Latest news with #SpelthorneBoroughCouncil
BBC News
22-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Spelthorne litter pickers get King's Award for Voluntary Service
A Surrey litter picking group has been presented with an "MBE for charities" to mark its work to keep the community Litter Pickers was formed in 2020 with the aim of keeping the borough clean through volunteer events across the group has now been honoured with the King's Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award given to volunteer groups in the Lunn, co-founder of the group, said receiving the award was "really special" and had spurred them on to continue their work. She added: "The group has really made a difference. I think everyone is really delighted that we have been recognised even though what we do is not glamorous."Receiving the award was absolutely amazing. It was a really big achievement and everybody feels it." Formed during the Covid-19 pandemic, Ms Lunn added that the group now includes volunteers ranging from five years old to group carries out a monthly litter pick across the area as well as encouraging volunteers to do their own work in their own added that, since forming, the group has led efforts to clean up Spelthorne, including getting a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for the area to tackle littered nitrous oxide pickers from the group collected the award at a ceremony at Spelthorne Borough Council on Tuesday, 15 award was first created in 2002 as the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service to celebrate the Golden King's Award is equivalent to an MBE for Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of Surrey Michael More-Molyneux, who presented the award, said: "It was a pleasure to present this award to the Spelthorne Litter Pickers."They carry out fantastic voluntary work in Spelthorne and fully deserve our thanks and the recognition that comes with this award."
BBC News
02-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Spelthorne: Tributes paid following death of former mayor
Tributes have been paid following the death of a former mayor in Sider BEM was first elected to represent Shepperton as a councillor in 1999 and held the position until his retirement in was elected mayor of Spelthorne in 2002 and again in tribute, Spelthorne Borough Council leader Joanne Sexton said Mr Sider was a "true local legend". 'Mr Shepperton' Mr Sider held a number of community roles, including governor at The Matthew Arnold School in Staines, president of Spelthorne Schools Sports Association and chair of a scout group in 2014, he was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the Shepperton was also made an honorary aldermen of the borough of Spelthorne in 2023 for his service and dedication to Spelthorne, the council Sexton said Mr Sider was a "true champion for Shepperton and Spelthorne".She said: "Even after stepping down from his role, his passion never faded as he continued to support local groups and good causes with the same warmth and generosity that defined him."His legacy will live on in the community he loved so much."Council chief executive, Daniel Mouawad, added: "He was to many, Mr Shepperton."The council's flag will be flown at half-mast in tribute.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Weaknesses in council's financial records
A Surrey council's financial records suffer from "significant weaknesses", a report says. Auditors for Spelthorne Borough Council said they could not fully assess its financial statements, finding record keeping to be "inadequate". In its report for the year ending 31 March 2024, the auditors, Grant Thornton, also said it understood "extremely poor" relationships between some opposing councillors impacted decision making and scrutiny. A council spokesperson said it would create an action plan to tackle the report's recommendations and had introduced a "robust training programme" since the election of 22 new councillors in 2023. The auditors expressed concerns about accounts around the purchase of three properties – Charter Building, Thames Tower and the Porter Building – worth £351 million. They said Spelthorne Council only paid £297.9 million and "grossed up" the value of the properties for the remaining £53.7 million, with the debt added to its balance sheet. The auditor's report says the council "is having to live with the fact that its current investment portfolio is in a net debt position" of £300 million. The council's external borrowing hit £1.1 billion in March 2024. The report also noted a peer review undertaken by the Local Government Association in 2022 which said "poor behaviour" by some councillors towards each other and staff was "widely recognised as damaging the council's reputation". Multiple recommendations were made to improve Spelthorne Council's financial stability and governance, including better record keeping and workshops to address the "apparent 'toxic' culture across the member group". A council spokesperson said officers had agreed draft responses to the report and would create an action plan. A "comprehensive review" will also be undertaken into the work of its finance team, they said. Spelthorne Borough Council's audit committee meets to discuss the report at 19:00 GMT on Tuesday. Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Spelthorne Borough Council auditor's report Spelthorne Borough Council Rising costs threaten council housebuilding plans
BBC News
28-01-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Weaknesses in council's financial records
A Surrey council's financial records suffer from "significant weaknesses", a report for Spelthorne Borough Council said they could not fully assess its financial statements, finding record keeping to be "inadequate".In its report for the year ending 31 March 2024, the auditors, Grant Thornton, also said it understood "extremely poor" relationships between some opposing councillors impacted decision making and scrutiny.A council spokesperson said it would create an action plan to tackle the report's recommendations and had introduced a "robust training programme" since the election of 22 new councillors in 2023. The auditors expressed concerns about accounts around the purchase of three properties – Charter Building, Thames Tower and the Porter Building – worth £351 said Spelthorne Council only paid £297.9 million and "grossed up" the value of the properties for the remaining £53.7 million, with the debt added to its balance auditor's report says the council "is having to live with the fact that its current investment portfolio is in a net debt position" of £300 council's external borrowing hit £1.1 billion in March 2024. 'Toxic' culture The report also noted a peer review undertaken by the Local Government Association in 2022 which said "poor behaviour" by some councillors towards each other and staff was "widely recognised as damaging the council's reputation".Multiple recommendations were made to improve Spelthorne Council's financial stability and governance, including better record keeping and workshops to address the "apparent 'toxic' culture across the member group".A council spokesperson said officers had agreed draft responses to the report and would create an action plan.A "comprehensive review" will also be undertaken into the work of its finance team, they said. Spelthorne Borough Council's audit committee meets to discuss the report at 19:00 GMT on Tuesday.
