Lower Otter Restoration Project saves rare plants from sea level rise

Press release

Some of Devon’s rarest plants are to be moved to new sites in the county as work continues on the Lower Otter Restoration Project (LORP).

Hand holding the roots of a plant

In Devon, divided sedge only grows in the Lower Otter but must be moved due to rising sea levels

The Lower Otter is currently the only known place in Devon where the divided sedge (Carex divisa) is found and is one of only a few sites in the South West where it grows – it is deemed nationally scarce.

The survival of these plants is threatened by rising sea levels and the deterioration of embankments at the Lower Otter. Volunteers will be helping to move the yellow-tipped grass-like plant to new sites nearby on 22 March 2022.

Also being moved are some populations of galingale (Cyperus longus), which is also scarce nationally, though less so in Devon than the divided sedge. Unlike the divided sedge, the galingale will be able to continue to survive in some areas of the lower Otter valley.

Three sites with similar ecological characteristics have been chosen to replant these rare species and their progress will be monitored over the next 12 months. One of the chosen sites is grazing marsh associated with the Axe estuary, where divided sedge had been known to grow but was last recorded as present in 1934.

Moving the rare plants follows on from 400 southern marsh orchids that grew on the Lower Otter being relocated elsewhere last year.

Dr Sam Bridgewater, Head of Wildlife and Conservation for landowners, Clinton Devon Estates, said:

The divided sedge is an unassuming little plant which you could be forgiven for overlooking, but it’s the rarest living thing that the LORP scheme will provide help to.

We hope it will thrive in the new sites it is to be moved to.

New hedgerow planting, using biodegradable protection tubes

This week also saw planting of hedgerows to the north of Little Bank begin. Native species, including hawthorn, blackthorn and dog rose, have been planted in among gaps to existing hedgerows. The LORP project will see a net gain of 1.5km of hedgerow when completed.

The Environment Agency-led LORP project is one of two schemes under the ERDF’s Interreg France Channel England funded Promoting Adaptation to Changing Coasts project. The second site of the total €26m project is in the Saâne Valley in Quiberville, Normandy.

Published 18 March 2022



Civil Procedure Rule Committee: Annual open meeting 13 May 2022

News story

Are you interested in observing the rule making process?

The open meeting of the Civil Procedure Rule Committee will take place on the above date via Microsoft Teams.

Guests will be observers only and not be able to participate in the Committee’s business or contribute to items in the agenda. However, there will be an opportunity at the end of the meeting for guests to ask pre-submitted questions to the Committee.

Attendance

Due to limitations with the conferencing software, space is limited and all those that apply may not be invited, so we are asking potential guests to complete a short application form (MS Word Document, 28.2 KB) and return it by 4pm on Monday 4th April 2022 to the secretariat at the following email address:-

Email: CPRC@justice.gov.uk

Applications to attend close on 4 April 2022 at 4pm

Format of the meeting

The nature of the Committee’s work means that, at the time of this announcement, we cannot confirm the topics that will be under discussion, however, an agenda will be available for the meeting.

Published 18 March 2022



Call for businesses to share experiences of supporting LGBT staff

Today (Friday 18 March) the Government’s LGBT Business Champion, Iain Anderson, is calling on global and UK employers to share their stories of making workplaces welcoming for LGBT staff.

Ahead of the UK’s ‘Safe To Be Me’ Conference this Summer, the call for submissions will seek to find examples of workplace inclusion and advocacy from around the world. With global businesses to be asked for examples of how employers can support staff in countries where LGBT people routinely face discrimination.

Iain Anderson, LGBT+ Business Champion, said:

“I’ve been listening to inclusive and socially responsive businesses and hearing some of the great work that is already being done to ensure LGBT people feel welcome at work.

“Today I’m launching this call for engagement to draw together examples of what works for companies and their LGBT employees. We know that it’s not just about doing the right thing – inclusive businesses are also more successful, boosting their profits, and our economy.

“Ahead of the Safe To Be Me Conference, I want to shine a light on the great work so many companies are doing to ensure their employees feel they can be themselves.”

Iain Anderson was appointed to the role of HMG LGBT Business Champion in September 2021 with a mission statement to drive forward workplace equality for LGBT people.

Since his appointment, Anderson has been meeting with businesses and stakeholders across the country, collecting evidence on how to promote LGBT equality at work. To further this work he has decided to broaden the search for best practice, incorporating some of the best international practice into his work.

Last November he also hosted an event in Manchester, bringing together businesses and civil society organisations such as Google, Asos and Auto Trader, to discuss how to support people to be themselves at work. Anderson will also encourage businesses to network and advise each other as they seek to provide the best possible support to LGBT staff.

Further info:

We want to hear from employers of all sizes based in the UK and abroad. Those that wish to participate can fill in the call to engage.

The call is to seek practical examples and not to gather responses of personal experience. Please do not submit responses containing personal or identifiable information.



Programme and Project Partners announce winners of third multi-million pound framework

Innovation in awarding long-term work packages is continuing at the Sellafield site, with the Programme and Project Partners appointing its next partners to support transformation and a lasting legacy for future generations.

The partners have appointed Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick and Doosan Babcock to deliver the mechanical and pipework requirement, through a framework agreement worth £112 to £237 million, over the life of the programme.

The mechanical and pipework package is the third key delivery partner framework to be awarded by the partners as part of a major programme spanning the next 18 years.

The framework has been procured under a new multi project procurement model which encourages long-term collaboration throughout the supply chain, enhanced project delivery, and paves the way for greater economic and social impact in the West Cumbria region.

This new model will see the appointment of key delivery partners to deliver work packages covering everything from building fit out, groundworks and general civils to steelwork and cladding.

Will Smith, managing director, Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick, said:

Utilising our expert capabilities and collaborative delivery approach, Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick is perfectly positioned to deliver the latest mechanical and pipework framework at Sellafield.

Having now been appointed to the third Programme and Project Partners’ framework, we have cemented our status as a key delivery partner; through which we will continue to deliver a lasting positive legacy across the region.

Cameron Gilmour, vice president for nuclear and defence, Doosan Babcock, said:

The 18-year framework provides a unique opportunity to build upon our site-delivery and expertise heritage at Sellafield and provide further value to the local West Cumbrian area.

Programme and Project Partner head of supply chain Peter Hogg added:

We are delighted to have confirmed our third long-term work partnership. I’m confident that these 2 companies will bring positive innovations and value to our projects.

They will also be working closely with small and medium-sized enterprises within these frameworks to ensure enhanced project delivery, and increased social impact and economic benefits for our communities.

The Programme and Project Partners awarded its first long-term framework for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work to Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick and EJ Parker and the second long-term framework for electrical and instrumentation to Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick and NG Bailey.

As part of its pioneering approach to project delivery and local impact, the partners have engaged with the ‘Swimming with the Big Fish small and medium-sized enterprise matchmaker service’, which brokers introductions and develops relationships between those bidding to become key delivery partners and high performing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) willing to invest in West Cumbria.

These SMEs plan to create additional jobs, recruit apprentices and invest to expand/create new facilities in the West Cumbria as a result of the work they do with their respective key delivery partners.

The Programme and Project Partnership is made up of lot partners:

  • KBR (integration partner)
  • Jacobs (design and engineering partner)
  • Morgan Sindall Infrastructure (civils construction management partner)
  • Doosan Babcock Ltd (process construction management partner)

Sellafield Ltd is the 5th partner.



HMRC late payment interest rates to be revised after Bank of England increases base rate

News story

HMRC interest rates for late payments will be revised following the Bank of England interest rate rise to 0.75%.

The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee voted on 17 March 2022 to increase the Bank of England base rate to 0.75% from 0.50%.

HMRC interest rates are linked to the Bank of England base rate.

As a consequence of the change in the base rate, HMRC interest rates for the late payment will increase.

These changes will come into effect on:

  • 28 March 2022 for quarterly instalment payments
  • 5 April 2022 for non-quarterly instalments payments

The repayment interest rate will remain at 0.5%. The repayment rate is set at Bank Rate minus 1%, with a 0.5% lower limit.

Information on the interest rates for payments will be updated shortly.

Published 18 March 2022