Latest news with #council
RNZ News
21 hours ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
New Plymouth resident claims moral victory over fate of overgrown pohutukawa
Alana Brough is the daughter of first-term councillor Max Brough. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin The daughter of a New Plymouth councillor is claiming a victory of sorts, after facing a hefty fine and a years-long battle with council over who was responsible for a massive pohutukawa outside her home. Lines company Powerco has sent in contractors to remove the 15m-tall pohutukawa at no cost, after it had grown through powerlines on Ballance St. Alana Brough, who is the daughter of first-term councillor Max Brough, was overjoyed and baked for the contractors, who were bringing down the tree in the rain. "The tree's coming down, whoohoo," she said. "I had a phone call from Powerco to say it was in the lines, and then [the contractor] Asplundh said they could come and cut it out at no charge." Brough got into a stoush with council, after asking it to trim the branches of the pohutukawa, which had grown in the leafy suburb of Vogeltown for decades, Council said no, because the tree straddled Brough's property and the footpath, and it had not planted it, while she argued it was in the berm and the NPDC's responsibility. After discovering the pohutukawa would cost $10,000 to trim, Brough planted dwarf fruit trees and a vegetable garden in her berm against council rules in an act of defiance, but was threatened with a $1000 fine, plus $50 for each day the garden remained, so pulled it out. She remained defiant as the tree came down. "It's a council tree on council land, it's up to the council to take care of it," Brough said. "Then Powerco have come in and said it is hazardous, because it's up above the power lines." Brough would still have to pay a $1300 bill to mulch the remnants of the tree, but was still happy with the outcome. The pohutukawa would cost $10,000 to trim, but Powerco removed it for free. Photo: RNZ/Robin Martin "I think it's amazing what Powerco are doing, although it makes sense, because it's under their powerlines and, if there's a storm and it comes down, it is a hazard. The contractors have been amazing, working in the pouring rain to remove this tree." Not everybody was thrilled, with one neighbour expressing their frustration on social media. "Absolutely gutted this is happening," they said. "The beautiful pohutukawa tree that we have seen out our lounge window for 25 years is being removed today." NPDC parks and open spaces manager Conrad Pattison said work on trees was prioritised according to the safety risk they posed, either to the public or infrastructure. "We've found no immediate safety issues regarding this pohutukawa, but we'd relook at it if that changed," he said. "This tree straddles the boundary between the public pathway and the private property, but we didn't plant it. If the property owner wants it removed, she can do that, but at her cost." In a statement, Powerco said it monitored trees growing close to powerlines, but it was the property owner's responsibility to keep their trees a safe distance from overhead lines. "Tree owners are sent a 'cut or trim notice', if their tree is encroaching on power lines, which is a safety risk. Powerco will cover the reasonable cost of the first cut, if the tree has not previously been cut by a Powerco contractor. "The tree on Ballance Street is being removed today to eliminate the risk to Powerco's network." Powerco said property owners were legally required to keep trees a minimum safe distance away from overhead power lines under the Electricity (Hazards from Trees) Regulations 2003. For more information about trees near powerlines, including Powerco's first-cut policy, click here . Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Six Rotherham sites to be bought for anti-flood measures
A £15m scheme to buy land and build anti-flood infrastructure in two Rotherham villages is to be considered by the project could see reservoirs, wetlands and flow control systems created on parcels of land around Whiston and Laughton was last affected by flooding in October 2023, while Laughton Common suffered severe damage during the 2019 members will vote on July 7 to approve the acquisition of five plots of land near Whiston Brook and one plot near Eel Mires Dike in Laughton Common. Once approved, construction on the Whiston Brook scheme could begin later this year, with completion expected in 2026, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Eel Mires Dike scheme is also progressing, with more land deals due to follow, a report Lynda Marshall, cabinet spokesperson for street scene and green spaces, said they were committed to taking "decisive" action."By securing the necessary land to progress these vital flood alleviation schemes, we are demonstrating our commitment to delivering long-term, effective solutions."These projects are a crucial part of our wider strategy to build better public spaces and resilience against future flooding events," she added. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
BBC News
a day ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Will Tories back Reform UK to lead Warwickshire again?
All options are in play as to who will run a council where the Reform UK leader quit, says the authority's top Tory - who suggests a Conservative replacement is not off the County Council's political picture was reset on Wednesday when its leader - Reform councillor Rob Howard - stood down after just 41 days, citing health left Howard's deputy, 18-year-old George Finch, holding the reins until the selection of a new authority's 57 elected councillors will now have to vote for that individual, a process that is due to take place at the next scheduled meeting of full council on 22 July. While Reform UK, with 22, has more council seats than any other party, no group commands a majority and will require agreement and votes from political rivals to install Howard's elected, the leader holds day-to-day power and discretion to appoint political leads to all of the council's major service came in courtesy of support from his own party and the Conservatives, the party that lost power following May's was enough despite opposition from the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and leader Adrian Warwick told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that his group was scheduled to meet next week and would consider whatever options were put forward as and when they appeared. Warwick confirmed he had been informed of Howard's resignation on Wednesday but that no further discussions had taken place."It was a bolt from the blue for us as well, we weren't expecting it," he said."First and foremost, we are desperately sad to hear of Councillor Howard's health concerns and we wish him a speedy recovery."He added: "No one knows better than the Conservatives the pressures and workload that running Warwickshire County Council brings, we understand that because we did it for long enough. We know it is a tough job."Perhaps Reform didn't realise just how tough it would be but ill health is something that can hit anyone at any time. The fact that it has hit him alongside the workload that he has taken on, as Conservatives we just really feel for him on a personal level." Interim council leader George Finch has publicly declared that his party wants to stay in said: "We will have to see what Reform brings forward."Warwickshire has to function. My group will have a meeting after the weekend and will discuss things when we know more but it is for Reform to put forward their proposals and for the other parties in Warwickshire to look at them and decide what they are comfortable with."Asked whether that could mean a Conservative candidate for leader, Warwick replied: "We would need to consider all options. That is a discussion for the group next week, whether we want to put someone forward." Since taking charge, Reform UK has been criticised for the time taken to appoint a cabinet – in particular the role of portfolio holder for transport and planning, as well as vacancies being left on the overview and scrutiny panels that started their work this criticism has been extended to the Conservatives for supporting their leadership but Warwick insisted he had no regrets."The only regret I have is that Councillor Howard has been taken ill, and that's on a personal basis, not a political one," he said. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Councillor 'appalled and hurt' over cancer remarks
A Labour councillor who is being treated for cancer has said she felt "appalled, hurt and upset" after a Reform councillor told a full council meeting she was unable to represent her constituents effectively. Carol Hyatt has non-Hodgkin lymphoma and due to her illness City of Wolverhampton Council has given her a dispensation to carry out her duties from home. At the meeting on Wednesday, councillor Anita Stanley said she did not feel Hyatt's arrangement was "very fair on the residents". "I'm immunocompromised, I can do everything, but I can't go out because then I'll get sepsis and could die, but I've done my very best still represent my ward," Hyatt told the BBC. Reform UK and Stanley have been contacted for comment. During a full council discussion about a proposed extension of Hyatt's dispensation to work from home, Stanley stood up and said: "I do not feel it is very fair on the residents not to have a political representative being able to speak up for them for the period of effectively one whole year. "It's not fair on taxpayers." Hyatt said: "The situation is not a party political thing so why would you treat any human being like that when they're fighting cancer and going through treatment? "I'm really hurt because she hadn't bothered to find out the truth and tell it." Hyatt attends council meetings virtually due to being immunocompromised. "I can't turn up in person, I would risk getting neutrophilic septicaemia "Although I'm expecting to be in full remission there's a possibility I might still have cancer again. "The extension is usually just automatically agreed on by all the councillors because Wolverhampton is a supportive council," Hyatt said. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Council leader steps aside for cancer treatment Council leader reveals cancer diagnosis on radio show Charity funds £30m cancer research centre Dignity 'flushed away' in sanitary bin ban row City of Wolverhampton Council
BBC News
a day ago
- Health
- BBC News
Wolverhampton councillor 'appalled and hurt' over cancer remarks
A Labour councillor who is being treated for cancer has said she felt "appalled, hurt and upset" after a Reform councillor told a full council meeting she was unable to represent her constituents Hyatt has non-Hodgkin lymphoma and due to her illness City of Wolverhampton Council has given her a dispensation to carry out her duties from the meeting on Wednesday, councillor Anita Stanley said she did not feel Hyatt's arrangement was "very fair on the residents"."I'm immunocompromised, I can do everything, but I can't go out because then I'll get sepsis and could die, but I've done my very best still represent my ward," Hyatt told the BBC. Reform UK and Stanley have been contacted for a full council discussion about a proposed extension of Hyatt's dispensation to work from home, Stanley stood up and said: "I do not feel it is very fair on the residents not to have a political representative being able to speak up for them for the period of effectively one whole year."It's not fair on taxpayers."Hyatt said: "The situation is not a party political thing so why would you treat any human being like that when they're fighting cancer and going through treatment?"I'm really hurt because she hadn't bothered to find out the truth and tell it."Hyatt attends council meetings virtually due to being immunocompromised."I can't turn up in person, I would risk getting neutrophilic septicaemia"Although I'm expecting to be in full remission there's a possibility I might still have cancer again."The extension is usually just automatically agreed on by all the councillors because Wolverhampton is a supportive council," Hyatt said. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
