LCF Law welcomes family specialist to the firm
A well-respected solicitor, who has more than two decades of experience in dealing with all aspects of family and matrimonial law has joined Yorkshire-based, LCF Law.
Rachel Baul is renowned for working on high-net-worth financial cases that involve people who have businesses and trust assets in the UK and overseas.
Rachel’s bespoke knowledge of agricultural valuations, subsidies, inheritance considerations, and how the courts approach these matters, means she regularly represents farming clients. She has a great deal of experience dealing with cases involving significant and complex financial assets on and offshore, and she also regularly represents sportspeople and medical professionals.
Rachel advises clients on divorce, judicial separation the dissolution of civil partnerships and cohabitation law. Rachel also specialises in drafting cohabitation, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements for people who have assets they want to protect.
Rachel says: “My role is to resolve financial issues and disputes when relationships break down and protect assets as people embark on new relationships. Helping people divide businesses and pensions when divorcing or ending a civil partnership can be very complicated, as is making practical and financial arrangements for children. I’m here to make things as straightforward as possible and achieve the best possible outcome for my client.
“I wanted to move to LCF Law because I was keen to work at a progressive firm that values its team. I really admire the firm’s drive to exceed client expectations, all whilst supporting its staff and the local community.”
Managing partner, Simon Stell, said: “Rachel is a tenacious and pragmatic solicitor who is also very approachable. She’s renowned for providing quality advice throughout a process that can often be stressful and difficult. Many clients come to Rachel through personal recommendation, and she is a welcome addition that will help us to continue to grow our family law offering throughout Yorkshire.”
Rachel is a former president of Harrogate & District Law Society.
Trading Standards given powers to fine rogue letting agents and landlords up to £30k
Trading Standards officers have been given the powers to crackdown on landlords that surprise tenants with hidden costs.
Any landlord or letting agent that fails to comply with the law on protecting tenants and their money face a fine of up to £30,000.
Cabinet members have approved to give Trading Standards the powers to enforce the legislation following North East Lincolnshire Council’s adoption of the Lettings Legislation Penalty Notice policy, which aims to target rogue elements within the renting sector.
Since April 2019, letting agents who hold client money have been required by law to belong to an approved Client Money Protection (CMP) scheme to ensure that tenant and/or landlord money is protected should the business fail. Agents who hold client money are required by law to be registered with an approved CMP scheme and to inform tenants who they are registered with. This means that landlords and tenants can be confident their money is safe once they pay it to the agent. If, for example, the agent goes into administration, the CMP scheme will compensate clients.
Under the Tenants Fees Act 2019, the law requires that tenants may only be charged certain fees and these must be upfront and displayed to clients.
Landlords and letting agents must also be a member of an approved redress scheme. This gives tenants and landlords in the private rented sector a way to escalate a complaint, if they’re unhappy with how it’s been dealt with it.
Councillor Ron Shepherd, portfolio holder for safer and stronger communities, said: “The law aims to make renting fairer and more affordable for tenants. It is vital that their money is protected and that they are treated fairly.
“With the private rented sector increasing, so have concerns over safety, standards and unfair practices. Providing safe homes is paramount and we hope to improve the health and wellbeing of tenants so they feel more safe and secure in their homes.
“We will target rogue letting agents and landlords who take advantage of their tenants, for example, charging unpermitted fees or keeping their deposits unnecessarily. Our Trading Standards officers want to educate and explain, with enforcement being a last resort. But they will not hesitate to take action if it is needed.”
This policy mirrors the policy developed by the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) who are the national lead authority for this work and have given permission for other local authorities to adopt their policy to provide national consistency.
‘Stronger Economies’ and ‘Stronger Communities’: council plans for the future
Two plans that will steer the future of North East Lincolnshire in the years ahead have been approved by the Council’s Cabinet.
Members of the Cabinet met this week and gave their formal support to both the North East Lincolnshire Council Plan, and the Budget, Finance and Commissioning Plan. Both cover the next three to five years. They detail the plans of each main service area within the council, the projects and priorities within those areas and how they will be supported.
The Council Plan is a far-reaching document that details the services to be delivered and developments planned in the next five years. It also outlines the ambition of North East Lincolnshire Council to work with its partners to create ‘Stronger Economies’ and ‘Stronger Communities’, under five main headers:
- Learning and Skills
- Investing in our Future
- Vitality & Health
- Economic Recovery and Growth
- Sustainable & Safe
Doncaster announced as no.1 Small European Cities of the future 2022/23
The Annual FDI European Cities and Region of the Future competition has today declared that Doncaster has been awarded first place in the Small European Cities Of The Future 2022/23 – Fdi Strategy category.
As well as an assessment of an application form, The European Cities and Regions of the Future 2022/23 ranking also collected surveys from local investment promotion agencies for the FDI Strategy category. It is the only qualitative category in the otherwise data-driven study, and also feeds into the overall results.
fDi’s editor Jacopo Dettoni and four external judges from the investment promotion and FDI industry reviewed 75 survey submissions from cities across Europe. The Barcelona City Council won the judges’ favour as the best top city for its investment promotion strategy. Other award winners were:
- Antwerp, Belgium – large city category
- Vilnius, Lithuania – mid-sized city category
- Doncaster, UK – small city category
- Valmiera, Latvia – micro city category
Burendo appoints new finance director
Leeds-based agile business transformation firm Burendo has appointed Sadie Alton as finance director.
She joins from a competitor technical consultancy where her outstanding work led to her being shortlisted for the 2021 Northern Finance Director Award.
A graduate of Newcastle University, Sadie arrives at Burendo with more than two decades of experience in corporate finance, restructuring and as a finance director.
She is the latest high profile recruit to an almost 150-strong team at Burendo which specialises in empowering large organisations and SMEs to improve their agile adoption and delivery processes.
Set up in 2018 by Gary Green, Glenn Crossley and Austen Bell, the firm is on course to achieve an £18 million turnover in the current financial year.
Gary Green, Burendo people director, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Sadie. She is a leader in her field and a perfect fit for Burendo. Sadie has an impressive career history, having worked for some of the biggest names in business.
“She also headed her own consultancy for a significant period and is someone who leads from the front. It is fantastic to have her onboard as Burendo continues to grow rapidly.”
Sadie Alton said: “I am excited to be joining Burendo which, in its short history, has established a formidable reputation for delivering large scale business transformation nationally and globally.
“The company attracts talented and motivated individuals who flourish in a culture which puts people first. It is a privilege to be taking up the role of finance director at such an exhilarating stage of Burendo’s development.”
Kickstart your career in care with paid training
A new paid introduction to care course has been launched making it easier than ever for local job seekers to start a rewarding role in adult social care.
In uncertain times, care work offers guaranteed employment and the chance to climb the career ladder.
Pursuing a career in care in North Lincolnshire unlocks exclusive benefits, including free childcare and health and wellbeing memberships, all while making a massive difference to the lives of local residents.
The two-week course, which is being delivered in partnership with Ongo Recruitment, is the perfect opportunity for people to learn the skills necessary to secure a care job, or refresh their knowledge, all while being paid.
Course participants study content from the care certificate and join practical, face to face training including moving with dignity and medication.
There will also be the opportunity to learn on the job and shadow care professionals.
Those who complete the course will then be matched with local care jobs and fast tracked into employment.
All participants on the first course have now secured a job with a local care provider and spoke positively of their experience.
Awarding the course a five-star rating, one participant said:
“The training helped us to have more of an understanding of the care sector and was beneficial to everyone who has a passion for care”.
Others used the course to brush up their knowledge.
“Even though I worked in care over 20 years ago, the training has been beneficial as so much has changed. The trainer has been so supportive”, another participant added.
To find out more about the course and join one of the upcoming training programmes, email: recruitment@ongo.co.uk or call 01724 844848.
New job opportunities are added every week to the Proud to Care North Lincolnshire website, which conveniently brings together all the latest care vacancies together in one place, alongside advice and guidance on getting started.
The Proud to Care team are also inviting people across North Lincolnshire to come forward and share their stories and thank an inspirational care worker that has helped them or a loved one.
North Yorkshire sets budget that draws on cash reserves
North Yorkshire faces having to draw on its cash reserves to meet service demand as members today agreed a final budget before the new unitary council for the county comes into effect from 1 April 2023.
At its quarterly meeting North Yorkshire County Council agreed a council tax increase of 3.99%, consisting of 1.99% general council tax and 2.0% of adult social care precept.
This option results in a recurring shortfall of £18m and a need for reserves of £34.9m over the next three years.
We consulted the public about our budget, including the level of council tax. Under Government rules, we can raise council tax by up to 1.99% from April, plus up to a further 2.49% for the adult social care precept.
County Councillor Carl Les, North Yorkshire’s Leader said: “This is always a difficult choice, deciding what the council needs to do in its work in looking after our communities and residents, especially vulnerable ones, but also deciding what it is fair to ask the tax payer to pay, and what they can afford.
“This is especially true this year, with rising costs and inflation facing residents and council alike, and a huge demand for our essential services.
“We are facing an unprecedented range of risks – the continuing impact of Covid-19, harsh winters and climate change, the need for interventions to prop up social care, the escalating costs of transport for special educational needs students, to name but a few.
“These pressures are such that given the need to continue to deliver key services at a time of rising demand and the need to successfully transition to a new council, our final budget requires a higher degree of support from reserves than would otherwise be the case or is desirable. ”
The successful transition to the new unitary council arrangements will also be a significant feature of the forthcoming financial year.
We also have to grapple with increasing volatility in the months ahead due to rising costs associated with high inflation and uncertainty in relation to Government funding.
“Increasing council tax is never an easy option for us,” said Cllr Les. “We have always striven to be moderate in our increases. We need to understand and balance the hardship families face and the pressure a council tax rise might add with the need to fund essential services to support the most vulnerable in our communities and the services our communities and residents want to see delivered, none of which are without a cost.”
Cllr Gareth Dadd, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Finance, said: “These continue to be turbulent times. We are responding to increased pressures that the pandemic has placed on our communities and the county’s economy. At the same time, long-term challenges grow, for example the massive pressures in social care. This means we face further tough choices as we budget for the future.”
Two deals secured at multimillion-pound Woodhouse Link development
Network Space has secured two significant deals at its speculative multimillion-pound Woodhouse Link development, near Sheffield.
The first unit, which provides 48,900 sq ft has been snapped up by global company, nVent, which acquired Eldon Holding AB and will move its main UK operations site from Hellaby to Woodhouse Link.
An online retail giant has also agreed a deal for unit 4, where work is set to complete in February on the 23,200 sq ft warehouse with integral office.
As a result, only one unit now remains at Woodhouse Link following last year’s letting of unit 3 to BLE Smoke and Fire Curtains Ltd. It is expected that all of the units will be let pre-completion as the remaining unit 2, which offers 13,200 sq ft of warehouse space, is already under offer.
Local construction company, Harris CM, is currently on-site delivering 116,505 sq ft of prime industrial space across the four high specification units. All of the units will be ready for occupation in spring 2022 when Woodhouse Link will be capable of fostering some 200 new jobs.
Simon Peters, development director at Network Space, said: “Securing a further two significant deals at Woodhouse Link prior to its completion is testament to the quality of space and the great location close to the M1, Sheffield and Rotherham. This, combined with the 24/7 access and wide range of permitted uses has led to strong enquiry levels and the final unit is already under offer.”
Woodhouse Link lies close to junctions 31 and 33 of the M1, to the east of Sheffield and on the south side of Rotherham, within the Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation District and close to the Advanced Manufacturing Park at Waverley.
The development has planning permission for 24/7 operation and is suitable for manufacturing or distribution uses. The detached and self-contained units all provide secure storage yards and parking, 8 to 10 metre high eaves, integral offices and are designed to a high sustainability standard, including EV charging points, and to a BREEAM Very Good rating.
Avison Young and CPP are responsible for marketing the site. Colliers advised nVent on the acquisition of the property.
Rob Oliver, principal from Avison Young, said: “We were delighted to agree and complete lettings on Units 1 and 4 prior to practical completion, and to attract to the scheme both a leading online retailer, and the relocation of a well-known local occupier.
“We had received strong interest in both units from other occupiers, as we did for Unit 2, prior to agreeing terms on it with the chosen party. We look forward to seeing construction complete shortly, and the estate fully occupied and functioning in the next few months.”
Ed Norris, director at CPP, said: “The latest deals announced at Woodhouse confirm the quality of the location and building on offer. It is fantastic to conclude these deals prior to practical completion of the units and gives confidence to the region.”
The Woodhouse Link project team includes DLA Architecture, Spawforths planners, Tetra Tech and CJR Midlands M&E engineers, Walker Sime QS and project management and Gateley legal.
Renowned Leeds snooker club sold
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has sold one of the UK’s most prestigious and well-known snooker venues, the Northern Snooker Centre (NSC) in Leeds.
Brought to the market for the first time in 48 years last September following the decision by the major shareholder of the business to retire, the disposal generated considerable interest from within the professional ranks of the snooker and cue sports industry, from national and regional experiential leisure operators, as well as from individual investors.
The Williamson family, which has owned “The Northern” since 1974, was keen to see the heritage of the business preserved and invested in and, following receipt of a number of offers for the business considerably in excess of the £750,000 guide price, the successful bidder and new owner of the business is Yorkshire-based business, Concept Taverns.
Chris and June Williamson said: “We are delighted to be leaving The Northern in good hands after so many years. Chris’ brother Ian and sister Vanessa will be continuing their coaching and front of house roles with the business and assisting with continuity.”
Managing Director of Concept Taverns, Ben Warren, added: “Whilst Concept Taverns operates a portfolio of independent pubs in the West Yorkshire area, the management team has significant experience in the cue sports sector. When the Northern Snooker Centre became available, we saw this as a one-off opportunity to acquire a great asset on our doorstep and one that would fit exceptionally well with our knowledge base.”
Jon Patrick, head of leisure & development at Christie & Co, who handled the sale, concluded: “The sale of the Northern Snooker Centre is further evidence that the depth of interest in high-quality licensed leisure businesses has remained strong throughout the pandemic. With over 375 hospitality and leisure sale transactions completed by Christie & Co during 2021 alone, and with investor demand remaining high, 2022 has already got off to a good start with the sale of The Northern in excess of the guide price.”
Blacks Solicitors LLP represented the Northern Snooker Centre and ALT Legal acted on behalf of Concept Taverns.
Yorkshire nursery group sold to Kids Planet
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has sold Yorkshire-based Twinkles Nursery Group.
Founded in 2003, the group comprises six high-quality purpose-built and purpose-designed facilities located in North and West Yorkshire; around Leeds city centre, and in the neighbouring towns of Knaresborough, Wetherby, and Boston Spa. All of the settings are Ofsted rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’.
The group provides a total effective operating capacity for 482 children aged 6 weeks to 5 years, and 56 out of school places.
Following Christie & Co’s long-standing relationship with the founder, Jill Graham, Twinkles Nursery Group was brought to market via a confidential marketing process.
The portfolio has been sold to Kids Planet. Having recently acquired The Kinderhaven Group, Rainbow Nursery School in Yorkshire and now Twinkles Nursery Group, Kids Planet has a very strong foothold and platform from which to further grow and deliver the highest quality early years childcare and education to even more families across Yorkshire.
Managing Director of Twinkles Nursery Group, Jill Smith, says: “I have been operating nurseries for almost 21 years and have organically developed Twinkles gradually over that time, starting the first nursery in 2001 when my daughter was a baby.
“It has been an honour to serve all our wonderful families and to work alongside such a dedicated and super talented team over the years, and I feel now is a good time to step back and take some time to decide what comes next.
“I know that Twinkles will continue to strive in the very capable hands of Kids Planet, and I look forward to seeing further growth. I will miss my team and wish them all the very best of luck for the future and thank them for the amazing memories we have built together.”
CEO of Kids Planet, Clare Roberts, says: “With Leeds being a city close to my heart, we are thrilled to have acquired a group such as Twinkles, which provides exceptionally high-quality childcare, mirroring that of Kids Planet.
“We are excited to be growing our position in Yorkshire, given our recent acquisitions of Kinder Haven Group and Rainbows Day Nursery, allowing us to offer families the best childcare available in their hometowns.
“With Twinkles being a family run business just like ours, we believe they will transition into Kids Planet perfectly, upholding the same values and ideals we pride ourselves on. I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in the process and to welcome an exceptionally professional and dedicated Twinkles team to the Kids Planet Family.”
The sale was handled by Courteney Donaldson and Nick Brown at Christie & Co.
Courteney Donaldson, Managing Director, says: “This is an exceptional business, and we were delighted to be invited by Jill to lead a formal, albeit highly confidential sale. Once in receipt of multiple offers, we were able to help Jill choose the right people to further build on her renowned group.
“Jill has continually looked to expand and grow her business and, even during the short sales process, just 56 working days from Heads of Agreement being signed, Jill secured a new organic development opportunity. It has been a pleasure working with Jill to make sure that, after having decided to sell and move on from the sector, her business is in the best hands possible.”
Twinkles Nursery Group was sold for an undisclosed price.
