Recommendations

Revamping Northern Ireland’s Alcohol Licensing: New Recommendations Seek to Boost Pub Sector and Curb Anti-Competitive Practices

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Belfast, Northern Ireland – A comprehensive independent study undertaken by the University of Stirling has discovered significant challenges with Northern Ireland’s current alcohol licensing framework, suggesting it favors existing businesses and hinders competition. Commissioned by tStormont’s Department for Communities, the report highlights several “deep-seated problems” in the current system, affecting its design, operation, and enforcement. The review proposes sweeping changes aimed at liberalizing the licensing process. One of the more pivotal recommendations includes preventing existing businesses, such as pubs, from objecting to new license applications, a practice that has been criticized for stifling new entrants … Read more

Birmingham Citizens’ Jury Redefines Future of City Museums with Community-Centric Recommendations

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Birmingham, United Kingdom — The Birmingham Museums Trust has taken an innovative step towards engaging the local community with its cultural heritage by convening a citizens’ jury last year. This grassroots initiative aimed to gather insights and recommendations to enhance the city’s museums, reflecting a growing trend across the UK where institutions seek to deepen public involvement in the cultural sector. Over several months, the Birmingham Museums Trust collaborated with Shared Future, a community interest company, to gather 28 diverse participants from the Birmingham metro area. These individuals, representing a broad spectrum of society, devoted … Read more

Landmark Decision to Reform Australia’s Secrecy Laws: Government Acts on Recommendations to Balance National Security and Press Freedom

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Canberra, Australia — Australia’s complex web of secrecy laws, likened in volume to the combined works of some of literature’s most voluminous authors, has prompted a significant review and partial reform aimed at enhancing transparency in governance. Jake Blight, the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor, recently highlighted that the breadth of these laws, over 3,000 pages, is akin to the entirety of William Shakespeare’s works coupled with “War and Peace” and “The Lord of the Rings.” The urgency of reforming secrecy laws, which have expanded significantly post-September 11, 2001, reflects growing concerns over their potential … Read more

Tehama County Board of Supervisors Address Grand Jury Recommendations, Groundwater Fee Controversy

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Red Bluff, California – The Tehama County Board of Supervisors is set to address the recommendations from the 2024 Grand Jury Report at its upcoming meeting on Tuesday. According to public agency regulations, governing bodies must respond to grand jury reports within 90 days of receiving them. The deadline for Tehama County’s response is March 11. The grand jury report included four recommendations, one of which focuses on compensating individuals who paid the well registration fee. Another recommendation highlights the groundwater sustainability agency’s need to repay a $634,000 loan from the county’s road department, which … Read more