Latest news with #BCP
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Malaysia to have single aviation regulator starting Aug 1, says Transport Minister
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia will have a single aviation regulator beginning Aug 1, following the merger of the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom), Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced today. He said the move, part of the government's broader reform agenda, will see CAAM take over Mavcom's economic regulatory functions, becoming the sole authority overseeing all technical, safety and economic aspects of the nation's aviation industry. "With this integration, CAAM will operate as a statutory body with separated remuneration and autonomy (BBDSB), providing it with greater flexibility in financial governance, human resource management, and strategic decision-making," the minister said at a media briefing here. Loke added that the streamlined structure would lay a strong foundation for CAAM to drive sustainable growth and support Malaysia's ambition to become a regional aviation hub. He also said A si the legal processes backing this initiative were conducted transparently and in accordance with parliamentary procedure. Two key bills — the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Dissolution) Bill 2024 and the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (Amendment) Bill 2024 were passed by the Dewan Rakyat on June 26, 2024, and approved by the Dewan Negara on July 30, 2024. Both acts received the consent of the King of Malaysia, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim on Sept 11, 2024, and were gazetted on Sept 25, 2024. The acts will come into force concurrently with the effective date of the merger. Loke said all 57 current Mavcom employees will be offered placements in CAAM based on their skills and experience. He added that it also assured that the entire transition will be carried out in a transparent and well-coordinated manner, guided by best governance practices and supported by a comprehensive Business Continuity Plan (BCP). "With this initiative, Malaysia is well-positioned to revitalise its aviation sector in a more sustainable and competitive way." "CAAM is expected to play a pivotal role in realising the country's aspirations of becoming a dynamic regional aviation hub, in line with Malaysia's inclusive and innovation-driven development goals," Loke said.
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
‘We can't sell our £400k Dorset beach huts – and it's the council's fault'
The owners of Britain's most expensive beach huts have blamed the council for making the properties less desirable to potential buyers. Eight wooden huts with a combined value of £3.8 million have gone up for sale at Mudeford Spit in Christchurch Harbour, Dorset. The huts range in price from £395,000 to £439,000 – more than the average UK house price. The properties often sell extremely quickly because of their exclusive location and sea views. Last year, one sold for £485,000 in less than 24 hours. The unusually high number currently on the market has prompted concerns that the tide may be turning on a once lucrative market. Financially-struggling Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council (BCP) has been accused of using beach hut owners as 'cash cows'. The annual hut licence fee has increased by 30 per cent in the past two years to £3,240, with another 5 per cent rise planned for next year. This is in addition to the £23,100 transfer fee. Stephen Bath, who owns one of the 346 huts at Mudeford, said: 'The council uses the beach huts as a cash cow because they are in dire financial circumstances. 'I think that's what's caused people to try to sell up, hereditary owners who can't afford the rent hikes. 'The council are getting cheeky – they don't care who's paying the rent. Plus people who have bought more recently, out of towners, are also thinking it is getting ridiculous. It costs more to stay at the beach than it would to stay at somewhere like Claridge's.' Earlier this month, BCP warned it would be forced to issue a section 114 notice, a formal declaration of effective bankruptcy, without more direction from the Government on how to tackle the severe cash flow crisis associated with its growing special educational needs and disability deficit. Richard Herrett, the council's portfolio holder for leisure and destination, said the rental income for its beach huts enable it to reinvest in 'crucial front-line services that residents rely on each day – such as adult social care and children's services'. The council said the five-year pricing structure, introduced in 2022, simplified the service 'allowing everyone to know the annual cost of beach huts until 2027/28'. He added: 'Despite increasing financial constraints which many local authorities face, as a result of national pressures, the council has remained committed to that transparent pricing strategy and will do so into the future.'
The Star
19-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
System downtime affects import, export services in Brunei
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The Brunei Darussalam National Single Window (BDNSW) has been experiencing system downtime since Monday, June 9, impacting digital processes related to the import and export of goods. According to a joint announcement from the BDNSW portal and the Ministry of Finance and Economy (MoFE) released on June 5, the downtime is due to ongoing system maintenance and security upgrades. These enhancements are part of efforts to strengthen cybersecurity and ensure compliance with standards set by the E-Government National Centre (EGNC). The Royal Customs and Excise Department (RCED), in collaboration with EGNC, is working to complete the maintenance as swiftly as possible. In the interim, a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) has been activated to maintain operations through manual procedures at all relevant checkpoints. Traders and stakeholders are advised to download the necessary manual forms via the BDNSW portal at and submit completed forms along with supporting documents, agency-issued permits (if required), and payments (if applicable) to checkpoint officers. Authorities expressed their appreciation for the public's understanding and patience during the temporary disruption and assured that regular updates will be provided via the BDNSW portal and MoFE social media platforms. – Borneo Bulletin/ANN
BBC News
16-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Poole car park to stay despite BCP Council's opposition
A town centre's 100-space car park can be used for another five years despite a council previously telling its owners that it needed to be shut Quayside Poole car park opened in 2009 but Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council told Stanborough Developments Ltd the site could no longer be used for that planning inspector Paul Hocking quashed BCP Council's enforcement notice and gave the company permission to use the site. The authority said the car park created too much parking in the harbour area, had a negative impact and would harm attempts to get people use public transport or to walk and cycle. The car park site was previously used for a grain silo, which was demolished about 16 years ago. Mr Hocking found that there was "very little evidence" to show that using the site as a car park for another five years would result in overprovision for parking in the added that he was not persuaded that still using it would "harmfully erode" the council's efforts to get people to use other modes of has previously been granted for 64 flats and two shops on the site. But Mr Hocking said using it for the car park for another five years would not "unacceptably harm" any future development. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What has happened to Bournemouth Air Festival?
As hopes of a 2026 edition of Bournemouth Air Festival fade, what factors have led to its demise, and will it ever return? The private air show operator that was expected to run the event on a 10-year contract has pulled out of talks. The major sticking point was its plan to close the promenade and seafront between the piers, which the council said it legally could not do. The US-based firm has also blamed the "instability of the financial and political climate" for its decision to withdraw. The free air festival was first held in 2008 and has taken place every August, with the exception of 2020 when Covid restrictions were in place. At its peak, it attracted about 1.3 million visitors to the seaside conurbation, and estimates of how much it annually contributed to the local economy vary from £14m to £59m. But the cost to the council has sky-rocketed in recent years, with hikes across insurance, security, infrastructure and counter-terrorism measures. Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) said its net budget for the four-day festival had risen from £300,000 in 2019 to £400,000 by 2022. New legislation brought in after the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing is also set to significantly increase costs for all organisers of public events. The authority, which has been run by a coalition since 2023, has already slashed millions from its budget as it grapples with a huge deficit for its special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services. Half a million people attended the final council-funded air show in 2024, which was scaled back from four days to three, with the final net cost to the council reaching £248,000. In the months that followed, officers explored two options - one was for a sponsor to foot the £400,000 bill of a council-run event, the other was for an external operator to run the air show at no cost to the authority. With no firm offers of sponsorship, but five potential operators raising their hand, things began to look up. But those early discussions led to just two firm expressions of interest and, with one of those requiring financial backing from the council, the initial flurry of enquiries quickly dwindled to a shortlist of one. BCP's destination and leisure councillor Richard Herrett said the prospective organisers had flown from the US to attend the 2024 event, but had drawn up a "wide range of requests that would have created significant financial pressures on the council". A report to BCP councillors said the plan to close off the beach and promenade between Boscombe and Bournemouth piers was to enable "a variety of hospitality offers ranging in price". But the authority said the firm's "non-negotiable" request presented legal difficulties, as fencing off the area would contravene the Open Spaces Act 1906. After the report was published, but before councillors met to discuss it, the company announced it was pulling out. In a letter read to councillors, the operator, whose name was redacted, said: "Several factors led us to this decision, with the most significant being that, without the ability to fence off and restrict access to a significant part of the beach and the surrounding areas, it would be challenging to create a financially sustainable event model. "The instability of the financial and political climate were also factors that would challenge us to deliver the event in a similar manner to our other events." Council leader Millie Earl said: "We are still open to any interest from potential operators or sponsors. "In the meantime, we remain invested in the cultural future of our beautiful area and are continuing to work with our partners and support others where we can." The council says its Bay Run, Arts By the Sea Festival and Christmas in Bournemouth events will still go ahead. But, with 12-months needed to organise the air show, any potential air show sponsor or operator would now be working towards 2027 at the earliest. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Bournemouth Air Festival in doubt as sponsor search ends In pictures: Bournemouth Air Festival 2024 BCP Council
