Latest news with #JaneAustin
BBC News
30-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Row over infrastructure pot spending at Waverley Borough Council
Conservative councillors say that money raised through funds for infrastructure and community projects has become a "hidden revenue stream" for Waverley Borough council allocates income generated by the interest from unspent Community Infrastructure Levies (CIL) and Section 106 (S106) agreements to its main revenue account, the general fund, which includes spending on providing Conservative leader, Jane Austin, said other local authorities had made the decision to ringfence it for infrastructure and that Waverley should do the Liberal Democrats, part of a coalition that run the council, said the interest earned was managed responsibly and in line with national guidance and is a standard practice. CIL are charges made by councils on any new developments and are typically used to pay for infrastructure, such as schools and S106 agreements are negotiated between developers and councils, with funds used to benefit communities, and try to limit and mitigate the impact of new houses. The council is setting up a cross party working group to look at CIL and is reviewing cases of charges, after some homeowners were asked to pay thousands of pounds in fees for making home improvements, without the ability to Conservatives said the council had £28.3m of unspent CIL and S106 money as of 31 March 2025, which they claim is a large amount in proportion to the size of the Austin said it had "quietly become a hidden revenue stream for the council" and that there would be a "black hole" in the finances without it."We've got to the stage where our council is basically relying on the interest from this CIL and from this S106 money," she told BBC Radio Surrey.A council spokesperson refuted this, stating that Waverley had been "independently recognised as the most financially stable local authority in Surrey"."It is also, to our knowledge, the only council in the UK to have published a balanced budget for both 2024/25 and 2025/26," they Liberal Democrat leader of the council, Paul Follows, said it was "standard practice" for "funds to be allocated to specific infrastructure projects and held by the council until they need to be paid for"."These projects typically require extensive planning and can take several months, or even years, to complete," he said."All funds held by the council are managed in accordance with our approved treasury management strategy. This ensures that they generate interest, in line with our statutory responsibility to secure best value for public money."Any interest earned is retained within the council's general fund and is reinvested into local services and the enhancement of public amenities."According to the council, more than £2.1m of the £27.5m collected in CIL receipts to date had already been spent, with more than £15.2m allocated to specific infrastructure projects."Each year, we are committed to setting a responsible and balanced budget that maximises the resources available to deliver high-quality public services for the people of Waverley. This commitment remains unchanged, regardless of the level of interest income received," a council spokesperson added.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Deal worth £1m scrapped over 'honesty' concerns
A £1m council contract is being scrapped just weeks after it was approved due to concerns about the "honesty" of the deal. In March, Waverley Borough Council (WBC) signed off a project to bring its grounds maintenance contracts in house, but it was ripped up at a recent full council meeting. Local Conservative leader Jane Austin, who raised the motion called for it to be rescinded, said: "Officers now agree this decision was not safe and could have potentially been open to challenge." WBC had previously argued the contract would ensure the council was "able to provide a high-quality grounds maintenance." With devolution and local government reorganisation looming, opponents questioned spending money on a service that had an uncertain future, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said. Extracts from the original motion said there were concerns the executive may have voted without having been provided all the facts, the LDRS said. It added that there was a lack of confidence that "fairness, impartiality and transparency can be satisfactorily demonstrated". It also said there was evidence that placed "significant concerns that councillors have not been provided with all the facts/have potentially been misled". Councillor Austin said: "What was in question here was honesty, honesty from councillors, and actually from officers. "Certainly what was in the reports, whether our decision-making process was robust and whether the councillors had been provided with sufficient appropriate information that they could rely on." The opposition-led motion was backed by council leader Paul Follows, although the Liberal Democrat councillor took issue with questions over honesty from councillors who he said were relaying information given to them in good faith. He added that he had his suspicions over the root causes of the issue but that it would not be appropriate to go into them. Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Residents protest against council planning fees Group set up to look at homeowner planning fees Local authority partnership saves £600k - council Waverley Borough Council Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News
29-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Deal worth £1m at Waverley council axed over 'honesty' concerns
A £1m council contract is being scrapped just weeks after it was approved due to concerns about the "honesty" of the March, Waverley Borough Council (WBC) signed off a project to bring its grounds maintenance contracts in house, but it was ripped up at a recent full council Conservative leader Jane Austin, who raised the motion called for it to be rescinded, said: "Officers now agree this decision was not safe and could have potentially been open to challenge."WBC had previously argued the contract would ensure the council was "able to provide a high-quality grounds maintenance." With devolution and local government reorganisation looming, opponents questioned spending money on a service that had an uncertain future, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) from the original motion said there were concerns the executive may have voted without having been provided all the facts, the LDRS added that there was a lack of confidence that "fairness, impartiality and transparency can be satisfactorily demonstrated".It also said there was evidence that placed "significant concerns that councillors have not been provided with all the facts/have potentially been misled". Good faith Councillor Austin said: "What was in question here was honesty, honesty from councillors, and actually from officers."Certainly what was in the reports, whether our decision-making process was robust and whether the councillors had been provided with sufficient appropriate information that they could rely on."The opposition-led motion was backed by council leader Paul Follows, although the Liberal Democrat councillor took issue with questions over honesty from councillors who he said were relaying information given to them in good added that he had his suspicions over the root causes of the issue but that it would not be appropriate to go into them.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Pair plan marathon to support friend with cancer
Two friends of a woman who has an aggressive form of breast cancer are running a marathon distance along the Dorset coast - on the day of the London Marathon - in support of her and other cancer patients. Jane Austin, 58, and Judith Baker, 57, plan to run the 26.2-mile distance from Lulworth to Portland Bill, in support of their friend Win Wood and to raise money for the Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF). Coinciding with the start of the London Marathon on Sunday, they will leave from Dagger's Gate in West Lulworth at about 09:30 BST. Ms Woods said seeing her friends taking on the challenge made her "very emotional". The retired railway clerical officer had to undergo an operation just days after her 67th birthday. It revealed that the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes in her right arm and a second operation was needed to remove all her lymph nodes. Ms Austin said her friend had been "incredibly brave and positive" during the treatment. "Judith and I decided we wanted to do something to show her how much we love and admire her," she added. The pair have taken part of many sporting events over the years, including the London Marathon and the Channel Swimming Association's Fastest Female Relay. Ms Baker said that although the marathon would be tough, "that's nothing compared to what Win and other people with cancer go through". The duo have "jokingly" nicknamed themselves The Trotting Tits. Ms Wood said was "thrilled" to learn about her friends' plans and suggested they fundraise for DCCF, which supports families with financial struggles because of cancer. "It makes me very emotional to see what my dear friends are doing in my honour," she said. "They are both extraordinary women, and I have no doubt they will conquer this marathon as they do everything else - with a great deal of personal strength and humour." The pair have also raised more than £600 through an online crowdfunding campaign. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Friends take on seven marathons in seven days Marathon runner's dad steps in after son taken ill Charity pays mortgage for cancer-hit family The Dorset Cancer Care Foundation
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Pair plan marathon to support friend with cancer
Two friends of a woman who has an aggressive form of breast cancer are running a marathon distance along the Dorset coast - on the day of the London Marathon - in support of her and other cancer patients. Jane Austin, 58, and Judith Baker, 57, plan to run the 26.2-mile distance from Lulworth to Portland Bill, in support of their friend Win Wood and to raise money for the Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF). Coinciding with the start of the London Marathon on Sunday, they will leave from Dagger's Gate in West Lulworth at about 09:30 BST. Ms Woods said seeing her friends taking on the challenge made her "very emotional". The retired railway clerical officer had to undergo an operation just days after her 67th birthday. It revealed that the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes in her right arm and a second operation was needed to remove all her lymph nodes. Ms Austin said her friend had been "incredibly brave and positive" during the treatment. "Judith and I decided we wanted to do something to show her how much we love and admire her," she added. The pair have taken part of many sporting events over the years, including the London Marathon and the Channel Swimming Association's Fastest Female Relay. Ms Baker said that although the marathon would be tough, "that's nothing compared to what Win and other people with cancer go through". The duo have "jokingly" nicknamed themselves The Trotting Tits. Ms Wood said was "thrilled" to learn about her friends' plans and suggested they fundraise for DCCF, which supports families with financial struggles because of cancer. "It makes me very emotional to see what my dear friends are doing in my honour," she said. "They are both extraordinary women, and I have no doubt they will conquer this marathon as they do everything else - with a great deal of personal strength and humour." The pair have also raised more than £600 through an online crowdfunding campaign. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Friends take on seven marathons in seven days Marathon runner's dad steps in after son taken ill Charity pays mortgage for cancer-hit family The Dorset Cancer Care Foundation
