 versus $46.6-million in the same period a year earlier. First-quarter revenues increased 12 per cent year-over-year to $2.55-billion from $2.26-billion. On an adjusted basis, AtkinsRealis' professional services and project management business earned 57 cents per diluted share in its latest quarter, up from an adjusted profit of 42 cents per diluted share a year ago.
West Australian
01-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Albany Pony Club steps in with sausage sizzle at Albany Race Club's Easter Sunday races after vendor pulls out
The Albany Pony Club stepped in to save the day at the Albany Racing Club's Easter Sunday races, picking up the tongs and throwing on aprons for a trackside sausage sizzle after the food vendors withdrew. The APC copped a healthy boost to its coffers in rewards for its generosity, raising $1144 from the stall. The amount was doubled thanks to it being nominated for Racing and Wagering WA's Race Club Community program, bringing the total to $2288. Albany Racing Club treasurer Tracey Sands said the last-minute stall was mutually beneficial to both parties as attendees at the track weren't without food and the APC earned some extra cash. 'We were thrilled the pony club could jump in at such short notice and help us out with a sausage sizzle on the day,' she said. The APC will put the funds towards acquiring out-of-town coaches for rallies and competitions. Racing and Wagering WA chief executive Ian Edwards praised the partnership between the clubs and the benefits of the Race Club Community program, which has raised more than $1m since its 2015 inception. 'Race clubs play an important role in their communities — both economically and socially — with partnerships like this a prime example of the strong connection race clubs have with their communities,' he said. 'Albany Racing Club chose a very worthy cause for their fundraising and we are pleased to match their efforts. 'Racing WA is committed to making a positive contribution to our State.'
The Independent
16-04-2025
- General
- The Independent
Fewer London children secure top choice of primary school
Fewer children in London have secured a place at their first choice of primary school despite an overall drop in demand for places across the capital. Overall, 87.9% of pupils who applied to start at a London primary school this autumn received an offer from their first preference, compared with 89.1% last year, figures show. The number of applications for places at primary schools in the capital has fallen again this year. Across London, 83,581 pupils applied for a primary school place – a 2.1% decrease on last year. London Councils, which collated the figures, said application numbers were affected by a range of factors – including the falling birth rate and families leaving the capital due to a shortage of affordable housing. Hammersmith and Fulham" data-source=""> It added that fewer families could have missed out on their first choice this year 'due to reductions in London's surplus capacity' – either through the closure of schools or reductions of Published Admission Numbers (PAN). Analysis by London Councils forecasts a decrease of 3.6% in reception pupil numbers in London over the next four years. This translates to 3,195 places – roughly equivalent to a drop of 117 reception classes, it said. But some boroughs in London saw a slight increase in applications this year, figures show. A breakdown by London borough shows significant differences in the proportion of families securing their top choice this year, with more than a quarter of youngsters missing out in some boroughs. Hammersmith and Fulham had the lowest proportion of children getting their top choice at 73.6%, closely followed by Kensington and Chelsea (74.8%). Barking and Dagenham had the highest proportion of first preferences at 96.3%, followed by Enfield where 94.9% secured their preferred school. Ian Edwards, London Councils' executive member for children and young people, said: 'It is great to see the vast majority of children in the capital receive offers from one of their preferred primary schools. 'Overall decreases in pupil numbers can pose a challenge to schools' resources. 'However, boroughs will continue working closely with schools to meet local needs and help families make the most of the high-quality educational opportunities available in the capital.' Primary school places in London are co-ordinated through the Pan-London Admissions scheme. Jon Abbey, chair of the Pan-London Admissions Board, said: 'Overall, analysis suggests that falling birth rates and family migration from London have led to a continued decrease in demand for school places and resulted in a reduction in total applications this year. 'We advise parents to read the details of their child's offer carefully and consider their options fully before making a decision. 'Please be aware that each London borough has an admissions team and staff who are very happy to assist if parents have any queries.'
