Parking fine refunds after Cherwell District Council error

Parking fine refunds after Cherwell District Council error

BBC News 28th Februry 2012

Quote:

 Residents in Oxfordshire are to be refunded £11,600 worth of parking fines after a council failed to properly signpost new charges.

The Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) found Cherwell District Council had not acted "reasonably" over new rules it introduced last April.

A council spokesman said the authority did not agree with the findings.

But the council said it would repay all fines issued in the nine days in April when adequate signs were not in place.

Dr Jane Martin, from the LGO, which upheld five complaints, said: "In this case I found that there was indeed unfairness, the council did not act reasonably.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-17176582

Campaign to protect Swansea's Albert Hall goes global

"The most fantastic thing the petition has provided is some truly moving and strongly worded comments in which people who have signed the petition have taken time to show their feelings.

"What has surprised me most is that so many comments are coming, not just from Swansea people but from all over the world. It has been incredible.''

Campaigner Ian Howells

Campaign to protect Swansea's Albert Hall goes global

South Wales Evening Post 28th February 2012

Quote:

A CAMPAIGN to safeguard an old Swansea building has attracted support from all around the world.

The Albert Hall on Craddock Street has stood vacant since its last occupants, the Mecca Bingo Club, left more than four years ago.

Quote:

Campaigner Ian Howells, originally from Penclawdd but based in Madrid due to his work with airline British Airways, said he had canvassed neighbouring businesses and claimed they wanted the building to be used.

And a recently launched internet campaign had received messages of support from across the globe.

 The petition of support for the Albert Hall can be found at www.change.org/petitions

 http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Campaign-protect-Swansea-s-Albert-Hall-goes/story-15341615-detail/story.html

BBC 1 Wales Week In Week Out tonight - Lynette White Trial

Lynette White trial: witnesses want convictions quashed

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-17185874  

              Week In Week Out on BBC One Wales at 22:35 GMT.

'A key defining factor for any society is how it treats the most disadvantaged.'

Ann Beynon: Wales can lead the way to a better future

Western Mail 28th February 2012

Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2012/02/28/ann-beynon-wales-can-lead-the-way-to-a-better-future-91466-30419273/#ixzz1nfU63wiM

 

'It feels like a different place to the Wales of 1997'

Yes indeed it does. Read this Blog.

New owner could reopen 75 Peacocks stores

New owner could reopen 75 Peacocks stores

BBC News Wales 27th February 2012

Quote:

The new owner of Peacocks said he hopes to reopen 75 of the clothing chain's 224 stores, which had closed.

Philip Day, chairman of Edinburgh Woollen Mill (EWM), said he wanted to "save as many jobs" as he could.

The retail tycoon also hoped to rehire around 80 staff who were made redundant from Peacocks' headquarters in Cardiff.

EWM bought the retail chain out of administration last Wednesday but more than a third of its UK workforce lost their jobs.

EWM saved 6,000 posts but 3,100 were made redundant.

The deal included 338 stores, 57 concessions, three distribution centres and the head office.

But 224 stores across the UK were closed immediately after the sale announcement.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, Mr Day revealed he was in talks with landlords in an attempt to reopen some of the unprofitable stores that were not part of the deal.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-17170281 

Consultation on Transforming bailiff action

Transforming bailiff action

https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/transforming-bailiff-action

 Runs from 17 Feb 2012 to 14 May 2012

Torfaen council pays £400,000 for IT hub under inquiry

Torfaen council pays £400,000 for IT hub under inquiry

BBC News Wales 27th February 2012

Quote:

  A council, which is making £9.2m cuts, has to pay £400,000 in "unbudgeted costs" for an information technology centre under police investigation.

Three men remain on bail on suspicion of fraud as part of the Gwent Police inquiry at the Shared Resource Service (SRs) in Blaenavon, Torfaen.

The £3m centre opened in 2011 provides Torfaen and Monmouthshire councils and Gwent Police with IT services.

Torfaen council said it was a cost for "unknown or unapproved decisions".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-17155984

BBC 1 - The Big Question - from Cardiff

 BBC 1 - The Big Question

I am grateful to a contact of mine who isnt on the internet who rung me this morning to let me know about this weeks programme which comes from Cardiff. One of the subjects covered / debated was should we trust journalism.Here are the links to the programme. I expect it will be available later today for those of us who missed it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01cvmg5 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007zpll

Save FOI Campaign

Save FOI Campaign

http://savefoi2012.wordpress.com/savefoi-in-the-news/ 

http://savefoi2012.wordpress.com/about/ 

http://savefoi2012.wordpress.com/how-you-can-help/

Wrexham's local development plan rejected over housing

Wrexham's local development plan rejected over housing

BBC News Wales 23rd February 2012

Quote:

A council's new planning blueprint is being scrapped due to a dispute with the Welsh government (WG) over the number of new homes needed.

The WG's planning inspectorate believes Wrexham council should raise its 10-year target of 8,000 homes to 11,700.

A government spokesperson said the council hadn't provided "robust evidence" for its lower target.

Wrexham council said its plan had "widespread community support" and could take three years to rewrite.

Wrexham's planning officers will now have to go back to the drawing board to come up with a new local development plan.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-17142033

Councils’ information breaches worry watchdog

Councils’ information breaches worry watchdog

 By Vivienne Russell Public Finance 24 February 2012

Quote:

  The information watchdog has told Public Finance it has ‘special concerns’ about local government’s compliance with data protection laws.

David Smith, deputy commissioner and head of data protection at the Information Commissioner’s Office, said:

‘It appears that local government hasn’t attached the same degree of seriousness to addressing the security of personal information [as other parts of the public sector].’

His remarks follow a spate of official reprimands and fines for councils from the ICO.

http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2012/02/councils-information-breaches-worry-watchdog/

Thanks to @councilwatchuk for the link

 

Update - Barclays worker Gaynor Russ jailed for £167,000 fraud

BBC News Wales

Quote:

A bank worker who siphoned off £167,000 from customers has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Gaynor Russ, 59, of Treorchy, Rhondda, stole most of the money from elderly or vulnerable people, as well as her best friend, Merthyr Crown Court heard.

Russ, a counter manager at Barclays' Treherbert branch, had admitted 13 charges of fraud.

The court heard statements from victims of Russ, who was also a charity volunteer and church warden.

The offences were committed over 10 months up to May 2008.

Quote:

Miss Crowther told the court Russ targeted a long list of people and organisations.

They included a local hospital league of friends for which Russ acted as treasurer.

Another to lose was former miner Garfield Beynon, 82, who had received a substantial pay out for ill health connected with his life down the mines.

Despite the fact that he struggled for breath and was spending part of every day on oxygen, Russ plundered his account to the tune of £55,000.

In sentencing Russ, the judge told her that she abused her position of trust and the fact her victims were elderly and vulnerable was an aggravating feature.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-17151890

More from Walesonline including the victims reactions.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2012/02/24/barclays-bank-manager-jailed-after-stealing-160-000-from-elderly-customers-91466-30399744/

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2012/02/24/barclays-bank-manager-jailed-after-stealing-160-000-from-elderly-customers-91466-30399744/2/

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2012/02/24/barclays-bank-manager-jailed-after-stealing-160-000-from-elderly-customers-91466-30399744/3/