Latest news with #LornaFielker
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Southampton City Council leader to stand down and run for mayor
A council leader has announced she will be standing down in order to run for the first regional mayor of Hampshire and the Isle of leader of Southampton City Council, Lorna Fielker, said she would leave her role by the end of Swaythling ward member said she had not taken the decision lightly, adding that "big changes" were coming to local the government's devolution priority programme, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are being fast tracked to set up a combined mayoral authority in May next year. The elected mayor is expected to have responsibility for infrastructure, transport, skills and employment, with powers and funding transferred from Fielker said: "To be credible in that role, I need to speak for the whole region, not just the city."The combined authority represents a huge opportunity."I believe our region deserves a strong, collaborative voice, someone who understands how to unlock its full potential by working together." Ms Fielker said she would continue to "serve and do all I can to ensure Southampton is on a stronger, more stable path, for today and for the future" until a new council leader is Labour group, which holds a large majority on the council, will select a new leader, who will then be formally elected at a full council and Isle of Wight police and crime commissioner Donna Jones announced in March that she intends to stand as a Conservative candidate in the mayoral election next selection processes for mayoral candidates have yet to take place. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Businesses at risk of flooding feel 'let down' as £70m scheme halted
Businesses still reeling from major flooding last year feel "let down" after plans to protect hundreds of homes and businesses from flooding has been paused. The River Itchen Flood Alleviation Scheme (RIFAS) is planned to cover a 3.7-kilometre stretch on the west side of the estuary from the Itchen Bridge to just past the Northam Bridge, but has now been "temporarily halted", Southampton City Council says. The scheme would have protected more than 153 homes, including the Northam Estate, 288 businesses, and key road and rail links from flooding. The decision to halt the scheme comes after the Environment Agency (EA) decided to withdraw its funding in March. Costs have also ballooned, to almost double, with an identified funding shortfall that now exceeds £50 million. Businesses that flooded in Storm Pierrick last year have reacted with bitter disappointment to the news. READ MORE: Gary Hocking owns the Express MOT Garage on Endle Road. Just last year, his business was brought to the brink after suffering £90,000 in damage as flood water rushed in during the night. Even now, he still finds equipment rendered unusable by the water. He said: "I am disappointed to hear it, we feel let down. As a business owner, there is no consideration being given by the council or by the EA. "We are still at a big risk. I am always watching the weather in case there's another flood. I never got help last time. "It is going to take years to get back, getting equipment repaired. Still, no insurance company will touch businesses along here." Flooding in Albert Road North, Southampton, in April 2024READ MORE: Another affected business owner, 64, who does not want to be named for fear of suffering further financial harm, says the flood last year caused so much damage that he had to sell his flat to raise funds to stay in business. He said: "We lost everything. One of our customers lost about £100,000 in stock and went bust. "We could lose our business because of this, because the council has done nothing, and we could go bust in a month. "I wish I could do something about it, but the only way I can get out of here is if I go bust." The leader of Southampton City Council, Councillor Lorna Fielker said: "While we appreciate the significant challenges facing the River Itchen Flood Alleviation Scheme, we remain dedicated to finding ambitious, strategic and innovative alternative plans to improve flood resilience for the area." Speaking in the Southampton Full Council meeting, Cllr Eamon Keogh said that the reason the Environment Agency pulled funding was because there were other schemes elsewhere in the country that were "ready to go", adding that the "EA has been underfunded over the last 14 years".
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Southampton City Council forced to halt flood defence scheme
A city council has said it has been forced to halt a major flood defence scheme as it faces significant financial City Council said it remained committed to delivering the River Itchen Flood Alleviation Scheme (RIFAS) despite the economic plans cover the west bank of the river and in December the council estimated it could cost £ local authority said the Environment Agency's (EA) decision to withdraw funding for the project in March, cost increases, design changes and rising inflation rates meant costs for the scheme had almost doubled. The council said more than 150 homes and 250 businesses were currently at risk of have been progressing to reduce the risk over a 2.2-mile (3.5km) stretch along the west bank of the project would stretch from Mount Pleasant Industrial Estate in the north, down to Southampton Water Activities Centre to the south of Itchen EA and Southampton City Council partnered for the RIFAS in 2019, but the agency withdrew its funding on 12 March council said this left it with a funding shortfall that now exceeded £ Leader of Southampton City Council, councillor Lorna Fielker said: "While we appreciate the significant challenges facing the River Itchen Flood Alleviation Scheme, we remain dedicated to finding ambitious, strategic and innovative alternative plans to improve flood resilience for the area." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
28-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Southampton and Portsmouth councils approve 4.99% tax rise
Both Southampton and Portsmouth City Council have approved a 4.99% council tax rise from City Council said that the increase, which is the maximum permitted by government, is expected to raise £5.1m for the in Southampton, councillors said the budget will rely on savings made by "transforming how the council operates". Both councils have seen increasing cost pressures, particularly in social care and temporary accommodation. Southampton's Labour-led city council set a balanced budget on Wednesday, with all opposition groups voting against it, according to the Local Democracy Reporting same groups voiced fears that the authority had not yet made it out of its financial council leader, councillor Lorna Fielker, called the budget "a return to long-term financial sustainability."Cabinet member for finance, councillor Simon Letts, said it was the first time in 14 years that the medium-term financial strategy was balanced over its full five-year also confirmed that exceptional financial support (EFS) had been extended for a second year by the government."I think we are now going to go on to an era where we will be able to invest in Southampton and its citizens rather than remove services and make cuts," Letts Democrat group leader councillor Richard Blackman said the situation now was very different to 12 months ago when there was "uncertainty" and "fear" in the group leader Cllr Peter Baillie said the budget needed "favourable" winds to survive the year "unscathed". Councillors in Portsmouth raised concerns over financial pressures and called for increased government the past year costs associated with temporary accommodation increased by 84% in the authority faces an £18.8m rise in spending and a projected £9m budget gap by 2028/ Steve Pitt, leader of the Liberal Democrat-run council, described the financial situation as "precarious"."It is difficult not to feel as if we're being tossed about on a very small boat on a very big ocean and that our future is largely not in our hands," he council's chief finance officer Chris Ward said local government funding has not kept pace with rising costs.A point of contention on the budget was around a plan to replace the council's groups recommended taking money from the fund to support their Pitt argued that deferring the project would be costly in the amendments put forward by both Labour and Conservative councillors were accepted. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hampshire and Solent devolution consultation opens
Residents in Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and Isle of Wight are being asked their views on plans to create a mayoral combined authority. Hampshire and the Solent is one of six areas considered for fast-track devolution, giving more money and power to a new authority and its elected mayor. The government consultation gives people the chance to share their thoughts about the proposal and how the new regional body should work. Residents have until 13 April to comment. If the plan goes ahead, mayoral elections will take place in May 2026. Southampton City Council leader Lorna Fielker said: "Devolution brings huge opportunities for Southampton, and it's really important that the city's residents and businesses have their say. "I'd encourage everyone to make sure they use this opportunity to help shape the proposed devolution arrangements for our region and ensure that they truly reflect the needs of Southampton." New Forest District Council leader Jill Cleary said: "The transfer of enhanced decision making from central government and the ability to retain a greater share of more locally generated funding that comes through devolution is something I would welcome and I will continue to make strong representations for an outcome that I believe is the best fit for the communities of the New Forest." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Hampshire and Solent part of devolution initiative City councillors vote for power and money deal Hampshire and the Solent Devolution Consultation Southampton City Council Portsmouth City Council Isle of Wight Council Hampshire County Council
