query
stringlengths 1
13.4k
| pos
stringlengths 1
61k
| neg
stringlengths 1
63.9k
| query_lang
stringclasses 147
values | __index_level_0__
int64 0
3.11M
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
The use of a practice development group model in transforming the local health visiting service in Kent | The role of a practice development group (PDG) model proved instrumental in contributing to the modernisation of the health visiting service in Kent in line with the Health Visitor Implementation Plan 2011–15: A call to action (Department of Health (DH), 2011). The implementation plan is an unprecedented and ambitious programme that demonstrates a commitment to improving services and health outcomes in the early years for children, families and communities. In January 2013, Kent Community Health NHS Trust used the PDG model as a vehicle for aligning the Healthy Child Programme (DH, 2009) with the transformation agenda (professional mobilisation). Transformational leadership was a crucial element in changing practice culture to offer a service fit for the 21st century. This article considers phase 1 of the PDG—the development of a new guidance framework in implementing the Healthy Child Programme in practice—and the leadership required to develop new ways of working towards standardising and modernising th... | The UN (2008) reports that more than one third of the growing urban population in developing countries is living in slum conditions. Lizarralde and Root (2008) show that urban low-cost housing policies in developing countries are often inefficient and could even lead to further market distortions. Their case studies in South Africa prove that the informal construction sector, the only sector that is able to meet the needs of low-cost housing, is often prevented from being involved. To realise greater participation of the informal construction sector and thus better meet the needs in low-cost housing, public-private partnerships (PPPs) are often mentioned in literature as a more promising way than present methods (Ha (2001), Browning (2000)). However, there is a gap in literature in how to realise these partnerships. Literature describes several types of partnerships but it is unclear on what grounds a certain type should be chosen. This article will describe how to select the right type of partnership. | eng_Latn | 300 |
Victoria and Westminster Serviced Apartments in London | Choose Serviced Apartments in Victoria and Westminster for your next London trip, hand-picked by Check-in-London. Lowest Price Guaranteed and Discounted Rates. | This article compares the design and implementation of density for benefit agreements (DBAs), a form of density “bonusing” in Toronto and Vancouver. The cities identify many of the same priorities for benefits secured from developers, but in practice they prioritize widely different benefits. By comparing practice in Toronto and Vancouver, this article demonstrates how institutional differences and the decentralization of policy decision-making in major cities can affect urban planning decision-making. | eng_Latn | 301 |
Research Guides: Book Treatments: Partial Repair | This guide highlights a few of the steps taken in various book repair treatments used in the Preservation Unit. | The UN (2008) reports that more than one third of the growing urban population in developing countries is living in slum conditions. Lizarralde and Root (2008) show that urban low-cost housing policies in developing countries are often inefficient and could even lead to further market distortions. Their case studies in South Africa prove that the informal construction sector, the only sector that is able to meet the needs of low-cost housing, is often prevented from being involved. To realise greater participation of the informal construction sector and thus better meet the needs in low-cost housing, public-private partnerships (PPPs) are often mentioned in literature as a more promising way than present methods (Ha (2001), Browning (2000)). However, there is a gap in literature in how to realise these partnerships. Literature describes several types of partnerships but it is unclear on what grounds a certain type should be chosen. This article will describe how to select the right type of partnership. | eng_Latn | 302 |
Assessment of fundamental concept in thermodynamics | Many engineering students have difficulty explaining the fundamental concepts used to solve thermodynamics problems. For example, students may be able to solve problems by neglecting kinetic and potential energies, yet struggle to explain why this is justified. Likewise, they will assume steady-state behavior, yet have difficulty to explain why. Students learn to approximate the evaluation of fluid properties, yet cannot provide a reasonable summary of the justification for these common approximations. Common areas of poor student comprehension are identified and alternative pedagogical strategies have been explored to improve student learning. A series of conceptual questions are employed in lectures, quizzes, and exams to emphasize concepts throughout the semester. | Improving the urban environment in developing countries is now an emerging priority. In that context, valuation is an important source of information to the policy-makers. This paper discusses the application of a multiple choice contingent valuation method to improvements in water supply in Madras, based on a 1996 survey of households in Madras. It is proposed that property rights regimes for the environmental goods concerned can be incorporated into the valuation framework using Sen's entitlements approach. As a step in that direction, a water endowment function has been defined for households in Madras. Issues for policy and research are raised. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. | eng_Latn | 303 |
About Public Selective Courses Management in Higher Institutions | Public selective courses are the great importance parts in the undergraduate's program of any higher institutions and the emphases of the reform in our ways of cultivating undergraduate also.Therefore,we should reflect the steps of the teaching organizing in public selective courses and find the problems in the plans in time.We should revise the teaching plans in order that we can make the plans success to its goal.This report finds the key problems in the public selective courses management in higher institutions and puts forward the proposals. | In urban-rural planning,tenure is a very important and unavoidable issue.On the mode of the system of rural collective construction land tenure,in the town planning area turns right concessions were took,but outside of town planning protect right concessions were took.Sense of profit is very obvious in the mode of the system."The visible hand" of the government plays a tremendous role.The power of the government should be restricted in order to liberate the local government from the "land fiscal",to make the local government lose interests impulse and turn to rationality.The concomitant reforms of rural collective construction land need to be proceeded.In the hook pilot of urban and rural construction land need to be proceeded,the farmer's right to know and decide should be respeeted,the "land ticket" transactional model could be drew lessons from to realize the same right and the same profit. | eng_Latn | 304 |
Energy Tax Provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Acts (H.R.1) | This report discusses energy-related tax provisions in the The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R.1). These changes are summarized in Table 1. H.R. 1 includes a broad restructuring of the federal income tax system. A full analysis of the consequences of this proposal for the energy sector, or various subsets of the energy sector, is beyond the scope of this insight. | A brief analysis of the Jilin province of housing guarantee rental subsidy policy implementation and the effect on the foundation of investigation are studied here and the paper puts forward some solutions of study data,indepth excavation of the present Jilin province housing security rental subsidy policy problems. | eng_Latn | 305 |
Problems and Measures During Implementation of Central Forest Ecological Denefit Compensation | According to the status quo of implementation of central forest ecological benefit compensation,the existing problems are analyzed from the aspects of policy,management,and mechanism etc.and the measures to solve these problems are also put forward. | Building socialism new countryside needs finance support,but the shortage of present countryside cpital is a factor of hindering countryside development.adds vigour to the development of countryside society and economy,but as the lack of law and government protection to countryside finance,the irregular countryside finance develops irregularly.It is an important meaning to guide irregular countryside finance to serve countryside development with regulation finance. | eng_Latn | 306 |
Is it possible to a goverment policy? | What is fance goverment called? | Your car has been damaged but its got no insurance as it is for leaner that is having leasons? | eng_Latn | 307 |
Car insurers: Competition should work | Insurance Commissioner Nonnie S. Burnes's decision to introduce "managed" auto insurance competition next year won strong industry support yesterday, even from companies that have opposed competition in the past. | Eight people arrested over failed car bombings in Glasgow and London all have links with the NHS. | eng_Latn | 308 |
These powers , along with the powers to dissolve ( or refuse to dissolve ) parliament ( Section 5 , Section 57 ) , are termed `` reserve powers '' , and their use is dictated by convention . | These powers , along with the powers to dissolve ( or refuse to dissolve ) parliament ( Section 5 , Section 57 ) , are termed `` reserve powers '' . | Grazing of commoners ' ponies and cattle is an essential part of the management of the Forest , helping to keep the heathland , bog , grassland and wood-pasture habitats and their wildlife in good shape.This ancient practice came under pressure as the rising house prices in the area stopped local commoning families from moving into new homes which have the rights attached which meant the next generation could not become commoners until their parents passed on the house and rights . | eng_Latn | 309 |
How can the pensions crisis be resolved? | The TUC has warned of more industrial action unless the government acts to ease the growing pension crisis. What do you think? | WASHINGTON There's already controversy erupting around a summit on arthritis drug safety, months before the meeting is set to start. | eng_Latn | 310 |
CMA wants governments to sustain doctor levels | The Canadian Medical Association is calling on all levels of government to adopt a policy of self-sufficiency so that by 2015, the vast majority of doctors will have received their undergraduate education in Canada. | MPs are to debate plans which will require schools to give unbiased advice about course options. | eng_Latn | 311 |
The `` Housing First '' program to provide permanent supportive housing for the city 's homeless was begun . | The Fenty Administration also expanded health care coverage for the uninsured , and established thousands of units of affordable housing , while creating the `` Housing First '' program to provide permanent supportive housing for the city 's homeless neighbors . | In the Westminster system , the leader of the political party or group of parties that holds the support of a majority of the members in the House of Representatives is asked to form a government and is named Prime Minister . | eng_Latn | 312 |
In return , the team principals who would benefit from this would support the works teams when it came to opposing new rule changes enforced by the FIA , such as the proposed ban on traction control . | This would help the factory teams oppose new rule changes , such as the proposed ban on traction control . | Often , these relate to national security matters , which are supposed to go past party politics - the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service , for example , has to talk to the Leader of the Opposition as well as the Prime Minister about certain matters . | eng_Latn | 313 |
If a commune member was attacked outside the city , it was too late to call for help , as it was unlikely anyone would arrive in time . | Obviously if a commune member was attacked outside the city it was too late to call for help as it would be unlikely anyone would be around in time . | Before , the commons had been expected simply to assent ( say ` yes ' ) to decisions already made by the rulers . Now they would meet with the full authority ( `` plena potestas '' ) of their communities , to give assent to decisions made in Parliament . | eng_Latn | 314 |
Cuts in City Services Could Hurt Firefighting Response | By Ronald L. Littlepage This is for all of you folks who are salivating over the prospects of a massive cut in property taxes and who believe city government can do without. The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department is a good example of why it isn't as easy as you think. | Businesses in a London suburb became the first in the country yesterday to agree to pay higher rates in exchange for a council pledge to pump the cash into local improvements. | eng_Latn | 315 |
Global appeal to save Church of England's spiritual home | Officials at the spiritual home of the Church of England launched a worldwide fundraising campaign to save the place of worship from the ravages of time, weather and pollution. | The British Government is demanding closure at next week's Leeds Castle talks and threatening a return to direct rule if the DUP and Sinn F in cannot agree the basis for a resumption of power-sharing devolution ... | eng_Latn | 316 |
Pledge to end NHS discrimination | The government has pledged to "eradicate discrimination" its response to a damning inquiry into the death of a black patient in mental health care. | Fancy a peerage? Click here We're delighted to report that New Labour has decided to extend its cash for honours scheme to the great unwashed masses.⦠| eng_Latn | 317 |
MPs urge transparency over rates | A group of MPs are calling for the Bank of England to be more open about the way it sets interest rates. | Union calls for investigation Sefton Primary Care Trust has sent thousands of staff records to four organisations it is refusing to name.⦠| eng_Latn | 318 |
Government piles filesharing pressure on UK ISPs | Minister threatens legislation deadline The government turned up the heat on internet providers today, warning that laws to force disconnection of illegal filesharers are already being drafted for a parliamentary debut in November.⦠| The Tories are to announce plans to hand day-to-day control of the NHS to an independent board. | eng_Latn | 319 |
Chisholm explains health reforms | The health minister is to appear before Scottish Labour MPs to explain controversial hospital reorganisation plans. | Helped by two whistle-blowers, the lawyer who beat Big Tobacco is on a new crusade -- to fight what clinics charge the uninsured | eng_Latn | 320 |
Ministers rule out smacking ban | A total ban on smacking in England and Wales is rejected by ministers, after a review suggests parents oppose it. | Business & money: Government to get tough with bidders for Northern Rock during crisis meetings | eng_Latn | 321 |
Rural Affairs Ministry rebuts Labour's policy document on agriculture | August 29, 2004 - 1340CET - The Labour Party's policy paper on agriculture is full of contradictions and inaccuracies according to a counter press statement issued this morning by the Ministry for Rural Affairs ... | The anti-road pricing petition on the No 10 website is part of a "long history of popular movements", Ruth Kelly says. | eng_Latn | 322 |
Ministers pressure GPs over hours | The government has stepped up the pressure on GPs to work in the evenings and at weekends. | Government to close tax loophole allowing fat cat bosses to pay less tax than office cleaners, prime minister says. | eng_Latn | 323 |
'Clampdown' on animal activists | Animal rights activists could face five years in prison for targeting research centres under new measures. | Payments to Australia's drought-hit farmers could be linked to climate change schemes, under new plans. | eng_Latn | 324 |
Throne speech promises increased effort to provide affordable housing | OTTAWA (CP) - Tuesday's throne speech reaffirmed the government's intention to give cities a share of gas tax revenue but left them in the dark about how much money they can expect in the next few years. | By Doug Page Staff Writer TROY -- Residents had the opportunity for plenty of information on two proposed residential projects. Monday, the developers of the proposed Honey Creek planned development held a public meeting at the high school to pitch their plan and answer questions. | eng_Latn | 325 |
Limits proposed at cockle inquiry | A hearing to decide whether to introduce limits for cockling on the Dee Estuary gets under way. | Don't fall for smooth talk The Audit Commission says councils must be not be "seduced by the warm language of partnerships".⦠| eng_Latn | 326 |
Eminent Domain Debates Abound | By St. Louis Daily Record Staff Use of eminent domain by communities has been controversial, particularly when it's done to benefit development plans by private companies. In June of last year, the U.S. | Opponents of a £1bn pipeline across the width of Wales take their fight to an MEP committee in Brussels. | eng_Latn | 327 |
'No two-tier NHS' under reforms | Patients who fail to follow medical advice will not be penalised under a reformed NHS, minister says. | Business & money: With Britain's super-rich dripping charity, it's almost like the 19th century. | eng_Latn | 328 |
Britain relaxes naturalisation rules for its Commonwealth troops | Naturalisation rules for Commonwealth troops serving in the armed forces who want to become British citizens are to be relaxed. | Fancy a peerage? Click here We're delighted to report that New Labour has decided to extend its cash for honours scheme to the great unwashed masses.⦠| eng_Latn | 329 |
NHS to curb 'outdated' treatments | The NHS is to come under pressure to weed out ineffective and obsolete treatments, by the drugs watchdog. | A couple's move from England to Wales is scuppered by a rule aimed at making rural housing affordable for locals. | eng_Latn | 330 |
'Most' councils want tax freeze | The vast majority of Scottish local authorities expect to freeze council tax, says a BBC survey. | The anti-road pricing petition on the No 10 website is part of a "long history of popular movements", Ruth Kelly says. | eng_Latn | 331 |
Lowly paid Civil servants at higher risk of diabetes! | LONDON: Civil servants with a low pay scale have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes as compared to their high-paid counterparts, a study has revealed. | InfoWorld - There’s a common nightmare haunting CISOs (computer information security officers) that features a glance at the morning paper, and 72-point banner headlines with the name of their employer and the words “LOST” and “CUSTOMER DATA.” | eng_Latn | 332 |
Tory group backs new flight tax | Higher taxes on short haul flights and "gas guzzling" cars are among recommendations from the Tories' final policy review group. | Fancy a peerage? Click here We're delighted to report that New Labour has decided to extend its cash for honours scheme to the great unwashed masses.⦠| eng_Latn | 333 |
Forced pensions face pay hurdle | Three quarters of people in the UK welcome compulsory pensions but not if they have to pay more, a study says. | E.U. officials told leading automakers to make deep cuts in emissions or face fines that could reach billions of euros. But automakers promised a fight. | eng_Latn | 334 |
Tories to back plans for ID cards | The Tories are to back controversial government plans to introduce ID cards in the UK, the party has said. | Fancy a peerage? Click here We're delighted to report that New Labour has decided to extend its cash for honours scheme to the great unwashed masses.⦠| eng_Latn | 335 |
The organization has said it works toward improvement of the environment , health , education , architecture , culture , microfinance , rural development , disaster reduction , the promotion of private-sector enterprise and the revitalisation of historic cities . | This works for the environment , health , education , architecture , culture , microfinance , rural development , and disaster reduction . | No parish councils were formed for urban parishes , and their only function was as areas electing guardians to Poor Law Unions . | eng_Latn | 336 |
Australia drought pay to be revamped | Payments to Australia's drought-hit farmers could be linked to climate change schemes, under new plans. | Plans to protect Britain do not heed the risk of rising river levels caused by global warming, finds study. | eng_Latn | 337 |
British Government Proposes Paying off Portion of Poor Nations' Debt | Britain will provide more debt relief for the world's poorest countries and challenge other rich countries to do the same, Prime Minister Tony Blair's government said Sunday. | Fancy a peerage? Click here We're delighted to report that New Labour has decided to extend its cash for honours scheme to the great unwashed masses.⦠| eng_Latn | 338 |
Straw to flesh out reform plans | Justice Minister Jack Straw is to update MPs on government plans for constitutional reform. | Ukraine's fractious lawmakers reached a tentative agreement yesterday to end a political stalemate before a new presidential election this month. | eng_Latn | 339 |
UK Pledges Extra Funding for Surge in Sexual Diseases | The British government pledged on Thursday to put 300 million pounds aside to combat a surge in sexual diseases as health experts revealed record numbers of people in the UK living with HIV and other sexual diseases. | Fancy a peerage? Click here We're delighted to report that New Labour has decided to extend its cash for honours scheme to the great unwashed masses.⦠| eng_Latn | 340 |
Labour has failed on pensions, commission will report | A report on pensions commissioned by the Government will be highly critical of Labour's record on the issue, saying that people are saving far less for retirement than official figures show | · Inspectors split difference over building in south-east· Tories accuse PM of reneging on green belt | eng_Latn | 341 |
Brown 'opens up MPC appointments' | Gordon Brown unveils changes to the way Bank of England monetary policy committee is appointed. | Now that a judge has ruled Manitoba must pay for abortions at private clinics, it's a matter of time before patients with other medical conditions take governments to court to get better access to health care, says a constitutional expert. | eng_Latn | 342 |
UK.gov New Year resolution: must build nuke powerplants | Greenpeace feels it has stronger mandate British ministers will approve plans for a new generation of UK nuclear power plants in the new year, according to a report in the Independent newspaper.⦠| Smokers can merrily puff away without fear of prosecution in one English city's pubs because officials failed to introduce powers to impose a national ban, the local council admitted Wednesday. | eng_Latn | 343 |
Three-year pay plan for public sector | Government to open talks on three-year public sector pay deals to try to curb inflation | The Tories call it "appalling" ministers did not "put the record straight" over the infamous 45 minute claim. | eng_Latn | 344 |
Councils setting new tax levels | Local authorities are setting their council tax bills for the coming year. Most of Scotland's 32 councils are meeting on Thursday to set their charges, with the average levy due to rise by 4% from 1,053 to ... | A survey says first-time buyers cannot afford to get on the property ladder in most of the UK's towns. Are you affected? | eng_Latn | 345 |
Councils shake-up planned | The government is considering a reduction in the current number of district councils from 26 to seven. | Appeal Court judges refuse to stop a phone mast being built near schools in Harrogate. | eng_Latn | 346 |
Govt. would pay less to wealthy farmers | Government payouts to the wealthiest farmers would be blocked in a House committee's version of a wide-ranging, five-year farm bill. | Protests against cuts in the NHS are threatening to rival the rebellion against the poll tax, campaigners warn. | eng_Latn | 347 |
Blunkett tackles police standards | The home secretary is to set out a minimum standard of service the public can expect from police. | Fire chiefs call for a single body in charge of tackling floods as England and Wales prepare for more heavy rain. | ces_Latn | 348 |
Governments can override charter rights in some cases, Supreme Court rules | OTTAWA (CP) - Newfoundland was justified in deferring pay equity payments to female health-care workers more than a decade ago, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled. | By Mary Divine, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn. Jun. 6--The Sierra Club went to court Tuesday to stop a proposed bridge across the St. Croix River, arguing the project is an improper retooling by the Bush administration of a plan rejected by the National Park Service in the 1990s. | eng_Latn | 349 |
Social care rules 'inconsistent' | A report criticises the rules governing which elderly and disabled people are entitled to social care in England. | But ads watchdog rubber stamps 'fair use' again Orange was cut down by advertising watchdogs today for claiming its broadband and home phone service is "unlimited" without mentioning its fair use policy.⦠| ron_Latn | 350 |
This formulation of the scope of municipal power came to be known as the Dillon Rule : that municipal governments have only the powers expressly granted to them by the state legislature , those that are necessarily implied from that grant of power , and those that are essential and indispensable to the municipality 's existence and functioning ; that any ambiguities in the legislative grant of power should be resolved against the municipality so that its powers are narrowly construed ; that when the state has not specifically directed the method by which the municipality may implement its granted power , the municipality has the discretion to choose the method so long as its choice is reasonable . | It says that municipal governments only have the powers that are expressly granted to them by the state legislature , those that are necessarily implied from that grant of power , and those that are essential and indispensable to the municipality 's existence and functioning . | The London Assembly is an elected body and part of the Greater London Authority that verifies the activities of the Mayor of London . It has the power , with a two-thirds majority , to amend the Mayor 's annual budget . | eng_Latn | 351 |
Part V deals with the powers of the parliament . | Part V of Chapter 1 is about the powers of the parliament . | The port of Par Harbour , which is in the parish , was built to make transporting these minerals easier . | eng_Latn | 352 |
The electricity division of the organisation is also one of the few electricity departments in India to garner an annual gross profit . | The electricity division of the organisation is also one of the few electricity departments in India to garner an annual net profit . | As part of their deal Sinn Féin agreed to abandon its abstentionist policy regarding a `` six-county parliament '' , and took its seats in the new Assembly based at Stormont Sinn Féin ran the and running the health and social services and the education ministries in the power-sharing government . | eng_Latn | 353 |
Diesel price cut and linked to international market .
Approves raising of natural gas price from November 1 .
LPG subsidy in cash toreach consumers directly . | India is finally on the reforms path once again. The Narendra Modi Government has boldly bitten the bullet for the sake of the nation’s future after India got rid of the unpardonable policy paralysis of the previous United Progressive Alliance Government. On Saturday, the Government under PM Modi kicked-off the much-needed reforms yatra by deregulating the diesel price, besides approving a new gas price policy and ensuring that the benefit of the LPG subsidy in cash directly reaches the consumers. With that the Modi Government has proved that it will do everything to usher in a higher growth plane. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley (right) with Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan during a press conference in New Delhi . The good news of reforms came from Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. “Henceforth, like petrol, the price of diesel will be market determined,” Jaitley said after a Cabinet meeting. “We have decided to reduce prices and in Delhi the price of diesel will go down by Rs 3.37 per litre from Saturday midnight,” said B. Ashok, chairman of the Indian Oil Corporation, the country’s biggest fuel retailer. Retail prices of diesel will now reflect international movement in oil prices which are currently down to a four-year low. This is the first reduction in diesel price in over five years. Diesel rates were last cut on January 29, 2009 when they were reduced by Rs 2 a litre to Rs 30.86. Diesel prices were last raised by 50 paise on September 1 and cumulatively raised by Rs 11.81 per litre in 19 instalments since January 2013. The NDA Government also approved a hike in the natural gas price to US$ 5.61 per mmBtu (million British thermal unit) with effect from November 1, but Reliance Industries will continue to get current US$ 4.2 rate till it makes up for shortfall in output from KG-D6 block. “The Cabinet has modified the Rangarajan formula approved by the previous UPA Government to bring down the increase in rates from US$ 8.4 to US$ 5.61,” Jaitley said. The new formula will be effective from November 1 and the rates will be revised every six months with the next revision being on April 1. “This price takes into consideration the provision of a sufficient incentive for oil and gas exploration by the companies and is also not excessively burdensome for the consumers,” Jaitley pointed out. The new formula excludes some of the international hub prices such as Japan, included in the earlier Rangarajan formula used by the UPA Government to arrive at the higher price of US$ 8.4 which was to be implemented from April 1, but was put on hold by the Election Commission due to the Lok Sabha elections. The private sector companies which were lobbying for a higher price appeared disappointed after the decision but Oil and Natural Gas Corporation chairman D.K. Sarraf welcomed the hike saying he was “enthused by the increase in gas price”. For RIL's flagging D1 and D3 gas fields in KG-D6 block — where output should have been 80 mmscmd but is languishing at less than 8 mmscmd — the Cabinet decided the current rate of US$ 4.2 per mmBtu will continue to apply. Consumers will, however, pay the revised increased price but RIL will get only US$ 4.2 with the difference being deposited in an escrow account. RIL will get the higher rates if it is legally able to prove that it did not deliberately cut production and output fall was a result of geological reasons as it claims. Jaitley said that the Cabinet had also cleared the direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme for LPG in which cash subsidy will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of consumers. Earlier the scheme was linked with the Aadhaar numbers. The Finance Minister said 6.02 crore accounts have been opened so far under the Jan Dhan Yojana, and the new scheme to transfer cash subsidy to the consumers would start from November 10. | By . Tim Shipman . PUBLISHED: . 17:41 EST, 14 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:57 EST, 15 July 2013 . Countryside campaigners will target MPs at the next election, demanding that they back reforms to planning laws. They say measures brought in by the Government will allow the greenbelt to be destroyed and threaten thousands of acres of rural land. The Campaign to Protect Rural England will ask every Conservative, Labour or Liberal Democrat candidate to sign a charter to save the English countryside. Sir Andrew Motion, the former Poet Laureat, is president of CPRE, and has named the planning minister 'Boles the Builder' Sir Andrew Motion, president of the CPRE, yesterday came close to saying his group’s 70,000 supporters should vote Labour – which has vowed to tear up the Coalition’s planning policy rules, unless Tories and Lib Dems change their minds. Sir Andrew, the former Poet Laureate, said he would demand that all three parties’ manifestos included changes to planning policy. He said that otherwise ‘that will be England gone’. The charity yesterday issued a charter, ‘Save Our Countryside’, calling for brownfield land to be built on before greenfield, more say for communities in planning decisions and a focus on better-designed, ‘sensitively located’ affordable homes. CPRE chief executive Shaun Spiers said David Cameron is ‘in denial’ about the effect of his Government’s planning changes on the countryside. He said the CPRE would join the National Trust and other campaigners to press for reform, adding: ‘We will be seeking as many meetings with prospective Parliamentary candidates as possible, asking them to commit to the principles in the charter.’ The dramatic intervention will make the countryside a central feature of the general election in 2015, just as candidates were pressured to oppose university tuition fee rises in 2010. As a charity, the CPRE cannot endorse political candidates, but its army of supporters could well hit the streets for those who share their views. Sir Andrew said: ‘We want to use our charter to influence the general election manifestos of all parties.’ The National Planning Policy Framework, introduced this year, says councils must promote ‘sustainable development’ in planning decisions. Critics say it weakens protections against building on greenfield land. Asked if the CPRE would tell members to vote Labour because of its pledge to reform the NPPF, Sir Andrew said: ‘Vote for the right policies is the right answer. ' CPRE chief executive Shaun Spiers said David Cameron is 'in denial' about the effect of his Government's planning changes on the countryside . It certainly does need reforming and . if the Labour party is the only party which does do the reforming, . people can make their own deductions from that.’ He added: ‘The countryside is not something we can afford to take or leave. It is irreplaceable. ‘We made it together over many centuries, it is our great communal . masterpiece, the greatest thing we have ever made as a nation . . . Once . we have ruined it we can’t “un-ruin” it.’ Calling the situation an ‘emergency’, Sir Andrew added: ‘That will be England gone. That is why we need this charter. ‘We want [ministers] to see that the NPPF is not working despite what seem to be its original good intentions.’ Mr Spiers is seeking talks with David Cameron, who holds the rural Oxfordshire seat of Witney. He said: ‘A lot of development is . planned for the future on greenfield sites. We think the Government is . in denial about the consequences of its policies. ‘I think in particular the Prime Minister is in denial about what is happening on the ground – and about rising anger. ‘We’re working on all three party manifestos. 'The CPRE is a charity and we’re . careful to avoid any hint of being party political but I hope the Prime . Minister in particular – who I believe does genuinely care about the . countryside – will take notice. | eng_Latn | 354 |
Mayor of London spoke at Communities and Local Government Committee .
He said there is an imbalance between business rates levied on firms and council tax paid by the wealthy .
The politician suggested additional council bands could be an option . | By . Tara Brady . PUBLISHED: . 02:05 EST, 4 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 06:53 EST, 4 March 2014 . The super rich living in Britain including wealthy foreigners like Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich must pay more council tax, Boris Johnson has said. The imbalance between business rates levied on firms and what better-off residents were paying in council tax had become 'absolutely crazy' and had to be resolved, the mayor of London said. Speaking to MPs on the Communities and Local Government Committee, Mr Johnson said: 'If you compare what a Russian oligarch is paying on his stuccoed schloss in Kensington in annual council tax compared to what such a gentleman might be asked to pay in Paris or New York or anywhere else, it is quite stunning the difference. The super rich living in Britain including wealthy foreigners like Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich and his girlfriend Dasha Zhukova must pay more council tax, Boris Johnson has said . 'No one has yet grasped that. 'I'm by no means an advocate of a mansion tax. In fact, I vehemently oppose such an idea. But we cannot go on forever without looking at our council tax valuations.' 'It is high time local government was given responsibility for a revaluation of the council tax. 'I do not think any government is going to have the cojones to do that and you may as well get on and devolve it to the cities.' It could mean a reduction in council tax for many people, especially in outer London, he added - suggesting additional council bands were one option. Boris Johnson said the imbalance between business rates levied on firms and what well-off residents were paying in council tax has become crazy . Downing Street has previously rejected plans to change the current system fearing middle-class homeowners could be pushed into higher bands. In 2012 Mr Johnson also rejected plans for a mansion tax proposed by Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg. Earlier . this month shadow housing minister Emma Reynolds said wealthy . foreigners who buy properties in the UK as 'piggy banks' would be hit . with higher taxes under Labour plans. said . it was a ‘scandal’ that foreigners were buying up homes they had no . intention of living in, pushing up property prices for Britons. There are growing calls from across . the political spectrum for action to curb overseas investors adding to . 'rampant’ house price inflation', forcing millions of middle and low UK . earners out of the property market. Savills . estate agent found of the £7 billion spent on prime London property . last year, just 20 per cent was spent by those living in the UK. Foreign buyers are not just acquiring high-value London properties - but also mid-market new homes. Embassy street: The Russian Ambassador's official residenence on Kensington Palace Gardens . Fit for an oligarch: Roman Abramovich's house in Knightsbridge, London . A recent report said just 27 per cent of new builds in central London were bought by UK citizens, with more than half sold to people from Singapore, Hong Kong, China and Russia. A paper from right-wing think tank Civitas paper earlier this month also argued that non-UK residents should only be allowed to buy a property here if their investment will also boost the number of homes. The idea reflects a system in Australia, where all non-residents wishing to purchase property must apply to that country's Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB). | By . Tamara Cohen and Keith Gladdis . PUBLISHED: . 19:17 EST, 7 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:16 EST, 8 February 2013 . Ministers were last night accused of breaking promises to reduce plastic bag usage and its devastating impact on the environment by appearing to dismiss calls to charge a small fee. Despite growing momentum to introduce a charge for the bags, Richard Benyon said it ‘may not be the best option’ due to ‘pressures on household budgets’. Measures to slash the billions of carrier bags handed out by retailers every year were backed by David Cameron, Nick Clegg and then prime minister Gordon Brown when the Mail launched its ‘Banish the Bags’ campaign in 2008. Death at sea: Ministers were accused of failing to reduce plastic bag usage and its impact on the environment, such as this turtle entangled in a bag, by appearing to dismiss calls to charge a small fee . Usage initially dropped by 14 per cent, but the issue was then kicked into the long grass by the Coalition and in 2011 350million more bags were handed out. Mr Cameron responded by issuing an ultimatum to supermarkets ordering them to deliver significant falls in numbers or be forced to by law. 'Banish the bags': Despite momentum to introduce a charge for plastic bags, Richard Benyon said it 'may not be the best option' due to 'pressures on household budgets' A poll last year found a majority of the public would back a charge. However Mr Benyon – the minister in . charge of the natural environment – laid out objections on cost grounds, . despite research showing a fee would make people re-use bags and . therefore escape the charge. The Coalition has also raised a plethora of unavoidable green taxes which put a far heavier burden on family finances. Just . three months ago farming minister David Heath said a charge – which has . been successfully introduced in Wales at 5p, is coming to Northern . Ireland in April and is being consulted on in Scotland – would change . behaviour in ‘that very large middle group who want to do the right . thing and feel guilty when they do not’. Campaigners say plastic . carriers are used for an average of just 20 minutes but damage the . environment for hundreds of years, killing birds and wildlife which . ingest them and blighting beaches. Dr Sue Kinsey, senior pollution policy adviser at the Marine Conservation Society, said: ‘We are absolutely astounded that Richard Benyon has come to this decision. 'Our research shows that bag charging is popular and effective.’ Tory MP Zac Goldsmith who backs a charge, said: ‘I understand the Treasury's reluctance, but it is important to recognise that no one is asking for a tax. 'This would be a simple levy that shoppers can easily avoid, and which would be distributed to community groups, not the Government. Wherever it has been applied, it is popular and effective. ‘If Columbus had dropped plastic bags over the side of his boat 500 years ago, there’s a pretty good chance they would still be floating around intact today. We are an extraordinarily wasteful country and of all the waste we generate, the plastic bag is surely the most idiotic.’ Green MP Caroline Lucas accused the Government of ‘betraying its promise’ to take action and said the Mail’s campaign had ‘demonstrated the level of public support for such a measure’. Adam Royle of the Campaign to Protect Rural England said taxpayers already foot a huge bill for councils to clear up littered bags. He said: ‘Carrier bags are not a free resource. Littered carrier bags find their way everywhere – becoming unsightly and horrible eye-sores right across our countryside, and causing horrible harm to wildlife. This is the real price that is being paid.’ A poll by Break the Bag Habit found 75 per cent of people think a bag charge would cut usage and help to protect the environment, and most -56 per cent – backed a small 5p charge. It is understood the Treasury wanted to block a charge which could raise millions of pounds a year for good causes. The Environment Department, Defra, insist they have not made a decision yet and are still monitoring the situation in other parts of the UK while ‘considering all the relevant factors, including the pressure on household budgets at this time’. A Number 10 source denied the idea had been axed and said it was ‘still on the table, and we are looking closely at the situation in other parts of the UK’. Taxpayers will foot most of a £95,000 bill for a garden featuring an ‘avenue of dead trees’ to educate the public about plant diseases. Defra will use the cash for the feature at the Chelsea Flower Show in May – despite cuts to flood defences and animal disease controls. Critics called it a ‘cock-eyed’ plan considering 60 experts in forest research have been sacked as part of government cost-cutting. Effective taxes: Research at the Marine Conservation Society shows that bag charging is popular and effective, Dr Sue Kinsey said . | eng_Latn | 355 |
Southern Downs Council announces water tank rebate | SAVE WATER: New rebate by the Southern Downs Council to make it easier to save water and money.
In an effort to assist the many Southern Downs residents who wish to do the right thing for the environment, the Southern Downs Regional Council is offering a water tank rebate as part of the 2017/18 budget.
The council stated the water tank rebate will make it easier to save water and money.
The offer is being made to ratepayers who install a water tank which is plumbed to their dwelling for any degree of household usage, such as toilet, laundry or general use.
In order to receive the rebate, ratepayers must provide evidence of the purchase of the water tank and the works carried out to plumb the tank into their home.
Evidence should be in the form of tax invoices for the purchase of the tank, the address the tank was delivered to and from the plumbers who plumbed the tank into the house.
The council noted that the rebate does not apply to pre-installed tanks and can only be applied once per property.
To be eligible, ratepayers need to have their water tank installed on their property within the 2017/2018 financial year.
Upon approval, council will allow a rebate of 100% of a water access charge levied on the property for the full financial year, regardless of when the evidence is provided.
The extent of the rebate is based on the size of the water tank installed.
The rebate was one of the key recommendations handed down by the Stanthorpe Water Security Assessment Study conducted by the Queensland Government Department of Energy and Water Supply (DEWS) and was subsequently adopted by the council on September 28 last year.
Southern Downs Mayor Tracy Dobie said the water tank rebate achieves two benefits for the community.
It will make accessing and using water more affordable for residents and will reduce the demand on the region's water supply.
"I'm very pleased council endorsed this decision,” Cr Dobie said.
"Water becomes cheaper for residents, and the demand on the region's water supply decreases.
"In an era of awareness of water security, anything council can do to improve it is important.
"I encourage all eligible residents to take up the rebate on offer.” | Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email
Motorists who drive diesel cars could be given £2,000 by the government towards the cost of replacing their vehicle.
Prime Minister Theresa May has reportedly overruled ministers to demand the introduction of the diesel scrappage scheme, which would see drivers given a cash incentive to trade in their old motors for more environmentally friendly ones.
The scheme is intended to lessen the impact new plans to tackle air pollution by introducing a 'toxin tax' on older diesel vehicles when they enter 10 cities around the UK.
According to Mirror Online , Transport Secretary Chris Grayling and Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom believe the scheme, which could cost up to £2 billion, would be too expensive, but Mrs May wants to proceed with the plan anyway.
The 'toxin tax' could affect up to 10 million drivers of pre-September 2015 diesel vehicles.
The plan, set to be unveiled this week, follows a High Court ruling that the UK must improve urban air quality.
A string of investigations have also shown that diesel engines are causing dangerous levels of pollution which were previously unknown. | eng_Latn | 356 |
Condo contract rules target B.C. property flippers | The B.C. government is changing real estate laws in an effort to prevent flipping of condos from one buyer to another before they are built.
Finance Minister Carole James presented legislation Tuesday to require real estate developers to collect and report information on pre-sale condo assignments, to enforce the collection of property transfer tax on buyers.
“For too long, people who resell condos before they have been built have been inflating real estate prices, without necessarily paying taxes on their gains,” James said. “We are making it fairer for people who want to buy a condo, by making sure those who flip pre-sale condos pay their fair share.”
James said the information will not be publicly available, but will be shared with the Canada Revenue Agency, to make sure that capital gains tax as well as provincial property taxes are paid. | A simple debate on home-based business fees set for council Tuesday threatens to get much bigger.
Already, council has heard Edmonton’s fees are the highest in the region. But when that news broke two weeks ago, many other business owners piped up on social media, frustrated Edmonton charges what it does to anyone.
That annual $235 fee in addition to property tax is just irritating, said small business owner Dana DiTomaso. “I get taxes. I’m not against paying money but what am I getting for it?”
Her marketing business with seven employees requires no inspections; it didn’t need a licence when DiTomaso ran a similar business in Hamilton or Toronto.
The issue is currently item five on council’s agenda Tuesday.
Related
Reducing fees for minor home-based businesses was a campaign promise for Mayor Don Iveson.
City officials suggested they eliminate the $125 development permit requirement right away, since by definition, minor home-based businesses do not have a significant impact on the neighbourhood. They suggested also doing a two-year review of all business licence fees with changes in 2020.
estolte@postmedia.com
twitter.com/estolte
Watch for updates from our council coverage Tuesday | eng_Latn | 357 |
Concerns about health unit boundary change | TIMMINS -
NEOMA has voted to follow the path of most health units in the province, making its concerns heard about the possible change in health unit boundaries.
Timmins city councillor Pat Bamford spoke about the issue during a Friday meeting of NEOMA (Northeastern Ontario Municipal Association).
“This should concern all municipalities, because quite frankly, you're paying 25% of the cost of promoting public health in the region,” said Bamford. “Likely, that will go up because of the change of formula, to probably close to 30% or higher.
“Of course, as municipalities, we're concerned about the health of our people.”
An expert panel recommended to the Government of Ontario that public health unit boundaries be rearranged. Bamford's description of the new boundaries brought laughs from NEOMA members.
The Northeast's new health unit would go “halfway to Toronto and halfway to Ottawa,” extending to the northern boundary of the province.
He described the new boundaries as a super-board.
“If this went to the super-board, we might get lucky to have one rep, and how does the staff now relate to, let's say, Val Rita, Hearst, particular conditions or circumstances that may arise in those communities,” said Bamford.
“Virtually all the health units in Ontario expressed a major concern and wrote letters of opposition to the government about the new boundaries, including those in southern Ontario.”
Sue Perras, a councillor for Smooth Rock Falls and a member of the Porcupine Health Unit Board of Health, also voiced concerns.
“If we went to a regional board, we would be lost in the shuffle,” Perras said. She said small boards work well together, giving the example of Hearst's recent request for a bilingual inspector.
“This would never have happened if we would have been a humongous board, but being a small board, we worked together and they ended up finding a bilingual inspector. It would never happen in a super-board,” she said.
At its Oct. 27 meeting, the PHU Board of Health moved to express its concerns about the new boundary plan, asking the province to clarify what it was trying to address with the recommendations and to consider alternative options.
The motion argued that there was no clear evidence to justify the change, that regionalization would result in reduced municipal connections that are “integral to public health” and that the cost of a major restructuring would be “substantial.”
“The majority of the work of public health occurs outside the health care system, with these strong municipal and local connections; and embedding public health within the health care system risks the responsiveness and autonomy of public health to protect and promote the health of our communities,” stated the motion.
The PHU wrote a letter to Eric Hoskins, the minister of health and long-term care on Oct. 31.
“The recommendation to regionalize Ontario's 36 health units into 14 larger public health entities risks losing the very strength of public health in Ontario,” argued the letter.
“Overall, the PHU is deeply concerned by the magnitude of changes recommended by the panel,” it continued.
Timmins-James Bay MPP Gilles Bisson told The Daily Press in September that there wasn't a lot of movement on the recommendations, which were made over the summer.
“I'm hoping the government says, maybe this is something we don't worry about before the election,” he said. | A leading housing charity is calling for an NCT-type system for rental properties.
The Oireachtas Housing Committee is looking at standards in the private rented sector, where campaigners say families are often left wanting.
Aideen Hayden from Threshold says overcrowding is also a significant problem.
"There needs to be a sufficient sanction for failure to comply with minimum standards and self-certification is not going to achieve this," she said.
Threshold believes that if a car owner can't certify a motor vehicle then rented homes should be no different.
"In our opinion there is a serious issue with overcrowding in the private rental sector and it's increasingly coming to light through our services."
Digital Desk | eng_Latn | 358 |
Drive to stamp out ‘revenge porn’ offences | With the new year now underway, it is just three months until a landmark law comes in to force in Scotland, making so-called ‘revenge porn’ disclosures a criminal offence.
The new law under the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm Act will mean that, from April 1, being convicted of the offence of disclosing or threatening to disclose an intimate photo or video will carry a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment.
The offence will cover situations where someone shares either filmed and still images of another person in an intimate situation. This includes images taken in private where someone is nude or clothed only in underwear or showing a person engaged in a sexual act.
The specific new law is being introduced to address a growing problem – as easy access to devices like smart phones mean pictures and videos taken with the expectation of privacy can now far more easily be shared publicly online through, for example, social media.
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said: “We will not tolerate domestic abuse and harassment in a progressive and modern Scotland, which is why we have taken these measures to create this new criminal offence.
“Recklessly disclosing private and intimate images taken when privacy is expected can be extremely cruel and degrading for victims, as well as causing fear and alarm. It may also be symptomatic of highly abusive and manipulative behaviour towards an ex-partner.
“This new offence, which comes into force very soon, sends out a strong warning to anyone considering sharing such images. This move reflects technological changes and acknowledges the distress inflicted by this serious crime.
“We know legislation alone is not enough to tackle abusive behaviour and sexual violence. That is why we are taking forward a whole range of work in our drive to eliminate it in all its forms from Scottish society.” | Denis Naughten, TD, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment has announced he is allocating €1 million to remove stockpiles of waste tyres that blight the Irish countryside.
The Minister said the level of illegal dumping of waste tyres is a problem that needs to be met head on.
The funding is being made available to Local Authorities to tackle the most significant dump sites in their areas.
Latest estimates from the Local Authorities suggest there are more than 750,000 tyres randomly dumped in sites around the country, and this is a conservative estimate.
“I am targeting this funding at tyres to clean up our countryside now and to ensure that the detrimental environmental and human health effects of these dumps are dealt with as soon as possible.
“I am also supporting the introduction of a new compliance scheme to ensure that as many old tyres as possible are taken out of the system before the Scheme is introduced on October 1st this year.
“The new Scheme will reassure consumers that their old tyres will be disposed of responsibly by the retailer when they buy new tyres.”
Minister Naughten has adopted a two-pronged approach to deal with the problem of waste tyres.
“A large part of the reason for this waste problem is a lack of information in relation to the tyres market in Ireland. Therefore, I will be announcing regulations within two weeks that will introduce a full compliance scheme for tyres.
“This Scheme, to be run by Repak ELT, is based on the Extended Producer Responsibility principle and will carry out all regulatory functions on behalf of its tyre producers and retail members.
“Membership of the scheme will be mandatory for any operator placing tyres on the Irish market. All operators will be obliged to provide data on the numbers of tyres coming on and off the market. This will be the first time that there will be clarity in this regard," added Minister Naughten. | eng_Latn | 359 |
Civic society calls number of new homes in local plan 'unsustainable' | ‘Unsustainable’ and ‘inappropriate’ was how Maidenhead Civic Society described the number of new homes proposed in the Borough Local Plan (BLP).
The BLP is a planning blueprint which will run retrospectively from 2013 to 2032 and brings together the development policy for a range of areas, including housing, retail, employment and leisure.
During the consultation, which closed on Wednesday, September 27, residents, community groups and parish councils were asked to have their say on the future of the town.
Bob Dulson, chairman of Maidenhead Civic Society, said their overriding concern was the practical impact of 45 per cent more housing units in Maidenhead town centre.
He said: “We recognise that some growth is inevitable and necessary but we believe that the numbers of homes proposed are unsustainable and inappropriate.
“The society is a strong supporter of the greenbelt but we feel that much greater effort is needed, including an uncomfortable debate on green field sites to reach an acceptable compromise.”
In its formal response to the Regulation 19 consultation, the civic society said it is concerned about the removal of restrictions on the location and height of tall buildings in the town centre, as well as car parking and the lack of public engagement during the process.
It states: “In essence, we feel we’re being asked to agree a plan which paints a less than comprehensive picture of how the borough should evolve.”
Elsewhere, the RBWM Residents Action Group submitted a 630-page response to the consultation.
The group said the plan failed to demonstrate an effective or persuasive vision for the future of the borough and criticised the consultation process as not being effective.
It has produced a summary, which is divided into categories including affordable housing, employment, transport infrastructure, duty to cooperate and a failure to consult and engage with residents. For the summary, visit www.rbwmresidentsactiongroup.co.uk
The Advertiser has contacted the council to ask how many responses to the Borough Local Plan consultation had been received but is yet to receive a response.
More than 7,000 representations were received for the Regulation 18 consultation but a Freedom of Information request revealed this could have come from as few as 2,100 consultees. | Palihapitiya's criticisms were aimed not only at Facebook, but the wider online ecosystem. "The short-term, dopamine-driven feedback loops we've created are destroying how society works," he said, referring to online interactions driven by "hearts, likes, thumbs-up." "No civil discourse, no cooperation; misinformation, mistruth. And it's not an American problem — this is not about Russians ads. This is a global problem."
He went on to describe an incident in India where hoax messages about kidnappings shared on WhatsApp led to the lynching of seven innocent people. "That's what we're dealing with," said Palihapitiya. "And imagine taking that to the extreme, where bad actors can now manipulate large swathes of people to do anything you want. It's just a really, really bad state of affairs." He says he tries to use Facebook as little as possible, and that his children "aren't allowed to use that shit." He later adds, though, that he believes the company "overwhelmingly does good in the world."
[...] In his talk, Palihapitiya criticized not only Facebook, but Silicon Valley's entire system of venture capital funding. He said that investors pump money into "shitty, useless, idiotic companies," rather than addressing real problems like climate change and disease. Palihapitiya currently runs his own VC firm, Social Capital, which focuses on funding companies in sectors like healthcare and education. | eng_Latn | 360 |
Structure fire engulfs South Windsor home - WFSB 3 Connecticut | A large structure fire early Tuesday morning engulfed a home on Cliffwood Drive.
According to fire officials, the fire began shortly after 3 a.m. in the area of 117 Cliffwood Drive.
Officials said no one was at home at the time of the fire and no animals were inside the house.
"Interior access was not an option. So from the get-go, we did what was called a defensive attack, which means attacking the fire from the outside,” South Windsor Fire Chief Kevin Cooney said.
Mutual aid has been called in from surrounding towns.
The fire marshal will no investigate the cause of the fire.
Stay with Eyewitness News for More information as soon as it comes into the newsroom.
Copyright 2018 WFSB (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved. | The Labour group’s budget amendment has been voted down by Conservative and UKIP Councillors following a meeting of full Council.
The Labour amendment demanded that the council invested in key services to improve care and reduce costs in the long run.
Among the proposals were to maintain or increase spending on children’s services, adult care services, roads and infrastructure, the Fire Service, the library service and the voluntary sector.
The Labour amendment received support from most of the council’s opposition parties, but failed to achieve an overall majority as UKIP supported the Conservatives.
Len Jacklin, Labour spokesperson for finance, said: “These are difficult times for local government, and no one can deny the need to be prudent.
“That is exactly why we brought forward this amendment.
“It is no surprise to us that the more the Tories cut from their planned services, the more they have to spend on picking up the pieces.”
Sandy Martin, Labour group leader, said “We gave Suffolk residents a vision for a County that would have robust services, good quality care and a level of spending that would be financially sustainable.”
The rejection is a particular blow to the Fire Service after a call to reverse cuts to the service and invest in new full-time day crews in Sudbury, so that tragedies can be avoided in the future.
Councillor Martin added: “I’m particularly disappointed for the people of Sudbury who deserve the funds for a new full-time day crew at their fire station, as well as the much-needed road and infrastructure improvements that the town is crying out for.
“The choice ultimately now lies with Suffolk residents. With elections in May, they can bring about the change that is needed at the County Council.” | eng_Latn | 361 |
The Occurrence Of Cytomegalo Virus And Spread | Cytomegalovirus is a congenital infection which leads to hearing loss, mental retardation and cerebral palsy
The spread of cytomegalovirus is not clear. The alleged transmission by way of sexual intercourse plays no part whatsoever. Connected with the rising of the age, the rate of CMV infections per year is said to increase by 2.6%. 60% of the people in the world are said to be infected.
The statistics, however, are contradictory. In Mexico, 1973, only 18% were CMV-infected, whilst Kuluva, in the West Nile district of Uganda, registered 100% infection in those households where someone was suffering from Kaposi's sarcoma.
For persons with an intact immunosystem, contact with CMV is harmless and no symptoms emerge. It is life-threatening for persons with immunodeficiency or to fetuses in pregnant women.
45´% of parents who had previously been CMV-free and whose children (I-18 months of age) were infected with CMV in nurseries at the same time as the mass Aids outbreaks became infected by children within a period of 21 months.
In various day nurseries used by poor mothers in Richmond, Virginia all the respectively concerned were infected with one single virus: 47 children and two helpers, 29 helpers and two helpers; three helpers and one child.
Children with a comparable possibility of infection were less frequently infected when cared for at home. (41% to 15%).
Since the existing infection of their mothers and intensive contact with the children represent the same possibilities of infection, something else must have been going around at the same time in the children's nurseries in Birmingham.
In the children's hospitals in Birmingham and Colombus, Ohio, new CMV-strains appeared suddenly. | As conflict grows with the Petworth Vision group, town councillors have decided to ‘step back’.
At a meeting on Thursday they decided they would no longer have a representative on the Vision group after concern was voiced about increasing confusion over the roles of the two bodies.
The move follows a statement from the town council after anger over a Vision newsletter which it claimed linked the council to the Vision Gateway project and asked for donations to continue the work of the community interest company.
Councillors stressed they were not involved in the project to provide a gateway at the top of the Pound Street car park and pointed out the Vision did not receive money from them ‘as it was a ‘entity in its own right’.
On Thursday town council chairman Chris Kemp urged fellow members to pull away completely from the Vision group by removing representation on the body.
He had met rural towns co-ordinator Steve Hill to discuss how the Vision worked: “He was very clear that what Chichester District Council (CDC) thought they were doing was setting up a community forum. I struggle with the community forum because I can’t see how we can take part in it with any legality.
“If the neighbourhood plan goes through its referendum we will require some sort of working party to look at infrastructure proposals that have come out of public consultation because we will receive Community Infrastructure Levy money to put things in place. We can’t pass this to a separate group that we have no theoretical control over.”
He stated CDC officers said if there was any ‘difference of opinion’ town councillors had to negotiate with the Vision. “It really means CDC are forcing this town council to work with another body not constituted in a public manner and I find the whole situation very peculiar.” He wanted to ‘stand back and wait for the Vision to come and see us.” | kor_Hang | 362 |
'Historic' islands bill passed by MSPs | Image copyright Getty Images
"Historic" legislation to offer greater protection and powers to Scotland's island communities has been passed.
The Islands (Scotland) Bill was unanimously backed by MSPs at Holyrood.
It gives island councils extra powers over activities on and around their coastlines and requires ministers to have a long-term plan for improvement.
Islands minister Humza Yousaf said the passage of the bill was "an important milestone for island communities".
MSPs also agreed an amendment to the bill barring public bodies from putting Shetland in a box on maps of Scotland.
The bill includes the creation of a "national islands plan" to set a long-term improvement strategy, extended powers for island councils over areas like marine licensing, and protection for the boundaries of the Holyrood constituency of Na h-Eileanan an Iar.
The new requirement on maps of Shetland came through an amendment from the islands' MSP Tavish Scott.
He called for a requirement on any public bodies publishing documents including maps of Scotland to display them "in a manner that accurately and proportionately represents their geographical location in relation to the rest of Scotland".
Image caption Islands minister Humza Yousaf said island communities had "contributed hugely" to Scotland
The Lib Dem MSP said the common practice of placing Shetland in a box off the Aberdeenshire coast or Moray Firth was "intensely annoying" to islanders and gave a false impression of the challenges they face on account of their remote location.
Mr Yousaf accepted that this was a "really serious issue" in perception of the islands. He amended Mr Scott's amendment to insert a get-out for public bodies to break the mapping rule if they could provide a good reason why, and MSPs unanimously supported the move with this change.
'Contribute hugely'
In the final debate, Mr Yousaf said the bill was "unique", as "one of the world's first and only place-based laws".
He said: "That is entirely fitting for our islands, which contribute so much to our culture, our landscape, our heritage, which have inspired poets, songwriters, composers, artists, and which attract visitors from near and afar.
"They have contributed hugely to our past and our present, and with this bill and other measures will now have the opportunity to contribute even further to their own and our collective futures."
Image copyright BBC/Timeline Films Image caption Newly devolved powers include giving island councils greater control of activities along their coasts
Scottish Conservative MSP Peter Chapman welcomed the bill and amendments that were made by opposition parties, but warned that island communities must be properly resourced.
He said: "Across this chamber there has been a tone of hope and expectation for what this bill will achieve for our island communities.
"But it must also be recognised that much of the disadvantages faced by our island communities can only be addressed if there is necessary money allocated to make things happen. Without that budgetary commitment, many of the aspirations contained in this bill will remain just that. I sincerely hope that is not where we end up."
'Drift of centralisation'
Labour's Colin Smyth also welcomed the bill, but it "could have gone further" by giving more powers to island local authorities".
He said: "We would have liked to have seen the bill devolve more powers to our island communities, really empowering those communities, putting local experience and expertise at the heart of decision-making - and in doing so, reversing the drift of centralisation in Scotland in recent years.
"More and more powers have rightly come to the Scottish Parliament from the UK parliament, yet little has been done to devolve power from this parliament to our local councils."
Green MSP John Finnie also hailed the bill as an "excellent example of cross-party work".
He said: "It's a good template for how we should be doing business, and I do think it will turn out to be a historic piece of legislation." | PLANS for a major residential lot subdivision on the North Lismore are finally moving forward.
THE developer behind a major residential subdivision on North Lismore plateau is hoping to lodge a development application with Lismore City Council by the end of this month.
Winten Property Group plans to build between 400 to 450 lots on the plateau in one of the biggest residential subdivisions for Lismore in years.
Winten development manager Jim Punch said the company was very close to lodging its final development application for the project.
A final layout plan for the site has already been submitted with the council prior to the formal DA submission.
Once in council's hands, the formal public exhibition process of the development will get underway.
Assuming the project is approved, it's anticipated that construction would start as soon as October.
The development is seen as a major step forward in the urban development of Lismore, which has long been confined to Goonellabah in the east.
Winten Property Group owns one of three parcels of land on the plateau. The other two parcels are owned by Lismore City Council, and a consortium called The Plateau Group, which togethe could potentially develop an additional 1000 lots.
The Winten estate will be released to the market in 50-lot stages.
Mr Punch also said claims that a rock wall on the plateau site was of Aboriginal heritage had been comprehensively refuted by heritage consultants.
Vote in our poll: Should this 'ancient' rock wall be saved?
This included statements collected from a local farmer who recalled helping build one of the rock walls several decades ago. | eng_Latn | 363 |
New Zealand plans to invest in more recycling plants as it deals with China waste ban | China, the world's biggest importer of plastic waste, has stopped accepting shipments of rubbish, such as plastic and paper, as part of a campaign against "foreign garbage".
[WELLINGTON] New Zealand is planning to invest more in recycling plants and set up government-led taskforce to work out how to grapple with the fallout from China's ban on waste imports, its associate environment minister said on Thursday.
New Zealand had been sending 15 million kgs - worth around NZ$21 million (S$19.7 million) - a year of waste to China, mostly paper and plastics that were now piling up as waste companies scrambled to divert it to processors in South-East Asia.
"The ban has had a greater impact than the industry expected and we need a coordinated response from central and local government, together with the waste and business sectors,"Associate Minister for the Environment Eugenie Sage said in an emailed statement.
The government plans to use its existing waste levy to invest in more onshore recycling plants, she added.
sentifi.com Market voices on:
China, the world's biggest importer of plastic waste, has stopped accepting shipments of rubbish, such as plastic and paper, as part of a campaign against "foreign garbage".
The ban has upended the world's waste handling supply chain and caused massive pile-ups of trash from Asia to Europe, as exporters struggled to find new buyers for the garbage.
Much of New Zealand's waste had been diverted to processing plants in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, but some stockpiles were building up around the country.
"We are also looking at options such as expanding the waste levy to more landfills, improving the data we have on waste including recyclables, and other tools to reduce the environment harm of products such as product stewardship, levies and bans," Ms Sage said.
Governments in Britain, the European Union and Australia have announced plans to confront growing waste as a result of ban with the British introducing a deposit return scheme for plastic bottles and the EU mulling a plastic tax.
REUTERS | The video will start in 8 Cancel
Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email
Thousands of people have been snared by a controversial litter enforcement firm since they were appointed by a council eight months ago.
Officers for Kingdom Environmental Protection Services have dished out 2,768 fixed penalty notices to litter louts since they started working for Wrexham County Borough Council on a fixed-term basis in April.
The majority of those – 2,534 – were issued for dropping cigarette butts.
According to a report issued ahead of a meeting of the council’s homes and environment scrutiny committee, a total of 1,747 fines have been paid with 671 prosecutions launched against people.
Darren Williams, service manager for the environment department at Wrexham Council, said the controversial enforcement scheme, which followed a 12 month trial period, was necessary to help reduce the £1.2m the council pays out annually to clear litter.
He said: “Despite significant efforts by the council over many years, environmental crime, and particularly dog fouling and littering, remain an issue and an area of concern for Wrexham’s communities.
“Wrexham council and Kingdom’s enforcement team work hard to ‘educate’ the public at every opportunity about the reasons for taking environmental enforcement.
“Proactive campaigns have been introduced and actively marketed including the ‘bin it to win it’ scheme rewarding positive litter behaviour.
“The team also engage in other activities including; replacing signage, liaison with local communities about litter ‘hot spots’ and particular issues and are currently dedicating officers to complete some focused work on dog fouling and dog control, particularly earlier and later in the day.”
Mr Williams said the number of fines being issued in the county was in line with those in other North Wales counties who use Kingdom’s services.
He said: “Most other North Wales Local Authorities have entered into partnership working with Kingdom to supplement their enforcement provision.
“Kingdom undertake enforcement action in line with a ‘zero tolerance’ approach as directed by the council.”
He accepted there was a negative perception of the use of private firms for enforcement.
He said: “The most significant risk to the council is public perception resulting from a more proactive approach to the enforcement of littering and dog fouling offences.
”Over the years, there have been a number of negative reports in the national press concerning the alleged overzealous nature of private enforcement companies, particularly in relation to the handling of the more vulnerable members of the community (ie elderly and young people).
”To inform residents and minimise the risk of negative publicity, a proactive and comprehensive publicity campaign will continue to raise awareness of the enforcement regime throughout the enforcement contract.”
The firm’s work will be discussed by councillors on Wednesday, December 13.
Have your say on this story using the comments section below | eng_Latn | 364 |
Want to build a new home in St. John's? You'll have to plant a tree | The City of St. John's has agreed to make changes to its landscaping regulations that will require developers of all newly built homes to plant at least one tree.
While it might not sound like much, Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O'Leary hopes the idea will grow on residents.
"Trees are such a huge benefit to our community," she said.
O'Leary cited wildlife and environmental benefits like increased oxygen production and a higher capacity for rainfall as part of the benefits of having more tress across the city.
St. John's city council will now require a $1,000 deposit to ensure developers plant trees in new builds. (Jeremy Eaton/CBC)
On Tuesday, she proposed the amendment in accordance with the Residential Landscape Requirements Policy and council agreed.
To make sure the new rule is followed, the city will be taking a deposit of $1,000 per build from developers.
When the work is complete, staff will inspect the home for the newly planted tree, and then return the money.
"It's an insurance policy for us at the city to ensure that we are growing an urban forest. It's beneficial to everybody," said O'Leary.
Took nearly a decade
The decision was well received by council but it didn't happen overnight.
In fact, it took council the better part of a decade to get it in place, but not for lack of trying.
Sheilagh O'Leary hopes to see more of this in the city of St. John's. (CBC)
A while back the city tried charging homeowners a "tree fee" for the planting.
"That went over like a lead weight," O'Leary said. "Asking residents to pay for trees to put in their new lots, that was a no go."
Council voted to pass this new system at its weekly meeting on Tuesday night.
"This has been in the works for seven or eight years. It's just really nice to finally have some resolution here so we can start planting trees in our city," said O'Leary. | Changes to Child, Family and Community Service Act could connect MCFD, Indigenous communities
The B.C. government has proposed changes to the Child, Family and Community Service Act that would get rid of barriers for social workers and Indigenous communities when making decisions on a child’s welfare.
Introduced in the legislature Tuesday, Minister of Children and Family Development Katrine Conroy said the proposed changes share the goal of keeping children out of government care and in their communities when possible.
Under current legislation, the Ministry of Children and Family Development can only reach out to a child’s Indigenous community with the parent’s consent or to ensure the child’s safety and well-being.
. #BCGov has announced proposed changes to improve Indigenous child welfare re: Child, Family and Community Service Act. Here are the specifics #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/Xnc7JDnOvX — Ashley Wadhwani (@ashwadhwani) April 24, 2018
New changes would negate this barrier between social workers and community members by allowing information to be shared the moment a file is started on a child.
If passed, social workers will also be able to refer child-protection reports to an Indigenous government that has child protection laws, according to the ministry.
Other amendments would include required annual reviews of a child in custody-ordered care to include members of the child’s Indigenous community. The “best interest of a child test,” which is used by courts and the ministry when making any decisions around a child would also have to consider Indigenous traditions, customs and language.
Indigenous children currently make up 63 per cent of the total number of children in the province’s care, despite being less than 10 per cent of B.C.’s child population.
Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Scott Fraser called the proposed bill “core to reconciliation.”
@ashwadhwani
ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. | eng_Latn | 365 |
Nate changing travel plans: Do you have insurance? - WBRC FOX6 News - Birmingham, AL | The uncertainty of Tropical Storm Nate's developments forced a lot of our neighbors - and maybe even you - to cancel plans to head to the coast this weekend.
But what if you've shelled out lots of money for a trip. Can you recoup it?
The answer may cost you a little bit of money up front, but travel agents say in the long run, it could save you.
They’re talking about travel insurance.
Sandy Johnson, a travel specialist with AAA, says she saw a lot of folks affected by Hurricane Irma.
Some customers had their cruises cancelled altogether. Others had to have their trips rebooked because the island they were headed to was destroyed.
Johnson says that's where insurance comes in. She recommends buying insurance at the time you make the deposit and before a storm is named. Once it's named, it's too late to purchase travel insurance.
But she also stresses the insurance is not just to insure you get a refund.
"When you leave the United States, your medical insurance typically does not cover you. So if you broke your foot or you contracted an illness, and you needed medical treatment, you would have to pay out of pocket for that," she says.
"But what if you were on a cruise ship and you were ill and you were not allowed to reboard the ship, how would you get yourself home? Travel insurance helps you," Johnson continues.
So the big question--how much would insurance cost? Johnson says on average, it runs about 10-percent of the total cost trip per person. Your age is also weighed in.
Copyright 2017 WBRC. All rights reserved. | Rural crime cost Lincolnshire a staggering £2.5m in 2016, up five per cent from £2.4m in 2015.
The figures form part of NFU Mutual’s annual Rural Crime Report, published today, revealing that despite the UK seeing a 4 per cent drop last year, the cost of rural theft has risen sharply in the first half of 2017.
According to NFU Mutual’s 2017 Rural Crime Report, early theft claims statistics for the first half of this year show a sharp rise of over 20 per cent nationally, raising concerns that a new wave of rural crime is hitting the countryside.
The items most commonly targeted by thieves across Lincolnshire over the last 12 months were ATV (all terrain vehicles) and quad bikes, tools and 4x4s.
Sue Green, NFU Mutual Senior Agent in Lincolnshire, said: “Although the figures for rural crime in Lincolnshire are down, countryside criminals continue to become more brazen and farmers are now having to continually increase security and adopt new ways of protecting their equipment.
“In some parts of the county, farmers are having to turn their farmyards into fortresses to protect themselves from repeated thieves who are targeting quads, tractors and power tools. They are using tracking devices on tractors, video and infra-red surveillance in their farm yards and even DNA markers to protect sheep from rustlers.”
The report reveals that being ‘staked out’ is the biggest worry for country people, followed closely by longer police response times in rural areas, according to the leading rural insurer. Criminals continue to target Land Rover Defenders, quad bikes, tractors, tools and livestock despite increased security on farms.
Sue added: “The threat of becoming a victim of rural crime, and regular reports of suspicious characters watching farms is causing high levels of anxiety amongst farmers who know their rural location makes them vulnerable to attacks.
“Our advice to people living and working in the countryside is to regularly evaluate your current security measures making improvements where necessary, remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the local police.”
• For more information and advice on how to beat rural crime in your area, view and download the report at www.nfumutual.co.uk/ruralcrime | eng_Latn | 366 |
Centre rules out relook at proposal on long-term capital gains tax | NEW DELHI: Relief worth Rs 12,000 crore for the middle class (Rs 8,000 crore as standard deduction to salaried taxpayers and Rs 4,000 crore to senior citizens) is being cited by the government as it seeks to brazen out the attack from large stock market players grousing against the longterm capital gains ( LTCG ) tax.While a relook on the proposal to impose LTCG tax on stocks and equity mutual funds has been ruled out, senior government officials said the tax concessions for the middle class will cost the exchequer almost as much as the Centre's annual health insurance bill Amid efforts to forge a narrative about middle class having been squeezed, the budgetary figures cited by the government not just reflect an attempt at perception management but, perhaps more importantly, a defiant signal that it will not back down on LTCG in the face of the complaints.A day after the bloodbath on the bourses, though not exclusively because of the LTCG tax, officials said that while the Modi government has been sensitive to the concerns of the middle class since its first Budget, the need for succouring the poor cannot be ignored for the sake of a section which is far better off.Officials have sought to clarify that additional cess to finance social sector schemes, including the health cover, will be applicable on the tax and not on the taxable income and will push up the annual outgo marginally.Finance secretary Hasmukh Adhia had told TOI that the additional outgo for someone with a Rs 40,000 tax liability will be Rs 400.In addition, the government has maintained that those without transport or medical allowance from their employer, including pensioners, stand to gain more from the annual standard deduction of Rs 40,000.Although the government may have wanted to do more for the middle class, fiscal compulsions reduced its elbow room, at least during the 2018-19 financial year when it opted to focus more on the poor and senior citizens. The LTCG tax is seen as a major exercise to raise resources and a move towards bringing stocks and equity mutual funds on a par with property.In fact, government officials have maintained that the proposed 10% levy is "concessional" and is seen as a starting point for further reforms. The top leadership is also clear about the need to end the "disparity" and many view the absence of the levy as a subsidy for the super rich at a time when there is growing concern over widening income disparity.In fact, officials said the message is that the government will go ahead with the levy even if it means a fall in stock market indices for the next few days. In any case, it is not LTCG tax alone that has resulted in the fall. What has also affected stock market sentiments is a slippage on the fiscal front as well as weak stock markets globally. | The CCAP General Assembly has distanced itself from the planned demonstrations slated for December 13 organised by Public Affairs Committee (PAC).
In an interview with MBC radio, CCAP General secretary said all the synods of the Church comprising of Livingstonia, NKhoma and Blantyre will not take part in the Demos which were early aimed at forcing government to bring electoral reforms bill to parliament to allow the President to be elected with 50+ 1 majority.
Government has presented the electoral reform bills and if passed into law, the president, MPs and councilors will be chosen by 50+1 % of the total votes cast .
This development has left opposition and PAC in limbo as they thought the arrangement was only necessary for the presidential candidates.
Like this: Like Loading... | eng_Latn | 367 |
CTP citizens' jury: Stakeholders endorse big change for new compulsory third party insurance model | Model A is most like the ACT's current scheme. Photo: Katie Burgess However all set a cap on lump sum payments and use thresholds to limit eligibility and constrain the cost of the scheme. Insurers Suncorp and the NRMA, who were part of the stakeholder group that helped to shape the schemes, favour Model D, the scheme most unlike the ACT's current common-law system and the only one where lump sum payments are restricted to those assessed above a certain injury threshold. Suncorp representative Jake Krausmann said while the insurance company supported Models C and D, their preference was for Model D as it provided "the most equitable benefits to all injured people, regardless of 'fault'". He said the benefits in models A and B for injured people were "inadequate".
Model B resembles Model A, but with greater benefits. Photo: Katie Burgess "Common law remains available to those seriously injured and not at-fault. Model D is the most efficient with 58 per cent of premium going to injured people. It has the lowest premium for motorists and will result in the greatest cuts to legal fees and insurer profit," Mr Krausmann said. "A and B have no threshold for common law claims, which fails to meet the jury's stated objectives. Lump sums for minor injuries would continue, as would exaggeration, fraud and high legal fees. Model D is the most robust, minimising the opportunity for rorting and maximising the focus on recovery rather than lump-sum compensation." Model C gives longer income support to the most seriously injured. Photo: Katie Burgess NRMA Insurance's Madeleine Hibberd said Model D represented the largest dollar saving to ACT motorists, while still providing "generous cover" for all injured road users.
She said models A and B would "maintain an inequitable gap in benefits" between the at-fault and not-at-fault injured. Model D represents the biggest change from the current scheme. Photo: Katie Burgess But Mark Blumer of the ACT Law Society and Jamie Roland of the ACT Bar Association said all four models "take money from those people that have been injured through the negligence of another to provide benefits for people who have caused their own injuries". They said while Model A presented the "fairest" outcome of the four models, it was still funded by "educing the amount to compensate those injured by someone else's negligence for pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life". However Model D was also endorsed by healthcare advocates as best meeting the priorities of the jury.
Dr Fiona Tito-Wheatland from the ACT Health Care Consumers Association was part of the stakeholder reference group, and said her goal was to maximise the number of people who would receive treatment and income support after an accident. She said her preference was for Model D, as it placed the least reliance on fault to provide compensation for people hurt in car accidents. "The legal concept of fault currently excludes many people from most assistance, and often requires family members and friends to blame their parent, relative or friend who was driving, even where the person's legal fault was simply being a human being who made a momentary error in a complex situation. As the jury heard, this can be devastating," Dr Tito-Wheatland said. University of Sydney rehabilitation medicine expert, Professor Ian Cameron said Model D best addressed the jury's top priorities - early treatment for everyone regardless of fault - at the lowest cost of all the models. However Professor Cameron said it was not the scheme that provides the "greatest equity and value for money".
"A more completely 'no fault' system as in Victoria would do that better. However, Model D is a reasonable compromise for the ACT," Professor Cameron said. Loading Stakeholders will be on hand this weekend when the jury votes on their preferred scheme, however can only offer their thoughts if approached by the jury. Those who want to watch the final citizens' jury session in action on Saturday and Sunday can RSVP at: yoursay.act.gov.au/ctp . | MORE than 40,000 settlers in Port Moresby will be affected after the land they live on was acquired by a private company, a lawyer says.
Lawyer Anthony Waira, from Cappollo lawyers representing the settlers, told The National yesterday that the aggrieved settlers were concerned with the manner in which the title of the land was acquired by Nett Holdings Ltd.
Lands and Physical Planning Minister Justin Tkatchenko said yesterday that the matter was under investigation.
“If there are any documentation, please feel free to put it through the complaints and fraud unit,” he said.
“That’s what it’s here for: so that these issues are exposed and addressed straight away and that would help the aggrieved parties.”
Waira said that he would be assisting the settlers to file a class action against the company.
“Most of the people have been settling there for more than 30 to 40 years,” Waira said.
“These are settlers from Wildlife, Morauta 1, 2, 3, 4, 8-Mile, 4-City and parts of Gerehu.
“The total area acquired is 244.290 hectares of land and that is where the airport is now, but it has gone to other potions without anybody knowing.
“People’s lives are already destroyed and affected by the action of that company alone.”
Waira said several government departments would be called as defendants during the proceedings of the case before the Waigani National Court.
“In our proceedings, Department of Lands and Physical Planning, National Capital District Commission, National Airports Cooperation and the State are party to the proceedings.
Like this: Like Loading... | eng_Latn | 368 |
Life insurance: Policy nomination can be changed by will or endorsement | Nomination can be changed at any time before policy matures, by an endorsement or a will.
If I have to change the nominee in the policy document, what do I have to do?
– Manoj Sharma
Nomination can be changed at any time before policy matures, by an endorsement or a will. Policyholder is required to fill up a change nomination form and submit it to the insurance firm. Once the KYC verification is done the change in nomination is registered and confirmation is sent to the policyholder.
I am not too happy with the performan-ce of my seven-year-old market-linked insurance policy. Should I sell the units and invest the money in mutual funds?
—T S Vedu
Both market-linked insurance policy and mutual fund investments are subject to market risk and hence there is no guarantee that mutual funds would perform any better. However, besides providing returns on invest-ment, market-linked insurance policy does cover the risk of death and is exempt from long term capital gains tax unlike mutual funds.
Since my son is 16 years old, should I buy a term plan for him as the premium is very low?
—S Chandra
Insurance plans are designed to meet each life stage need of an individual. Depending upon the exact need, one should choose the inves-tment option. For example, if investment for education of the child is important, one must invest in child plans which offer guaranteed pay-outs at defined milestones. However, term plans are pure protection plans, i.e., it covers the risk of death and a recommended buy for individuals irrespective of the age.
Till what age can I get an investment and insurance plan?
—Amit Bakshi
Different companies have different caps on entry age basis the product category, but typically it is 65-70 years.
I am 45 years old and want to take a term plan. Is it mandatory to do medical test for buying such a plan?
—RK Swarup
No, it isn’t mandatory for the customer to undergo a medical test in order to buy a term cover. However, the applicability varies from company to company basis the age of the customer and the sum insured opted. It is advisable that disclosures about any existing medical conditions are clearly stated to the insurance company. Also, going for medical tests is advantageous for the customer as he would get the benefit of much lower premium.
Ashish Vohra is CEO, Reliance Nippon Life Insurance. Send your queries to fepersonalfinance@expressindia.com | Herald Reporter
Norton legislator Temba Mliswa yesterday withdrew his application at the High Court seeking to bar land developer Maparahwe Properties from demolishing houses belonging to cooperatives allocated stands at Kingsdale Farm.
Mliswa’s lawyer Advocate Keith Kachambwa withdrew the matter before Justice Felistus Chatukuta after it became clear that the case would be thrown out for lack of merit. Maparahwe Properties lawyer Mr Cuthbert Mpame confirmed the withdrawal of the case and the awarding of costs at a higher scale against Mliswa.
He said Justice Chatukuta had an interaction with the lawyers before hearing the case, where it was pointed out that Mliswa’s case was dead, as it been dealt with by the High Court and the Administrative Court.
Mr Mpame said there were irregularities in Mliswa’s application, with some affidavits having been forged. At least five of Mliswa’s witnesses filed separate affidavits indicating they had been forced to support him, he said. In his urgent application Mliswa wanted an order barring all demolitions and have all the eviction proceedings instituted by Maparahwe Properties stayed until the finalisation of the matter.
Mliswa and Norton Residents Development Trust were the applicants in the case, while Maparahwe Properties (Pvt) Ltd, Norton Town Council, Lands and Rural Resettlement Minister Douglas Mombeshora and Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere were listed as respondents.
He argued that Maparahwe Properties had no right to evict the occupiers of the land settled on the farm following the Land Reform Programme. | eng_Latn | 369 |
LAND USE PLANNING: PUBLIC OR PRIVATE CHOICE? | "Focusing on house prices and residential densities, this paper offers a comparative institutions account of the likely performance of public and private land use planning regimes. The analysis suggests that whilst far from 'perfect,' a system of private land use planning is likely to offer a more effective way of balancing the costs and benefits of land use change than a government-driven system." Copyright (c) Institute of Economic Affairs 2003. | The electric industry throughout most of the USA is undergoing some form of deregulation and opening up of the market. With open access come new entrants to the market and an increased liquidity of the market. This paper concentrates on project valuation and power portfolio management issues in a competitive utility environment. These issues include decisions on whether or not to enter into contracts to buy or sell energy over the short or long term, whether or not to build a power plant, whether or not to defer or accelerate a project, etc. The methodology presented potentially has wide application in the deregulated competitive electricity market, from managing the power portfolio of a marketer facing competition and valuing a risky power plant investment by an independent power producer to pricing electricity options and determining the insurance premium appropriate for the entity's risk tolerance. | yue_Hant | 370 |
If you need specific advice ( for example , medical , legal , financial , marital or risk management ) please seek a professional licensed or knowledgeable in that area . | If you need further advice ( for example , medical , legal , risk management ) please seek someone licensed or knowledgeable in that area . | It says that municipal governments only have the powers that are expressly granted to them by the state legislature , those that are necessarily implied from that grant of power , and those that are essential and indispensable to the municipality 's existence and functioning . | eng_Latn | 371 |
The constituency is restricted to only 144 insurers . | The constituency is now restricted to only 144 insurers . | For the purpose of the theorem every `` country '' has to be a simply connected region , or contiguous . | eng_Latn | 372 |
Rs 6,39,900 cr investment needed to double farmers' income: Govt report | An additional investment of Rs 6,399 billion is required from both public and private sectors to enable doubling of farmers' real income by 2022-23, a government committee said in its latest report.
At present, public investment is below national average in states like Assam, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Punjab and Odisha.
Less developed states in the eastern region continue to lag behind in private investment, suggesting an urgent need to develop financial and other infrastructure, it added.These are some of the suggestions made by the Committee on Doubling Farmers' Income headed by National Rainfed Area Authority CEO Ashok Dalwai, in first four volumes of the report released for public comment. The remaining eight volumes are yet to be released.Given the large variations in the existing investment requirements across all states, the panel said: "The resource allocation for higher growth should be designed in such a way as to help achieve a balanced growth."For a targeted 10.41 per cent annual increase in farmers' income, the required rate of increase in investment on private account is estimated at 7.86 per cent per annum, it said.The estimated increase in weighted public investment (together in agriculture, irrigation, rural roads and transport and rural energy) is pegged at 14.17 per cent per year."The investment rates vary considerably across the states, ranging from 1- 24 per cent. The less developed states would require higher rate of public investment owing to initial low capital base in rural areas," it said.To boost farmers' real income, the committee said there is need for an additional Rs 617 billion of private investment by 2022-23 at 2004-05 prices and Rs 1,318.4 billion at 2011-12 prices.The committee strongly recommended the stepping up of institutional credit on a large scale, as only 50 to 60 per cent of the investment requirements of farmers are being fulfilled through institutional loans.It has also worked out total public investment 'for' agriculture at Rs 2,843 billion at 2004-05 prices and Rs 5,080.8 billion at 2011-12 prices for all the major states.The capital requirements are found to be much higher in the poorer and agriculture-dominant states such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. More funds would be required for developing irrigation systems, it added.With government continuing to play key role in farm sector development, the panel said: "By 2022-23, the private investment should increase by nearly two times while public investment should increase four times from the base year 2015 -16."It also noted: "Policy should focus on creating a favourable investment climate for increasing investment 'in agriculture' and 'for agriculture' for exploiting their relative potential strengths through public and private sources to ensure that accelerated private investments crowd- in from farmers and private sector enterprises."Since public investment in agriculture in the less developed states has been historically low, investment in agricultural infrastructure needs to be significantly stepped up to boost productivity growth, it said.The marginal returns in terms of income from additional public investments in agricultural research and development, irrigation, energy and education are relatively higher in agriculturally less developed states, which highlights the need for enhancing investments in these areas, it added.Besides, the panel suggested that the focus should be on the "demand-driven fork-to-farm approach", diversification towards high value crops, market reforms and investment in infrastructure for cold-chain integration to reduce wastages among others.It, however, cautioned that income support system alone may not work as a long-term solution for tackling farmer distress, particularly in the backdrop of depleting natural resources and uncertainty caused by climate change, as also the dependence of a huge labour force on the farm economy. | The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India, which oversees the revival and liquidation of distressed firms, amended two of its regulations to require that every turnaround scheme should also specify how the interests of these stakeholders will be taken care of. Photo: AFP
New Delhi: Bankrupt businesses exploring turnaround options under pressure from lenders can no longer ignore the interests of their employees, vendors and customers, which in the case of real estate firms would include homebuyers, according to the latest rule changes announced on Friday.
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India, which oversees the revival and liquidation of distressed firms, amended two of its regulations to require that every turnaround scheme should also specify how the interests of these stakeholders will be taken care of.
“A resolution plan shall include a statement as to how it has dealt with the interests of all stakeholders, including financial creditors and operational creditors, of the corporate debtor,” said a statement by the ministry of corporate affairs .
The amendment incorporates the spirit of the Supreme Court’s order last month asking the insolvency professional managing real estate firm Jaypee Infratech Ltd to prepare and submit an interim revival plan that takes into account the interests of homebuyers within 45 days.
The amendment is significant as a turnaround scheme could include significant steps such as management change, lenders converting their loans to equity or sale of assets, which could impact interests of stakeholders other than lenders.
“It is an excellent move and plugs a gaping hole in the corporate insolvency resolution process,” said Sumant Batra, managing partner of law firm Kesar Dass B. & Associates.
Experts said the amendments will also cover public shareholders in the case of a listed company. If lenders convert their loans to equity, the public shareholding in such companies will be diluted.
The requirement to make a disclosure regarding how these stakeholders’ interests are dealt with is likely to put pressure on lenders, promoters and the resolution professional to ensure that the steps proposed are justified.
“By default, resolution plans would take care of financial and operating creditors but by making this amendment, the regulator wants that the turnaround scheme should also provide how it has treated other stakeholders such as customers, as in case of homebuyers or the investors of a listed company. This amendment is desirable as the interest of other stakeholders including the corporate debtor itself, is also important and should not be ignored outrightly,” said Manoj Kumar, partner at law firm Corporate Professionals.
The amended rules are Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons Regulations, 2016, and Fast Track Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons Regulations, 2017, said the statement. The amended regulations are yet to be published. | eng_Latn | 373 |
Power of attorney in Northern Ireland | If you don't know where to start, just answer a few questions to find information best suited to your needs.
Nobody wants to think about a time in their future when they won’t be able to make their own decisions. It can also be a difficult subject to bring up with a relative, but it’s something that everyone should think about.
However, if your relative’s situation is complicated – they need long-term help or have multiple accounts – and they don't have a power of attorney registered already, the best way to manage their finances will be to help them get one in place. Your relative needs to set this up themselves, while they are still capable of making their own decisions and can understand what they are doing.
If things aren’t set up properly in advance of when they are needed, it can lead to all sorts of complications. Thankfully there are procedures in place to protect individuals and make it easier to deal with things, should the need arise.
What can a power of attorney do?
A power of attorney (POA) allows an individual to choose someone else to deal with third parties on their behalf, for example banks or the local council. Certain types of power of attorney go further, allowing a person to choose someone else to make decisions on their behalf, should they be unable to do so in the future.
In Northern Ireland, the types of power of attorney that are available are a General Power of Attorney (GPA) and an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA). A General Power of Attorney is usually reserved for a corporate situation, whereas the Enduring Power of Attorney is made for private use.
What many people don’t realise, however, is that a Lasting Power of Attorney has to be set up and registered before is it needed and while the donor (the person signing the 'power' over to someone else) is capable of making their own decisions (have 'mental capacity' - see Using a Lasting Power of Attorney) at the time the document is signed. In an ideal world, everyone would set up a suitable power of attorney when they are young, but, in practice, very few people do this. If you are in the position of helping a relative set one up, you might want to consider registering a power of attorney for yourself at the same time.
Your relative can give 'power' to one or more people. It’s important that he or she chooses people they can trust to act in their best interests.
General Power of Attorney (GPA)
If your relative wants someone to look after their financial affairs for a certain period of time, they can give them a General Power of Attorney. A General Power of Attorney may be required if a person:
has a physical illness
has had an accident that leads to physical injury
is going to be abroad for a long period of time.
However, a General Power of Attorney should not be used if a person:
has been diagnosed with a health problem that can lead to mental incapacity
is worried that they may develop a such a health problem in due course; or
wants to put in place arrangements to ensure their affairs are attended to by someone else of their choosing in the event they lose mental capacity in the future
This is because use of a General Power of Attorney can't be continued if an individual loses their mental capacity. Under these circumstances, it is more appropriate to use an EPA.
Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA)
Once an Enduring Power of Attorney has been registered, it can be used before or after someone loses their mental capacity. An Enduring Power of Attorney can be tailored in terms of the powers granted to and restrictions placed upon your attorney. The EPA can apply to all property or be restricted to certain assets, such as bank accounts only with property excluded. The attorney's powers can be restricted, to prevent, for example, the sale of property while allowing the attorney to manage the property otherwise – for example, to organise home insurance, pay bills and accept rental income. The Enduring Power of Attorney itself can be restricted so that it only becomes effective at such time as it is believed a person is losing capacity and at this stage it can be registered with the Office of Care and Protection.
For more information, see this page of the nidirect website.
Consult an independent financial adviser
If your relative’s situation is complicated, they might want to consult an independent financial adviser (IFA) before making a power of attorney. For more advice on finding an IFA, see this page on the Which? website. | GUWAHATI: Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Paradip Port Trust and Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) for transporting imported crude oil from Paradip port in Odisha to Numaligarh in Assam for its proposed refinery expansion.
Under the NRL's proposed refinery expansion project from the existing three MMTPA to nine MMTPA, a 28-inch diameter 1400 km long crude oil pipeline of one MMTPA capacity will be laid for transporting six MMTPA of imported crude oil from Paradip port to Numaligarh.
The MoU provides for utilizing IOCL's spare capacity of existing SPMs (Single Point Mooring) at Paradip.
Paradip Port Trust will extend land space for installation of crude storage tanks, pump house and township at Paradip, a NRL release said today.
The tripartite MoU was signed between Paradip Port Trust Chairman Rinkesh Roy, NRL Director(Technical) B J Phukan and IOCL ED (Pipelines) A K Tiwari at Bhubaneswar yesterday in the presence of Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari and Minister of State(I/C) for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan.
Assam Finance, Health, Education and Planning Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Commerce and Industry Minister C M Patowary, NRL MD P Padmanabhan and IOCL Director(Pipelines) IOCL Aneesh Agarwal were also present on the occasion, the release said.
Read Also:
Dish TV Expects To Complete Merger With Videocon d2h By Oct
Hidesign In Expansion Mode, To Open 15 Stores In FY18
Source: PTI | eng_Latn | 374 |
NCC Conveys Farm Law Priorities | WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Cotton Council looks forward to working with the House and Senate agriculture committees and with other agricultural organizations to gain passage of a farm bill that effectively addresses the needs of all commodities.
In testimony before the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management here today, NCC Chairman Ronnie Lee said, “market volatility and mounting economic pressures underscore the critical importance of an improved safety net for cotton farmers.” He said cotton must be brought back into the farm law’s Title I commodity policy as it “is the only program crop that does not have any long-term price or revenue protection policy in the farm bill.”
The Bronwood, Ga., cotton producer said including cotton in Title I would enable cotton producers to access the risk management tools that provide protection during prolonged periods of depressed market conditions.
The NCC’s testimony revealed that farms and businesses directly involved in the production, distribution and processing of cotton employ more than 125,000 workers and produce direct business revenue of more than $21 billion. Accounting for the ripple effect through the broader U.S. economy, direct and indirect employment surpasses 280,000 workers with economic activity of nearly $100 billion.
That testimony stated, though, that while current cotton futures market prices have increased from year-ago levels, many producers continue to struggle with prices at levels not adequate to cover all production costs. USDA 2016 data shows that 19 percent of cotton farms are considered either highly or extremely highly leveraged.
Lee told the Representatives that the U.S. cotton industry still is seeking to get cottonseed designated as a covered commodity and eligible for the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs – a move that will serve as a bridge until new farm law is enacted.
Regarding new farm law, the NCC’s testimony noted strong opposition to attempts to reduce the budget available for the upcoming legislation. An ongoing cotton industry priority is maintaining a properly functioning marketing loan program that helps ensure orderly marketing and flow of cotton to the market. Likewise, the NCC also will work to prevent any further tightening of payment limits and eligibility requirements. The NCC stated it believes the current definition of ‘family member’ that is used for actively engaged provisions in the farm bill should be broadened to ensure extended family members are not forced out of the family farm simply because they do not fit within an arbitrary definition for ‘family member.’
Among other farm law priorities conveyed by the NCC was the need for adjustments to the extra-long staple loan program and competitiveness program and steps to improve crop insurance and conservation programs, which are integral parts of many producers’ operations and achieve the goal of improving and protecting the environment while also improving farming operations.
Regarding crop insurance, the NCC stated that overall the federal program is working well but there are a few areas that can be improved. The NCC is working with the Risk Management Agency (RMA) to improve quality loss provisions that have proved inadequate for many producers in the Southeast region who suffered through extensive rains during the 2015 and 2016 harvest seasons. Another crop insurance component – important in the Southwest region and that was allowed in the 2014 farm law – is the ability to insure Enterprise Units by practice. The NCC believes the RMA has not implemented this provision in the manner intended by Congress and it should be reconsidered by USDA, and if necessary, further clarified in the next farm bill.
The NCC believes new farm law also should continue to fund the Economic Adjustment Assistance Program (EAAP). First authorized in the 2008 farm law, the EAAP is helping to stabilize the U.S. textile manufacturing sector and help it remain competitive.
The NCC’s testimony noted that while the world’s consumers continue to express their preference for cotton products, the tremendous increase in low-priced polyester production has created extraordinary hurdles for increasing global cotton demand.
“In the past decade, (global) cotton mill use fell by 12 million bales, and polyester production capacity increased by 145 million bales,” Lee testified. “Excess production capacity is contributing to artificially low polyester prices in key Asian markets such as China and India.”
With 75 percent of U.S. raw cotton now being exported, Lee testified that the NCC strongly supports additional investment in USDA’s Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development programs. He said these trade promotion programs “are highly successful public-private partnerships that help leverage industry funds to open and expand export markets.”
The NCC’s testimony also called for continuing cotton’s research and promotion program (check-off program) as this effort generates a positive return ($7 for every $1 contributed) for U.S. cotton producers and cotton product importers at no cost to taxpayers. | 2 Jan, Kathmandu: Naya Shakti Nepal (NSN) Coordinator Dr Baburam Bhattarai has commented that major political parties differed in opinions for power sharing instead of forwarding the constitution amendment.
Receiving an attention letter submitted by the Reporters’ Club Nepal here Monday for the party to make efforts to end political deadlock in the country, leader Dr Bhattarai spoke of the need for forming a coalition government by addressing the issues related to power sharing.
Stating that there was not much difference in the ideological agendas among the Nepali Congress, CPN-Maoist Centre and CPN-UML, the former Prime Minister underscored the need to move ahead by taking the Madhesh-centric political parties into confidence.
He was of the opinion that amendment in constitution be considered first and head towards election.
Dr Bhattarai also ruled out the possibility of merger of his party with CPN-Maoist Center. | eng_Latn | 375 |
Raise a BT Line Fault | Sometimes people need to get a BT agent to raise a Broadband line fault. Trying to do this ends up in you being sent from "pillar to post" within BT's call centre system. | Hairline cracks in plaster aren't necessarily a reason to re-plaster everything. Instead, they can be fixed with this easy method. | eng_Latn | 376 |
In what year did the islands become a British colony? | The island was administered as an extension of Virginia by the Company until 1614. Its spin-off, the Somers Isles Company, took over in 1615 and managed the colony until 1684. At that time, the company's charter was revoked, and the English Crown took over administration. The islands became a British colony following the 1707 unification of the parliaments of Scotland and England, which created the Kingdom of Great Britain. After 1949, when Newfoundland became part of Canada, Bermuda was automatically ranked as the oldest remaining British Overseas Territory. Since the return of Hong Kong to China in 1997, it is the most populous Territory. Its first capital, St. George's, was established in 1612 and is the oldest continuously inhabited English town in the New World. | Residents of Norfolk Island do not pay Australian federal taxes, creating a tax haven for locals and visitors alike. Because there is no income tax, the island's legislative assembly raises money through an import duty, fuel levy, medicare levy, GST of 12% and local/international phone calls. In a move that apparently surprised many islanders the Chief Minister of Norfolk Island, David Buffett, announced on 6 November 2010 that the island would voluntarily surrender its tax free status in return for a financial bailout from the federal government to cover significant debts. The introduction of income taxation will now come into effect on July 1, 2016, with a variation of opinion on the island about these changes but with many understanding that for the island's governance to continue there is a need to pay into the commonwealth revenue pool so that the island can have assistance in supporting its delivery of State government responsibilities such as health, education, medicare, and infrastructure. Prior to these reforms residents of Norfolk Island were not entitled to social services. It appears that the reforms do extend to companies and trustees and not only individuals. | eng_Latn | 377 |
When was the administrative county abolished? | By the census of 1971, the population of Lancashire and its county boroughs had reached 5,129,416, making it the most populous geographic county in the UK. The administrative county was also the most populous of its type outside London, with a population of 2,280,359 in 1961. On 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, the administrative county was abolished, as were the county boroughs. The urbanised southern part largely became part of two metropolitan counties, Merseyside and Greater Manchester. The new county of Cumbria incorporates the Furness exclave. | By the mid-1970s, the agency had achieved a semi-automated air traffic control system using both radar and computer technology. This system required enhancement to keep pace with air traffic growth, however, especially after the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 phased out the CAB's economic regulation of the airlines. A nationwide strike by the air traffic controllers union in 1981 forced temporary flight restrictions but failed to shut down the airspace system. During the following year, the agency unveiled a new plan for further automating its air traffic control facilities, but progress proved disappointing. In 1994, the FAA shifted to a more step-by-step approach that has provided controllers with advanced equipment. | eng_Latn | 378 |
Who oversees and manages the London Fire Brigade? | The London Fire Brigade is the statutory fire and rescue service for Greater London. It is run by the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority and is the third largest fire service in the world. National Health Service ambulance services are provided by the London Ambulance Service (LAS) NHS Trust, the largest free-at-the-point-of-use emergency ambulance service in the world. The London Air Ambulance charity operates in conjunction with the LAS where required. Her Majesty's Coastguard and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution operate on the River Thames, which is under the jurisdiction of the Port of London Authority from Teddington Lock to the sea. | Originally, legislative power was exercised by the sovereign acting on the advice of the Curia Regis, or Royal Council, in which important magnates and clerics participated and which evolved into parliament. The so-called Model Parliament included bishops, abbots, earls, barons, and two knights from each shire and two burgesses from each borough among its members. In 1265, the Earl of Leicester irregularly called a full parliament without royal authorisation. The body eventually came to be divided into two branches: bishops, abbots, earls, and barons formed the House of Lords, while the shire and borough representatives formed the House of Commons. The King would seek the advice and consent of both houses before making any law. During Henry VI's reign, it became regular practice for the two houses to originate legislation in the form of bills, which would not become law unless the sovereign's assent was obtained, as the sovereign was, and still remains, the enactor of laws. Hence, all acts include the clause "Be it enacted by the Queen's (King's) most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows...". The Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949 provide a second potential preamble if the House of Lords were to be excluded from the process. | eng_Latn | 379 |
In very large congregations, what do the elders delegate? | Ruling elders are usually laymen (and laywomen in some denominations) who are elected by the congregation and ordained to serve with the teaching elders, assuming responsibility for nurture and leadership of the congregation. Often, especially in larger congregations, the elders delegate the practicalities of buildings, finance, and temporal ministry to the needy in the congregation to a distinct group of officers (sometimes called deacons, which are ordained in some denominations). This group may variously be known as a "Deacon Board", "Board of Deacons" "Diaconate", or "Deacons' Court". These are sometimes known as "presbyters" to the full congregation. | In modern times, a process of devolution in the United Kingdom has decentralised power once again. Since the 1997 referendums in Scotland and Wales and the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland, three of the four constituent countries of the UK now have some level of autonomy. Government has been devolved to the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly. England does not have its own parliament and English affairs continue to be decided by the Westminster Parliament. In 1998 a set of eight unelected Regional assemblies, or chambers, was created to support the English Regional Development Agencies, but these were abolished between 2008 and 2010. The Regions of England continue to be used in certain governmental administrative functions. | eng_Latn | 380 |
city of westminster land charges | A Westminster City Council Land Charges Search is completed by a member of Pali who examines the records of the local council.onât worry; we have many more services at Pali. As well as a Westminster City Council Land Charges Search, Pali can provide you with; Personal Searches, Environmental Searches, Drainage and Water Searches, ChancelCheck, Coal Mining Searches, Anti-Money Laundering Searches and much more. | Welcome to the City of Westminster, Colorado! The City of Westminster, Colorado, is a drug free workplace and an Equal Opportunity Employer that values diversity and aims to have its workforce reflect the community. The City of Westminster offers a bonus of up to $1,000 per year depending on the employee's level of fluency in Spanish, Hmong, and/or Laotian. | eng_Latn | 381 |
Care home scandal: Fears families being charged after residents die | GETTY A probe has been launched amid fears that families are being charged after their relatives die
Residents may also be being ripped off with hidden charges, shock bills and confusing requests for top up payments, the Competition and Markets Authority said today as it announced it has opened a consumer protection case. The probe was announced halfway through the CMA’s market study into the sector, launched in December, following concerns over people potentially being faced with shock bills and “hidden” charges. Initial findings highlight wider worries about the sector and “there are concerns that some might not be treating residents fairly and that certain practices and contract terms might break consumer law”.
Other consumer protection issues such as a lack of information about prices on care home websites and contracts giving homes wide-ranging discretion to ask residents to leave at short notice are also to be scrutinised. Early findings suggest that many people find it difficult to get the information they need, are confused by the social care system and funding options, and did not know how to find and choose between homes. Other complaints include redress systems which do not work well, and residents finding it “very challenging” to make complaints. The CMA also pointed out that public funding pressures and uncertainty meant the sector was not incentivised to undertake the investment necessary to meet future demand.
GETTY Residents may be being ripped off with hidden charges and shock bills
Citizens Advice chief executive Gillian Guy said: “Older people and their families are suffering unnecessary distress and financial pressure due to gaps in consumer protection in the care home market. “It’s good that the CMA has identified the need for improvements in how complaints are handled in the care home market and that people need better information and support when making decisions. “The CMA is right to look at consumer protections and should seek to strengthen these where existing rules are not providing the right cover, including the notice period for fee increases and protections for people’s deposits.“
GETTY Early findings suggest that many people find it difficult to get the information they need
Andrea Coscelli, the CMA’s acting chief executive, said: “Some of the most vulnerable people in our society use care homes, often moving to them under extremely difficult circumstances. “It’s therefore essential they are able to make informed choices, understand how services will be paid for, and be confident they will be fairly treated and able to complain effectively if they have any concerns. “We also have particular concerns that some care homes might be breaking consumer law and have opened a consumer protection case to investigate further. “Demand for care home places is expected to surge over the next two decades. To make sure the additional capacity this requires is available, it needs to be built in good time.
GETTY A place at a residential care home costs between £600 and £800 a week on average | Labour and Liberal Democrat leaders joined forces to attack the SNP over its handling of local government, claiming councils are facing funding cuts along with the prospect of a "power grab" by ministers.
Both Labour interim leader Alex Rowley and Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie hit out at the Scottish Government as they addressed local authority chiefs.
Mr Rowley said the worst-case scenario could see councils lose more than £1 billion from their budgets by 2021.
Local authorities have already had £1.5 billion removed from their funding since 2011, according to Labour, with Mr Rowley warning that more was still to come.
He said: "The question people across Scotland are asking is, are we going to see an end to the cuts?"
Mr Rowley said the Fraser of Allander Institute economic think tank had said the "best-case scenario for councils" would be £800 million more in cuts by 2021.
He added: "The worst case is over £1 billion. That is simply unacceptable.
"Local services cannot take another £1 billion of cuts. Our schools and our social work departments will be cut to the bone."
Mr Rowley and Mr Rennie addressed council leaders at local government body Cosla's annual conference in Crieff.
Mr Rennie used his speech to warn that the Scottish Government is "on a path to remove the challenging voice of Scottish local government''.
Ministers are "opposed to challenge'' from councils, the Liberal Democrat said, as he argued this would result in the loss of ''local accountability, local services and local clout to challenge government''.
Mr Rennie called on local government leaders to act, saying: ''That is a challenge to you. Protect the rights of local people to choose their leaders to run local services, challenge the government to justify the removal of powers without a proper mandate; and protect the right of councils to question and probe the government of the day.''
A spokesman for Local Government Minister Kevin Stewart responded: ''These claims are wrong - the SNP Government is committed to delivering more powers to local communities.''
mfl | eng_Latn | 382 |
VILLAGERS SELLING INFECTED MEAT : MINISTER | THE Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement has warned people buying and selling meat from cattle affected by a tick-borne disease that they face arrest.
Minister Perrance Shiri said this following reports circulating on social media that villagers are selling meat from cattle that would have died of January Disease which is also known as Theileriosis, to butcheries at cheap prices.
“The ministry received reports of villagers selling cattle affected by January Disease to local butcheries and I want to reiterate that the law will catch up with them soon,” said Minister Shiri.
“We are aware that villagers have lost their cattle since December last year but people’s health is more important that they must not risk life in order to get the few dollars offered by butcheries.
“Both farmers and buyers of these cattle will be arrested and face the wrath of the law if caught so let them be warned and consider people’s health first.
“We are urging farmers to take their cattle for dipping and report to veterinary officers quickly for help whenever they discover symptoms of Theileriosis,” said Minister Shiri.
Messages circulating on social media suggest that villagers in areas like Buhera in Manicaland province and Musana, Bindura in Mashonaland province lost their cattle to January Disease and are finding their markets to dispose of the meat.
The prices for selling the carcasses range between $50 and $80 and they are delivered in towns during the night.
At least 2,000 cattle have died of January Disease between December and March.
The government has blamed the deaths on lack of dipping chemicals and fake chemicals on the market. H metro | As conflict grows with the Petworth Vision group, town councillors have decided to ‘step back’.
At a meeting on Thursday they decided they would no longer have a representative on the Vision group after concern was voiced about increasing confusion over the roles of the two bodies.
The move follows a statement from the town council after anger over a Vision newsletter which it claimed linked the council to the Vision Gateway project and asked for donations to continue the work of the community interest company.
Councillors stressed they were not involved in the project to provide a gateway at the top of the Pound Street car park and pointed out the Vision did not receive money from them ‘as it was a ‘entity in its own right’.
On Thursday town council chairman Chris Kemp urged fellow members to pull away completely from the Vision group by removing representation on the body.
He had met rural towns co-ordinator Steve Hill to discuss how the Vision worked: “He was very clear that what Chichester District Council (CDC) thought they were doing was setting up a community forum. I struggle with the community forum because I can’t see how we can take part in it with any legality.
“If the neighbourhood plan goes through its referendum we will require some sort of working party to look at infrastructure proposals that have come out of public consultation because we will receive Community Infrastructure Levy money to put things in place. We can’t pass this to a separate group that we have no theoretical control over.”
He stated CDC officers said if there was any ‘difference of opinion’ town councillors had to negotiate with the Vision. “It really means CDC are forcing this town council to work with another body not constituted in a public manner and I find the whole situation very peculiar.” He wanted to ‘stand back and wait for the Vision to come and see us.” | yue_Hant | 383 |
NDP bus breakdowns during southwestern swing | WATFORD, Ont. — Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath had an unexpected campaign stop during her swing through southwestern Ontario on Wednesday — a campaign bus breakdown.
Horwath's bus, dubbed the "Proletariat Chariot" by media riding on it for the campaign, experienced mechanical problems on Highway 402 near Watford, Ont.
The bus pulled over safely after a burning smell started to enter the cabin.
A faulty fanbelt was believed to be the problem. | The Labour group’s budget amendment has been voted down by Conservative and UKIP Councillors following a meeting of full Council.
The Labour amendment demanded that the council invested in key services to improve care and reduce costs in the long run.
Among the proposals were to maintain or increase spending on children’s services, adult care services, roads and infrastructure, the Fire Service, the library service and the voluntary sector.
The Labour amendment received support from most of the council’s opposition parties, but failed to achieve an overall majority as UKIP supported the Conservatives.
Len Jacklin, Labour spokesperson for finance, said: “These are difficult times for local government, and no one can deny the need to be prudent.
“That is exactly why we brought forward this amendment.
“It is no surprise to us that the more the Tories cut from their planned services, the more they have to spend on picking up the pieces.”
Sandy Martin, Labour group leader, said “We gave Suffolk residents a vision for a County that would have robust services, good quality care and a level of spending that would be financially sustainable.”
The rejection is a particular blow to the Fire Service after a call to reverse cuts to the service and invest in new full-time day crews in Sudbury, so that tragedies can be avoided in the future.
Councillor Martin added: “I’m particularly disappointed for the people of Sudbury who deserve the funds for a new full-time day crew at their fire station, as well as the much-needed road and infrastructure improvements that the town is crying out for.
“The choice ultimately now lies with Suffolk residents. With elections in May, they can bring about the change that is needed at the County Council.” | eng_Latn | 384 |
NDP bus breaks down during swing through southwestern Ontario | Shawn Jeffords, The Canadian Press
WATFORD, Ont. -- Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath had an unexpected campaign stop during her swing through southwestern Ontario on Wednesday -- a campaign bus breakdown.
Horwath's bus, dubbed the "Proletariat Chariot" by media riding on it for the campaign, experienced mechanical problems on Highway 402 near Watford, Ont.
The bus pulled over safely after a burning smell started to enter the cabin.
A faulty fanbelt was believed to be the problem.
"I'm going to check the engine," Horwath said, walking off the bus to assess the situation.
"Time for a .FanbeltChange4TheBetter," she tweeted a short time later.
Horwath's communications team said the breakdown was proof their campaign is "hot." | The Labour group’s budget amendment has been voted down by Conservative and UKIP Councillors following a meeting of full Council.
The Labour amendment demanded that the council invested in key services to improve care and reduce costs in the long run.
Among the proposals were to maintain or increase spending on children’s services, adult care services, roads and infrastructure, the Fire Service, the library service and the voluntary sector.
The Labour amendment received support from most of the council’s opposition parties, but failed to achieve an overall majority as UKIP supported the Conservatives.
Len Jacklin, Labour spokesperson for finance, said: “These are difficult times for local government, and no one can deny the need to be prudent.
“That is exactly why we brought forward this amendment.
“It is no surprise to us that the more the Tories cut from their planned services, the more they have to spend on picking up the pieces.”
Sandy Martin, Labour group leader, said “We gave Suffolk residents a vision for a County that would have robust services, good quality care and a level of spending that would be financially sustainable.”
The rejection is a particular blow to the Fire Service after a call to reverse cuts to the service and invest in new full-time day crews in Sudbury, so that tragedies can be avoided in the future.
Councillor Martin added: “I’m particularly disappointed for the people of Sudbury who deserve the funds for a new full-time day crew at their fire station, as well as the much-needed road and infrastructure improvements that the town is crying out for.
“The choice ultimately now lies with Suffolk residents. With elections in May, they can bring about the change that is needed at the County Council.” | eng_Latn | 385 |
Blackmail in yellow: Taxi industry’s threat on disabled access | They’re calling it a “prediction,” but it’s hard to interpret what the yellow-cab industry just told City Hall as anything but a threat — if not outright blackmail.
David Beier, whose Committee for Taxi Safety represents some 20 percent of New York’s yellow-taxi medallion agents, has threatened to yank wheelchair-accessible cabs off the street unless the city bails out the beleaguered industry.
And that, he says, could shut down the entire accessible-cab program, which would endanger a federal-court settlement requiring half of all yellow cabs to be wheelchair-accessible by 2020.
Mayor de Blasio, to his credit, has been saying no dice to a bailout. He rightly insists that yellow cabs adjust to the changing market that has seen the value of medallions plummet since the rise of Uber and Lyft.
That’s a turnaround for the mayor, of course: Early on, he tried to clamp down hard on e-hail services after receiving tons of campaign cash from the yellows. But that effort was beaten back.
Medallion owners insist the accessible cabs are too costly to maintain, though officials maintain government subsidies are available to cover most of the costs.
Look, we understand — and sympathize with — the medallion owners’ plight: Many invested in pricey medallions thinking it a sure-fire cash cow. For many years it was, as their value soared beyond all expectations.
But now technological change has eroded the value of the yellow cabs’ monopoly on street hails, and medallions are going for a fraction of what they were once worth. Owners can’t make their loan payments and banks won’t even back medallion purchases.
But the city has also taken a big hit, holding some 1,600 unsellable medallions.
Ultimately, the free market has to prevail. Medallion owners should devote their efforts to figuring out how to adapt, rather than making heavy-handed threats. | A leading housing charity is calling for an NCT-type system for rental properties.
The Oireachtas Housing Committee is looking at standards in the private rented sector, where campaigners say families are often left wanting.
Aideen Hayden from Threshold says overcrowding is also a significant problem.
"There needs to be a sufficient sanction for failure to comply with minimum standards and self-certification is not going to achieve this," she said.
Threshold believes that if a car owner can't certify a motor vehicle then rented homes should be no different.
"In our opinion there is a serious issue with overcrowding in the private rental sector and it's increasingly coming to light through our services."
Digital Desk | eng_Latn | 386 |
Nigeria: Boko Haram - UN Resolves to Continue Operations in N/East Despite Army Invasion | Maiduguri — The United Nations yesterday said it has resolved to continue its humanitarian assistance to displaced persons and victims of insurgency in Borno and Nigeria's Northest region despited Friday's military invasion of its headquarters at Pompomari Bye-pass in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.
It added that this resolution was as a result of series of meetings held with the military authorities and Borno state government after the unfortunate incident, saying that the military has shown regrets over the incident and promised never to allow a repeat of such.
The United Nations deputy Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr Peter Lundberg disclosed this at a joint press conference with the Borno state governor , Kashim Shettima at the headquarters of its office in Maiduguri.
He said , " following the invasion of the military on the premises of the agency in Maiduguri, we have been talking with the Nigerian authorities who have assured our agency (UN) and indeed all international bodies operating in the northeast that, all issues regarding their activities shall henceforth be respected as such, hence we resolved to continue with operations in the northeast despite the incidence.
"I'm not here to elaborate on the incident , as his Excellency has already done this . I and the humanitarian coordinator , Mr. Edward Kallon, have been working with the governmrnt of Nigeria , our host , to resolve the issue.
" I am very pleased to report that our relationship of collaboration and trust is intact, and at this stage , we are focused on the work ahead to ensure that the millions of vulnerable people in the Northeast are supported with life-saving humanitarian aid.
"Again I reiterate we here in support of the governmrnt of Nigeria. | TIMMINS -
NEOMA has voted to follow the path of most health units in the province, making its concerns heard about the possible change in health unit boundaries.
Timmins city councillor Pat Bamford spoke about the issue during a Friday meeting of NEOMA (Northeastern Ontario Municipal Association).
“This should concern all municipalities, because quite frankly, you're paying 25% of the cost of promoting public health in the region,” said Bamford. “Likely, that will go up because of the change of formula, to probably close to 30% or higher.
“Of course, as municipalities, we're concerned about the health of our people.”
An expert panel recommended to the Government of Ontario that public health unit boundaries be rearranged. Bamford's description of the new boundaries brought laughs from NEOMA members.
The Northeast's new health unit would go “halfway to Toronto and halfway to Ottawa,” extending to the northern boundary of the province.
He described the new boundaries as a super-board.
“If this went to the super-board, we might get lucky to have one rep, and how does the staff now relate to, let's say, Val Rita, Hearst, particular conditions or circumstances that may arise in those communities,” said Bamford.
“Virtually all the health units in Ontario expressed a major concern and wrote letters of opposition to the government about the new boundaries, including those in southern Ontario.”
Sue Perras, a councillor for Smooth Rock Falls and a member of the Porcupine Health Unit Board of Health, also voiced concerns.
“If we went to a regional board, we would be lost in the shuffle,” Perras said. She said small boards work well together, giving the example of Hearst's recent request for a bilingual inspector.
“This would never have happened if we would have been a humongous board, but being a small board, we worked together and they ended up finding a bilingual inspector. It would never happen in a super-board,” she said.
At its Oct. 27 meeting, the PHU Board of Health moved to express its concerns about the new boundary plan, asking the province to clarify what it was trying to address with the recommendations and to consider alternative options.
The motion argued that there was no clear evidence to justify the change, that regionalization would result in reduced municipal connections that are “integral to public health” and that the cost of a major restructuring would be “substantial.”
“The majority of the work of public health occurs outside the health care system, with these strong municipal and local connections; and embedding public health within the health care system risks the responsiveness and autonomy of public health to protect and promote the health of our communities,” stated the motion.
The PHU wrote a letter to Eric Hoskins, the minister of health and long-term care on Oct. 31.
“The recommendation to regionalize Ontario's 36 health units into 14 larger public health entities risks losing the very strength of public health in Ontario,” argued the letter.
“Overall, the PHU is deeply concerned by the magnitude of changes recommended by the panel,” it continued.
Timmins-James Bay MPP Gilles Bisson told The Daily Press in September that there wasn't a lot of movement on the recommendations, which were made over the summer.
“I'm hoping the government says, maybe this is something we don't worry about before the election,” he said. | eng_Latn | 387 |
Land registries can’t process deeds | Twenty areas in Attica and other parts of the country have since last week been unable to complete any property transactions, such as sales, parental concessions etc, as a result of government neglect.
The reason is many of the state’s land registries (“ypothikofylakia,” not to be confused with Ktimatologio that is a private company) have not been appointed a new director. Directors are responsible for examining the legitimacy of each transaction, so without someone at the helm, land registries such as those in Zografou, Kifissia, Nea Ionia, Peristeri, Keratea, Myconos, Naxos, Andros (pictured) and Pyrgos are unable to ratify the necessary notarial deeds.
Most land registries (about 240) are directed by a non-civil servant with a legal background who fulfills this task on behalf of the state, also paying to it the revenues due; however its operation and the responsibility of its staffing belongs to him and not to the state.
On the contrary, the above 20 land registries are under the jurisdiction of the state, becoming a public agency under the Justice Ministry and staffed by civil servants, following the withdrawal of the directors who used to run them. However there are no procedures to replace them. | A simple debate on home-based business fees set for council Tuesday threatens to get much bigger.
Already, council has heard Edmonton’s fees are the highest in the region. But when that news broke two weeks ago, many other business owners piped up on social media, frustrated Edmonton charges what it does to anyone.
That annual $235 fee in addition to property tax is just irritating, said small business owner Dana DiTomaso. “I get taxes. I’m not against paying money but what am I getting for it?”
Her marketing business with seven employees requires no inspections; it didn’t need a licence when DiTomaso ran a similar business in Hamilton or Toronto.
The issue is currently item five on council’s agenda Tuesday.
Related
Reducing fees for minor home-based businesses was a campaign promise for Mayor Don Iveson.
City officials suggested they eliminate the $125 development permit requirement right away, since by definition, minor home-based businesses do not have a significant impact on the neighbourhood. They suggested also doing a two-year review of all business licence fees with changes in 2020.
estolte@postmedia.com
twitter.com/estolte
Watch for updates from our council coverage Tuesday | eng_Latn | 388 |
Susan Kane: North Star conservancy’s hoedown a hit | The Board of Directors of the North Star Historic Conservancy would like to thank our annual sponsors, volunteers, and supporters of this year's major fundraiser, Country Hoedown at The North Star House.
Attendees kicked up their heels, enjoyed the music of Chris Crockett, and "country" danced with Jamie Hogan. A delicious dinner was provided by Caramelized Catering, Paulette's Country Kitchen and Bent Metal Winery.
The Conservancy is a nonprofit organization established to restore and rehabilitate the historic Julia Morgan North Star House and property for public use. Considerable progress has been made thanks to donations of funds, materials and labor. We are proud to have the following annual sponsors: B & C True Value Hardware, Byers Leaf Guard, C & D Contractors, Charles Hart, EA, Charles and Mary Brock, Coldwell Banker Grass Roots Realty, David Wright Architect, Lincoln & Long Engineering, Mimi Simmons, Century 21 Cornerstone Realty, The Real Graphic Source, Sierra Solar Systems, SPD Markets, Telestream, and Peters' Well Drilling.
If you wish further information, to make a contribution, or to volunteer, please contact http://www.thenorthstarhouse.org or telephone 530-477-7126.
Susan Kane
North Star Historic Conservancy | The Labour group’s budget amendment has been voted down by Conservative and UKIP Councillors following a meeting of full Council.
The Labour amendment demanded that the council invested in key services to improve care and reduce costs in the long run.
Among the proposals were to maintain or increase spending on children’s services, adult care services, roads and infrastructure, the Fire Service, the library service and the voluntary sector.
The Labour amendment received support from most of the council’s opposition parties, but failed to achieve an overall majority as UKIP supported the Conservatives.
Len Jacklin, Labour spokesperson for finance, said: “These are difficult times for local government, and no one can deny the need to be prudent.
“That is exactly why we brought forward this amendment.
“It is no surprise to us that the more the Tories cut from their planned services, the more they have to spend on picking up the pieces.”
Sandy Martin, Labour group leader, said “We gave Suffolk residents a vision for a County that would have robust services, good quality care and a level of spending that would be financially sustainable.”
The rejection is a particular blow to the Fire Service after a call to reverse cuts to the service and invest in new full-time day crews in Sudbury, so that tragedies can be avoided in the future.
Councillor Martin added: “I’m particularly disappointed for the people of Sudbury who deserve the funds for a new full-time day crew at their fire station, as well as the much-needed road and infrastructure improvements that the town is crying out for.
“The choice ultimately now lies with Suffolk residents. With elections in May, they can bring about the change that is needed at the County Council.” | eng_Latn | 389 |
BRIEF-Bank of Montreal intention to redeem all of its $250 million non-cumulative perpetual class b preferred shares | April 3 Bank Of Montreal:
* Bank of Montreal - intention to redeem all of its $250 million non-cumulative perpetual class B preferred shares, series 15
* Bank of Montreal - preferred shares series 15 are redeemable at co's option on or after May 25, 2017, at a redemption price of $25.00 per share Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: | By MALCOLM STRACHAN
FROM the time when most of us were young, we learned the value of having to work for a fitting reward. If you got an A in school, your parents would take you for ice cream, a happy meal, or some other treat to reinforce how well you were doing. Similarly, we also knew if we did poorly in our studies, our best bet was to pretend to be invisible and work our hardest to get our grades up.
It can simply be summed up that children do not learn when they are rewarded for sub-par behaviour. In fact, negatively reinforcing a child’s poor behaviour does just the opposite. It can foster an attitude of entitlement in that child, preventing them from ever reaching their maximum potential.
To that end, it is quite alarming for the nation’s power company, Bahamas Power & Light (BPL), to receive a $1.1m bonus based on, above all things, its performance. This has certainly not sat well with many households across the country who have had to endure some extremely difficult days when the power goes off and stays off for hours. Families that have had their lives disrupted and inconvenienced who still have to cough up hundreds of dollars for poor service on their power bill find it very hard to believe that such service is rewarded with $1 million big ones.
Bahamas Power & Light CEO Pamela Hill pledged that the embattled utility provider aims to achieve two key things:
“One of them is to improve the efficiency of our plants so they are able to burn less diesel and less heavy fuel oil. You do that by going in early, doing the preventative maintenance, looking at everything associated with the plant and essentially getting more miles per gallon.”
She continued, “We are looking out for our customers and looking to find a product where we can have less ups and downs so that 10 per cent, maybe 20 per cent or 50 per cent of their fuel price is stable or fixed.”
We may have heard it all when it comes to over-the-top public relations when it comes to BPL. In fact, BPL is a number of things. Among them, words like “efficient” and “inexpensive” or “affordable” do not come to mind. In a country where we experience such a limited quality of life, it is a slap in the face of all consumers to consistently receive underrated service and have promises made to them ad nauseam, claiming that the sun will shine again tomorrow.
We demand better than that, and we certainly don’t agree to paying an extra $1.1m in bonuses for it. Ms Hill insists that the bonus is justified, as she claims there have been some improvements in service reliability. She also seems to be requesting that frustrated citizens remain patient, stating that “nothing can be resolved in a very overnight fashion”.
However, the continued discontent we’re experiencing with our utility provider did not just begin yesterday. Moreover, when PowerSecure was initially brought in to manage the power company it had a specific mandate. The particulars were quite clear – to bring energy reform to The Bahamas, reduce the costs of electricity and improve customer service and reliability. Further, the aforementioned key performance indicators (KPIs) detailed the specific criteria for which BPL would be able to obtain any if not all of the additional $3m performance based compensation.
While the nation is in a well-warranted uproar over this issue, the question is now – what exactly were those performance goals that led the former government to practically give away $1.1m from the public purse?
What’s worse is BPL’s CEO - God bless her heart - actually believes the bonus is justified.
Imagine you’re paying for your leaky roof to be repaired and after a year of renovations, your property manager goes ahead without consulting you and pays full price, and a bonus for the service, all while your roof is still leaking. It’s extremely doubtful that property manager and contractor would be able to get a referral from you, much less a bonus.
BPL is an abject failure. The cost hasn’t gone down for consumers who already live in a country of approximately 400,000 people that brandishes the title of being the seventh most expensive place to live in the world, per MoveHub.
Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest, who also cosigned this study earlier this year, expressed his own contempt with the performance bonus issued by the previous government last month. He admitted that there is not much that the government can do in this regard, as all terms were agreed upon by its predecessor. However, he acknowledged that some in-house conversations will have to take place within government, as I am sure he knows that the public will be expecting the government to protect the interest of the people, and not BPL.
Energy reform was a campaign promise of the Minnis administration, and certainly is a crucial part of its mandate to the people. BPL also indicated as much, but we have yet to see the business plan to gain an understanding of where decreased costs and more reliable service stand in their timeline. How are we expected to be patient, and for how much longer?
Tragically, we cannot afford the luxury of buying dreams of old adages about the sun coming out again tomorrow. Rather, we are quite confident that it will. We can feel its intensity as we endure the sweltering heat and pray 1.1 million ‘Hail Mary’s’ for our appliances to still be in working order whenever the power is restored.
As we are entering the most active time of this dreaded hurricane season, flashbacks of the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew are enough to give a person with the most stable hands PTSD. Many are fearful of reliving that nightmare and having it topped off with extended power outages being met by high light bills
Undoubtedly, we will be asked again to have more patience and trust in a power provider that has been nothing short of a gigantic disappointment. | eng_Latn | 390 |
My Government Is With You, And Will Be With You Through And Through-APM Assures Flood Victims | I came to visit and condole victims of the floods that came a few days ago.
The floods have also affected some parts of
But as we go through these sad times, let us remember that it is our responsibility to stop this flooding from happening again. | Last week AMP’s new chairman, David Murray, gave an insight into how he might approach the role. It won’t surprise anyone who has followed his career that his style is likely to be very different, and controversial.
In a speech to the Australian Centre for Public Affairs Murray said, quite bluntly, that the ASX corporate governance principles were to blame for a deterioration in the standards of governance in the financial sector by inhibiting the development of new and better models.
AMP chairman David Murray. Photo: Andrew Taylor
The outcome, he said, was a "trust deficit’’ in the financial sector which should cause institutions to reflect on the internal breakdowns that had caused this and take a "root and stem’’ approach to designing new mechanisms to strengthen their governance practices.
The nub of his argument appeared to be that what started as a relatively small set of broad governance principles has, over time and with ever-increasing "guidance’’ developed into a collection of detailed and prescriptive "one-size-fits-all’’ regulations.
While the ASX guidelines do have an "if not, why not?’’ opt-out option, "everyone simply conforms by taking the path of least resistance.’’ | eng_Latn | 391 |
Retired bishops say Church of England ignores gay Christians | LONDON (AP)- Fourteen retired Anglican bishops are criticizing the Church of England’s attitude to homosexuality, saying the church is not listening to the voices of gay Christians.
They are responding to a report from the church’s House of Bishops, which calls for a “fresh tone and culture of welcome and support” for gays and lesbians, but says the church should not lift its opposition to same-sex marriage.
In an open letter, the ex-bishops say that “while the pain of LGBT people is spoken about in your report, we do not hear its authentic voice.”
Former Bishop of Worcester Peter Selby, one of the signatories, said Sunday that some gay Anglicans feel betrayed by the lack of support for change.
Gay marriage has long divided the Anglican communion, which has 85 million adherents. | As conflict grows with the Petworth Vision group, town councillors have decided to ‘step back’.
At a meeting on Thursday they decided they would no longer have a representative on the Vision group after concern was voiced about increasing confusion over the roles of the two bodies.
The move follows a statement from the town council after anger over a Vision newsletter which it claimed linked the council to the Vision Gateway project and asked for donations to continue the work of the community interest company.
Councillors stressed they were not involved in the project to provide a gateway at the top of the Pound Street car park and pointed out the Vision did not receive money from them ‘as it was a ‘entity in its own right’.
On Thursday town council chairman Chris Kemp urged fellow members to pull away completely from the Vision group by removing representation on the body.
He had met rural towns co-ordinator Steve Hill to discuss how the Vision worked: “He was very clear that what Chichester District Council (CDC) thought they were doing was setting up a community forum. I struggle with the community forum because I can’t see how we can take part in it with any legality.
“If the neighbourhood plan goes through its referendum we will require some sort of working party to look at infrastructure proposals that have come out of public consultation because we will receive Community Infrastructure Levy money to put things in place. We can’t pass this to a separate group that we have no theoretical control over.”
He stated CDC officers said if there was any ‘difference of opinion’ town councillors had to negotiate with the Vision. “It really means CDC are forcing this town council to work with another body not constituted in a public manner and I find the whole situation very peculiar.” He wanted to ‘stand back and wait for the Vision to come and see us.” | eng_Latn | 392 |
Government pressed for timber roads cash | Scottish Borders Council is to press the Scottish Government for more cash to pay for the repair of public roads damaged by commercial forestry operations.
It follows a recent review by the local authority’s watchdog scrutiny committee which took evidence on the impact of timber transport on the region’s ailing road network.
SBC’s executive agreed on Tuesday to accept scrutiny’s recommendation that council leader David Parker should write to the Scottish Government asking it to consider the effect and cost to rural roads and communities both now and in the future.
And he will specifically demand “more funding for the road infrastructure to prepare the public road network … and rectify any resultant damage … caused by timber extraction”.
In support of his case, Mr Parker will cite the fact that commercial forests cover 18.5% of the Borders land area – the highest concentration of the industry in the UK and well above the total Scottish coverage of 14%.
In addition, an Audit Scotland report revealed last year that 42% of the 750km of C roads in the Borders and 57% of the 1,159km of unclassified roads – which SBC has a statutory duty to maintain – were in need of repair, compared to Scotland-wide averages of 37% and 38% respectively.
And although only a contributory factor, the timber transport sector, worth around £50million a year to the Scottish economy and supporting 1,200 full-time jobs, makes no financial contribution to the repair of these roads which, unlike A and B routes, are not classified as “agreed routes” for timber transportation.
During the scrutiny review, James England, south of Scotland timber transport officer, who liaises between councils and the industry, said many of the forests in the Borders were planted in the 1970s and were now maturing, leading to “a substantial increase in timber traffic”.
“The majority of planting was in remote areas with poor access through narrow, rural roads which were inherently weak and not suitable for heavy timber vehicles,” he stated.
The committee heard that the Scottish Government aspired to increase annual production nationally from 7.4million tonnes in 2014 to 10million tonnes through to 2035 and was being lobbied by the timber transport industry for a long-term investment plan “to ensure the road network can meet the increasing demands of the industry”.
Sharing that hope and welcoming this week’s executive decision to seek more funding from the Scottish Government, Councillor George Turnbull, chair of the scrutiny committee, told The Southern: “At meetings of community councils, especially rural ones, we hear about damage to road surfaces and verges, issues of noise and convoying and of rural roads being blocked while stacked timber is being loaded onto lorries.
“With more landowners being encouraged to plant out trees, this is costly problem which is not going to go away.”
Meanwhile, the need for more investment in the region’s roads infrastructure was acknowledged last week in the outgoing council’s budget which, despite cuts in other service areas, will see combined capital and revenue spending on the network increased to £15.6million in 2017/18. | Covai Post Network
COIMBATORE: The Centre should not take unilateral decision in haste in holding polls simultaneously for both Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, TNCC President Su. Thirunavukkarasar said on Wednesday.
“The Government should talk with all political parties before taking any decision,” Thirunavukkarasar told reporters here.
“The verdict in the case of 18 disqualified AIADMK MLAs will definitely bring some changes in Tamil Nadu. If the verdict went against the Speaker’s ruling, then there was the possibility of elections being held along with Lok Sabha polls,” he said.
On GST, he said that the highest 28 per cent tax is being levied only in India and there are many slabs and tax rates.
“It is true that it is not possible to rule without levying tax. However, there are certain norms to levy taxes and the articles being used by the common and middle class people should have lower tax,” he said.
Thirunavukkarasar also urged the Centre to bring the Tamils, who were stranded in Nepal safely to Tamil Nadu. | eng_Latn | 393 |
In pictures: Another difficult away day for Cambridge United at Port Vale | This website uses cookies. Using this website means you are okay with this but you can find out more and learn how to manage your cookie choices here | As conflict grows with the Petworth Vision group, town councillors have decided to ‘step back’.
At a meeting on Thursday they decided they would no longer have a representative on the Vision group after concern was voiced about increasing confusion over the roles of the two bodies.
The move follows a statement from the town council after anger over a Vision newsletter which it claimed linked the council to the Vision Gateway project and asked for donations to continue the work of the community interest company.
Councillors stressed they were not involved in the project to provide a gateway at the top of the Pound Street car park and pointed out the Vision did not receive money from them ‘as it was a ‘entity in its own right’.
On Thursday town council chairman Chris Kemp urged fellow members to pull away completely from the Vision group by removing representation on the body.
He had met rural towns co-ordinator Steve Hill to discuss how the Vision worked: “He was very clear that what Chichester District Council (CDC) thought they were doing was setting up a community forum. I struggle with the community forum because I can’t see how we can take part in it with any legality.
“If the neighbourhood plan goes through its referendum we will require some sort of working party to look at infrastructure proposals that have come out of public consultation because we will receive Community Infrastructure Levy money to put things in place. We can’t pass this to a separate group that we have no theoretical control over.”
He stated CDC officers said if there was any ‘difference of opinion’ town councillors had to negotiate with the Vision. “It really means CDC are forcing this town council to work with another body not constituted in a public manner and I find the whole situation very peculiar.” He wanted to ‘stand back and wait for the Vision to come and see us.” | eng_Latn | 394 |
Queensland risks legal issues if waste levy does not apply to all garbage | Queensland waste trucks dump unprocessed construction waste from NSW at Cleanaway's New Chum landfill in Ipswich after it has passed through Cleanaway's recycling facility at Willawong in January. Photo: Mark Solomons "It is apparent that there would be an obvious and significant risk to any Queensland legislation that sought only to restrict the movement of waste from other states to Queensland," he wrote. "Or to discriminate between Queensland waste and waste that originated outside of Queensland." Mr Lyons, whose final report was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday morning, said the obvious way to fix the interstate transport of rubbish would be to reintroduce a landfill levy.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced the Queensland government will reintroduce a waste levy . Mr Lyons said as long as the levy applied to all waste - regardless of type or where it came from - it would appear to be unlikely to fall foul of the Constitution. "Although advice should be sought from Crown law at the time that any levy scheme is being designed," Mr Lyons said. Brisbane Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner questioned whether landfill sites which did not accept landfill from interstate would be hit with the levy.
Mr Lyons said a waste levy was likely to discourage the movement of interstate waste into Queensland. He said there were concerns the movement of interstate waste into Queensland meant finite landfill space was being consumed more quickly. Loading There was also a concern that waste generated in Queensland was going to landfill because it was cheaper than recovering and recycling it. Mr Lyons said new laws could also affect the transport of waste within the state.
Almost all of the waste being brought into Queensland from interstate originated in New South Wales, although it appeared it would also be economically beneficial to truck it in from Victoria. Companies had an incentive to move waste between states because the cost of dumping it in Queensland was cheaper than disposing of it in the origin state, Mr Lyons said. Mr Lyons recommended a general levy be introduced on all waste disposed of at landfill sites in Queensland, and the state continue to engage with other states and territories about a national framework to limit the transportation of waste. The value of the levy has not yet been announced, but Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said it would not be less than the $35 per tonne charged in Queensland in 2011. Ms Trad said there would be consultation about the introduction of the levy.
Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch said direct costs to households would be avoided in the design of the levy, following a question from the LNP on whether families taking a skip bin to the tip would be stung by the levy. "We want to see a levy that is designed to ensure that households will not be impacted," she said. Ms Enoch said Queensland's levy did not need to be as high as New South Wales' $138 per tonne charge, which was the highest in the nation. "We're expecting we can be comparable with other states, with the exclusion of New South Wales, we don't need to match New South Wales to be able to send the price signal to those [who engage in] some unscrupulous practices," she said. Other states' metro levies range between $60 and $87. | HALIFAX—The Liberal majority on the Nova Scotia legislature’s public accounts committee is being accused of providing political cover for the government after it refused to call recently audited departments to testify. Progressive Conservative Tim Houston is seeking to have officials questioned in June about issues raised in Tuesday’s report from Auditor General Michael Pickup.
"Weaknesses noted in our audit should be addressed quickly," Michael Pickup, auditor general of Nova Scotia, said Tuesday. ( Jeff Harper/Metro )
Pickup had urged that they be brought before the committee “sooner rather than later.” But Liberal committee member Gordon Wilson says officials from departments such as justice have agreed to move on Pickup’s recommendations and he doesn’t see the need to bring them in immediately, adding that he has “no questions.” Houston says he does have questions, and says it’s clear the government doesn’t want to talk about the issues raised in Pickup’s report.
Article Continued Below
The Liberals had also blocked a Houston motion earlier this month to have officials from the Internal Services Department appear to discuss what the government maintains was a breach of the province’s freedom of information web portal. Houston says the Liberals are operating on flawed logic when they cite an ongoing audit for not calling Internal Services officials and then reject an opportunity to discuss a just completed audit with other departments. Read more: Recipients of spousal and child support in Nova Scotia are owed $60 million, AG report finds Nova Scotia Liberals block PC attempt to have bureaucrats discuss web breach
Read more about: | eng_Latn | 395 |
Private and public sectors joint program to carry out | Prime Minister Rani Wickremesinghe said the government has implemented a joint program between the Private and Public Sectors to successfully carry out the restoration processes after the floods and landslides caused by the Cyclone Mora and monsoon rains last month.
Immediately after arriving in the Island from a two-week overseas visit, the Premier said he has ensured that the necessary steps to uplift the economies of areas affected by the recent floods and landslides have been enacted.
“Furthermore, I am also looking into the progress of the disaster relief work carried out thus far. I have issued the relevant Ministers and Officials with orders to restore public facilities and carry out the reconstruction of water and power systems, roads and bridges as soon as possible,” the Prime Minister said in a Facebook post. | Related Stories The ruling government has been asked not to see all critics of the free SHS policy as pessimists.
According to former Deputy Trade Minister, Murtala Mohammed there are discrepancies with the policy and there is the need for government to pay attention to it before ‘it becomes problematic’
“Nobody is a pessimist; for God’s sake all the civil society groups, all the political parties but the NPP; who are raising genuine concerns about the inability of this thing to be implemented the way they claim they want to implement it can’t just be pessimist. It is important we raise the red flag; when we raise genuine concerns, they say you are a pessimist and I don’t understand…look the operational challenge is going to be more…” he said during a panel discussion on Radio Gold's Alhaji and Alhaji, Saturday.
The governing New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) much touted free Senior High School policy will be fully rolled out on Tuesday, September 12, 2017.
However, the minority have a problem with it. The Minority Leader of Ghana’s Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu has described it as a “hoax” and former Deputy Education Minister, says the policy will not stand the test of time. | eng_Latn | 396 |
Quebec to spend $15M on Montreal transit study, but Pink Line not on the list: report | The Couillard government has earmarked close to $15 million to study the expansion of the Montreal area’s transit network, Radio-Canada reported Wednesday. But Mayor Valérie Plante’s proposed “Pink Line” — a métro extension that would run in a southwest to northeast route across the existing subway system — isn’t on the list of projects under review.
The funds — $14.7 million — will be spent on examining the possible expansion of the métro’s Yellow (Montreal-Longueuil) and Orange (Montreal-Laval) lines, as well as improving express bus service on Pie-IX Blvd. and introducing an express service on Notre-Dame Blvd.
The report cites sources within Transport Québec saying that the assessment is based on transit concerns expressed by mayors in the areas under study, but that Plante’s Pink Line does not figure on the list. The source notes however that the list is based on projects where preliminary studies have already been carried out.
The omission of the Pink Line from the Liberals’ study comes after Coalition Avenir Québec leader François Legault — the frontrunner in a series of pre-election polls — said Plante’s proposal is not an “urgent” need for the Montreal area’s transit network. | OFF-STREET car parks around schools are a major financial impost for Queensland's ratepayers but Ipswich City Council hopes the State Government will ease the burden by contributing to their maintenance.
The council will table the idea at the coming Local Government Association of Queensland conference.
Council representatives from across the state will converge on Gladstone from October 16-18 for the annual conference where this and many other ideas will be debated.
If there is widespread support for the council's idea at the conference, the LGAQ will then advocate for it to be rolled out statewide on behalf of all local governments.
The Ipswich council said booming populations across Queensland meant more schools were being built and councils were copping costly car park maintenance bills as a result.
Cr Paul Tully said it was unfair for the government to "offload" school car parking on councils and place an "unnecessary burden on ratepayers".
"The current practice is for the Queensland Government to excise off-street car parks, which are constructed as part of new schools, to road reserve and therefore making them council-owned assets to operate and maintain," Cr Tully said.
"It is our view that off-street car parks at new schools should remain owned by the Queensland Government."
The Chancellor Park School drop off and pick-up zone gets incredibly crowded as school finishes, leading plain clothes police officers to patrol the area. Photo: Iain Curry / Sunshine Coast Daily Iain Curry
The LGAQ agrees with the organisation suggesting the state "provide a 100% subsidy to councils for provision of external infrastructure at state government sites and to non-state school sites".
NewsRegional asked the Queensland Government to comment specifically on this issue and others to be raised at the LGAQ conference, but it refused to do so.
Instead a government spokeswoman said: "The Palaszczuk Government has an excellent working relationship with local councils throughout Queensland and their representative body, the LGAQ."
"For instance, we worked with LGAQ to reinstate the Financial Aid program to benefit indigenous councils,"she said.
"I know our ministers meet regularly with the LGAQ and local councils.
"In regards to the motions being put forward at the LGAQ conference in October, we will look at each of the motions passed and work with the councils and community to see great outcomes for all Queenslanders regardless of their location.
"The Government does not want to pre-empt the LGAQ conference and the views of delegates on the motions."
Western Downs, Southern Downs, Toowoomba, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim, Logan, Ipswich and Gold Coast councils fully fund the rabbit fence because it enters or is close to their boundaries. Rebecca Zanker
Councils hopping mad over rabbit fence
THE ongoing maintenance cost of the state's 555km rabbit barrier fence has local councils hopping mad.
Toowoomba Regional Council is leading the push for the State Government to pay half the cost of the fence that sets back eight councils, including ours, a combined $850,000 a year.
The TRC will table the idea at the coming Local Government Association of Queensland conference.
Council representatives from across the state will converge on Gladstone from October 16-18 for the conference where this and many other ideas will be debated.
If there is widespread support for the council's idea at the conference, the LGAQ will then advocate on behalf of all local governments at the state level.
Western Downs, Southern Downs, Toowoomba, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim, Logan, Ipswich and Gold Coast councils fully fund the rabbit fence because it enters or is close to their boundaries.
The state also has a 2500km wild dog fence and Balonne, Barcoo, Maranoa, Blackall Tambo, Bulloo, Western Downs, Murweh, Paroo and Quilpie councils pay for half of its costs with the state paying the other half.
Toowoomba councillor Anne Glasheen is the chair of the Darling Downs Moreton Rabbit Board.
She said it was only fair the State Government provided an equitable solution for the rabbit fence.
"The Darling Downs Moreton Rabbit Board is seeking equity in funding arrangements for Queensland's two barrier fences," Cr Glasheen said.
"The DDMRB views the requested funding model as the fairest way for the members to maintain the fence and achieve their rabbit control objectives."
The Queensland Government refused to address the concerns raised by the council on this issue.
The Local Government Association of Queensland Conference is an opportunity for our local council to inspire state-wide change on issues important to our community. Tony Martin
LGAQ CONCEPTS THAT WILL DIRECTLY IMPACT US
Ipswich Council wants the State Government to discontinue the practice of excising off-street car parks constructed as part of new schools to road reserve and making them a local government asset to operate and maintain. The continuation of this practice is not supported as off-street car parks do not form part of the public road network and it creates financial and operational liability for all local governments.
Toowoomba Council wants the State Government to provide funding equity between the Wild Dog Check Fence and the Rabbit Barrier Fence by contributing 50% towards the cost of maintaining the rabbit fence.
- NewsRegional | eng_Latn | 397 |
Adam Hochberg Reports That Insurance Companies | are limiting the number of new homeowner policies they write in coastal communities because of recent hurricane-related losses. | Film critic David Edelstein reviews Robert Altman's new film <EM>The Company.</EM> | eng_Latn | 398 |
Nine out of ten consultants say list gives patients less or no choice .
Move could leave Bupa legally viable to policy holders who think they have been treated badly .
Private health firm also slashed amount it will pay for common procedures . | By . Jenny Hope . PUBLISHED: . 20:44 EST, 7 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:58 EST, 7 January 2013 . Britains's largest medical insurer Bupa is forcing customers to use cut-price consultants, it is claimed. Restrictions brought in by the private health firm and being considered by other insurers mean patients can see only physicians on an approved list – who charge lower rates. Nine out of ten consultants say the list gives patients less or no choice and they could get worse treatment as a result. Britain's largest medical insurer Bupa is forcing customers to use cut-price consultants (file picture) The move could also leave Bupa legally liable to any of its policyholders who believe they have been badly treated as a result, according to a top QC. Barrister Tom Weitzman, a specialist on insurance law, said the company must ensure its ‘approved’ consultants had specialist skills. If a patient is injured because the doctor did not have ‘requisite skills’ for the treatment, Bupa ‘will be liable,’ he said. Typically, patients with private cover who want to see a consultant visit their GP for a referral, but caps on the cost may result in them paying top-ups. But Bupa has removed some experienced – and expensive – consultants from its approved list, with members no longer able to see them even if they pay the shortfall. Patients with private cover who want to see a consultant visit their GP for a referral, but caps on the cost may result in them paying top-ups . It has also slashed the amount it will pay for common procedures, from hip replacements to hysterectomies, by between four and 63 per cent. A survey by GfK NOP on behalf of medical insurer WPA – which also commissioned Mr Weitzman’s opinion – shows 96 per cent of consultants believe an approved list means patients have no choice or less than at present. And 87 per cent of the 1,000 surveyed believe patients would get worse or less effective treatment by using the approved list. Premiums across all private medical insurers have jumped 52 per cent in the past decade to an average of £1,070 a year, according to analysts Laing & Buisson. The Private Patients’ Forum said: ‘Discovering your cover does not extend to things you believed were entitlements is dreadful, especially when this news arrives when you have had an unwelcome diagnosis.’ Industry estimates say Bupa has lost 200,000 policyholders since the changes came in last year. One consultant in the WPA survey said: ‘Some private insurers – in particular Bupa – want to treat their customers like second-class NHS patients.’ Julian Stainton, chief executive of WPA, said patients and consultants were clearly against approved lists. He added: ‘We are never going down this road. Patients pay for private health insurance out of taxed income. If they don’t get consultant choice, what is the point?’ Dr Katrina Herren, medical director at Bupa Health and Wellbeing, said there are more than 10,000 consultants on its open referral list, and members get a choice of two or more. She added: ‘When surveyed, 90 per cent of our Open Referral customers said that they were happy with the service.’ | By . Tim Shipman . PUBLISHED: . 17:41 EST, 14 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:57 EST, 15 July 2013 . Countryside campaigners will target MPs at the next election, demanding that they back reforms to planning laws. They say measures brought in by the Government will allow the greenbelt to be destroyed and threaten thousands of acres of rural land. The Campaign to Protect Rural England will ask every Conservative, Labour or Liberal Democrat candidate to sign a charter to save the English countryside. Sir Andrew Motion, the former Poet Laureat, is president of CPRE, and has named the planning minister 'Boles the Builder' Sir Andrew Motion, president of the CPRE, yesterday came close to saying his group’s 70,000 supporters should vote Labour – which has vowed to tear up the Coalition’s planning policy rules, unless Tories and Lib Dems change their minds. Sir Andrew, the former Poet Laureate, said he would demand that all three parties’ manifestos included changes to planning policy. He said that otherwise ‘that will be England gone’. The charity yesterday issued a charter, ‘Save Our Countryside’, calling for brownfield land to be built on before greenfield, more say for communities in planning decisions and a focus on better-designed, ‘sensitively located’ affordable homes. CPRE chief executive Shaun Spiers said David Cameron is ‘in denial’ about the effect of his Government’s planning changes on the countryside. He said the CPRE would join the National Trust and other campaigners to press for reform, adding: ‘We will be seeking as many meetings with prospective Parliamentary candidates as possible, asking them to commit to the principles in the charter.’ The dramatic intervention will make the countryside a central feature of the general election in 2015, just as candidates were pressured to oppose university tuition fee rises in 2010. As a charity, the CPRE cannot endorse political candidates, but its army of supporters could well hit the streets for those who share their views. Sir Andrew said: ‘We want to use our charter to influence the general election manifestos of all parties.’ The National Planning Policy Framework, introduced this year, says councils must promote ‘sustainable development’ in planning decisions. Critics say it weakens protections against building on greenfield land. Asked if the CPRE would tell members to vote Labour because of its pledge to reform the NPPF, Sir Andrew said: ‘Vote for the right policies is the right answer. ' CPRE chief executive Shaun Spiers said David Cameron is 'in denial' about the effect of his Government's planning changes on the countryside . It certainly does need reforming and . if the Labour party is the only party which does do the reforming, . people can make their own deductions from that.’ He added: ‘The countryside is not something we can afford to take or leave. It is irreplaceable. ‘We made it together over many centuries, it is our great communal . masterpiece, the greatest thing we have ever made as a nation . . . Once . we have ruined it we can’t “un-ruin” it.’ Calling the situation an ‘emergency’, Sir Andrew added: ‘That will be England gone. That is why we need this charter. ‘We want [ministers] to see that the NPPF is not working despite what seem to be its original good intentions.’ Mr Spiers is seeking talks with David Cameron, who holds the rural Oxfordshire seat of Witney. He said: ‘A lot of development is . planned for the future on greenfield sites. We think the Government is . in denial about the consequences of its policies. ‘I think in particular the Prime Minister is in denial about what is happening on the ground – and about rising anger. ‘We’re working on all three party manifestos. 'The CPRE is a charity and we’re . careful to avoid any hint of being party political but I hope the Prime . Minister in particular – who I believe does genuinely care about the . countryside – will take notice. | eng_Latn | 399 |