News Citizens Advice welcomes measures to tackle energy bills Citizens Advice has welcomed plans from the energy regulator, Ofgem, to extend the prepayment meter safeguard tariff to one million households receiving the Warm Home Discount, saving them 120 a year on average. It has also welcomed the Prime Ministers announcement of legislation to tackle high energy bills, saying it could offer a solution to runaway energy costs. Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said: It is right that, while the government works to tackle the cost of default tariffs through legislation, Ofgem is taking action to extend the safeguard tariff to more of the worst off as soon as possible. We have long been calling for a safeguard tariff to cap bills for the poorest pensioners and families as a first step, alongside action to protect the millions of other loyal customers paying over the odds on default tariffs. The proposals announced by Ofgem should serve as a warning to energy firms that they can no longer get away with ripping off their poorest customers. Citizens Advices analysis has found that over the past year, dual fuel bills for people on the standard variable tariff rose by 89 three times the rate of inflation. The charity is calling for energy suppliers to be set annual targets for getting their customers off expensive default tariffs over the next three years in addition to an immediate cap on energy bills for the poorest households. Guy added: Energy firms must continue to take responsibility for getting more of their customers onto better value deals over the next few months. Wed encourage the government to look at what it can do to help households in the short term recognising that legislation can take time including ensuring that protection for low-income pensioners and families comes into force this winter. lGA publishes submission ahead of Autumn Budget government will face a 5.8bn funding gap by 2020. From April 2019, 168 councils will not receive any revenue support grant and will have to contribute funding to the government instead, fundamentally changing the relationship between local and national government. In its submission, the LGA sets out how, with the right funding and powers, councils can continue to lead in their local areas. It is calling on government to deliver its manifesto commitment to give local government greater control over the money it raises, and for greater devolution of power to local authorities. ISToCk.Com / ERSTudIoSTok The Local Government Association (LGA) has published its submission to government ahead of the Autumn Budget on 22 November, which calls for recognition that without sufficient and sustainable funding councils cannot carry on providing services. The LGA estimates local Conman who caused misery jailed A cowboy builder who conned people out of tens of thousands of pounds has been jailed following a successful investigation by North Tyneside Trading Standards. Jonathan Ross Bell also known as Jonathan Black of Cullercoats, took payments and deposits from unsuspecting members of the public, but failed to carry out work or supply materials for which they had paid. When he did carry out building work, it was left unfinished or did not comply with building regulations in one case, it cost a couple more than 36,000 to put right what he had done. Another couple, who have a disabled child, paid Bell to build an extension so that the family could all use the same room. However, Bell left the family with a partially built extension that did not comply with building regulations. The investigation began in August 2015, when North Tyneside Trading Standards began receiving complaints. In total, more than 70 were received. More than 40 formal statements were taken, including from victims, North Tynesides building control service, and banks with which Bell had accounts. In July, Bell admitted five offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. The losses incurred by the victims for these offences totalled more than 95,000. Three other offences were left on file. In October, he was jailed for 18 months at Newcastle Crown Court. A spokesperson for North Tyneside Council said: This builder caused misery for many of our residents, so we were determined to get justice for his victims and bring this case to court. The sentence reflects the severity of the offences he committed and the impact on his victims. Italso demonstrates that we will never hesitate to prosecute those who attempt to defraud members of the public. Roofer who tried to intimidate trading standards officers is jailed A builder who pressurised his elderly victims into paying for unnecessary work and attempted to intimidate the trading standards officers investigating him has been jailed for 10 months. Tommy Ward, of Great Billington, admitted two counts of aggressive commercial practice and one count of fraud when he appeared at Luton Crown Court on 4 October. Ward, who ran a company called Fix A Roof Ltd, tried numerous tactics to try to dissuade Central Bedfordshire Trading Standards from continuing the investigation, including intimidation and appearing on a local radio station, where he claimed he was the target of a racist attack. Ian Dalgarno, executive member for community services, said: Ward deliberately and aggressively targeted elderly and vulnerable residents to have unnecessary roofing work done. It is telling that he felt no choice but to plead guilty due to evidence gathered during a lengthy and comprehensive investigation by officers, who at times faced intimidation serious enough to get the police involved. Read more on page 20. Warning after dangerous counterfeit mobiles seized Hundreds of fake Nokia 3310 phones have been seized from an industrial unit in east Staffordshire and a property in Newcastle, following a tip-off to Staffordshire Trading Standards. The fake phones fail to meet current safety standards, and the chargers supplied with them could also be hazardous, causing fires or putting people at risk of electrocution. Staffordshire County Councils communities leader Gill Heath said: The chargers on these phones have been found to be dangerous. Following the seizures, we want to raise awareness of this type of counterfeit product and the serious public health risk it presents.