Latest news with #Independent.The
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Political row erupts over Bedford Borough Council's finances
A council is facing a claim that it is effectively bankrupt following a review of its finances.A study of the financial position of Bedford Borough Council by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) has highlighted a number of leader Henry Vann, a Liberal Democrat, said he had been "told that Bedford Borough Council is in effect bankrupt".But Conservative group leader Graeme Coombes said "Bedford Council is not bankrupt" and it was "a staggering attempt by... Vann to mislead the public". The CIPFA review found that the council needed "a robust, credible strategy" to secure its longer-term financial future and that it needed to be "prepared to act boldly and make 'politically unattractive' decisions", reports the Local Democracy Reporting report highlighted a projected overspend for the current financial year that could deplete the authority's entire general reserve, and it added that "we believe the council is already in S114 territory".An S114 means a council's forecast spending exceeds its income, and it cannot meet its financial obligations without drastic measures. It is a formal notice that freezes all non-essential spending.A spokesperson for the authority said it had "commissioned CIPFA to undertake a review of the council's financial resilience and financial management".They added that it "reflects a shared commitment from the corporate leadership team and cabinet to ensure the long-term sustainability of the organisation".The council said the report confirmed it was facing financial challenges, which were "driven by high spending on temporary accommodation and growing pressures in children's services and adult social care".An improvement plan is being prepared to "return the council to a sustainable position". The authority is under no overall control but its cabinet is made up of nine Conservative members – including the mayor, Tom Wootton – and an report has sparked a political row with the Lib Dems, who are the largest opposition said: "It is deeply sad that, despite our repeated warnings, we now see the Conservative mayor's decisions leading us to this disastrous point."He added that he "urgently called on the mayor to produce a recovery plan" and "cancel wasteful spending that does not protect residents".However, Coombes said: "The CIPFA report confirmed the root causes of Bedford's financial situation are not just recent, and stem from over a decade of financial recklessness and poor governance by the previous mayor, in whose cabinet Vann served."He added that "Vann's fingerprints are all over the current financial predicament and it's Bedford residents who are paying the price". Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Trump claims he spared Khamenei from an ugly death — now wants a thank you from Iran
Donald Trump asserted that he spared Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a recent conflict, despite knowing his location and obliterating Iran's nuclear sites. Trump claims he prevented a devastating final strike by recalling Israeli jets heading to Tehran, expecting gratitude for averting further casualties and offering potential sanctions relief. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Donald Trump Claims He Spared Iran's Supreme Leader During US Strike Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Accused of Lying About Iran's War Outcome Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Trump Says He Saved Khamenei Trump Says Israeli Jets Were Recalled After His Intervention Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Operation Midnight Hammer Targeted Key Nuclear Sites FAQs US president Donald Trump said that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei should be thanking him, not boasting about victory, following the recent 12-day war between Iran and Israel, as per a writing on his social media platform Truth Social, claimed that he had chosen not to target Khamenei during US and Israeli military operations, even though he knew where the Iranian leader was hiding, as per the Independent pointed out that the octogenarian cleric who has headed Iran's religious fundamentalist government since 1989, had boasted publicly of having won that short conflict, calling the Iranian leader's claim 'a lie,' as reported by the US president wrote on Truth Social, saying, 'As a man of great faith, he is not supposed to lie. His Country was decimated, his three evil Nuclear Sites were OBLITERATED, and I knew EXACTLY where he was sheltered, and would not let Israel, or the U.S. Armed Forces, by far the Greatest and Most Powerful in the World, terminate his life,' as quoted by the READ: Despite airstrikes, Trump officials quietly courted Iran with $30 billion nuclear deal and sanction relief He highlighted in his post that, 'I SAVED HIM FROM A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH, and he does not have to say, 'THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP!,'' as quoted in the US president also indicated that Khamenei should have expressed gratitude for the Trump's role in pressuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to recall Israel Air Force fighters in the hours before a ceasefire between Israel and Iran went into effect earlier this week, as he said that those planes 'were heading directly to Tehran, looking for a big day, perhaps the final knockout!,' as quoted by the Independent said, 'Tremendous damage would have ensued, and many Iranians would have been killed. It was going to be the biggest attack of the War, by far,' as per the READ: Trump says Iran warned of missile strike at Al Udeid base: 'They asked if 1 o'clock was OK — I said fine' He continued the post by claiming that he had spent 'the last few days' working on how to lift longstanding — and in his words, 'BITING', the US sanctions on Tehran to enable the country to have 'much better chance to Iran at a full, fast, and complete recovery,' as quoted by the Independent further said that Khamenei's 'statement of anger, hatred, and disgust' had caused him to have 'immediately dropped all work on sanction relief, and more,' according to the US president ended his Truth Social post, saying, 'Iran has to get back into the World Order flow, or things will only get worse for them. They are always so angry, hostile, and unhappy, and look at what it has gotten them - A burned out, blown up Country, with no future, a decimated Military, a horrible Economy, and DEATH all around them,' and added that Tehran's leadership had 'no hope' and things would 'only get worse' until they 'realize that you often get more with HONEY than you do with VINEGAR,' as quoted by the Independent public outburst against Iran's leader came after the US B-2 stealth bombers dropped more than a dozen 30,000 pound bunker-busting bombs onto three Iranian nuclear sites, and he had claimed that the bombing 'obliterated' the Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan nuclear facilities as part of what American officials called 'Operation Midnight Hammer,' according to the claimed he knew Ayatollah Khamenei's location during the conflict but chose not to have him says his decision to prevent a deadly final strike saved Khamenei's life and spared further Iranian casualties.
BBC News
21-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Appeal lodged after Sunderland flats near music venue refused
Plans for flats near a music venue are to be decided by a government-appointed planning inspector following an City Council refused plans to turn the property above Dr Q's Food Factory in Holmeside into two, one-bedroom flats near the grassroots music venue and nightclub, plans were rejected in November over fears future tenants could complain about noise from the appeal will now be considered by the planning inspector. An objection from charity Music Venue Trust said noise complaints impacting music venues was a UK-wide issue and the proposed flats plan presented an "increased risk" of noise complaints from charity believed the proximity of the flats would "place the future of the grassroots music venue under sustained risk of permanent closure".A five-bedroom flat in the same space was rejected in April over similar concerns. Noise concerns In the planning application, the developer said a full noise assessment had been carried out and recommendations had been incorporated to "address the noise concerns from neighbouring premises".According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, council planners had argued that it had "not been demonstrated that future occupiers would be afforded an acceptable standard of living in respect of impacts of noise".It has now been confirmed the applicant is contesting the council's decision and has submitted an appeal to the Planning the appeal, the developer said a planning condition could be imposed that would require the flats to have a "particular sound insulation specification".A planning inspector will now be appointed to rule on the matter, which could see the local authority's refusal decision upheld or thrown out. Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas here.
