Buses of Somerset and Somerset Council have begun work to electrify bus depots in Taunton and Minehead, ready to operate 26 brand new electric buses from Spring 2025.
The works will create EV charging infrastructure as well as upgrading the bus depots in Taunton and Minehead.
Once complete, the electric ready depots will enable a fleet of 26 double and single-decker electric buses to run across Buses of Somerset’s routes, bringing cleaner, greener travel to local people.

The Environment Agency has launched a consultation on waste charges and is encouraged the waste, water and farming sectors to have their say.
The Environment Agency is consulting on new regulatory charges for specific waste activities as well as updating existing charging regimes from April 2025.

A Best Value Notice issued to South Cambridgeshire District Council by the previous government over its four-day week has expired and will not be renewed.
The Conservative government first issued the Notice in November 2023 and renewed it in May.
The original notice asked the council to prove that it was offering value for money by introducing a four-day week, whereby staff worked 80 per cent of their previous hours but for the same pay.

Essex County Council has launched a new Data Academy to train staff, as part of plans to become a data-led organisation.
The council aims to strengthen its data capabilities, while at the same time, boost productivity and data literacy.
The training is being delivered tech company Multiverse and is funded by the Apprenticeship Levy.

Government funding and partnership work is set to unlock stalled homes across England and deliver tens of thousands of new homes.
The Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund will ensure building the homes will not come at the expense of the environment, with the £47 million boost being used to protect local rivers and precious habitats.
The fund will boost housebuilding through locally-led schemes such as creating new wetlands and upgrading septic tanks, to enable development is sustainable.

New members from business, academia and the charity have been appointed to the board of business, academia and the charity.
The new members will oversee the department's ambition to bring the power of science and technology to bear to overhaul public services, tackle challenges posed by digital exclusion and fuel economic growth.  

The government and transport secretary have visited Manchester to discuss how the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) and long awaited A57 upgrade will better connect people, communities and businesses across the region.
The visit comes after announcements in the budget that secured funding to deliver both  transport projects that will provide connectivity between some of the country’s biggest economic centres, while supporting everyday journeys within the towns and cities in between.

The prime minister has updated the ministerial code to include new transparency requirements and clear principles governing the acceptance of gifts and hospitality.
The changes include nshrining the Seven Principles of Public Life directly into the Code, strengthening the powers of the PM’s Independent Adviser, new guiding principles for Ministers on when gifts and hospitality should be accepted, and new rules to align the publication of ministerial gifts and hospitality more closely with the parliamentary register.

The government has set out plans for targeted support for businesses to ensure they can develop and deploy safe, trustworthy AI to kickstart growth and improve productivity.

The deputy prime minister has announced a £10 million emergency support package for rough sleepers.
It is hoped the money will save lived by ensuring rough sleepers have access to a safe and warm bed. Last year, 155 people died sleeping rough on the streets.
The money will be allocated to councils with the highest need.
It was announced in the budget that £233 million will go to tackling all forms of homelessness, taking total spending on reducing homelessness to nearly £1 billion in 2025-26.