AGP Executive Report

Business Rates Review: The Treasury is launching a review into how business rates are calculated for pubs and hotels in England and Wales, led by rates expert Jerry Schurder, with a report due in March 2027—coming after a 20% cut for pubs, social clubs and live music venues in England from April. NHS Dentistry Crisis: New research says universal NHS dentistry has “been lost” in England, with 608 practices abandoning NHS contracts since 2017 and 135 since 2024, leaving access “almost impossible”. Weather Warning: The Met Office says wet, thundery conditions are set to return, with heavy downpours and possible localised flooding risk across southern England and Wales around the bank holiday period. Road Chaos Ahead: The RAC predicts the busiest bank holiday getaway day will be Friday, with millions of leisure trips and congestion hotspots on major motorways. Crime & Safety: A boy, 3, remains in critical condition after a window fall in Rochdale, with two women arrested. Sport Shock: England fast bowler Brydon Carse is being investigated after a reported nightclub incident in Derby, with videos showing him in handcuffs; ECB says it’s looking into what happened. Northern Ireland: Northern Secretary Chris Bryant is in Dublin for his first official visit, focusing on security, legacy and boosting cross-border trade.

Fatal crash: Tributes pour in after two Cleveland Police officers, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, were among seven killed in a wrong-way head-on collision near Middlesbrough on the A66, with an investigation now under way. Rail disruption: CrossCountry has cancelled almost all services across its network after a power cut hit its Birmingham control centre, leaving Scotland routes badly affected. Local planning shake-up: England’s mayors are set to gain new powers to “call in” major planning decisions, with national thresholds outside London for interventions on larger housing and commercial schemes. Wales fire updates: Crews tackled a grass and woodland blaze near Gwyddelwern, Corwen, with residents warned about smoke. Scotland transport: More disruption follows as CrossCountry cancellations hit Scottish routes after the same power outage. Health & farming: Bluetongue cases in Scotland rise to eight, triggering a temporary control zone in Dumfries and Galloway. Football: Trent Alexander-Arnold says he was “angry” after being left out of England’s World Cup squad, while Manchester United monitor Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde as they weigh options for a new full-back.

Road Safety Tragedy: Seven people, including two police officers, died in a wrong-way head-on crash on England’s A66 near Middlesbrough after a pursuit, with the Independent Office for Police Conduct investigating. School Calendar Under Heat: UK schools face pressure from extreme summer temperatures, with calls to rethink holiday timing as classrooms without air-con push pupils’ concentration and exam performance. Health & Inequality: Macmillan Cancer Support warns cancer diagnosis and death rates are worse in deprived areas of Northern Ireland, urging the NI Executive to act as the health minister role changes. Online Safety Surveys: Scotland’s Minister for Children, Young People and the Promise launches anonymous surveys asking parents and young people about screen use and online harms. Scottish Football Youth Push: Scottish FA chief Craig Mulholland vows to boost minutes for homegrown youngsters, aiming to generate millions through a stronger player-trading model. Illegal Streaming Fraud: A man was sentenced after making over £200,000 selling unauthorised TV and sport streaming to more than 1,000 customers. XL Bully Sanctuary: Angus councillors have finally given the go-ahead for Scotland’s first XL Bully sanctuary after earlier licensing refusals. Cricket: England wrapped up a dominant innings-and-103-run win over Pakistan at Headingley as Joe Root returned to Test captaincy.

Tragic Road Crash: Multiple people have died after a collision involving a police vehicle and a car on the A66 near Middlesbrough, with the road closed for some time as Cleveland Police identify victims. Wildfire Fallout in Wales: A charity says a Welsh county saw some of the world’s highest wildfire carbon emissions per square kilometre, raising health worries, while TikTok posts highlight shortages and evacuations as smoke thickens. Volunteers for Cat Welfare: Cats Protection is recruiting North Wales volunteers, including remote admin roles, to help owners access neutering vouchers and tackle costs. England Cricket Coaching Talk: England are weighing up Mike Hussey joining the Test batting set-up under Stephen Fleming, with Marcus Trescothick open to staying involved. Premier League Transfer Buzz: Arsenal have signed England defender Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa for about £55m to strengthen their title defence. House Prices Watch: Rightmove reports newly listed asking prices in the UK are down 2% in August, with mortgage rates and demand weighing on sellers. MOT Crackdown: A Scottish MOT testing centre has been banned for falsifying certificates, as DVSA targets garages using expired or falsified calibration. Sport & Culture: The Stylistics announce 2026 North Wales shows, and a Belfast exhibition celebrates David Hockney’s drawings.

England-Pakistan Cricket: Joe Root’s return as full-time Test captain started with a crushing innings-and-103-run win at Headingley, with Pakistan bowled out for 171 and 135 as England’s pace attack dominated. Scotland Cruise Incident: Police Scotland recovered a body after a man was reported to have fallen overboard from the Ambition cruise ship off Scotland’s east coast, with searches involving coastguard aircraft and helicopters. Local Safety & Transport: A CalMac ferry was evacuated after a bomb threat was reported moments after a passenger was rescued from the water near Arran. Scotland Tech & Economy: A survey highlights optimism among Scottish tech firms, with AI now central to growth plans. Scotland Public Sector Scrutiny: BBC Scotland found links on a council website that redirected users to offshore casino sites, raising concerns about domain squatting. Football & Talent: Celtic right-back Colby Donovan impressed new Scotland boss Sébastien Pocognoli as he eyes a Champions League push and a possible call-up. Remembrance in Scotland: The Scottish poppy’s distinct design is explained ahead of Remembrance Day.

Scotland Health Watch: NHS Grampian has been told to restore paediatric surgery at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin “as soon as it is safe”, after services were suspended over safety concerns, with the Scottish Government promising close monitoring. Scottish Justice & Crime: Cannibal killer Gabriel Brown has been jailed for at least 23 years for a “punishment” stabbing in Annan, including eating the victim’s finger. Football Disorder: Two Rangers thugs have been banned from every UK stadium after Old Firm chaos at Ibrox, including a pitch invasion and bottle-throwing. Northern Ireland Legacy: Former detective Jason Murphy, who led the Lyra McKee murder investigation, says the system failed after a court verdict criticised prosecutions over identification in masked footage. UK Politics: Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant says the Government remains committed to the Troubles Bill as it presses on through Parliament. Business/Tech: Nebius has signed the first commercial capacity deal in South Wales’ AI Growth Zone, leasing Nvidia-powered compute at Vantage’s Newport campus. Sport (England vs Pakistan): England piled up 409 and a 238-run lead at Headingley, with Brook, Root, Cox and Lawrence in the runs as Pakistan were bowled out for 171. Rugby League: Hugo Savala and Umyla Hanley have been added to England’s Rugby League World Cup performance squad. Education (Wales): Wales’ NHS waiting list pathways rose again in June, with more people waiting over a year.

Cricket Focus: England piled on 195 runs after rain delays at Headingley as Harry Brook struck 91 and Pakistan were bowled out for 171, with Brook’s 91 backed by Joe Root’s 66 and Dan Lawrence’s 51; Pakistan’s Ali Usman took a maiden Test five-for as England closed on 366-8. Injury Update: England allrounder Sam Curran’s groin problem has ruled him out for the rest of the English summer, with surgery planned and a delayed Test return. Women’s Sport: India booked the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup second round after a 0-0 draw with England, surviving sustained English pressure to qualify. Wales Infrastructure: Wales’ £70m high-speed broadband project has a new supplier added after an “unforeseen administrative error” left one approved firm off the original framework list. Wales Environment & Recycling: Wales has appointed Exchange for Change to run its drinks deposit return scheme, with glass included from day one. Scotland Local News: A woman was taken to hospital after a flat fire in Glasgow’s Saracen Street, with residents evacuated and police keeping the area under watch.

Cricket & Weather: Rain delayed day two of England’s first Test vs Pakistan at Headingley as the hosts resumed on 112-2, chasing a 59-run deficit after Pakistan were bowled out for 171; Joe Root is 37* and Jordan Cox 23* while Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue led the collapse. Injury Update: England allrounder Sam Curran’s groin surgery rules him out of the rest of the home summer, dashing hopes of a Test return. Crime & Courts (Wales): Joseph Gibson, a Ruthin conman, was jailed for fraud after lying to victims he had cancer and served in special forces, taking £68,000. Tech Security: A new Windows malware campaign hides malicious code inside plain English words, using fake CAPTCHA-style prompts to trick users into running commands. Scotland Public Life: John Swinney defended £45,000 in business-class flights to the World Cup, amid scrutiny of taxpayer travel costs. Local Business: Award-winning Northumberland chippy Lewis’s shut after a fire, with damage forcing an extended closure. Sports (Football): Inter Milan’s new coach Cristian Chivu is praised for a more personal, player-first approach as the club looks to dominate Serie A again.

Education: GCSE, BTec and other Level 2 results land in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on Thursday, with some England grades also available via a new app for 750 schools. UK Politics: Scottish Labour leadership rivals Joe Fagan and Michael Marra trade barbs in an STV debate, with Fagan branding Marra “continuity Starmerism” and Marra defending his manifesto role and blaming prior leadership. Cricket (England): Joe Root’s return as England captain starts with a bang at Headingley as Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue take five wickets each to bowl Pakistan out for 171; England end day one 112-2. Cricket (Schedule): Pakistan confirm a home season featuring Sri Lanka and England in an ODI tri-series in October-November, plus Tests and a T20I series. Environment (Wales): South Wales wildfires continue to disrupt communities, with firefighters and Army support tackling multiple blazes near homes and livestock. Sport (Football): Harry Kane says the “itch” to return to the Premier League is less than before after winning the European Golden Shoe again with Bayern. Royalty: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are reportedly moving back to England soon, with their new home and children’s school location kept tightly guarded.

Cricket at Headingley: Joe Root’s England began the post-Bazball era by winning the toss and bowling first against Pakistan, with Ollie Robinson taking a first-ball wicket as Pakistan slipped to 23-2 before rain cut play on Day 1. Weather warnings: The Met Office issued thunderstorm alerts for parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland, with heavy downpours and possible flash flooding, while north Wales faces a 15-hour yellow warning for thunderstorms and flooding risk. Wales transport: A new north-to-south Wales coach service, TaithCymru, is set to launch on 25 October, running between Bangor and Carmarthen with stops across west Wales. Northern Ireland business: Fairstone is expanding in Northern Ireland by acquiring Ferguson Hill Asset Management in Belfast. Scotland hospitality: Finalists for the Scottish Bar & Pub Awards 2026 have been announced, with Glasgow venues and bars among the nominees. Scotland health: Public Health Scotland is urging eligible young people to get the menB vaccine ahead of the new term. Football transfers: Arsenal are reported to be in advanced talks with Aston Villa over Ezri Konsa. Rugby: Cardiff have signed Leicester Tigers second-row Tom Manz on a season-long loan. Arts & culture: Sigur Rós is teaming up with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra for an “orchestral odyssey” in Scotland.

England Cricket: Joe Root urged England to be “really good role models and human beings” as they begin a new Test era against Pakistan at Headingley, with Root back as captain after Ben Stokes’ retirement and Brendon McCullum’s exit. Pakistan Team News: Babar Azam is ruled out of the opener with a finger injury, leaving Salman Ali Agha to lead. Welsh Politics & Fire Response: Labour leader Ken Skates hit the UK government for moving too slowly on Wales wildfires, calling for a Fire Brigades Union summit and a Senedd recall. Education Changes (NI): Northern Ireland’s CCEA says several GCSE and A-level subjects will be scrapped from the end of the decade, with final courses starting in 2028/2029. Community & Wellbeing (England): Isles of Scilly is named England’s friendliest local authority, while Barking and Dagenham tops the “least friendly” list. Tech & Banking: Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland customers faced a major app and online outage. Wales Housing Market: New-build asking prices in Wales jumped about 13% year-on-year, even as the wider market cools. Sports (Wales): Wales men’s hockey World Cup trip gets a boost as businesses partner to fund the campaign.

Cricket: England kick off a three-Test series against Pakistan at Headingley, with Joe Root back as captain and Dan Lawrence drafted in after a bruising post-Bazball start to 2026. Planning & Rural Economy: The new National Planning Policy Framework aims to ease constraints for farmers and rural businesses, including reservoirs, greenhouses, farm shops and diversification, while still limiting development in protected landscapes. Wales Safety & Community: The Welsh Government backs a “Sound” campaign training 20 men to tackle violence against women and girls, encouraging safer conversations and healthier behaviour. Wildfire Solidarity (South Wales): A 10-year-old girl in Rhymney thanked firefighters with food and drinks for crews responding to major blazes. Public Health: Salmonella linked to imported eggs has left one dead and 207 ill across the UK, with cases confirmed in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Transport: Disabled people in England will get 24/7 free bus travel from April, scrapping weekday time limits. Retail & Services: River Island is set to close its Swansea store, while Royal Mail warns of delays across 139 postcode areas. Scotland Justice: Former snooker world champion Graeme Dott goes on trial in Glasgow over historic child sex abuse allegations. Northern Ireland: Loganair ends scheduled passenger routes from Dundee Airport, leaving the hub with no commercial flights.

Scotland Football: Belgium boss Sebastien Pocognoli takes over as Scotland head coach on a two-year deal, promising “evolution not revolution” and urging the Tartan Army to embrace change after Steve Clarke’s exit. Legal Aid Access: New analysis says 14.49 million people in England and Wales live in legal aid “deserts”, with rural and coastal areas hit hardest. Transport for Disabled People: Prime Minister Andy Burnham expands free bus travel so disabled pass holders can use buses 24/7 from April 1, 2027, ending weekday-only limits. Wales Politics: A survey on Plaid Cymru’s first 100 days finds 40% of Welsh people don’t know who is in government, sparking fresh criticism from Welsh Labour. Wildfires & Emergency Response: Firefighters in Wales welcomed a planned government wildfire summit as crews remain exhausted after weeks of blazes. Road Safety: A pedestrian died after being struck by a lorry on the A72 in the Scottish Borders. Housing Market: Zoopla reports Falkirk is the fastest-selling area in the UK, with homes taking about 11 days on average. Sport (Hockey): England beat India 4-2 in the Men’s Hockey World Cup to reach the next round, while Scotland’s football news stays in focus with Pocognoli’s appointment.

Fatal crash in Limavady: A woman in her fifties died after a pedestrian-car collision on Drumrane Road; the road has reopened and police are appealing for dash-cam or witness info. Police oversight row in Northern Ireland: UUP leader Jon Burrows has written to the PSNI Police Ombudsman demanding clearer assurances on impartiality and how complaints are assessed. Wildfire pressure in South Wales: FireMap.live shows 14 active wildfires, with crews and British Army teams tackling major areas including Blaenavon and Treherbert; chiefs warn against disposable barbecues and fireworks. Weather check for Wales: The Met Office says much of the week should stay mostly dry, with only light showers possible later. Animal health in Scotland: Scotland confirms its first potentially fatal bluetongue case in a cow, with more testing under way and vaccination demand rising. Community and sport: A Welsh rugby club withdraws from WRU leagues after 100 years, blaming player shortages and calling for a restructure of the community game. Scotland football shake-up: Belgian coach Sébastien Pocognoli is confirmed as Scotland’s new head coach, promising a style fans can connect with. Carer support in Scotland: Unpaid carers could get nearly £100 a week via Carer Support Payment, with new figures showing 136,610 carers on the caseload.

Scotland Football: Sébastien Pocognoli has been confirmed as Scotland’s new head coach on a two-year deal, replacing Steve Clarke, with the Belgian promising a team Scotland fans can be proud of ahead of the Nations League. Scottish Labour: Nominations are closing for Scottish Labour’s new leader after Monica Lennon, Michael Marra and Joe Fagan put themselves forward, with voting set to begin later this month. Wales Farewell: Thousands lined streets in Mumbles as Bonnie Tyler’s coffin was carried home for her funeral, following her death at 75 in Portugal. Wildfires in Wales: Fire crews tackled at least 14 wildfires across south Wales over the weekend, with military support helping firefighters on the ground. England & Wales Sport: Arsenal beat Man City 3-0 in the Community Shield in Cardiff, with big crowds and rivalry spilling into the city. Education: The UK’s NTA says UGC-NET June 2026 exams in English, Commerce and Sociology will be re-run in September after errors and repeated questions. Local Life: A Dorset restaurant, The Club House, was praised for having “top 3 fish and chips” in England after a popular food review.

Wildfire Response: South Wales Fire and Rescue is tackling 14 concurrent wildfires, with around 100 troops from the Gurkha Logistic Regiment and Royal Engineers deployed to move water, equipment and crews into hard-to-reach areas. Public Safety: Police closed Cardiff’s Gabalfa Interchange on the A48 after a concern for safety; a woman was taken to a place of safety and the road has reopened. Health & Food: Experts say dinner timing matters for blood sugar control, with advice to eat at least two hours before bed. Money Rules: UK cash declarations apply if you carry £10,000+ between Great Britain and non-UK countries, with separate rules for Northern Ireland. Sport—Football: England defender Djed Spence has completed his £25.6m move from Tottenham to Inter Milan on a five-year deal. Sport—Hockey: India begin their World Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over Wales and now face England in Pool D, with points carried forward. Culture: Hundreds of fans lined Mumbles streets for Bonnie Tyler’s coffin return ahead of her funeral. Arts & Language: A new audio Welsh-dialect translation of the four Gospels has launched in Pembrokeshire.