Latest news with #DeborahTaylor
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
County council redirects net-zero cash to flood defences
A Reform UK council has reallocated £2m from an earmarked carbon reduction reserve to flood mitigation initiatives. Leicestershire County Council also approved a change in focus of its previously agreed net-zero action plan from reducing carbon emissions to climate adaptation and responding to severe weather events. Adam Tilbury, cabinet member for environment and flooding, told colleagues he "fully supports" moving the funds, saying the threat of flooding was "here and now". Conservative councillor Deborah Taylor warned in the coming years Parliament may expand the council's legal duties in tackling climate change and she could not see anything in the report that "mitigates this risk". In 2022 the previous administration set aside a £2m reserve to provide initial investment in carbon reduction initiatives and agreed a net-zero strategy to end Leicestershire's contribution to global warming by 2045. In February 2024, this was reassessed in light of the council's "increasingly constrained" financial position, and a target of 2050 to reach net-zero in the county was set, council documents addedDeputy leader of the council, Joseph Boam said: "I think it's absolutely great to see us starting to scrap the wasteful net stupid zero agenda."And instead putting the funding towards something that actually matters, like tackling flooding, which has been neglected for far too long in Leicestershire." 'Virtue signalling' Council documents said on 6 January, during an unnamed storm, significant rainfall led to the "worst flooding event" in recent history in to the authority, an estimated 900 properties across the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) region were flooded - including a confirmed 717 in Leicestershire. Reform UK councillor Harrison Fowler said: "UK authorities of all sizes like to parade their net-zero efforts around like some badge of honour."But in reality, it's nothing more than shallow virtue signalling and PR."Council documents prepared for the meeting said the role of local government in combating climate change had been "constrained by a lack of a clear legal duty as well as a lack of funding from the government".The documents said the Environmental Targets Bill was currently before Parliament, which aims to introduce a statutory objective requiring public bodies to contribute to the delivery of targets to address climate report added: "In summary, the proposal under consideration presently appears lawful. "However, the cabinet should have in mind that, in the coming years, Parliament may well expand the council's legal duties."
BBC News
25-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Reform council told to reconsider 'grey areas' in flag policy
Reform has been told to reconsider "grey areas" in a decision to scrap Leicestershire County Council's flag flying party discontinued a previously agreed schedule of flags due to be displayed outside County Hall in Glenfield in its first cabinet meeting on 12 June, which included those to mark LGBTQ+ Pride Month, Windrush Day and matter has now been referred back to the cabinet after the council's scrutiny commission said the council should specify which flags will be flown on the fourth pole in the matter will be discussed again by the council's cabinet within 10 working days. Under the rules previously approved by the cabinet, the Union flag and the county council's own flag would fly permanently on two of the three flagpoles outside County Hall, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said. The St George's flag would fly from the third pole, unless it was replaced with the Lord Lieutenant's flag when they were in the building.A fourth flagpole in County Hall's quadrangle could be used to mark events such as Armed Forces Day, Commonwealth Day and Armistice Day, the LDRS added. Decisions on flying all other flags would be delegated to council chief executive John Sinnott after discussion with council leader Dan Harrison, under the policy. In a meeting on Tuesday, chair of the scrutiny commission, Conservative councillor Deborah Taylor, said the agreed protocol gives "much too grey an area" and should specify which flags will be flown on the fourth pole in the quadrangle."It needs to be really, really clear, so there are no grey areas," Taylor added. Taylor said decisions in relation to requests to fly other flags should only be delegated to the leader and chief executive in "in exceptional circumstances". At the meeting, deputy leader of the Reform group, Joseph Boam, said the Union flag is the "most inclusive flag".Boam added: "We are inclusive, which is why we will fly the Union flag, which represents everyone in this county and country regardless of sexuality, gender or race. I feel it's that simple."The decision has come after 102 social workers at the council signed a letter to the new Reform UK cabinet stating they felt flying community flags was a "vitally-important" symbol from the council that it was "supportive of marginalised groups".The letter continued: "Removing these flags promotes exclusion and marginalisation – it implies people represented by those flags are not told the scrutiny commission he "had not had the chance" to meet with social workers to discuss the flag policy following the added: "I will make the effort to reach out after this."
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Reform UK stands by newly-elected councillor sacked by police
A Reform UK council leader has defended one of his newly-elected colleagues after it was revealed he had been sacked from his role as a police Hamilton-Gray won a seat on Leicestershire County Council in this month's local elections when Reform became the largest party on the it has emerged Hamilton-Gray was dismissed by Leicestershire Police last year after a misconduct hearing found he had called in sick, to travel to Spain, when he should have been working as a Harrison, who was elected as the council's leader on Wednesday, told the BBC the former police officer was an "honourable, decent man". Hamilton-Gray was elected to the senior civic role as county council vice-chairman on Conservative council leader Deborah Taylor called for the councillor, who represents the Loughborough North West division, to be suspended claiming vital information about him had been withheld from the BBC approached Hamilton-Gray about these remarks but he said he had been advised not to asked if there would be a suspension, Harrison said this would not happen."It's unfortunate, but he's an innocent person - he's not doing anything wrong," he said."I'm defending him strongly because he's an honourable, decent man." Hamilton-Gray was sacked by Leicestershire Police for breaching professional standards on "honesty and integrity, discreditable conduct, orders and instructions, and duties and responsibilities".His page on LinkedIn advertises a consultancy advising "high-end dealerships in the luxury car market".Leicestershire Police Federation, which represented the former officer, has confirmed that his misconduct hearing related to selling luxury panel heard that the force had given him permission to run a car sales business in his own misconduct panel heard that PC Gray, as he was then known, applied for leave to deliver a car to Barcelona in April of his leave request was rejected. But a week later, he booked a return ferry ticket from Portsmouth, returning over two days when he was scheduled to reported in sick only hours before the outward sailing, the panel heard.A month later, two police officers stopped PC Gray in the passenger seat of a vintage red Porsche. The panel heard that he was giving a potential buyer a test drive while he was signed off PC Gray's dismissal, Leicestershire's then Chief Constable Rob Nixon described his conduct as "deliberate" and "planned" has been on the College of Policing barred list since his dismissal from the force.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
County awaits political future after elections
The dust has far from settled after this month's elections to Leicestershire County Council. Reform UK took 25 seats - not quite enough to take overall control at County Hall but enough to end the Conservatives' 24-year grip on power there. The Tories, now numbering 15, said on 3 May that they would act as a "strong opposition" to a Reform minority administration, closing off the option for a coalition of the parties to run the council for now. It means Reform has the option of either governing in a minority administration or trying to form a coalition with parties towards the opposite end of the political spectrum. But there has been no official word on what is happening. Reform has until 14 May to name its leader and cabinet. That is the date of the county council's annual general meeting - when all councillors meet to elect a chair and vice-chair and appoint councillors to committees. The other parties are waiting for Reform to name its leader so they know who they will be working with to form the important committees that oversee the authority's work. Conservative leader Deborah Taylor said: "We all need to work together for the good of Leicestershire. "Without a leader to talk to, I can't do anything." Joseph Boam, the newly-elected Reform councillor for Whitwick, previously said: "Let's not forget the sheer importance of what has happened here. "From a standing start we are now the largest party in Leicestershire County Council. "The message from local residents is clear: They want change and Reform UK will deliver that." Reform councillors must decide among themselves who leads them - a meeting to decide that is understood to be taking place on Monday. So how will they choose their leader - will they rate youth over experience? Dan Harrison has the most council experience in this Reform group. First elected on to Leicestershire County Council as a Conservative in 2017, he defected to Reform in February. He also served on North West Leicestershire District Council for eight years until 2023. He has to be in contention. Virge Richichi stood as an independent in district council elections in north west Leicestershire back in 2007 but didn't win. He succeeded as a Conservative four years later and continued as a district councillor until 2023, including as council chairman in 2021. Some of the group at least have previous experience in contesting elections. Three of the new Reform group stood for the party in the last county council election in 2021: Pete Morris elected in Loughborough North, Adam Tilbury in Forest and Measham and Bill Piper in Broughton Astley. Piper has a long history as a candidate in a range of elections including three for Parliament, also standing for the UK Independence Party before he joined Reform - and has previously served on Lutterworth Town Council. Others just elected may have had parish council roles before or have roles within the party now, like Boam, who chairs the North West Leicestershire Reform UK branch - or 19-year-old Charles Pugsley, who is the same branch's secretary. For whoever does emerge as leader, the job of winning over their colleagues is just the first hurdle to stepping up as leader of the whole council in which they are outnumbered by other parties. Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Council falls into no overall control - as it happened Conservatives rule out coalition after Reform wins Leicestershire County Council
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Leicestershire County Council awaits political future
The dust has far from settled after this month's elections to Leicestershire County UK took 25 seats - not quite enough to take overall control at County Hall but enough to end the Conservatives' 24-year grip on power Tories, now numbering 15, said on 3 May that they would act as a "strong opposition" to a Reform minority administration, closing off the option for a coalition of the parties to run the council for means Reform has the option of either governing in a minority administration or trying to form a coalition with parties towards the opposite end of the political spectrum. But there has been no official word on what is happening. Next steps Reform has until 14 May to name its leader and cabinet. That is the date of the county council's annual general meeting - when all councillors meet to elect a chair and vice-chair and appoint councillors to other parties are waiting for Reform to name its leader so they know who they will be working with to form the important committees that oversee the authority's work. Conservative leader Deborah Taylor said: "We all need to work together for the good of Leicestershire. "Without a leader to talk to, I can't do anything." Joseph Boam, the newly-elected Reform councillor for Whitwick, previously said: "Let's not forget the sheer importance of what has happened here. "From a standing start we are now the largest party in Leicestershire County Council."The message from local residents is clear: They want change and Reform UK will deliver that."Reform councillors must decide among themselves who leads them - a meeting to decide that is understood to be taking place on how will they choose their leader - will they rate youth over experience? Dan Harrison has the most council experience in this Reform group. First elected on to Leicestershire County Council as a Conservative in 2017, he defected to Reform in February. He also served on North West Leicestershire District Council for eight years until 2023. He has to be in Richichi stood as an independent in district council elections in north west Leicestershire back in 2007 but didn't win. He succeeded as a Conservative four years later and continued as a district councillor until 2023, including as council chairman in 2021. Some of the group at least have previous experience in contesting elections. Three of the new Reform group stood for the party in the last county council election in 2021: Pete Morris elected in Loughborough North, Adam Tilbury in Forest and Measham and Bill Piper in Broughton Astley. Piper has a long history as a candidate in a range of elections including three for Parliament, also standing for the UK Independence Party before he joined Reform - and has previously served on Lutterworth Town just elected may have had parish council roles before or have roles within the party now, like Boam, who chairs the North West Leicestershire Reform UK branch - or 19-year-old Charles Pugsley, who is the same branch's whoever does emerge as leader, the job of winning over their colleagues is just the first hurdle to stepping up as leader of the whole council in which they are outnumbered by other parties.
