government

Government urged to support South West’s future skills

The Heart of the South West LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) is calling on Government to accelerate upskilling the region’s workforce with the skills of the future.

Companies in the Heart of the South West area (Devon, Somerset, Plymouth and Torbay) are struggling to recruit in growing areas including data science, cyber, robotics, machine learning and customer service. This ‘skills...

Ambitious vision for Great South West launched at Parliament

The ambitions for the Great South West, the new economic powerhouse promoting the Cornwall, Isles of Scilly, Devon, Somerset and Dorset region, have been announced at a Parliamentary Reception at the House of Lords.

The Great South West Partnership launched its exciting new vision to become the greenest and cleanest region in the UK at the event, on Tuesday January 10.

The...

A victory for local democracy as minister quashes planning permission for controversial Whiddon Down development

Opponents are jubilant at winning an important battle to stall the development of a retail outlet and cafe in open countryside next to the A30 at Whiddon Down. The Secretary of State for Communities, Housing and Local Government has decided to quash the granting of planning permission for the site, fuelling calls for a Public Inquiry.

On appeal, London developer Jack Mann was granted...

Funding towards new look train station announced

The journey to create a better welcome for Plymouth’s 2.5 million rail passengers will be able to start, thanks to the Government cash boost of £43.57 million to the Heart of the South West LEP to help create jobs, support businesses and encourage growth.

Plymouth looks set to get in the region of £4.7 million towards the cost of the redevelopment which could transform the station....

Plymouth calls on Government to take action on Housing Benefit overpayments

Plymouth City Council is working with the Local Government Association (LGA) to call on the Government to tackle the issue of Housing Benefit overpayments, which contributes to a loss of £1 million a year to Plymouth taxpayers.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) pays a subsidy to councils including Plymouth to administer Housing Benefit, but councils are losing out largely...

Government plan to ban microbeads

Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom has announced plans to ban the sale and manufacture of cosmetics and personal care products containing tiny pieces of plastic, commonly known as ‘microbeads’.

Each year billions of tiny beads end up in our seas from a range of products such as face scrubs, toothpastes and shower gels. These beads build up in the marine environment and can be...

Government statement re BHS

The government has isssued a detailed statement regarding BHS.

Administrators are in the process of winding the business down and yesterday Anna Soubry, Minister of State for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise updated the House of Commons.

And she stresssed that any wrongdoing would be taken very seriously.

Ms Soubry said: "This will of course be devastating news...

Government launches £2m competition to promote roll-out of hydrogen-fuelled fleet vehicles

Plans to make nearly every vehicle in the country zero-emission by 2050 have taken a further step forward with the launch (on May 10) of a £2million government fund to encourage more businesses to switch to hydrogen-fuelled vehicles.

The Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) Fleet Support Scheme will allow local authorities, health trusts, police forces, fire brigades and private companies...

SW early support funding fears

Government funding for early help services in the South West is expected to be cut by 70 per cent, from £416m to £126m, between 2010 and 2020, leaving children and families without the early support that often stops their problems spiralling out of control.

The ‘Losing in the long run’ report published today by the charities Action for Children, National Children’s Bureau and The...

Plymouth awarded £60,000 to tackle rogue landlords

Plymouth City Council has been awarded £60,000 of Government funding to deal with rogue landlords.

The news comes after the council submitted a bid to the Department for Communities and Local Government's Rogue Landlords Fund. The additional funding will support existing work and enable more to be done with trading standards, voluntary providers supporting tenants, and working with...

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