Latest news with #WICS
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
Rochelle man's father seeks answers in son's mysterious death
ROCHELLE, Ill. (WTVO) — The father of a Rochelle man, who traveled to Georgia for work and was in Alabama, is still hoping to find answers in his son's death. John Combs was a 24-year-old lineman who traveled to Savannah, Georgia last October to work in an area struck by Hurricane Helene. Combs had planned to return home to Rochelle on October 4th. However, he was found dead on train tracks in Montgomery, Alabama, later that day. Police said he had been hit by a train. His death was ruled a suicide by local police. His father, Chris Combs, says he has struggled to get any more information to make sense of his son's passing. 'I've got an official letter from OSHA. I will say that I got a letter from [U.S. Representative] Darin LaHood's office. I got the death certificate. And that's pretty much it,' Chris said. According to Chris, John was hospitalized on October 2nd and had been acting erratically in the time leading up to his death. According to WICS, a witness who was on the same flight as Combs recalled that he stood up and said, 'My name is John Combs from Rochelle, Illinois. My whole life has been a lie. I'm no good at anything I do. I don't want to be a lineman anymore.' Chris said he doesn't know why John would travel 161 miles to Montgomery. 'I got Southwest Airlines telling me that without a subpoena, we're not going to tell you anything that happened to him in Atlanta. I've got the Atlanta Police Department telling me that we're not going to give you anything. I got Montgomery Police Department telling me we're not going to give you anything,' he said. Montgomery Police, who handled the investigation, did not immediately respond to our request for comment. 'I guess [I want to know], how can you come to that [determination of suicide]? Show me your evidence that concludes to that. Like I said, [police] told me it looks like we're probably going to rule as, not we are,' he recalled. 'I'm hoping to conclude this, get the answers to what really happened through everything, and make sure that this never happens again,' Chris said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Herald Scotland
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Call for watchdogs to be scrapped to curb Scottish Water execs pay
They are saying that having three bodies with regulatory oversight of the industry is wasteful and means there is a lack of responsibility and suggest there should be only one. They say restructuring will allow the same level of scrutiny with clearer lines of accountability and less expense. Andrew Thomson, GMB Scotland's representative rep at Scottish Water, has said that the current set-up has encouraged creeping privatisation at the company and led to workers being scapegoated for executive failures. The branch has been supported by the union in calls for ministers to implement strict conditions around public sector executive pay and bonuses through its Public Sector Pay Strategy – extending this to the quangos, commissions and regulatory bodies. The issue surrounds a complex web of three separate regulators operating to oversee operations at Scottish Water - the Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS) which examines finances, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) which oversees pollution issues and the Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland which investigates safety. WICS, which the branch says is "a disgrace" has been at the centre of a scandal over what watchdog Audit Scotland described as inappropriate public spending, including: a £77,000 Harvard Business School course for a senior executive, lavish spending on meals, with some exceeding £200 per head and £100 gift vouchers for staff, surpassing the £75 limit for gifts. SEPA was told by watchdog Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) in September, last year, to improve monitoring after finding that pollution of Scotland's rivers and beaches was far more widespread than realised because ministers have failed to take the problem seriously. The union has been concerned that ten days of strikes in a bitter pay dispute is to cost nearly £3m in bringing in extra staff as part of a contingency plan. It comes amidst a row over Mr Plant receiving a 50% rise in the existing pay package - despite public sector pay rules saying he should expect to have a 10% cut. Alex Plant (Image: Supplied) The £483,000 remuneration for Alex Plant over just ten months of 2023/24 is nearly £100,000 more than the outgoing chief executive Douglas Millican, received in his last full year before taking flexible retirement which resulted in a cut in salary and reduced pension benefits. The Scottish Government's public sector pay policy has since 2010 included an "expectation" that the remuneration of a new chief executive appointment will be at least 10% lower than that of the outgoing officer. MSPs raised their concerns in the Scottish Parliament after The Herald further revealed that executives of the nation's state-owned water supplier saw bonuses hiked by over a third in one year - taking a five-year total to nearly £1.6m despite public sector pay rules suspending the payments. Read more by Martin Williams: It has told users: "We will do all we can to ensure customers do not experience any disruption to their water supplies and that treatment of the country's waste water continues as usual, despite the planned industrial action. Union members on the picket line (Image: Andrew Milligan) While Scottish Water has remained included on the list of public sector organisations that should conform with the pay policy, the Scottish Government say that they are exempt. Mr Thomson has taken the calls for changes to GMB Scotland's Congress saying that regulation of the water industry "is required to ensure drinking water is safe and accessible, and that wastewater is dealt with responsibly to protect human life, environmental health and our waterways". He says that excessive regulatory demands from the three agencies has created a "blame culture within Scottish Water where workers – not management – are held to account for organisational failures and that "this motivates management to place excessive responsibilities and pressures on the performance of the workforce affecting health and morale". He said that an "excessive number of regulatory bodies, overbearing [Scottish Water] board governance and a lack of transparency have created a top-heavy system of patronage and a culture of elitism where undisclosed contracts and bonuses are given to executives while the pay of Scottish Water workers lags far behind the private sector leading to the increased threat of industrial action". SEPA (Image: Archive) The branch says a full review of regulatory bodies is required in relation to Scottish Water with an aim to consolidate responsibilities and reduce costs. GMB Scotland said the long-running and ongoing industrial action at Scottish Water only underlined the need for root and branch reform. Mr Thomson said: "It is time government which is ultimately the main regulator, concentrated on cutting preposterous costs at the high end; hold management to account and stop allowing the victimisation of workers for wasteful regulation failures. "Prosecute the bosses and protect the workers." A 10-day ballot of workers on a revised pay offer delivered to unions by Scottish Water will start on Wednesday but Claire Greer, GMB Scotland organiser, said disruptive and expensive strikes could have been averted months ago if executives had seriously engaged with the workforce. She said: 'There has now been a series of different disputes at this company all marked by the same failure of management to negotiate with clarity or urgency. A Scottish Water protest'That not only suggests systemic problems at an executive level but a failure to provide effective and proper oversight by the board and independent watchdogs. 'Scotland was meant to be different to the rest of UK with Scottish Water being structured to ensure the people of Scotland retained ownership and control. 'That means nothing unless there is rigorous and independent oversight of management by board members and expert and respected regulators. 'That is clearly not happening and a complicated and needlessly expensive system of oversight must be rebuilt for the benefit of all Scots. A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'We remain committed to a water industry model where Scottish Water is publicly owned, commercially run and independently regulated. "Ministers have set out their policy in relation to public sector pay. It is a matter for Scottish Water and its unions to agree a settlement within the constraints of that policy and affordability. " A Scottish Water spokesperson said: "After the latest talks with the Joint Trade Unions on Friday, we made an improved pay offer that would see average wages increase by more than 7% over two years. This included a minimum increase of £2,825 over the period. 'In addition, we also proposed a number of other enhancements including improved stand-by payments and carers' leave. 'This is a very strong and progressive offer that balances the interests of our people and customers' and we asked the Joint Trade Unions to ballot their members on the new proposal. So we are glad they are doing so and hope members vote to accept our offer. 'It is in everyone's interests that the current dispute is resolved so that our people can get the pay increases they deserve and return to delivering an essential service to the people of Scotland.' WICS declined to comment.
The Herald Scotland
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
WICS: Ministers rapped for 'failings' in public spending scandal
It highlighted "serious concerns" over shortcomings in the Scottish Government's approach, with a "complete failure" by the Government to challenge the culture at WICS, which led to an "unacceptable use of public funds". Leading Scottish Conservative Graham Simpson said the "whole scandal" raises the question of whether WICS should be allowed to continue at all in its current form. Graham SimpsonMinisters had come under increasing scrutiny themselves after admitting they gave retrospective approval over a controversial move by WICS that ignored Scotland when sending chief operating officer Michelle Ashford off on an £80,000 training trip to the US which included two £5000 Transatlantic flights. Ms Ashford's trip to Harvard Business School as part of a run of spending described as "unacceptable" by public spending watchdogs Audit Scotland. READ MORE: What is WICS and why is it at the centre of a national scandal? It led to WICS chief executive Alan Sutherland, one of the highest paid public sector workers, being forced from his role with immediate effect in December, 2023. Public spending watchdog Audit Scotland had been critical over failing to seek Scottish Government approval for spending in advance. The committee says the Scottish Government should review systems for identifying concerns with public bodies to ensure any issues are caught at an early stage. The payouts included sending the head of external relations and strategy on a 13-day Transatlantic executive development programme course costing £20,404 in 2019 at Columbia University in New York. Travel and accommodation expenses amounted to £1,056. There was an £84,620 spend for a head of retail on an executive Master of Business Administration [MBA] course over two years from September, 2018 which included time in London and a five-day assignment in Argentina with travel and accommodation costing £10,856. A similar two year course for another senior manager from January, 2017, involving an assignment in Argentina cost £72,795 including £11,713 travel and accommodation expenses. And some £87,769 was spent on 40 days of executive coaching for the senior management and executive team over five years at the Stirling office. The committee highlighted 'inappropriate and unacceptable' spending on training courses for senior staff, benefits to the workforce and, hospitality. A new report from Holyrood's Public Audit Committee found that the board of WICS failed in its responsibilities which led to a lack of financial control. This meant that decisions taken did not always provide value for money to the public purse, with WICS also showing a failure to follow even its own rules. Video: WICS was the feature of a rebrand promotional film. Committee convener Richard Leonard said: Some of the evidence we have heard about the arrangements in place at WICS was simply extraordinary. 'That the body, charged with promoting long term value from Scottish Water to its customers, itself failed to live up to the standards required of a public body left the committee with deep concerns. 'But the committee is clear that there also appears to have been a serious lack of oversight from the Scottish Government. This failure from those who are meant to be safeguarding the public purse is simply unacceptable.' Disgraced WICS £182,500-a-year executive Alan Sutherland, was given six months salary in lieu of notice which the watchdog says "he was legally due". While the committee said it recognises the changes which have been made at WICS, it has called on the current board to undergo refresher training on their roles and responsibilities to ensure that the failure of responsibilities does not happen again. Mr Leonard added: 'We have heard about significant changes within WICS and the organisation's commitment to improve the governance arrangements. These are clearly welcome. But we want to see concrete evidence of these changes to ensure that the unacceptable culture that was in place has truly gone.' Scottish Conservative MSP Graham Simpson said: 'The behaviour of WICS has been deplorable. 'From lavish five-star dinners to swanky trips abroad flying business class and expensive training courses – all on the public purse – this organisation had a wild west approach to spending. "The Scottish Government, who were meant to be watching what was going on, was sleeping at the wheel and must also take the rap." A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'Ministers have been clear that the approach to expenditure at the Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS) up until December 2023 was completely and utterly unacceptable. 'We have taken steps to improve our sponsorship function, completing all the management actions set out in the internal review of WICS sponsorship published last November. 'We want to thank the Public Audit Committee's for their report and will provide a full government response in due course.'
STV News
16-05-2025
- Business
- STV News
'Catalogue of failures' led to spending scandal at Scotland's water watchdog
A 'catalogue of failures' is to blame for the 'inappropriate and unacceptable' use of public money at Scotland's water watchdog, a report has found. The Water Industry Commission for Scotland is said to have been wasting public money, 'failing in its responsibilities' – leading to a lack of financial control, failing to follow its own rules, and leaving MSPs with 'deep concerns'. The Scottish Parliament's Public Audit Committee also found 'significant weaknesses and failings in the Scottish Government's approach' to the watchdog's management. The findings have come from the committee's latest report into the Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS) finances on Friday. The board's 'inappropriate and unacceptable' spending on training courses for senior staff, benefits to the workforce and, hospitality has already been widely reported. However, the report said there was also a 'complete failure by the Scottish Government to challenge the culture at WICS', which led to the unacceptable use of public funds. Speaking as the report launched, audit committee convener MSP Richard Leonard called the evidence he heard about the arrangements at WICS 'simply extraordinary'. 'That the body, charged with promoting long term value from Scottish Water to its customers, itself failed to live up to the standards required of a public body left the Committee with deep concerns,' Leonard said. 'But the Committee is clear that there also appears to have been a serious lack of oversight from the Scottish Government. This failure from those who are meant to be safeguarding the public purse is simply unacceptable.' The report on Friday is the latest in a series of investigations to try and figure out what went wrong, and how to prevent failures like it in the future. The Committee has now called on the Scottish Government to review its systems for identifying concerns with public bodies to ensure any issues are caught at an early stage. The water watchdog first came under scrutiny in 2023 after an Audit Scotland report found evidence of 'inappropriate spending'. That original report found almost £75,000 of WICS expenditure did not meet public spending rules and £20,000 did not represent value for money. More specifically, the report revealed that the former chief executive of WICS had an expense claim for a £170 Mulberry wallet approved during his time on the board. Alan Sutherland also put glasses costing £290 on his expenses, among a number of 'bulk' claims which appear to have been approved en masse without proper oversight. Further investigations later revealed that Mr Sutherland had claimed a £400 high-end restaurant meal on an office credit card, with the expense being paid despite failing to provide a receipt. He stood down from the board within hours of an Audit Scotland report being released. Mr Sutherland's departure cost the public purse £105,488 as he was paid six months' salary and legal fees were incurred. WICS also spent more than £77,000 on a course for a senior executive at Harvard Business School in the US. A further £2,600 was claimed to provide every staff member with a £100 gift card for Christmas. The report recognised that there has been widespread Board and management departures from WICS, and indeed from the Scottish Government, since the first audit reports were published in 2023. The Committee also confirmed that no further non-compliant spending was found between January and March 2024, but they said 'this must be kept under close scrutiny'. Nonetheless, the audit committee called on the current WICS board to undergo refresher training on their roles and responsibilities to ensure that the failure of responsibilities does not happen again. It also called on the Scottish Government to review its systems for identifying concerns with public bodies to ensure any issues are caught at an early stage. 'We have heard about significant changes within WICS and the organisation's commitment to improve the governance arrangements. These are clearly welcome. But we want to see concrete evidence of these changes to ensure that the unacceptable culture that was in place has truly gone,' Leonard said. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Herald Scotland
16-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
What is WICS and why is it at the centre of a national scandal?
It highlighted "serious concerns" over failings in the Scottish Government's approach, with a complete failure by the Government to challenge the culture at WICS, which led to an "unacceptable use of public funds". What is WICS? The Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS) is the economic regulator of Scotland's water and sewerage services. Established in 2005, it operates as an executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government, based in Stirling. WICS oversees Scottish Water, the publicly owned utility serving over 2.5 million households and 150,000 businesses across Scotland. What is WICS's core role? WICS's primary function is to promote the interests of water and sewerage customers in Scotland by ensuring they receive high-quality services at a reasonable cost. Its responsibilities include determining price limits for Scottish Water to deliver ministers' objectives at the lowest reasonable overall cost and assessing Scottish Water's performance in areas such as customer service, investment, costs, and leakage. It also oversees the competitive retail market for non-household water and sewerage services. It supports the sector to achieve its long-term vision, challenging Scottish Water to attain best-in-class service levels, and becoming an international leader in economic regulation. How does WICS support Scotland's water sector? WICS plays a pivotal role in ensuring that Scottish Water operates efficiently and effectively, balancing the need for investment in infrastructure with the goal of keeping customer bills affordable. By setting price limits and monitoring performance, WICS ensures that Scottish Water meets the objectives set by the Scottish Government including improvements in water quality, environmental performance, and customer service. Why is WICS in the public spotlight? It has faced significant scrutiny due to revelations of financial mismanagement and governance failures. An Audit Scotland report highlighted inappropriate public spending, including: a £77,000 Harvard Business School course for a senior executive, lavish spending on meals, with some exceeding £200 per head and £100 gift vouchers for staff, surpassing the £75 limit for gifts. READ MORE: Scots watchdog using public funds to settle 1000s in unpaid staff tax The payouts also included sending the head of external relations and strategy on a 13-day transatlantic executive development programme course costing £20,404 in 2019 at Columbia University in New York. Travel and accommodation expenses amounted to £1,056. The expenditure was deemed non-compliant with Scottish Government rules and did not represent value for money. What were the consequences of these revelations? It led to significant leadership changes. Alan Sutherland resigned as WICS chief executive on New Year's Eve 2023. He received a payment of £86,268, representing half a year's salary in lieu of a six-month notice period, along with additional payments covering legal fees and employer National Insurance contributions. Donald MacRae, the chairman of WICS, stepped down in October 2024 following criticism over the handling of the financial issues. Were there other issues within WICS beyond financial mismanagement? Yes, a workplace stress survey conducted in February 2024 revealed that nearly a third of WICS employees reported experiencing bullying at work. This pointed to a toxic work culture within the organisation, compounding the concerns raised by the financial mismanagement. How has WICS responded to these challenges? WICS has acknowledged past weaknesses in governance and financial controls. The organization has committed to implementing changes to improve its operations, including developing a 21-point improvement plan to address the issues identified in the audit. It said it would be undertaking cultural change efforts to improve the work environment and prevent bullying. Why has the Scottish Government been criticised? The scandal has dented trust in the Scottish Government's stewardship of public funds, especially given that WICS is a regulator meant to promote efficiency and value for money. A lack of oversight. Officials did not adequately challenge or question large expenditures, even though they were notified of them. This included the Harvard course and excessive hospitality bills. Critics say there were signs of mismanagement as early as 2020, yet the Scottish Government did not step in decisively to address them. WICS is the economic regulator of Scotland's water and sewerage civil servants in charge of "sponsoring" or supervising WICS were found by an internal audit to lack the rigour and curiosity necessary to spot and stop poor practices. Opposition parties have accused the Scottish Government of 'negligence,' 'mismanagement,' and even covering up failings. What is the current status of WICS? As of May 2025, WICS is undergoing a period of transformation to address the issues that have come to light. The organisation is working to implement the recommendations from the independent review and its own improvement plan. Leadership changes have been made, and efforts are underway to improve governance, financial controls, and workplace culture.
