Latest news with #LibDem-run
Telegraph
10-04-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Staff at cash-strapped council granted right to work abroad
Bosses at a cash-strapped council have been granting requests from employees to work overseas. The leader of the Lib Dem-run Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) council confirmed at a recent meeting that 'some requests' from staff had been approved – despite 70 per cent of the council's 2,504 employees already working in a hybrid setting. Millie Earl, the leader of BCP council, said: 'We do know that both colleagues and councillors may carry out work from time to time whilst abroad and this can be as little as accessing emails whilst on holiday. 'We have, however, received a sporadic number of requests from colleagues wishing to work abroad temporarily which was particularly heightened around the time of Covid.' While their records show that there are no current council employees with a non-UK address, Ms Earl confirmed some of these requests had been granted 'subject to certain conditions, only on a temporary basis for specific personal reasons'. Ms Earl said: 'Our 2023 staff engagement survey had 2,504 responses which is a 52 per cent response rate. 'We know that the majority of those responding are in office or desk-based roles. 'Of those who responded 70 per cent said that they worked in a hybrid way with a range of colleagues working remotely for different proportions of time. 'None of our colleagues, unless agreed through a reasonable adjustment resulting from a disability, are considered as fully home-based. 'All colleagues are required to attend one of the council sites as required to either meet with their manager [or] teams as needed.' Struggle to save money The BCP council has faced significant financial pressure in recent years. In 2023, officials even discussed turning off street lights, closing splash parks, axing lollipop men and women and reducing library opening times in an attempt to save money. Last year, the council struggled to manage a funding gap of £44 million. Phil Broadhead, leader of the Conservative opposition at BCP council, said: 'While remote working has its place and can sometimes help to balance work and family life, there's equally a growing body of evidence that for many roles, productivity is greatest when people work from the office. 'This is especially important in many council roles, particularly those involving interaction with our residents. 'Lib Dem-run Somerset council recently admitted that they have five staff members based overseas, including two inextricably working in social care.'
Telegraph
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Council rejects VE Day anniversary parade because it's ‘too elitist'
A military parade marking the eightieth anniversary of VE Day has been rejected by councillors because it is 'too elitist'. Dacorum borough council in Hertfordshire has eschewed hosting any formal event to mark the end of the Second World War in Europe on May 8. This is despite the Lib Dem-run council holding a day-long event last year called '50 Fest' – which included a colourful parade through Hemel Hempstead – to mark its 50th birthday. Instead, it has told residents to hold their own street parties if they want to commemorate the German surrender to the allies 80 years ago. Special events are being planned across the UK including a flypast over London, and a thanksgiving service at Westminster Abbey attended by members of the Royal family and veterans. Asked why there wasn't going to be a military parade, Caroline Smith-Wright, of Dacorum borough council, told a meeting on April 2: 'We have decided at this point to enable communities to come together and have street parties and I think that is for the community, that is for everyone, that encompasses everybody – it doesn't just leave the elite and people to just, kind of, parade. 'This is about normal people celebrating in their communities, bringing people together, sharing food, sitting at a table, celebrating and I think that's a fine way to celebrate VE Day.' The decision was condemned by opposition councillors on all sides. Tory Graeme Elliot said: 'I'm very dismayed about the lack of celebrations. My father fought in that war. I had an uncle who died in the Battle of France. That was the golden generation. So you think 50 years of a council is far more important than the men and women who gave their lives?' Labour councillor Pete Hannell said the council should reconsider its position to honour the 'sacrifices' made. He added: 'My children and grandchildren are facing a war in Europe now where the aggressor is being appeased in the way that Chamberlain was arguably appeasing Hitler in 1938.' Jan Maddern, an independent, agreed: 'I'm quite dismayed by this as well. We missed in effect the 75th anniversary of VE Day because we were in Covid. I can remember having street parties where we all sat on our drives in my cul-de-sac, safe distancing from everyone else. I think we should do better.' She pointed out that the council funded a box of bunting and other street party decorations for the last Royal wedding but would not be offering anything for the 80th anniversary of VE Day. But in response, Ms Smith-Wright said: 'I do appreciate and understand everyone's strong feelings. As far as street parties go, we invite residents to sign up to have their road closed – that's an immense expense. It costs thousands to shut a road for a street party, it's free currently.' The Liberal Democrats took control of the council last May but have been mired by controversy after two council leaders were forced to stand down amid allegations of misogyny and bullying. Eight female Liberal Democrat councillors accused the leadership of failing to adequately deal with the claims and went independent, leaving the council with no overall control.
The Guardian
17-03-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Nine in 10 councils in England to levy maximum council tax increase
Most households in England will be charged the maximum increase in council tax for the third consecutive year after local authorities confirmed their plans before the 2025-26 financial year. Nearly nine in 10 (88%) of 153 upper-tier authorities in England will impose a 4.99% increase in April, the most allowed without triggering a local referendum. If councils increasing bills by 4.5% or more this year are included in the tally, the proportion rises to more than nine in 10 (94%), according to analysis by the PA news agency. Council leaders said the increases were vital after more than a decade of funding cuts had left many local authorities suffering spending shortfalls while others more severely affected had either declared themselves technically insolvent or on course to run out of cash. While some councils have run out of funds due to ill-judged speculative investments or, like Birmingham, a costly legal dispute, most have seen their finances overwhelmed by the rising cost of children and adult care bills. Six English councils have been given permission by ministers to consider rises of up to 10% in an attempt to avoid bankruptcy. Labour-run Bradford council in Yorkshire and Newham in east London were given the green light to raise council bills by 9.99% and 8.99% respectively, while Liberal Democrat-controlled Windsor and Maidenhead, which asked for a 25% rise, was allowed to raise bills by up to 8.99%. Lib Dem-run Somerset and Labour-controlled Trafford were told that 7.4% could be the limit. Labour-run Birmingham, which is in special measures after declaring effective bankruptcy in 2023, was given the same 7.4% limit. Bills can rise by even more when parish and town councils or mayoral combined authorities add their own precept, where no thresholds for local referendums are applied. For just over two-thirds (68%) of top-tier authorities, it will be the third year in a row that bills have gone up by at least the maximum legal amount. By contrast, nine councils have restricted bill increases to less than 4.5% this year. Sunderland has chosen a 4.49% increase, Kensington & Chelsea in west London 4%, Doncaster and Derby have both opted for 3.99%, while North East Lincolnshire will increase bills by 3.98%. Derby, which is run by a minority Labour administration, had planned to increase council tax rates by 4.99%, but was forced by opposition councillors to backtrack. Council tax in Essex will rise by 3.75% and in Rotherham by 3%. Lincolnshire will boost bills by 2.99% while Wandsworth in London has approved the lowest increase in England of 2%, representing a freeze on the main element of council tax for the third year in a row. The south London council said its website: 'Sound financial management is at the heart of everything we do 'Wandsworth has one of the lowest levels of debt and some of the highest financial reserves in London, allowing us to freeze the main element of councils tax and invest in what matters most.' However, the vast majority of residents in England continue to face maximum council tax increases. The 4.99% cap, which includes a 2% adult social care precept, has been agreed by 68% of upper-tier councils in each of the past three years, with 84% having done so in 2025-26 and 2024-25. A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: 'While councils are ultimately responsible for setting their own council tax levels, we are clear that they should put taxpayers first and carefully consider the impact of their decisions. 'That's why we are maintaining a referendum threshold on council tax rises, so taxpayers can have the final say and be protected from excessive increases.' A spokesperson for the Local Government Association, which represents councils across England, said: 'Councils continue to face severe funding shortages and soaring cost and demand pressures on local services. 'This means that many councils have faced the tough choice about whether to increase bills to bring in desperately needed funding to provide services at a time when they are acutely aware of the significant burden that could place on some households. 'However, while council tax is an important funding stream, the significant financial pressures facing local services cannot be met by council tax income alone. It also raises different amounts in different parts of the country – unrelated to need. 'The spending review needs to ensure councils have adequate funding to deliver the services local people want to see.'
