MIL Pubishing Engine 2

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

News story
Court fines Lincolnshire cousins following waste crime probe

Environment Agency investigation ends in prosecutions of 2 cousins who are ordered to pay fines and costs totalling nearly £7,000.

The Environment Agency has successfully prosecuted 2 Lincolnshire farmers who broke waste regulations by starting a waste fire and constructing an area of hardstanding.


Fines and costs totalling nearly £7,000 were imposed on 2 cousins from North Owersby near Market Rasen, who admitted the offences at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on Monday 27 July 2026.


Ian Wilmot, 61, of Hall Farm, was ordered to pay a total of £3,990.

55 made up of a £792 fine, surcharge of £316.

80 and costs of £2,881.

75.


Mark Wilmot, 66, of Bramwil Hall Farm, was given a 15-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay a total of £2,820.

25 made up of a £26 surcharge and ordered to pay costs of £2794.

25.


The court was told that surveillance by Environment Agency officers alerted them to the removal of waste from one farm to another in the Market Rasen area.


This led the officers to Hall Farm where it was found that waste had been deposited.

This included brick rubble contaminated by wood, plastics, plasterboard and roofing felt.


One of the officers also witnessed a fire on the site which included waste material.

When interviewed, Mark Wilmot admitted he had transferred the waste material from a nearby farm to that of his cousin’s Ian.


Though he had a waste carrier’s licence, Mark Wilmot did not check there was an environmental permit in place.

He was also asked to provide relevant waste transfer notes for the material transferred but none were forthcoming.


Peter Stark, Enforcement team leader for the Environment Agency in Lincolnshire and Northants, said:

We will not tolerate waste crime and are actively targeting illegal waste activities across Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire as part of a nationwide crackdown.


Farmers and landowners need to be aware of the environmental regulations and how to comply as we will not hesitate action against those who are breaking the law.


We will provide advice and guidance to people before they start any waste activities and there is guidance on our website.


Anyone who suspects someone is operating illegally can call the Environment Agency 24/7 on 0800 80 70 60 or report it anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

This action builds on The Environment Agency’s 10 Point Plan which sets out a tougher approach to tackling waste crime, including acting earlier on larger sites, making greater use of enforcement powers and increasing public transparency around illegal waste activity.


More Information on Environment Agency policy here.


The Charges
Ian Wilmot pleaded guilty to:
Between 27 June 2023 and 7 July 2023 at Hall Farm, North Owersby you operated a regulated facility, namely a waste operation for the deposit, treatment and storage of mixed waste, except under and to the extent authorised by an environmental permit contrary to Regulations 12(1) and 38(1)(a) of the Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations 2016.


Mark Wilmot pleaded guilty to:
Between 27 June 2023 and 7 July 2023 you knowingly caused the deposit of controlled waste namely a quantity of mixed waste in or on land at Hall Farm, North Owersby when there was no environmental permit in force authorising such a deposit contrary to section 33(1)(a) and (6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 – Between 27 June 2023 and 7 July 2023 you failed to comply with the duty of care imposed by section 34(1)(c)(ii) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in that, being a person that disposes of controlled waste, namely, a quantity of mixed waste, did fail to take such measures as were reasonable in the circumstances to secure that, on transfer of the waste, that there was such a written description of the waste as to enable other persons to avoid any contravention of section 33 contrary to section 34(1)(c)(ii) and (6) Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

News story
Appointment of Interim Chair for Gov Facility Services Limited

Maura Sullivan has been appointed as Interim Chair of Gov Facility Services Limited for up to 6 months from 1 August 2026.

Maura Sullivan has been appointed as Interim Chair of Gov Facility Services Limited (GFSL) for a period of up to 6 months from 1 August 2026, ending no later than 31 January 2027.


GFSL is a non-statutory, not-for-profit, limited company.

Its role is to provide facilities management services to prisons in the south of England.


The appointment of GFSL directors, including the Chair, is governed by the GFSL Articles of Association and the MOJ/GFSL Framework Document.

GFSL appointments are not regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.


Biography
Maura Sullivan was appointed as Non-Executive Director of GFSL in April 2019.

She has over 30 years’ executive experience in financial services, and her non executive portfolio includes roles in that sector as well as other public appointments including Chair of Audit & Risk and Board Member of Cabinet Office.

Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

Press release
Millions reminded to get £150 off energy bills this winter 

Households eligible for the Warm Home Discount must be named on their energy bill by 23 August to receive it automatically this winter.

People receiving means-tested benefits must be named on their energy bill by 23 August to receive the £150 Warm Home Discount 

Around six million households will get the rebate this winter, including around 250,000 automatically for the first time in Scotland 

Reminder follows immediate action to remove VAT from electricity bills from 1 October, giving people breathing space on the cost-of-living 

Millions are set to save £150 on energy bills this winter, as government urges eligible households to check they are named on their bill to get the Warm Home Discount automatically.

 
Every household where the billpayer is on means-tested benefits is in line for the rebate, following the expansion of the scheme last year.

 
This meant nearly a million additional families with children received extra support with the cost-of-living last winter, with around six million households across Britain eligible for the discount.

 
In England and Wales, households in receipt of Housing Benefit, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit and Universal Credit will be eligible – the same cohort as last winter.

   
This follows the immediate action taken by the Prime Minister to remove VAT from domestic electricity bills from 1 October, as one of his first decisions in office, saving £45 off the yearly Ofgem price cap.

 
Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said: 

Families will be worried about their energy bills this winter and our focus is on giving them breathing space, as we continue to work to bring down bills.

 
Almost a million more families with children received the £150 Warm Home Discount last winter, after we expanded scheme.

  
If you know someone who might benefit, please start spreading the word and encourage them to check they are named on their energy bill.

 

The government is issuing a call to eligible households to check they are named on their electricity bill, with suppliers set to rely on customers’ records as of Sunday 23 August.

 
Someone might not be named on their electricity bill if they have recently moved house.

 
Eligible customers on pre-payment meters who use a key or card to top up will also need to ensure that their household’s account is registered in their name.

 
Earlier this year the government confirmed that millions of eligible households will receive the Warm Home Discount for the rest of the decade, with the scheme set to continue through to 2030/1.

  
Last year’s Budget has taken an average £150 of costs off energy bills, which is factored into bills for the years to come.

 
The Warm Homes Plan will also reduce energy use, lower bills for millions of households and help lift households out of fuel poverty.

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

July 30, 2026

Scientists comment on a Word Weather Attribution (WWA) analysis on human-induced climate change, extreme weather and wildfires in Spain and France.

 

Prof Tim Palmer, Royal Society Research Professor Emeritus in Climate Physics, University of Oxford, said:
“The proximate cause of the especially dry and hot conditions across Western Europe this summer is the persistent quasi-stationary anticyclonic weather pattern which has amplified the effects of global warming over Europe.

A key question for attribution studies (such as WWA’s) is whether these atmospheric circulation patterns are themselves linked to human climate change: we call this the dynamical attribution problem.

Insofar as these anticyclonic patterns do appear to be becoming more frequent in recent summers, it would seem that they are linked to climate change, in which case the extreme summer we are experiencing now may become the new normal.

However, it is also possible that the increased likelihood of anticyclonic weather is an unforced decadal-timescale chaotic fluctuation in climate.

If the latter, then although we can still expect warmer drier summers, they won’t always be as extreme as this year.

 In principle, this attribution question can be answered using global climate models.

However, the current generation of climate model does a poor job in simulating long-lived anticyclonic circulation anomalies.

Hence we simply can’t answer the dynamical attribution problem with confidence.

The WWA report does not address this crucially important issue.


“On the other hand, a very recent US National Academies report on extreme event attribution  (https://www.

nationalacademies.

org/projects/DELS-BASCPR-23-02) did comment on this issue, saying that development of higher-resolution climate models is essential if we are to tackle reliably the dynamical attribution problem, and not be surprised by climate events as they unfold.

 
“The coming months will be critical for countries facing massive water shortages.

If dry conditions continue into the winter, 2027 could be a truly catastrophic year for many European countries.

The seasonal forecasts of El Nino and its global impacts will be anticipated with considerable eagerness.

” 
 
From our friends at SMC Spain:
Dr Gustavo Saiz, a forestry engineer and senior scientist at the National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA-CSIC), said:
“According to a new analysis by World Weather Attribution, human-induced climate change has significantly amplified the major wildfires that have just devastated vast regions of central Spain and south-western France.

The fires, described as among the worst ever recorded in both countries, have claimed several lives, destroyed thousands of homes and forced the evacuation of more than 300,000 people.

The analysis examines historical weather patterns to assess how fire-prone weather conditions have changed over time.

To do this, they used a daily fire severity index (DSR), which takes into account heat, dryness and wind conditions, and reflects the difficulty of extinguishing a fire once it has started.

The researchers analysed the seven-day period with the highest DSR in the regions where the fires occurred.


“The report states that climate change has led to extreme weather conditions conducive to the occurrence of these fires.

Under current climate conditions, such high-intensity fires are expected to occur approximately once every six years in central Spain and once every 20 years in south-western France, demonstrating that climate change is not only intensifying individual fires but is also increasing their synchronisation across all regions, thereby exacerbating the humanitarian and environmental consequences.


“Science is, by its very nature, very cautious when it comes to establishing causality.

This scientific caution is particularly evident in the field of climate change science, despite the wealth of evidence of the climate crisis that has accumulated over recent decades.

Attribution studies, such as those by the WWA, are not based on opinions or viewpoints, but apply rigorous methodologies and only publish results when the scientific evidence is robust.

It is an approach designed not to exaggerate in the slightest: if something cannot be proven with a high degree of certainty, it is simply not claimed.

That is why, when such a rigorous and cautious organisation concludes that, under current climate conditions, high-intensity wildfires are expected to occur approximately once every 20 years in south-western France and once every six years in central Spain, or that the conditions that fuelled the wildfires in Spain and Portugal in 2025 are 40 times more likely due to climate change, this is not an exaggeration: it is, if anything, a conservative estimate.


“A report such as this is only published if the evidence is solid.

The fact that the most cautious scientists are issuing such a stark warning should not only alarm us, but spur us to act now, by cutting emissions and preparing our ecosystems and societies for the stark reality that is already upon us.

”

‘Climate change increases likelihood of compounding drivers of severe wildfire conditions in France and Spain’ by World Weather Attribution was made available at 23:01 UK time Thursday 30 July.

 
 
 
Declared interests
Prof Tim Palmer: “No interests to declare.

”
Dr Gustavo Saiz: He doesn’t declare conflicts of interest.

Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

Press release
PM hands mayors share of income tax to make lives better in every postcode

The Prime Minister will today launch the biggest transfer of power from Westminster in a generation, giving communities greater control over the decisions that shape jobs, transport, housing and public services in their area.

Biggest transfer of power, funding and responsibility from Westminster in a generation
Mayors to keep a share of income tax and business rates revenues so communities directly benefit when their economy grows, with new powers for communities still on the road to devolution
Taking a tried and tested approach nationwide – delivering better transport, more homes and skills training matched to local jobs

The Prime Minister will today launch the biggest transfer of power from Westminster in a generation, giving communities greater control over the decisions that shape jobs, transport, housing and public services in their area.


As part of the largest package of financial powers ever offered to English mayors, mayors will receive a share of income tax revenues for the first time.


This means when places create jobs and grow their economies, they will now keep more of the rewards – giving local leaders new powers to invest in what matters most locally.


The government wants every community to benefit from stronger local decision-making.

Areas without a mayor will still be supported to establish strategic authorities and gain greater control over local priorities.


In his second week in office, the Prime Minister will tell his Cabinet that it is time to launch a new era of devolution – taking power and decision-making out of SW1 and putting it closer to people’s lives.


Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:

I said we’d take power out of Westminster and carry it into every postcode in the country.

Today, we make good on that promise.


Under our plans, more of the taxes raised in a community will stay in that community.

Soon, every local leader will have the power and resources to improve public transport, build homes and create jobs.


I know what it’s like to be ignored by politicians in Westminster.

I’m not going to make that same mistake now I’m PM.


The whole of government will now pull together behind the people and places that desperately need our support.

This is how we’ll bring back hope and bring power home to you.

The plans will end the Whitehall-first culture that has held back local areas for decades, forcing departments to justify why powers should stay in Westminster rather than be handed to local leaders.


By shifting power, funding and decision-making closer to people, the changes will give every part of the country the tools to create strong local economies, improve public services and shape its own future.


Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Healey MP said:

The people who best understand what skills employers want, what transport an area needs and where investment can make the biggest difference are those who live there.


For the first time we’re giving Mayors a share of income tax so communities directly benefit when their economy grows – passing power out of Westminster and driving growth in every postcode.

 
This is the way we start to build new hope and advance the working people of this country.

From next spring, mayors will begin retaining a greater share of locally generated revenues, starting with business rates.

Further details on this and on income tax retention will be set out in a roadmap at the Budget and will be underpinned by the government’s firm commitment to fiscal discipline.


Over time, local areas will move away from dependence on Whitehall grants and towards funding that rewards local growth.


The ambition is to extend the benefits of devolution across the whole UK, working with devolved governments and local leaders to give communities more control over their future.


Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner said:  

This is the first step in our plan to rewire this country and build a better future, where power is no longer hoarded in Westminster but is put back in the hands of local people – where it belongs.


Our devolution revolution is about bringing an end to the begging-bowl culture of the past, and instead making sure our local leaders have the tools they need to drive the change that communities have been crying out for.


We need every region to be firing on all cylinders if we want good growth in every postcode, and we will do everything in our power to make that a reality.

The reforms will be driven by a strengthened No10 North operation, working with mayors, local leaders and other partners to remove barriers to growth, accelerate delivery and ensure government is better connected to communities across the country.


Local leaders will gain greater control over the services that shape people’s lives, including housing, transport, skills, employment support and public services.


This includes powers to:

Bring rail and bus services under greater local control, helping introduce integrated ticketing and more reliable services.


Build more homes where they’re needed and unlock stalled development sites by giving local leaders stronger planning and regeneration powers and more devolved funding.


Give more control over large local transport schemes, trams and metros to Mayors by removing and streamlining Whitehall.


Give mayors control over 16-19 funding and employment support, so young people can train for the jobs local employers need and people out of work can get tailored support back into employment.


Back local industries and innovative businesses, and attract investment, creating more well-paid jobs.


Where power is devolved, Whitehall resource will follow, giving devolved leaders the resources they need to drive change closer to home

Reforms will remove barriers that prevent locally led transport projects from going ahead, handing over new planning powers for mayors and give local areas greater flexibility over how funding is spent.


Under a new “local first” principle, ministers will be expected to justify why powers should remain in Whitehall rather than being devolved.


The United Kingdom has invested less in its future than any other G7 country over the past three decades.

Giving local leaders greater control over funding and investment decisions will help unlock opportunities that have too often been overlooked by a Whitehall-led approach.


The Prime Minister believes the country’s towns, cities and communities can drive far more growth and opportunity if they are given the tools to do so.

Where local leaders have been trusted with greater responsibility, they have already delivered results:

In West Yorkshire, a Housing Investment Fund of up to £334 million is helping unlock land for development and bring forward stalled sites, supporting the delivery of thousands of new homes.


In the Liverpool City Region, local leaders are transforming transport through the rollout of Tap and Go ticketing on Merseyrail, bringing the bus network into local control later this year and taking rail services back into public ownership by 2028.


In the North East, 65,000 residents have been supported to gain qualifications, opening up new employment opportunities in sectors including construction and childcare.

The UK cannot rely on success in a small number of places alone.

By giving more communities the tools to succeed, these reforms will help spread opportunity more widely, raise living standards and ensure more people feel the benefits of economic success in their everyday lives.


As powers move out of Westminster, the Civil Service will become smaller and more strategic, focusing on the responsibilities that are best exercised at a national level.

Source: City of Canterbury

Work to install a new inclusive and accessible children’s play area at Herne Bay Memorial Park will begin on Monday 24 August.

The £300,000 city council project takes place on the site of the existing play area at the junction of King’s Road and Dering Road.

The current site will be extended, with new equipment added that will sit alongside some of the more recent equipment that was installed in 2023.

It will provide modern, inclusive and accessible equipment that encourages play, social interaction and physical activity for children of all ages and abilities.

This includes a fully accessible wheelchair swing (radar-type key required to access it), fully accessible wheelchair seesaw, an accessible sand pit, sensory play zone, calm play zone, dynamic play, shaded seating areas, BSL/Braille signage and plenty more.

As part of the design and evaluation process, the council worked closely with the Special Needs Advisory and Activities Project (SNAAP), consulting with parents, carers, children and young people with additional needs and disabilities, to help ensure the new facility meets a wide range of needs.

To allow the work to take place safely, the current play area will be closed from Monday 24 August. It is anticipated it will be completed by early October.

This does mean the play area will be unavailable for the last week of the school holidays, but the timing has been dictated by the availability of the specialist play equipment installers.

Cabinet member for play areas, Cllr Mel Dawkins, said: “This is such an exciting project and we can’t wait to get started on it.

“A lot of hard work has gone into making sure we have new play equipment that will truly be suitable for all. We’ve done our research and spoken to the experts to check we’ve got this spot on.

“This play area will be bigger and better than it’s ever been and will mean all children can play alongside each other and learn and socialise together.

“We can’t wait to see the end results in a couple of months’ time.”

The scheme is being funded through a combination of council capital funding and Section 106 developer contributions from Herne Bay development schemes.

Published: 30 July 2026

Source: City of Plymouth

One of Plymouth’s most recognisable landmarks is about to come back to life.

Planning approval has today been granted for the transformation of the Civic Centre – a building that’s long been a symbol of the city’s post-war ambition – into something exciting for Plymouth’s future.

BDP Architect Mark Braund told the committee it was a rare opportunity to secure the future of one of Plymouth’s most important and recognisable buildings and a nationally important listed building.

He said: “The building’s defining features will be carefully restored – the distinctive gull-wing roof, the Murano glass columns, the reflection pool and key elements of the original façades.

“Where contemporary interventions are needed, they have been designed to sit respectfully alongside the historic building, referencing the design rigour of the original plans, and using durable, high-quality materials that clearly distinguish old from new while preserving its architectural significance.”

Capital&Centric, appointed as preferred developer earlier this year, will lead the conversion of the tower into 144 design-led city centre homes. One and two-bedroom apartments that take full advantage of the building’s striking architecture, meeting the latest national space, accessibility and tall buildings standards while delivering a new standard of city living that Plymouth simply hasn’t had before.

Below, the lower floors and podium will become a new city centre campus for City College Plymouth – welcoming up to 2,000 students and putting Plymouth at the heart of the UK’s emerging blue-green economy. The plans include:

• Ground floor – a public-facing welcome into the city. A careers hub, sustainable bistro/restaurant, wellness spa and a digital space with AR and VR facilities

• Lower ground floor – six workshops for hands-on technical teaching, completely transforming the former basement

• First floor – classrooms for formal teaching.

The campus will offer up to 60 courses covering the city’s emerging marine sector – the blue sector – as well as a host of programmes in the environmental sector – the green sector. Courses could cover construction, engineering, energy and science to offshore wind, electric vehicle technology, battery storage, net zero and sustainable technology.

The approved works include a full package of internal and external upgrades – new lift cores and staircases to meet current fire regulations, replacement cladding and glazing, a new glazed roof structure, a spiral staircase and bridge link between the Council House and Civic Centre, and a re-landscaped public realm with new planting, seating and the pond beneath the link that connects the tower with the Council House refurbished.

Parking was specifically raised by a number of members at today’s Planning Committee but they heard that the development is intentionally car-free and that the project was extremely close to a major transport hub – Royal Parade.

The number of cycle parking spaces for both tower residents and college was also questioned. At over 200 spaces with most reserved for residents, the committee wanted to see more cycle parking, particularly with the number of students likely to cycle. A proposal for 50 more visitor cycle spaces either within the site or within 50 metres of it was added to the conditions.

The project is backed by £47,486,361 in public funding, including the Future High Streets Fund, Levelling Up Fund Round 3 and £18,386,278 from Homes England’s Brownfield Infrastructure and Land Fund. That funding delivers the shell and core. Capital&Centric will separately fund the residential fit-out, with City College Plymouth funding their campus.

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release
Statement: situation in the West Bank

Minister Doughty statement on escalating violence in the West Bank

Minister for the Middle East Stephen Doughty said:

The UK strongly condemns the escalating violence across the West Bank.


The recent attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian villages and communities are appalling, as are violent incidents in response.

This includes arson attacks against mosques in Qusra and Kour and lethal incidents in Deir Jarir, Beit Furik and in Tel, the last of which saw both Israelis and Palestinians killed.


This violence is unacceptable.

Civilians should always be protected, international law upheld, and the perpetrators held to account.


Security measures must be proportionate, consistent with international law, and contribute to de-escalation rather than further inflaming tensions.

The Government of Israel must protect the Palestinian population of the occupied territory and take meaningful action to prevent and prosecute acts of settler violence.

Too often, perpetrators have acted with impunity, fuelling further extremist violence.


The UK condemns threats to expand illegal settlements and outposts as a response to violence.

Settlements are illegal under international law, undermine the viability of a two-state solution, and fuel insecurity for both Palestinians and Israelis.


The UK remains committed to a negotiated two-state solution, with a safe and secure Israel alongside a sovereign and viable Palestinian state.

This remains the only credible path to lasting peace and security.

Source: City of Derby

The latest snapshot of the city Council’s budget shows continued evidence of responsible financial management, with a modest forecast overspend despite continuing pressure on services.

At the end of the first quarter of the 2026-2027 financial year, there was a forecast overspend in the revenue budget of £234,000, which is much reduced from those experienced at this point in previous years. Much of the additional pressure has come from rising demand in Adult and Children’s Social Care, which has been the picture across the country for several years. However this is offset by mitigating actions across other Council services.

The Quarter 1 Financial Monitoring report will go to the next Cabinet meeting on Wednesday 5 August. Some updates have been made to the budget since it was approved in February, as the Government has now confirmed the Council’s final funding allocations for this year.

Councillor Hardyal Dhindsa, Cabinet Member for Finance, Governance and Digital, said:

This is a really positive report which shows that we are containing the pressure so far this year. The services where we are seeing more cost pressures are well-known.

There was an additional £56 million invested into services in this year’s budget, mostly because of the Government’s Fair Funding Review, which re-distributed resources to councils across the country on a more equitable basis. This favoured Derby because of our low funding position compared to other councils.

This has enabled us to invest more into services where people want to see a visible difference this year. Much of this work is seasonal, so we are looking forward to seeing the impact as the year progresses.

However sound financial management also means continuing to make savings where we can, paying into our reserves to maintain them at a healthy level, and investing in non-frontline services where required to ensure good governance for the benefit of our residents. 

At Quarter 1, 87% of target savings of £7.1million are forecast to be achieved. The General Reserve balance stands at £15.8 million which is at recommended levels.

The Cabinet meeting starts at 2pm and can be viewed live on the Council’s YouTube channel.

Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

The Lord Provost today (Thursday 30 July) officially unveiled Edinburgh’s Floral Clock in West Princes Street Gardens, revealing a striking new design celebrating the 20th anniversary of Trellis.