Latest news with #Agnew
The National
16 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
Tory councillor suspended over 'inappropriate' Travellers comment
The Conservative suggested that 'Gypsies are not British people' at a Kincardine and Mearns area committee meeting back in November 2023. Her comments were made during discussions around plans to change the use of the Findon Park football pitch near Portlethen into a camp. The issue flared up due to the retrospective nature of the application being voted on. Mrs Agnew suggested this showed a willingness to ignore rules on behalf of the applicants. READ MORE: Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell granted legal aid in embezzlement case She said: 'If they're ignoring this, they may ignore other things. That's my problem.' When pressed by colleagues to retract her remarks, she added: 'I don't want to refute it. Anything could happen there. That's all. It's slightly worrying to me. 'And I'm not saying it's just because they're Gypsies. It would be the same if they were British people. I'd be worried about this massive site. That's all.' The incident sparked some controversy and resulted in Mrs Agnew stepping down as committee chairwoman in the aftermath. By standing down she lost out on an extra £10,000 each year. Now more than 18 months later, she has faced standard watchdogs. An investigation has now been carried out by the ethical standards commissioner. The Stonehaven member faced the Standards Commission today. Ethical standards commissioner Ian Bruce said: 'The respondent made inappropriate comments about Gypsy Travellers and the appropriateness of granting a retrospective planning application for a site, including insinuating that they are not British. 'This was deemed a failure to treat everyone with courtesy or respect, and also a failure to advance equality of opportunity.' At the meeting, Mrs Agnew stressed she didn't 'feel hatred' towards gypsy travellers and blamed her comments on 'clumsy language'. The councillor also argued she had 'no intent to be disrespectful'. Before the recording of the fateful 2023 meeting was shared on YouTube, it had been edited to remove Mrs Agnew's comments. READ MORE: Ryanair cancels more than 800 flights due to conflict in the Middle East The council's head of legal and people, Karen Wiles, admitted this had been done to prevent the local authority from facing any potential legal challenges. She said: 'It was apparent to me that people of a Gypsy Traveller community may have seen themselves as being differentiated from British people. 'That could be offensive since the two terms are not mutually exclusive.' Standards Commission member and chairwoman of the hearing panel, Helen Donaldson, said members found Mrs Agnew had treated the applicant 'less favourably' because she was a Gypsy Traveller. They based this on Mrs Agnew's suggested knowledge of unauthorised use of a different site and an assumption that Travellers were 'more likely to breach planning conditions'. Ms Donaldson added: 'The provisions that state councillors … must avoid any perception that they are not acting fairly and without bias when making decisions on quasi-judicial matters. READ MORE: LIVE: Latest updates as MPs vote on proscribing Palestine Action 'The panel noted that a failure to comply with the code's provisions in this regard can have a detrimental impact on the right of an applicant to be treated fairly, and can erode public confidence in the role of a councillor. 'Such a failure also had the potential to bring the committee, the council and its decisions into disrepute and open it up to the risk of a successful legal challenge.' Members then decided to hand the Stonehaven councillor a two month suspension. This means she will not be allowed to attend any meetings or represent Aberdeenshire Council during this time.
STV News
a day ago
- Politics
- STV News
Councillor suspended after making 'inappropriate' comments about Gypsy Travellers
A Stonehaven councillor has been suspended for two months after she was found to have made 'inappropriate' comments about Gypsy Travellers. Wendy Agnew was thought to have suggested that 'gypsies are not British people' at a Kincardine and Mearns area committee meeting back in November 2023. Her comments were made during discussions around retrospective plans to change the use of the Findon Park football pitch near Portlethen into a Gypsy Travellers site. The incident sparked some controversy and resulted in Agnew stepping down as committee chairwoman. A councillor colleague made a complaint about her comments the following month and an investigation was carried out by the ethical standards commissioner. In April, the Standards Commission was sent a report that suggested that Agnew had breached the Councillor's Code of Conduct. The Stonehaven member faced the Standards Commission on Tuesday to face the consequences of her comments. Ethical standards commissioner Ian Bruce said: 'The respondent made inappropriate comments about Gypsy Travellers and the appropriateness of granting a retrospective planning application for a Gypsy Traveller site, including insinuating that they are not British. 'This was deemed a failure to treat everyone with courtesy or respect, and also a failure to advance equality of opportunity and to seek to foster good relations between different people.' Aberdeenshire Council Wendy Agnew, Aberdeenshire Council At the meeting, Agnew admitted she didn't 'feel hatred' towards Gypsy Travellers and blamed her comments on 'clumsy language'. The councillor also stated that she had 'no intent to be disrespectful'. Before the recording of the meeting was published online to YouTube, it had been edited to remove Agnew's comments. The council's head of legal and people, Karen Wiles, admitted this had been done to prevent the local authority from facing any potential legal challenges. She said: 'It was apparent to me that people of a Gypsy Traveller community may have seen themselves as being differentiated from British people. 'That could be offensive since the two terms are not mutually exclusive.' Standards Commission member and chair of the hearing panel, Helen Donaldson, said members found Agnew had treated the applicant 'less favourably' because she was a Gypsy Traveller. They based this on Agnew's suggested knowledge of unauthorised use of a different site and an assumption that travellers were 'more likely to breach planning conditions'. Ms Donaldson added: 'The provisions that state councillors must be respectful, must foster good relations between different people and must avoid any perception that they are not acting fairly and without bias when making decisions on quasi-judicial matters, such as planning applications, are key requirements of the Councillors' Code. 'The panel noted that a failure to comply with the code's provisions in this regard can have a detrimental impact on the right of an applicant to be treated fairly, and can erode public confidence in the role of a councillor. 'Such a failure also had the potential to bring the committee, the council and its decisions into disrepute and open it up to the risk of a successful legal challenge.' The panel found that Agnew had breached paragraphs 3.1, 3.2, 7.4a, 7.4c and 7.5a of the councillor's code of conduct. Members then decided to hand the Stonehaven councillor a two-month suspension. This means she will not be allowed to attend any meetings or represent Aberdeenshire Council during this time. 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
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Manager's focus to return to science
The Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony is set for redevelopment. PHOTO: ALLIED PRESS FILES A staffing restructure at Tourism Waitaki could have national impacts in advancing penguin science, the regional tourism organisation says. Speaking at this week's Waitaki District Council meeting, Tourism Waitaki chairman Mike McElhinney revealed the Tourism Waitaki board was in the process of recruiting for two new roles, which would free up Blue Penguin Colony general manager Dr Philippa Agnew to return to more scientific study. "It's fair to say that three years in a holding pattern just with awaiting direction and we've had to say that Dr Philippa can't sustain the workload that's put on her and we can't deliver the expectations of the Letter of Intent and expect her to undertake to do that, Mr McElhinney said. "Therefore, the board has taken the initiative to do a restructure model; we shared that with our stakeholders at the stakeholder meeting recently." Dr Agnew, previously the organisation's only paid employee, said the move was welcome. "We're bringing other management positions into line so that we can share the load. It means that I can progress a lot of that science work, like I was doing before, because we've got some really interesting things happening and we can lead the science because we've got a lot of really important data that we can use to support little penguin populations around the country." Dr Agnew had recently hosted the biannual Penguin Symposium that drew about 100 penguin experts from around New Zealand to Oamaru. Mr McElhinney said the Little Blue Penguin Colony side of Tourism Waitaki's business was doing well. "A lot of positive things are happening at the penguin colony in terms of the redevelopment projects that we've got on the way there. Visitation numbers are back to pre-Covid days, which is absolutely outstanding. "The website has been developed and then the internal part of the building has been developed to enhance the daytime experience with the idea of being to attract more visitors during the daytime and allowing us to monetise that part of the business. "The other big areas that we're working on in the colony is the new stand, which we've gone out to tender with. "It's been an interesting market in terms of tourists coming into the region. We're ahead of the national average. Tourism has been down nationally about 33%, 38% and that's tourist numbers and revenue." Waitaki was about 7% up on pre-Covid levels, Mr McElhinney said. "So, we're ahead of the national average, which is a reflection of good work that Tourism Waitaki has been doing in the external market and that's where we play most of all, outside the region and attracting people."
Belfast Telegraph
10-06-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Ulster University partnership aims to revolutionise digital dispute resolution
The pilot collaboration will focus on developing artificial intelligence-based solutions to address the overwhelming backlog of claims resulting from the Agnew ruling on underpaid holiday leave. The LRA is currently dealing with more than 250,000 registered cases involving around 30,000 potential claimants, placing unprecedented pressure on existing systems. The initiative seeks to improve efficiency, reduce processing times, and deliver a more scalable approach to dispute resolution. By combining academic research, public sector leadership and private sector innovation, the project aims to deliver long-term benefits for both claimants and the legal system in Northern Ireland. John Keers BL, Director of the Centre for Legal Technology at Ulster University, said the collaboration demonstrates how different sectors can come together to tackle major social and legal challenges. For the Labour Relations Agency, the partnership is a strategic step towards ensuring operational resilience and delivering services more effectively in future. Legal tech company TalkTerms will provide its 'Swift Care' platform to support the pilot, aiming to demonstrate how responsible AI solutions can improve access to justice and public service delivery. Ulster University's Centre for Legal Technology continues to position itself as a hub for innovation, committed to research that drives positive outcomes for society. John Keers BL, Director of the Centre for Legal Technology at Ulster University said: 'This partnership highlights how academic expertise, public sector leadership, and entrepreneurial agility can come together to deliver real societal impact. We are passionate about solving complex challenges through innovation, and this project is a significant step towards transforming digital dispute resolution.' Mark McAllister, Chief Executive of the LRA added: 'The sheer scale of the miscalculated holiday pay claims means we must rethink our approach to case management. By working with Ulster University and TalkTerms, we are building the capabilities needed to deliver our services more effectively and sustainably into the future.' Gary Lyons, CEO of TalkTerms: 'We are honoured to partner with the Centre for Legal Technology at Ulster University and the LRA to showcase how our platform can revolutionise dispute resolution. 'This initiative allows us to scale our technology responsibly, ensuring it not only meets business needs but also contributes to the greater good by streamlining access to justice, enhancing public sector services and in using our 'Swift Care' platform to harness technology for meaningful societal impact.'
Global News
02-06-2025
- Climate
- Global News
A look back at Winnipeg's flood of 1950, 75 years later
As emergency crews fight wildfires across the province this year, three-quarters of a century ago, Winnipeg and Manitoba were dealing with a much different natural disaster. It was 75 years ago this spring that Winnipeg was in crisis mode, surrounded and submerged by floodwaters. View image in full screen An aerial view of Winnipeg during the flood of 1950. Courtesy / City of Winnipeg Archives View image in full screen A cornerstore surrounded by floodwaters. Courtesy / City of Winnipeg Archives View image in full screen Annabella Street in Winnipeg underwater during the flood of 1950. Courtesy / City of Winnipeg Archives The flood of 1950 marked one of the most devastating natural disasters within city limits, triggered by the melting of heavy spring snow and then heavy rainfall. The Red River peaked at 9.2 metres at James Avenue in Winnipeg in May 1950. It was the worst flood in the Red River Valley since 1861. Story continues below advertisement 'That particular April there was two times as much snow as we normally had, and it was also warm,' said Greg Agnew, the president of Heritage Winnipeg. 'It hit St. Norbert and Fort Garry first, so the University of Manitoba ended up being under water.' View image in full screen The University of Manitoba's Fort Garry campus during the flood of 1950. Credit / University of Manitoba Digital Archives Floodwaters reached up to the second storey of homes, the rush hour commute through city streets saw boats and canoes replace vehicles, and downtown Winnipeg landmarks, power stations, schools and hospitals were surrounded by rising water levels, dikes and causeways. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'It's kind of surreal to think of people just paddling around,' Agnew said. View image in full screen Winnipeg's flood of 1950. Courtesy / City of Winnipeg Archives View image in full screen The causeway to the Rover Street station during the flood of 1950. Courtesy / City of Winnipeg Archives View image in full screen Flooded downtown Winnipeg streets near the Manitoba legislative building. Courtesy / Province of Manitoba Archives View image in full screen People fleeing their homes via a raft. Courtesy / City of Winnipeg Archives Those moments are carefully documented at the City of Winnipeg Archives through newspaper clippings, minutes of emergency council and committee meetings, and countless photos, many of which have been recently digitized. Story continues below advertisement 'The ones that most people are interested in are the ones that kind of show water absolutely everywhere. About one-eighth of the city was underwater during that time,' said Jarad Buckwold, a digital archivist for the City of Winnipeg. View image in full screen A man wades through a flooded greenhouse. Courtesy / City of Winnipeg Archives View image in full screen A group of men work to get a fence out of the propeller of a piece of flood-fighting equipment. Courtesy / City of Winnipeg Archives View image in full screen Residents get into a boat to leave their Wellington Crescent home. Courtesy / City of Winnipeg Archives A state of emergency was declared and the Red Cross and the military were brought in to assist with evacuations. Story continues below advertisement 'The Red Cross set up in the civic auditorium on Vaughan Street and they sort of turned that into their flood relief HQ,' Buckwold said. 'Approximately 100,000 people evacuated during the flood, which was about a third of the size of Winnipeg at the time.' View image in full screen A young evacuee with a puppy in the Red Cross's evacuee headquarters during the flood of 1950. Courtesy / City of Winnipeg Archives View image in full screen The Red Cross hands out packs of cigarettes to workers building dikes during Winnipeg's flood of 1950. Courtesy / City of Winnipeg Archives The flood, which lasted 51 days, destroyed approximately 10,000 homes and damaged 5,000 buildings. Four of the city's 11 bridges were also damaged beyond repair and needed to be replaced. It's estimated the flood caused about $125.5 million in damages, which would be about $1 billion today. Story continues below advertisement The flood prompted the construction of the floodway during the 1960s, then known as 'Duff's Ditch' in recognition of then-premier Duff Roblin. The province estimates that since 1968, the floodway has prevented tens of billions of dollars in flood damage. Buckwold says it's important to keep these events well-documented, as the response is something that can be learned from for decades to come. 'Flooding will happen again, it always has, it probably always will,' Buckwold said. 'And by getting a sense of how it was dealt with, it will help us in the future to better prepare and hopefully prevent any sort of disaster on that scale from happening.'
