Latest news with #MarkArnull
BBC News
27-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
West Northants Council's scrapping of net-zero goals put on hold
A council's decision to scrap "unaffordable" net-zero targets has been put on hold after it faced a bid to have the ruling reviewed. During a five-hour meeting, disrupted by protestors, West Northamptonshire Council had decided to no longer aim to offset its carbon emissions by of the Reform UK-led authority Mark Arnull claimed the previous administration "set undeliverable targets that, if attempted, would likely send the council bust".Changes to the climate targets have now been called in by opposition councillors and will be publicly debated on 19 August. Durham County Council, which is also run by Reform UK, became the first in England to scrap net-zero targets, hours before West Northamptonshire's decision. The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the call-in will be led by Rosie Humphreys, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, who said the decision deserved "proper scrutiny". She said: "The Climate Act requires councils to take a leadership role in reducing emissions and collaborating with stakeholders."By removing the targets, that really makes this collaboration difficult. The administration also asserts it's unaffordable, but has given no costings." While the committee can request the council to revisit the decision and consider alternative actions, it does not have power to overrule Humphreys said it would appeal to the group to look into the feasibility of a cross-party group on council sustainability and "fully explore" the UK previously said ridding the council of its net-zero goals would enable the authority to prioritise sustainability Mr Arnull said: "The Reform UK administration are fully committed to creating a more sustainable West Northamptonshire and being responsible custodians of our local environment."We want to further prioritise our focus on delivering practical, high-impact projects that make a real difference to people's lives." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
25-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Northampton MP criticises council sale of Guildhall extension
An MP has joined criticism of the council for "selling a town's heritage to the highest bidder" as the modern extension of Northampton's historic Guildhall went on the 1992-built office space is being sold by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) - led by Reform UK - while the original Victorian building is retained by the Mark Arnull said it wanted to "better utilise council buildings while also reducing ongoing costs to the public purse".Mike Reader, who represents Northampton South for Labour, said: "Reform UK need to rethink this plan and do what's right for Northampton – protect our town and it's culture." Community leaders have spoken out against the sale since the plan was first announced last year by the then Conservative administration, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The authority said at the time that not maintaining the extension would save £350,000 per Oliver Coss, Rector of All Saints' Church, near the Guildhall, said it was "regrettable this arresting piece of modern architecture is going to fall out of public use". Northampton Town Council is seeking legal advice after it was asked to move out of the original Guildhall as part of the "office optimisation plan".Speaking of the sale, town councillor Les Marriott said the extension was "architecturally impressive", provided a quiet space in the town centre and had hosted many community events. "We are concerned that any sale and subsequent change of use will result in the building and courtyard being lost to the general public indefinitely," he town council welcomed further discussions with WNC to ensure "this much loved civic building continues to serve the public good for future generations", he said the council was looking for proposals which made good use of the sale listing suggests a range of options for the building, including a boutique hotel, events venue, restaurant, residential, or continued office use. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
West Northants Council scraps 'unaffordable' net zero targets
Net zero targets have been scrapped by a Reform UK-led council because they are "unaffordable", its leader has said. During a five-hour meeting, which was disrupted by the clean air campaign group 1,000 Voices, West Northamptonshire Council decided to change the authority's climate change leader Mark Arnull said it was "something we cannot afford, there was no budget, there's been no scope or plans".But the leader of the Labour group, former MP Sally Keeble, said she was "shocked" at a lack of public consultation, adding: "Reform have jettisoned a commitment to protect the future for short term political expediency." Mr Arnull said he was "proud to be flying the flag" as one of the first councils to make the change. Durham County Council, also run by Reform UK, became the first in England to scrap net zero targets - just a few hours before West Northamptonshire. In 2022, the then Conservative-controlled council signed up to the UK100 Net Zero pledge, putting in place the targets for the authority, residents and Lister, leader of the Conservative group on West Northamptonshire Council, said their previous administration backed several environmental schemes, including electric buses and EV charging points, and drove investment to create high quality green said he was "disappointed" with the decision, which he said was "political ideology". Keeble added: "A whole community of climate change campaigners have had the rug pulled from under their feet." 'Mocking action' By law, the UK must stop adding to the total amount of planet-warming greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by 2050. This is known as "net zero".Reaching net zero carbon dioxide emissions globally is essential to limit global Arnull said diesel vehicles were due to be delivered in Towcester, as an order was "already in place". He told the BBC he had completed some "back of the fag packet maths" - but found the costs to turn the council's estate and fleet vehicles by 2030 did not add up. "I'd be lying to the public if we said we could afford it but we would run the council into bankruptcy and it's not what I'm going to do," he said."It's not a case of denying climate change, it's a case of being realistic with the public."The council would look at converting its fleet to bioethanol fuel that would be "much cheaper and more effective and could be run on waste generated in the county", he added. Lib Dem group leader Jonathan Harris told the meeting: "This leaves West Northants Council completely out on a limb and showing a real lack of leadership."The cost of doing nothing – or worse – mocking action – is one that this country can't afford."Dave Pearson, co-chair of the West Northants Green Party, said: "It's just unconscionable that we should even consider not going as hard and fast as we can to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide we're putting into the atmosphere." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Modern part of historical Northampton Guildhall goes up for sale
The modern extension to a historical building in a town has been put up for sale. The Guildhall in Northampton was previously the headquarters for West Northamptonshire Council, before the authority moved its staff to One Angel year the council said the move would "maximise" the use of its buildings and protect the county's heritage, while also saving the authority £350,000 per year. Mark Arnull, a Reform UK councillor and leader of the authority, said: "It is the 1992 extension which is proposed for a leasehold disposal. We are looking for proposals which make good use of the building, having regard to its location next to the historic one." The coroner's service, based in the building's modern extension, has moved to the old part of the Guildhall, which remains with the the council was set up in 2021, it inherited a range of buildings including the Victorian gothic Guildhall of 1864 and the 21st Century Forum in Towcester. Arnull, said: "After a comprehensive review of the council's office space and property portfolio, there is an opportunity to better utilise these spaces while also reducing ongoing costs to the public purse. "The Guildhall holds significant importance in both the town's and county's history and its historic part, originally from 1864 with a seamless extension in 1892, forms an integral part of the council's collection of heritage assets."He added the price of the building was not being made public as it may "harm the ability of the council to secure the best deal". Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Telegraph
16-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Reform council scraps net zero target
A Reform-run council has become the first in the country to scrap net zero targets and will abandon plans to replace its fleet of cars with electric vehicles. West Northamptonshire council agreed on Wednesday to refocus its sustainability work to 'ensure its efforts deliver the greatest value to local residents and businesses'. It means the council will no longer be tied to a target to reach net zero by 2030, nor to encourage residents and businesses to do the same by 2045. The Telegraph understands that existing plans to replace the council's fleet of cars with electric vehicles has been scrapped, and work to install charging infrastructure to power the cars will no longer take place. But some green initiatives that could save residents money will continue, including a home insulation grant scheme and a plan to save water in public buildings. Mark Arnull, the council's leader, said it 'simply cannot afford net zero' and that the decision would deliver better value for money for voters. 'Every year our council faces financial challenges to deliver the statutory services we have to provide by law,' he said. 'The previous administration set no budget to fund net zero and instead set undeliverable targets that, if attempted, would likely send the council bust.' 'The Reform UK administration is fully committed to creating a more sustainable West Northamptonshire and being responsible custodians of our local environment. 'We want to further prioritise our focus on delivering practical, high-impact projects that make a real difference to people's lives.' 'Reduce energy bills' Reform's rejection of net zero policies was followed by the Conservatives earlier this year, when Kemi Badenoch announced that reaching the target by 2050 across the UK was no longer achievable. A national, legally-binding target was first introduced by Theresa May's government in 2019, shortly before she left office. Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, has begun an 'an exercise in radical truth-telling' to politicians who are sceptical of net zero, and says that extreme weather changes are threatening the 'British way of life'. Richard Tice, Reform's deputy leader, said: 'I am proud that a Reform UK council will be the first council in the country to scrap its net zero goals in order to prioritise practical, realistic projects that improve lives, reduce energy bills, and support local businesses. 'Reform UK is the only party that is committed to scrapping net zero in its entirety to save jobs and put more money in people's pockets.'
