Latest news with #NorthumberlandCountyCouncil
The Herald Scotland
6 hours ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Services supplier Commsworld shrugs off inflationary strain
Steve Langmead, who was appointed chief executive of Commsworld in 2021, said the marginal increases in turnover and profit showed the company has "managed to absorb the impact of inflation on our business". Read more: 'That is because we continue to focus on Commsworld's strengths – delivering high-quality, flexible, robust and resilient services to our customers – while also achieving financial stability through our bigger, longer-term contracts with local authorities across the UK," he said. 'Future challenges include helping businesses and organisations through the Public Switched Telephone Network shutdown, ensuring the withdrawal is managed in the best possible way to guarantee a smooth transition and minimal disruption." Revenue rose to £36.9m in 2024 from £36.5m the previous year, while pre-tax profits rose by £100,000 to £4.7m. During the year Commsworld also completed construction of Northumberland County Council's core network build, replacing its WAN and laying 262km of new full-fibre infrastructure serving employees in 150 council sites. Another highlight was the upgrading of connectivity in 42 schools in and around Dundee as part of a £2.6m contract over 10 years with the local council. Read more: Founded in 1994, Edinburgh-based Commsworld employs 140 people serving customers from the public and private sector. Other councils on the company's client roll include [[Edinburgh]], North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and the Scottish Borders. Mr Langmead said the results for 2024 were broadly in line with the board's expectations. "Our primary aim as a company is to continue to grow and evolve, win more big contracts and set the standard through our optical core network so we can grow throughout the whole of the UK, especially in remote areas of the country desperately in need of better connectivity," he added.
BBC News
21-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Malnourished girl known to social services 'most of her life'
A malnourished 13-year-old girl who weighed about two stone (13.8kg) had been known to social services for most of her life, a councillor has Renner-Thompson, from Northumberland County Council, said despite that, the teenager's health worsened when her situation "took a very quick turn".His comments were made following a safeguarding review about the girl, known in the report as Sophia, which found she had suffered from levels of malnutrition "not seen in the UK".Renner-Thompson said Sophia had been "on-and-off social services" but her poor health was not spotted for a number of reasons, including her school being closed during the pandemic. "It really was in the last couple of years where things took a turn, you know - to do with her school not being open during the pandemic, transitioning to another school, and issues at home," he told BBC Radio review was commissioned by The Northumberland Children and Adult Safeguarding Partnership, which identified a number of lessons to be learnt from the case. The 67-page document was written from Sophia's perspective as it was felt she had not been "seen or heard for such a long time".In it, Sophia said she believed she would be "happier" and "taller" if her life had been different. Renner-Thompson, who is the council's cabinet member for children and young people, said he wanted to make sure the local authority had done everything it could to make sure a similar situation did not happen said one of the problems found in the report was, in some cases, there was little cross-checking between different agencies."There was one example where some police officers visited the home and they left saying everything is fine," he said. "A GP commented later that the fact the child was so small and in a wheelchair, despite being able to talk and being quite happy and bubbly, should have raised alarm bells."Renner-Thompson said the council's introduction of family hubs was a solution to that problem, as it allowed families with issues to be identified and for partner organisations to be brought together "in the same room". He said the report did not blame a single organisation and all process in place had been followed he admitted that while those processes worked 99% of the time, they were found to be lacking in "very extreme cases"."I think the conclusions of the review would say that if there were different processes in place, it could have been prevented," he said."This is why the processes involved have to be changed and have been changed, and have to be recognised as have being changed." Additional reporting by Rachel Sweeney. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
18-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Safeguarding review into malnourished girl nationally recognised
A safeguarding review about a teenager who was hospitalised with levels of malnutrition "not seen in the UK" has been nationally recognised. Commissioned by The Northumberland Children and Adult Safeguarding Partnership, the review identified lessons to be learned from the case of the 13-year-old girl, named Sophia in the report, who weighing just over two stone (13.8kg).The 67-page report is written from Sophia's perspective and details a challenging McKay, head of Northumberland County Council's service for quality assurance, said Sophia was regularly updated on the impact her experience has had on training local authorities. Ms McKay said: "That review has actually had national recognition and we have had a number of local authorities ask how we did that and what the processes were."We have had 200 participants in the training of that information with her parents and carers at the centre of that learning."Sophia was front and centre, her voice is very much in that review." The review, which did not seek to assign blame for what happened to the teenager, was written in the first person as it was felt Sophia had not been "seen or heard for such a long time". In 2020, a GP concluded the youngster had "extensive mental health problems, a history of self harm and problems with eating".Sophia was previously admitted to hospital suffering from pancytopenia – a significantly reduced blood cell count. Malnutrition was identified as the cause, but she was not diagnosed with an eating disorder. 'Wish to be happy' Sophia also had bone marrow failure and paediatricians were unsure she would her hospital stay in 2023, she told mental health practitioners that she did not feel "worthy" of food and "did not feel worthy of life". During the review, she said: "I do not think services or workers listened to me for them to really understand how I was feeling or what was happening at home or in my life. "I wanted someone to help me and to be there for me."If this was different, I think I might be happier, taller or I might like myself more now. "My biggest wish is to be happy." At the time of writing the report, Sophia was described as "confident"."People that know me now say I am bubbly and confident - they regularly see me smiling and giggling," she said."I love shopping, make up, clothes, swimming, cycling and taking photos with my camera. I also enjoy being able to go to school." The report identified 12 key points of learning, including a criticism of descriptions of Sophia as "complex, challenging or a problem" as this assigned also identified strengths and successes that could be made into best included praise for Sophia's school for maintaining contact with the family during the pandemic and for healthcare professionals who gave advice to her step-mum when she became council's children's services were rated outstanding by Ofsted last year. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Cramlington Concoria Leisure Centre £500k leaky roof fund
Half a million pounds has been set aside to repair a leaky leisure centre County Council agreed to fund the work to replace the flat roof of the Concordia Leisure Centre in Cramlington.A report presented to the Conservative-led cabinet said without the work the bowling alley, bar and studios would likely have to close during periods of heavy leisure centre was revamped in 2016 and, while temporary repairs have since been carried out to the roof, the council was told the frequency of the leaks was accelerating. Speaking at the cabinet meeting, portfolio holder for leisure services Wendy Pattison said: "We fully recognise that our council investment into sport and leisure is an investment into the health and wellbeing of our residents."Flat roofs can be very difficult and this one is now leaking in several places."The replacement will be funded from the council's Concordia capital improvement budget, reports the Local Democracy Reporting pot includes £300,000 of unallocated funding, the cabinet heard, which could be used if the project goes over budget. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
29-06-2025
- BBC News
Council vows to deter 'inconsiderate' Newcastle Airport parking
A council has vowed to do more to prevent drivers from leaving their cars in a town near Newcastle Airport to avoid parking which lies close to the airport, has been plagued with "inconsiderate" parking on residential streets and in car parks, the Local Democracy Reporting Service County Council (NCC) said officers were working on new enforcement proposals, including installing fencing and double yellow lines in affected International Airport said it was working with the council and Northumbria Police to "address the inconsiderate parking issues in Ponteland". Richard Dodd, who represents Ponteland North on the county council, suggested high fees for parking and drop-offs at the airport were at least partially responsible for the said they worsened last year after neighbouring Newcastle City Council introduced a "red route" to ban vehicles from stopping on key roads near the airport. 'A real problem' Dodd described seeing "people walking into Ponteland with their suitcases... they park on streets or in some of the car parks".He added: "The new £1.2m cycleway between the airport and Darras Hall has become a glorified car park. It's a real problem."The councillor claimed the "villain is the airport" because drivers "can't even drop people off for free".Furthermore, he said: "The red route is now there on the Newcastle side, so if you park or stop on the red route you're done for." NCC said it was "very aware of the increasing inconsiderate parking issues".Northumbria Police said it had received reports from concerned residents in relation to parking issues in International Airport said it provided 15 minutes' free parking in one of its car parks, as well as a free waiting area at Callerton Parkway for picking passengers up.A spokesperson said the airport "remained in regular discussions" and was "fully supportive" of the authorities' plans. "We continue to ask any residents to report anti-social parking or behaviour to the relevant authorities," it said. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
