Latest news with #Labour-led
The Herald Scotland
4 hours ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
This is the row that could derail the UK-wide 5G rollout
A long-running dispute between landowners, telecommunication companies and government appears to be here to stay. The UK Government, then run by the Conservatives, updated the Electronic Communications Code (ECC) in 2017 in an attempt to accelerate action on 5G. But the government has acknowledged these changes were controversial. Rent dispute The ECC simplifies the process for network operators to access land and install infrastructure like phone masts and cables, while also balancing the rights of landowners. It allowed many telecoms companies to vastly reduce the rents they paid to landowners. Some landowners have reported rent reductions of up to 90%, which has led to many considering whether to continue as a hosting site. Read more: The proposals were described as "well intentioned" but in some areas have had the opposite impact, with landowners refusing to host the infrastructure. There has also been an explosion in legal disputes, with cases reaching over 1,000 since 2017, compared with just three in the previous three decades, from 1984. New changes? The row has escalated as the Labour-led government launched a consultation in May, which looks to extend the changes in the valuation mechanism to rental agreements entered into before 2017 as they come up for renewal. That would mean around 15,000 existing telecoms sites would be added, with landowner representatives arguing it would exacerbate the problem they face. Industry experts want the UK Government to pause the implementation to consider the consequences for landowners. Interestingly, Labour in opposition approved the changes, which would be made by amending the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PTSI) Act, which then updates the ECC. In 2022, shadow digital secretary Lucy Powell warned that the PSTI changes would "slow down, rather than speed up, the broadband and 5G rollout". But now, telecoms minister Chris Bryant confirmed the government wants to implement the provisions "as soon as possible". Connectivity stalled Broadband and 5G accessibility remains poor in many parts of the UK. In Scotland, Argyll and Bute and the Highlands and Islands are amongst he worst. However, in Scotland's largest urban hub - Glasgow - fibre coverage is now amongst the five worst cities in the UK. Just 57.8% of premises have access to full fibre broadband. The UK is also now ranked 30th out of 39 countries in terms of availability of 5G.
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Monmouthshire mosque lease for former library confirmed
Monmouthshire County Council's cabinet agreed to grant a 30-year lease for the empty Abergavenny Library to the Monmouthshire Muslim Community Association in May but three backbench councillors forced a review using the council's call in process. Just two days before a scrutiny committee considered that request the grade II listed building, last used as a pupil referral unit after the library closed and transferred to the to the town hall in 2015, was targeted by Islamophobic vandalism. The decision had to come back to the Labour-led cabinet's Wednesday, June 25 meeting where leader Mary Ann Brocklesby reminded those present the call in 'asked us to review the decision made and does not have the authority to overturn the decision.' Councillor Ben Callard, who is responsible for resources including leases, addressed the seven points made by the scrutiny committee which sent the decision back to the cabinet, on the chair's casting vote, but said he wasn't convinced the tender process should be run again as the committee wanted. A photograph showing the anti-Muslim vandalism of the former Abergavenny Library. The Llanfoist and Govilon member said: 'I've reflected on them but at the moment I'm not minded to change the original decision. I think it was the correct one and Monmouthshire Muslim Community Association will be good tenants for this property.' Of those reasons Cllr Callard said the council hadn't set a target rent for the building, and doing so could have 'depressed' the price, and defended the four week timeframe for the tender process. He said a number of 'competitive' bids were received and he didn't agree the council should have got an independent survey of the building as the authority has the capacity to do so itself. He also dismissed the suggestion, he said made by a Conservative councillor, the library built and funded by Scottish-American philanthropists Andrew Carnegie should be sold. He said: 'I don't think it should be disposed of, it should remain in the council's ownership'. Conservative opposition leader Cllr Richard John claimed taxpayers would be 'subsidising' the mosque at the agreed rent of £500 a month, or £6,000 a year. He said a previous council budget paper suggested it could produce a rental of between £20-25,000 a year. Cllr Callard said: 'The tax payers of Monmouthshire will not be subsidising it. It was put out for a competitive tender and it returned the figures proposed by the Monmouthshire Muslim Community Association, which was the highest submission.' From left, Cllrs Ben Callard, Mary Ann Brocklesby and Richard John. (Image: Monmouthshire County Council.) He added the lease is on a 'full repair' basis which will pass all maintenance responsibilities to the tenants and he described the building as having 'significant liabilities'. The lease was also described as a commercial deal and Cllr Callard said the Muslim association isn't benefiting from a rental agreement, which is a subsidy, that other community groups leasing council buildings enjoy. Cllr Callard also acknowledged it was an 'ambition' of the cabinet the local Muslim community should have a mosque but denied, under questioning from Cllr John, there was any 'done deal'. He also said independent councillor Simon Howarth was wrong to say the council had 'put' the mosque in the library as it offered the building through a tender process open to all. Concerns from residents over car parking in the area were also acknowledged at the meeting and Cllr Callard said the association has committed to using the three nearby public car parks. All seven members of the cabinet confirmed their support for the original decision when asked by Cllr Brocklesby who said the unanimous decision means the lease will be offered to the Monmouthshire Muslim Community Association. During the meeting Cllr Callard also acknowledged questioning over how the council should subject potential leases to scrutiny before decisions are made which he said requires further thought.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mayor campaign threatens action against government
The Mayor for Plymouth (MfP) campaign says it will take the government to high court over an announcement there will no be a directly-elected mayor for the city. The government announced on Tuesday that the creation of new elected mayor roles would be discontinued to "simplify local government and support democratic accountability for local people". The Plymouth Knows Better (PKB) - No to a City Mayor coalition, welcomed the news, but MfP said it betrayed "democracy". A referendum on how the city is run was confirmed before the announcement, and is still set to take place on 17 July after a petition reached more than 10,000 signatures on the issue of the £75,000-per-year role. MfP campaign leader Angus Forbes said the government had betrayed "democracy, current legislation and the people of Plymouth". He said: "HM Government is willing to put the suffering of tens of thousands of its citizens to the side, in pursuit of the retention of political power. "Plymothians want change, they want better democracy, they want their voice to be heard. "The 13,800 Plymothians who signed the petition for change did so under current legislation." More news stories for Devon Listen to the latest news for Devon Mr Forbes said the MfP still intended "to win" the referendum to grant its first mayor for May 2026. He said: "If HM Government tries to stop us on the grounds of some prospective legislation, we will see them in the high court, where we will win. "The final check and balance of a government's power is always the people, and it is this union of the people of Plymouth that will prevail against authoritarianism, fear and intimidation." The MfP added that the referendum would take place under current law, "not prospective law that had not yet been passed". Peter Gold, campaign manager for Plymouth Deserves Better, said it felt the government was "overruling local democracy". "Local people, if we make a choice to vote for a mayor, the government overruling that is just basically cancelling democracy," he said. Jemima Laing, deputy leader of Labour-led Plymouth City Council, said the leader of the MfP had been told the "direction the government was going". She said: "It was very clear from the devolution white paper which was published at the end of last year. "Angus Forbes can't say he wasn't told, can't say he didn't know and can't say he wasn't asked to stop. "The reason we are spending over £400,000 on a referendum in Plymouth is because Angus Forbes wouldn't take no for an answer." Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Community resolution over council leader threat Directly-elected Plymouth city mayor role scrapped Date set for referendum on mayor for Plymouth UK Government Mayor for Plymouth
Rhyl Journal
4 days ago
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
University vice-principal ‘asked to leave' after raising concerns, MSPs told
Baroness Wendy Alexander, who served as a vice-principal at the university for almost a decade, said by September 2024 she was 'worried about the cash flow'. In a submission to MSPs examining the financial problems at the university – which is seeking to cut staff as part of efforts to deal with a £35 million deficit – she added: 'Within a month I had been asked to leave.' Baroness Alexander, a former MSP who was a minister in the Labour-led Scottish executive, said a former principal had 'made clear' he 'wanted me to leave in early October 2024'. She added this was shortly after she had restated concerns at a retreat attended by senior figures in the university executive group. In a written submission to Holyrood's Education Committee, she told how she had raised concerns in writing on 'financial management issues' – although she said taking such action was a 'lonely experience'. Baroness Alexander said she was 'told not to interfere' in such areas. She added she 'felt punished for speaking out' but insisted she had chosen 'not to be bought off'. Baroness Alexander said she had 'declined the offer of overseas trips at the university's expense to be followed by a generous settlement payment' – claiming this 'seemed unethical and morally wrong'. She also told how she was 'progressively frozen out of meetings' and had her objectives changed, claiming also that data was 'withheld' from her after she 'challenged the absence/adequacy of financial information in September 24'. Her submission was published as the committee continues to take evidence from former senior figures at Dundee University over its financial plight. On Tuesday, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth announced the Scottish Government is using special powers to award £40 million to the institution. Meanwhile Baroness Alexander said: 'The University of Dundee deserves to recover and continue a proud tradition of teaching and research. 'I hope the committee's deliberations can aid that outcome.'
Western Telegraph
4 days ago
- Business
- Western Telegraph
University vice-principal ‘asked to leave' after raising concerns, MSPs told
Baroness Wendy Alexander, who served as a vice-principal at the university for almost a decade, said by September 2024 she was 'worried about the cash flow'. In a submission to MSPs examining the financial problems at the university – which is seeking to cut staff as part of efforts to deal with a £35 million deficit – she added: 'Within a month I had been asked to leave.' Baroness Alexander, a former MSP who was a minister in the Labour-led Scottish executive, said a former principal had 'made clear' he 'wanted me to leave in early October 2024'. She added this was shortly after she had restated concerns at a retreat attended by senior figures in the university executive group. In a written submission to Holyrood's Education Committee, she told how she had raised concerns in writing on 'financial management issues' – although she said taking such action was a 'lonely experience'. Baroness Alexander said she was 'told not to interfere' in such areas. She added she 'felt punished for speaking out' but insisted she had chosen 'not to be bought off'. The University of Dundee is seeking to cut staff as part of efforts to plug a £35 million deficit (Alamy/PA) Baroness Alexander said she had 'declined the offer of overseas trips at the university's expense to be followed by a generous settlement payment' – claiming this 'seemed unethical and morally wrong'. She also told how she was 'progressively frozen out of meetings' and had her objectives changed, claiming also that data was 'withheld' from her after she 'challenged the absence/adequacy of financial information in September 24'. Her submission was published as the committee continues to take evidence from former senior figures at Dundee University over its financial plight. On Tuesday, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth announced the Scottish Government is using special powers to award £40 million to the institution. Meanwhile Baroness Alexander said: 'The University of Dundee deserves to recover and continue a proud tradition of teaching and research. 'I hope the committee's deliberations can aid that outcome.'
