There are 10 different categories for Cotswold households to sort their waste for refuse collection and recycling. Of all councils in England, Liberal Democrat-controlled Cotswold District Council has the most different categories of litter for households, a survey has revealed. Many councils in England and Wales are telling residents to sort their rubbish into 11… Read More »
Airbnb and Booking.com have been accused of facilitating fraud by refusing to take action against social housing tenants who illegally rent properties to holidaymakers. Local authorities and social housing providers claim the platforms are refusing to cooperate with requests to remove holiday lets listed as illegal, leaving homeless families without safe housing as a result.… Read More »
An Airbnb-style short-term “Wild West” could lead to the “emptying” of London, it was warned on Tuesday as one borough said it was investigating a record 2,400 properties for abuse of the rules. There are more than 10,500 holiday homes in Westminster, despite claims that some apartment blocks accommodate more guests each night than The… Read More »
David Smythe, 66, says some holidays in Scotland have resulted in car owners being sacked due to new licensing rules – Chris Watt Photography Scottish holidays leave owners feeling as if they can’t catch a break. A new licensing regime and the potential loss of mortgage interest deduction has led to higher costs for everyone,… Read More »
Thousands of blind and partially sighted people are being denied the right to support following sight loss, a charity has said. People at all stages of sight loss are being let down by forgotten, under-resourced social care and a patchwork of care, a new report by sight loss charity RNIB suggests. A Freedom of Information… Read More »
MEXICO CITY – North America’s most populous city is in the grip of a severe water crisis as a prolonged drought and years of low rainfall are pushing the already strained system that provides running water to Mexico City to its limits. More than 21 million residents in the Mexico City metropolitan area have been… Read More »
Korea may be one step ahead of Western countries in applying AI to elderly care, but it offers a glimpse of what the future holds for many countries – ROB GILHOOLY/ROB GILHOOLY The phone rings and a soft female voice asks from behind the old man: The man answers: How is he feeling today? Did… Read More »
Communities Secretary Michael Gove will allow Slough and Thurrock councils to exceed the cap on council tax increases next April – LEON NEAL/GETTY IMAGES EUROPE Michael Gove announced council tax for some households will rise by up to 10 per cent in April after local councils declared virtual bankruptcy. Thurrock in Essex and Slough councils… Read More »
Measures to tackle unauthorized camping approved in Britain’s highest civil court – Martin Pope/Getty Images The Supreme Court has ruled that councils can remove travelers from their lands. Five judges ruled Wednesday that local officials can issue court orders preventing travelers from arriving at locations in their counties before they arrive, even if they can’t… Read More »
The rise of working from home has also created more opportunities to commit fraud by earning a second income – Joe Giddens/PA Council workers working second jobs are being investigated by the government’s fraud squad after staff were caught “moonlighting” while working from home. The National Fraud Initiative (NFI) is examining the practice of “multi-contracting”… Read More »