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Public sector chief executives and managers believe they lack the skills needed to deliver services when funding cuts start impacting in 2010 and beyond, according to a survey, undertaken this month by Hays, the leading recruiting experts in public services.
Only 16% of managers said their organisations had the resources to manage a reduced budget in 2010, and even fewer junior staff (12%) thought that was the case. One fifth (20%) of junior staff don’t consider their organisation has a clear strategy in place to cope with the challenge of offering more services with fewer resources.
More than two-thirds of managers (69%) and junior staff (66%) polled believe that the private sector will have -an increasing role in helping the public sector meet its obligations. Over half of those polled (52%) agreed -completely or -to some extent that this was a positive development and that they should look to the private sector for leadership guidance. The majority of managers (63%) also agreed that they were now being encouraged to look outside the public sector for solutions to their management and delivery problems.
The Hays Public Services Leadership Survey, which was carried out across local and central government, the NHS and social housing sectors, found that whilst the majority (78%) of managers have a framework in place to identify competencies which will make them better leaders, over a third (35%) believe their leadership training programmes are ineffective or not available to them.
There was agreement over the qualities that a leader should possess: an ability to communicate, forward vision and integrity.
-We found that everyone knows what good leadership looks like, but there are gaps in the training needed to acquire those skills,†said Andy Robling, Public Services Director at Hays.
Robling said that conversations with public sector chief executives revealed unease about how they would be able to balance cuts and delivering services in the year ahead.
-There is a level of challenge which understandably no one is prepared for. This will require an unprecedented level of change to ensure the delivery of services remains economically viable in the future. However, it is clear from our survey and conversations that the public sector funding crisis means a much broader acceptance of the need to change and to do things that might have seemed unpalatable five years ago.
-Within some UK regions across the public sector, for example, emergency services, local government and the NHS are looking at ways to share services and collaborate more effectively, said Robling.
-More could be done across the country in anticipation of the cuts, particularly in terms of sharing best practice between sectors, which would give people in the public sector more experiences to draw upon. It really is a given that if you bring people in with different experiences they are more likely to see where efficiencies could be made. For example, the public sector needs to improve its redeployment of staff through more effective use of outplacement services.
Robling anticipates more outsourcing of recruitment across the public sector, particularly of permanent jobs, as the financial squeeze tightens. -Traditionally, permanent jobs have been kept in house with recruitment agencies used mainly to fill temporary posts. But what we’re seeing now is interest in agencies managing the complete recruitment process to support more effective workforce planning.
The Hays Public Services Leadership Survey was conducted in January 2010. It received over 1,200 responses from chief executives, managers and junior staff across the public sector; encompassing those working across central and local government, NHS and social housing nationwide.
For further information contact Andy Robling, Public Services Director at Hays, on 0117 927 5494 or visit
www.hays.co.uk/publicservices
RecycleBank, the company behind the UK’s first rewards for recycling scheme, continues to demonstrate its commitment to the UK with the appointment of managing director, Sue Igoe. A founding employee of the US-based company and a member of its executive management team, Sue will be responsible for leading the growth of RecycleBank’s popular environmental rewards programme in the UK.
Prior to taking up the position of UK MD, Sue held the position of vice president of marketing, where she was responsible for developing the RecycleBank brand on a global scale. During the early stages of the company, Sue also managed the technology, rewards, sales and marketing teams. RecycleBank has significantly increased recycling volumes across the US, where it services one million people across 25 states and has boosted recycling rates between 30 – 80 per cent.
Sue brings a great deal of experience to the role, having been involved in the launch of a number of successful new start-ups, including micro-venture capital fund, Agora Partnerships, and a thriving online men’s lifestyle magazine which was successfully sold to Playboy Enterprises.
Sue, who is relocating from New York to take up the newly created position, commented: -Sending waste to landfill has a negative impact on the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink and the land around us. Reducing the quantity of waste sent to landfill is vitally important in improving and maintaining the natural environment.
-A high percentage of domestic household waste can easily be recycled, and is a great way to reduce landfill. At RecycleBank we’re working with councils to make recycling even easier, for both the householder and the council, and not to mention a great deal more rewarding.
-The scheme has proven incredibly successful throughout the US and we’re working with a number of councils in the UK to make the scheme available to as many households as possible.”
The RecycleBank scheme awards Points to households for recycling, which can then be viewed via an online account, and redeemed at both local and national retailers, restaurants and leisure facilities or even donated to charity. Over 68 per cent of the 6,500 households involved in the UK’s first RecycleBank scheme, in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, have activated their RecycleBank accounts, earning over 4.5m RecycleBank Points since the June 2009 launch.
The success of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead scheme resulted in the launch of a second RecycleBank scheme in October last year. Over 10,000 households in the Cheshire Borough of Halton are involved in the reward programme.
Bred from Kennel Club champions and bought from money raised by the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), three Springer Spaniel puppies are to begin their training with Essex Police to sniff out drugs, live firearms and cash.
Inspector Louise Beattie, from Sandon dog section, said: -It is fantastic that money raised through criminal activity can be used in such a positive way. Once trained, these dogs will not only be excellent sniffer dogs but they will also act as a deterrent to criminals who know how fail-safe a fully-trained dog can be.
She continued: -These dogs will be part of our front-line team to fight crime and reduce criminal activity in Essex still further.
Gizmo, Oso and Dibley are 14 weeks’ old and are being trained at Sandon. The £2,000 needed for the puppies was agreed by Detective Inspector Paul Dibell, from Essex Police Financial Investigations Team, and has meant that for the first time money taken from criminals under the POCA has been used to buy police dogs.
Each of the puppies will undertake an intensive six-week training programme to hone their skills, with the expertise of Insp Louise Beattie, Sgt Neil Phimister and Pc Mark Watts, all from Sandon dog section, to bring them up to scratch.
If anyone has a springer spaniel puppy aged between eight weeks and 18 months old that is proving too much for family life, Essex police dog section is happy to discuss the prospects of re-homing as a working police dog.
For further information call the Essex Police non-emergency number 0300 333 4444 and ask for Insp Beattie.
Cheshire-based Ink Technologies UK Ltd (ITL) showed MP, Mark Hunter, how it has used government support to cut its costs, safeguard jobs and expand internationally.
The small business, based in Cheadle, Stockport, whose innovative inkjet inks are sold to digital printers worldwide, has worked with the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) North West at The Manufacturing Institute to boost productivity by 20% and double machine productivity.
Mark Hunter, Liberal Democrat MP for Cheadle and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader, took a tour of the factory, employing 19 people, and heard how MAS has helped the company add £56,000 to its bottom line and safeguard jobs.
ITL exports 75% of its products. Its specialist inks are used in colourful pitch-side banners at many English Premiership football grounds, and are used by famous brands such as Coca-Cola, Kellogg’s, Nestle and Pirelli to code and mark their products.
Robin Titterington, Managing Director of Ink Technologies, said: -We have ambitions to double our turnover in the next three years and the help and advice of MAS has been invaluable in improving our business and creating the right platform for growth.
-They coached us in lean manufacturing techniques to ensure we work smarter and use our machinery more efficiently. I was sceptical at first, but the support was very practical and focused on our specific needs. It made our people realise we were serious about business improvement and encouraged them to get fully involved. We are now in a position where we are recruiting new people and two new starters have joined this week.
Mark Hunter MP said: -I like to visit local businesses on a regular basis to see what I can do to help. Ink Technologies are an important employer and their world class products are in demand across the globe.”
Adam Buckley, Head of Programmes for The Manufacturing Advisory Service, said: -Companies like ITL are a fantastic example of great British manufacturing. They are a shining example of excellence and it has been a privilege to work with them and contribute to their ongoing success story.
-Our manufacturing specialists helped the company implement new ways of working that mean they are their production is much faster, meaning that they can make to order and don’t have their cash tied up in finished stock sat on shelves waiting for customer orders to come in. On one key piece of machinery the changeovers used to take an entire day and now take 20 minutes. These sorts of improvements make a huge difference to performance and profitability.
ITL is developing its people through Manufacturing Institute programmes, such as LEAD, which develops leadership skills in growing small businesses.
Small and medium sized manufacturing businesses employing fewer than 250 people are eligible for a funded on-site manufacturing review. For further information, contact 0800 093 9077
Click to see the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) North West
TODAY, six men have been charged with conspiracy to defraud an East Lancashire company.
The six men aged 57, 57, 44, 43, 33 and 30 were charged today and have been bailed until the 22nd February 2010.
The men were charged as a result of a protracted investigation by Nelson CID following a complaint from Protec PLC which is a fire detection equipment company based in Nelson. The charges against the men also includes conspiracy to defraud another company, the Mandale Group, which is a property development company based in the North East of England.
DI Groombridge said, -We will always robustly investigate any allegation of fraud and in this case a fraud which had the potential to affect local commerce and local people. -Protec is a major local employer and at a time when the people of this town are struggling to keep jobs and businesses are fighting to fill order books I find this sort of criminality particularly distasteful. Fraud is not a victimless crime, we all suffer the consequences.
-Our investigations have resulted in six people being charged at this time but this is certainly not the end of the investigation and this may result in further charges in the future.
-The losses to the company were minimised by the decisive action taken internally and due to their collaboration with police, none of Protec’s clients have been affected.”
The Cardiac and Stroke Network in Lancashire and Cumbria has transformed the efficiency of its own operation using Lean methodologies and is now taking the principles of Lean into the clinical environment to help improve patient services.
By adopting Lean practices, the Network has dramatically reduced time spent on administrative tasks- releasing more time to spend on supporting frontline services and to increase its workload by more than double by assimilating stroke into its work programme for Lancashire and Cumbria.
As a frontline service improvement organisation, the Network was eager to learn more about the Lean methodologies that are driving change across healthcare and commissioned The Manufacturing Institute to help all Network staff improve their knowledge of Lean tools and techniques.
This began with Lean awareness training involving the entire Network team. Staff were introduced to the guiding principles and key tools of Lean during a practical workshop in which they mapped out a typical journey, or ‘value stream’, for a hypothetical patient reporting chest pain. The Manufacturing Institute introduced them to methods of measuring and evaluating the value adding steps in that process and those wasteful steps that added no value for the patient. Next they created a ‘future state map’ detailing an ideal Lean patient journey in which the non-value adding elements were removed.
To reinforce their knowledge and apply the benefits of Lean to their own organisation they then took part in a rapid improvement event to introduce the Lean principles of 5S good housekeeping into the Network. This involved de-cluttering the office in preparation for a move to new premises, involving clearing out 30 bin bags worth of unwanted rubbish. Visual management systems were established, such as a new system for booking of leave, to make useful information accessible to everybody.
The biggest change was introducing an electronic storage system, abandoning a paper-based system and the wasteful practice of keeping multiple documents. A library was electronically catalogued and a standard system of naming and storing all electronic files was achieved. As well as ensuring easier and open access to all documents and reference sources, this has also freed up vital office storage and desk space, with office drawers and filing cabinets a thing of the past.
Each member of staff now uses 25% less space which means that the Network was able to rent less space than would previously have been necessary when relocating its expanded team to new offices. The new Lean and tidy working practices mean that staff require smaller desks.
The functional layout also means that the space can be used more flexibly to accommodate hot desk working and full utilisation of desks when people are out of the office.
According to Sally Chisholm Network Director: -On first impression our office looked reasonably tidy, but we soon uncovered all the hidden waste and we were staggered by the amount of unnecessary historic paperwork we found. Everyone feels the benefit of working in a clutter-free environment and we work more efficiently so that back-office time is minimised and our advisers can be out in the field more- helping to improve patient services.
The Network has been applying its Lean knowledge and best practice whilst working with its member organisations. For example members of the Network Team worked with clinical and social care staff in one area for two days. This examined the patient pathway for stroke patients at a Lancashire Hospital. Working with a cross-functional team and involving executive leaders, the group started by creating a value stream map to highlight all the complex steps in the patient pathway – from admission to discharge. This visual map demonstrated a convoluted path for the patient – flagging up many wasted steps and, therefore, wasted time and cost built into the system.
Next stage was to develop a future state map in which the non-value added elements of the process were designed out to create a smoother, simpler patient pathway – putting patient care at the heart of the process. Network advisers are now supporting Lean champions from the hospital to make these changes.
Sally Chisholm said: -With the Network’s facilitation the group identified a number of simple changes that could be made immediately that would improve the quality of patient care. One of these was to minimise disruption to patients being admitted through A&E by involving expert ward staff in the initial diagnosis, saving some patients an unnecessary journey to the ward and saving both staff and patient time in undertaking a second stage diagnostic. By changing the pathway and focusing on the value added elements, significant improvements in patient care will be made- with the added benefit of delivering efficiencies.
-We are working with all Primary Care Trusts, social care departments and secondary care units across Lancashire and Cumbria and carrying the Lean message. We have led process mapping events at Royal Preston, Chorley, Royal Blackburn and Furness General Hospitals, which are helping to deliver efficiencies and improvements at these sites.
Staff at the Cardiac and Stroke Networks are specialists in service improvement, so they were able to quickly tune in to Lean methodologies. They have made enormous progress in their own lean journey and it is encouraging to see them spreading the message and developing others in using Lean principles to achieve quality and performance improvements.
The Manufacturing Institute has partnered blue-chip enterprises, healthcare and public sector organisations in the UK and Europe over the last 15 years and has helped all these different sectors to understand their individual needs. Their more recent work with more than 15 NHS Trusts is helping to transform the care given by hospitals such as Stockport NHS Foundation Trust; Blackpool Fylde and Wyre NHS Foundation Trust ; Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust; West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust and Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust. More information about these Lean initiatives and others can be found at:
www.manufacturinginstitute.co.uk/healthcare
Here is a list of upcoming features in the GPSJ Journal, we are interested in editorial and comment from specialists in these fields and any interesting developments or news in those areas. We are happy to discuss advertising and promotion of your products & services within these features. All features have an extra circulation of journal’s sent directly to our readers in those fields along with an email news release.
Please note some or all of the features are subject to change so please check before sending in or writing articles.
Winter 2009-2010
Greener Buildings
Renewable Energy
Manual Handling
Waste Management
Temporary Buildings
Highways Safety & Maintenance
Spring 2010
IT Security
Data Protection
Interim Executives
Fleet Management
Social Services & Childcare
Terrorism & Security
Summer 2010
Estates Management
Paperless Office
Conference Facilities
Street Furniture
Accounts & Payroll
Environment & Climate
Autumn 2010
Architectural Services
Community Care
Risk Assesment
Policing & Security
Playground Equipment
Radio Communications
Winter 2010-2011
Energy Efficiency
Street Lighting
Corporate Manslaughter
Parking
Fire Prevention
Anti-Graffiti
Finnamore, the largest independent specialist healthcare consultancy has appointed clinicians Shirani Rajapaksa and Sam Shah to its consultancy team. London-based Rajapaksa and Shah will join Finnamore’s rapidly growing team of 59 consultants to further increase the company’s level of clinical expertise.
Shirani Rajapaksa, a medical registrar with specialist training in haematology and endocrinology, has worked as a clinician in various acute Trusts across the country, including United Bristol Healthcare Trust, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust. She joins the team as consultant and with a clinical advisory role.
Sam Shah was a clinician and is a health economist that has worked across the South East in general practice and developing primary care strategies for a number of organisations. He will now have a consultancy and advisory role on health improvement, performance improvement, clinical effectiveness, cost effectiveness and social marketing.
Managing director, John Deverill, said of the appointment: -Finnamore is developing an excellent reputation across the public and private health sector, and we believe that the key to our success is our strong combination of commercial and clinical expertise, which give our clients confidence in the deliverablity of our strategies.
Smarter printing is set to cut the County Council’s carbon footprint and save money. New machines are being brought in which will generate savings of £100,000 a year, reduce carbon emissions by 13 tonnes and reduce the number of devices by more than 80%.
The printers use less cartridges and energy and will also print double-sided, meaning less paper will be needed. They also use less power and recycle unused toner automatically.
This is part of the County Council’s pledge to reduce energy use and carbon emissions by 30% over the next five years.
Any of the older printers which can’t be re-used will be offered to schools and community projects.
Prof Mike Preston, County Council Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: “We are committed to reducing our own carbon emissions by 30,000 tonnes by 2014 – this is a huge amount but it’s these small changes that could make a big difference.
“It’s very important that large organisations look at practical ways, however small, to reduce their carbon footprint and we are proud to be leading the way in this.”
The new printers are being leased and introduced in phases over the next few years.
To find out more about Leicestershire County Council and the environment, please visit www.leics.gov.uk/environment .
Slough, United Kingdom 1st February, 2010: Bringing advanced networking and monitor technology to the hospitality, meeting and conference, public sector and educational sectors; LG is revealing the latest addition to its successful N+ range at ISE 2010 – a wireless multi-monitor solution that will be available from mid 2010 onwards.
LG’s innovative N+ Network Monitors’ technology supports up to 31 desktop LCD monitors connecting to a single computer. For a wide range of business sectors requiring a multi-display, networked computing solution, the N+ series offers a superior space-saving solution, as it doesn’t require each user/ viewer to have an individual desktop PC. The opportunities for educational, training and commercial operations are clear, and with the new wireless solution the challenges of hiding away wires safely, and finding multiple connection points are no more.
-LG became one of the top three providers of computer monitors worldwide at the start of last year, thanks to our focus on delivering monitors with excellent picture quality and features combined with solutions that resolve real-world challenges for our business and public sector customers. Those in the commercial training, hospitality and education sectors especially will immediately recognise the benefits of a wireless multi-monitor solution. Wired solutions can prove challenging in certain physical set-ups, situations or environments. Not only are they unsightly and messy, they can also prove hazardous and limit the positioning and placement of monitors. LG’s wireless solution delivers the same excellent picture quality, reliability and ease of use, without the issues that can sometimes come with a wired product, said Luc Grare, Director Business Solutions Europe, at LG Electronics.
The N+ software is able to divide a single computer’s resources into 30 independent sessions, plus a monitor for an administrator, so that all connected monitors can share the processing power of a single PC – maximising bandwidth to the fullest extent. Using one main PC to run all N+ Network Monitors also enables businesses to cut their energy costs by saving on the energy using multiple PCs would have required.
LG’s N+ Network Monitors can be installed in just a few minutes and reduce the amount of maintenance and IT support needed for a typical office or classroom environment where multiple computers are used. The N+ Series also offers USB ports for a keyboard and mouse, providing users with increased flexibility for placement and positioning and all of LG’s N+ Network Monitors render clear, crisp images and a 5-millisecond response rate. Additionally, this system offers customers straightforward management, including easy software and hardware set up, and central control support. The system can be secured and maintained by those with basic PC knowledge.
Midlands-based Warwickshire County Council oversees 18 towns and has a population of over 500,000. Its Warwick-based high performance data centre is responsible for delivering a range of applications to the Council’s Directorates (Departments) including Active Directory, SQL, Citrix and VMWare ESX.
Five years ago, primarily as a space saving measure, Warwickshire County Council commenced a network and storage blade server strategy to enable a high density data centre solution. In 2008 it was decided the Council’s HP p-Class blade server systems needed upgrading and expanding with the latest blade server technology. This was to enable more efficient hosting of existing and planned third-party applications and also to support VMware to provide the operational and cost benefits of a more virtualised high density computing environment. Key requirements were total blade server switch interoperability with the existing Alcatel core network and also in-built network management capabilities to enable failover between server switches.
After considering various data centre network vendor alternatives, including Cisco, Warwickshire County Council decided upon an industry standards open systems solution and selected HP BladeSystem c-Class blade server solutions running integrated Ethernet layer 2/3 Ethernet switch modules from BLADE Network Technologies. These switches were recommended by HP as being recognised for the lowest power consumption and fastest wire-speed performance in their class as well as the lowest cost. With 7.5 million data ports, BLADE’s proven products connect millions of server and storage systems at 350 of the Fortune 500 worldwide.
The overall solution has enabled an enhanced high speed, low latency, low power and low cost data centre networking environment at Warwick while ensuring the pre-requisite compatibility with the Alcatel network. In addition, BLADE Network Technologies switches were shown to dramatically reduce the number of Ethernet cables attached to the rear of the HP blade enclosures while adding sophisticated network intelligence including a Hotlink feature to enable the required server switch failover facility.
As a result of the more streamlined, responsive and high performance computing environment for its users the Council is also able to benefit the local community by providing highly optimised eServices.
System Overview:
12 x BLADE Network Technologies layer 2/3 Ethernet switches for HP’s BladeSystem c-Class servers.
The 48 Gbps HP GbE2c Layer 2/3 Ethernet Blade Switch (GbE2c Layer 2/3) provides a full set of Layer 2 switching and Layer 3 routing features, sixteen internal downlinks, five uplinks and two internal crossconnects in a single low cost blade switch. Each module has 21 ports and a power consumption of 30 watts.
Optional HP GbE2c Layer 2/3 Ethernet Blade Switch Advanced Functionality Software network management
package.
HP Advanced Function Software is a three year subscription program that enables owners of HP BladeSystem switches made by BLADE Network Technologies to deploy enterprise-class virtual network services. By purchasing this subscription service, customers can augment the capabilities of existing HP BladeSystem Switches.
For more details see:
HP GbE2c Layer 2/3 Ethernet Blade Switch
Advanced Functionality Software
Visit: www.bladenetwork.net Twitter: @BLADENetwork.
BUSINESSES that go the extra mile for disabled people are to be heralded at the
third National Independent Living Awards.
Manchester-based Breakthrough UK wants to celebrate organisations who
consistently champion disabled people by ensuring recruitment practices do not
create barriers, making public places more accessible or providing modern
accessible homes.
Breakthrough UK is a not-for-profit organisation which is at the forefront of
tackling barriers to employment and independence experienced by many disabled
people.
It established the awards in 2007 to applaud those commercial and voluntary
organisations that excel in promoting the independence of disabled people.
Categories in this year’s Awards will be presented to companies that promote:
good practice in employing disabled people; accessible public transport; and the
provision of accessible, useful, and timely information.
Other categories are open to groups or organisations that promote: peer support
among disabled people; and an overall independent living initiative.
A new category has also been created in this year’s Breakthrough UK Independent
Living Awards to celebrate the outstanding business achievements of a young
disabled person.
The ‘young entrepreneur’ prize is open to all disabled people under the age of
35 who have established their own business, organisation or initiative.
Lorraine Gradwell MBE, chief executive of Breakthrough UK, said: “The
Independent Living Awards are a fantastic way to reward companies and
organisations that value disabled people.
“Last year we had a superb shortlist of people who had put disabled people at
the heart of their business and this year we are hoping to see similar
inspirational stories.”
Sponsors of this year’s event already include the North West Strategic Health
Authority, the Harvest Housing Group, Manchester City Council and the North West
Regional Development Agency (NWDA).
Among the winners of last year’s Awards were: The Trafford Centre (accessible
information); Warrington Disability Partnership (best independent living
initiative); and Manchester-based Body Positive North West (excellence in the
employment of disabled people and peer support).
Dave Wilson, head of people and policy for BT – which won the Award for
Excellence in the Employment of Disabled People (Public and Private Sector) –
said: “The Breakthrough Awards are fantastic recognition of our approach to the
inclusion of disabled people on our workforce and as customers.”
Nominations open on February 1, 2010, and all entries must be received by March
19, 2010. The awards ceremony will be held at Manchester Town Hall on June 16,
2010.
Further information about how to enter can be found at www.breakthrough-uk.co.uk
or by contacting Theresa Cartmill on 0161 273 5412.
Deplorable and draconian – says RLA describing the potential for new government measures defining how and where people will live.
The announcement by the CLG (January 27 – www.communities.gov.uk/news/housing/1447621) of new Use Classes Order, which defines how a property can be legally used, and the introduction of a definition of what constitutes a HMO – House in Multiple Occupation – has been the result of a public campaign often referred to as -Studentification.
-HMO legislation, already introduced by this government in 2006, has been badly implemented with poor landlords escaping many of the measures. Only the compliant majority have been affected, with little improvement to property standards or benefits to tenants says Alan Ward RLA chairman.
The government statement refers to -problems due to large student populations and HMOs, meaning shops, businesses and pubs simply close down creating ‘ghost neighbourhoods’.
Comments Alan Ward – -This will be nothing to the economic decline of bars, restaurants and local shops if students and young professionals are deprived of the choice of locality in which they can live. Packing them into expensive halls of residence neither gives them the experience of independent living, nor integration with thriving communities. It will create student ghettos.
” This is the dangerous use of planning legislation for social engineering to stop students living close to their university, and other social groups such as immigrants.
-The government has jumped its own gun by announcing measures before the results of its own enquiry into HMO licensing- commission from BRE and due last summer.
A further government measure – same CLG announcement – to create a National Landlords Register, has been estimated to cost £300m – and the RLA has called for a cost-benefit analysis to be provided.
Says Alan Ward – -The Register is a last gasp gesture which I doubt we shall see implemented by this government.
The RLA supports the raising of standards for landlords and good management of rented property. We have recently announced an accreditation scheme which will achieve just that.
We call on the CLG to ensure that local authorities use existing measures – which amount to more than 60 – to stamp out the worst landlords.
Rosie Winterton, Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber, attended the Wakefield Economic Taskforce meeting on 25th January to discuss practical measures that could assist the Wakefield economy.
Attended by representatives from Wakefield Council and local businesses, the meeting focused on the key issues affecting businesses in the Wakefield District.
Rosie Winterton, the Minister for Yorkshire and The Humber, said:
“I’m delighted to attend this meeting of the Wakefield Economic Taskforce today. The taskforce is a very real example of Councils and other local organisations working together to put Government Policy into practice at a local level and provide the real help that families and businesses need now to weather the storm of the recession and to come out of it stronger and fitter for the future.”
The Taskforce has already implemented a series of practical measures to date including relaxing public agency buying criteria where possible, speeding up planning permissions, extending local business grants to boost investment, and launching the Wakefield Economic Helpline.
Councillor Peter Box, Leader of Wakefield Council, commented on the need to look to the future:
-As the economic recovery unfolds we will move our focus to assisting businesses during the upturn. The new emphasis will be reflected in transforming the Taskforce’s work into an Economic Prosperity Board.”
Phil Atkinson, sales director at eleventeenth, said:
-It’s excellent to have the actions of the Taskforce supported by a government minister.
Commenting on procurement and winning new business, he continued:
-In order to benefit from the upturn it’s vital that local businesses win local contracts, and equally, that small businesses have access to support during the tender process.”
Grandparents are taking the lead in teaching grandchildren a host of traditional values and are frequently acting as their confidants according to a new study out today commissioned to mark the launch of BeGrand.net, an important new online resource for grandparents providing information, advice and support to help them with every challenge they may face.
The study reveals that over half of adults in the UK (55%) say they have learnt respect and manners from their grandparents, and almost as many say they showed them the different between right and wrong (48%). The teaching of essential life skills continue with a quarter (24%) having been taught how to believe in themselves and almost a fifth (18%) shown how to cook by their grandmothers and grandfathers.
Furthermore, when it comes to the role the older generation play in their families’ lives, almost a third of grandchildren (31%) say their grandparents are like ‘second parents’ to them, more than one in seven (15%) say they are like ‘confidants’, and one in ten (10%) described their role as a ‘counsellor’ in their times of need.
As the structure of the British family becomes increasingly diverse, there has been a growing reliance on grandparents to help support their grandchildren’s upbringing, whether that’s financially, emotionally or otherwise. As such, the issue of grandparenting is a hot topic for all of the political parties ahead of the forthcoming election.
BeGrand.net has been designed to raise awareness of the significant part grandparents play in their contribution to family life and addresses serious issues like legal rights, through to fun things like activities to do with grandchildren on holiday.
Jackie Highe, author and spokesperson for BeGrand.net, said: -It is so important that we appreciate how much our grandparents can add to our lives and our research really highlights just how integral they are to supporting the family unit and society as a whole. The launch of BeGrand.net provides a much needed ‘destination website’ where grandparents can go online and share issues from the more serious legal and social problems to the every day advice.”
And it’s not only the man on the street who recognises the significant part grandmothers and grandfathers play in their contribution to family life , with celebrities such as Davina McCall, Michael Palin and Esther Rantzen also revealing the impact their grandparents made on their lives to mark the new initiative.
Davina McCall, TV presenter: -I owe my grandparents so much. They brought me up from 3. They taught me manners and good old fashioned morals. They looked after my great grandmother and as a child l loved living with my great granny!!! They also taught me that family is everything and Sunday lunch together is the LAW!!! –
Michael Palin, comedian, actor, writer: “Grandparents are more than just a back-up team for weary parents. They can be an immensely valuable part of a child’s life and learning. And since I’ve had two of my own, I’ve realised that grand-children can be an equally valuable part of a grandparent’s life and learning. The two generations were made for each other.”
Esther Rantzen, journalist and TV presenter: -There is huge value of an extended family, my Mother’s mother loved the company of her grandchildren and we saw her every week. She taught us songs and poems, riddles and children’s games that I have passed onto my own children. She was a formative influence on my life.”
Bel Mooney, Daily Mail columnist: ‘My grandparents’ most important legacy is the belief that you always put your family first. They were ordinary Liverpool people with an extraordinary capacity for sacrifice, devotion, hard work, kindness, fun and tolerance – which are all essential ingredients of family life. As I get older I see them more clearly, and recognise how their influence turned my own parents into equally brilliant grandparents – and I just hope I am blessed with the chance to carry on the good work.’
Rt Hon Oliver Letwin MP, member of the Conservative Shadow Cabinet: “The most important thing I learned from my grandparents was that home-made biscuits are best.”
Lord Chris Patten, Conservative Peer: “I only knew one of my grandparents; the others died before I was born. My surviving grandmother had a wonderful sense of humour, was constantly available to be teased and had a glass of Guinness at 11.00 every morning. I am not sure that this offers any lessons for life, although since she went on to a great age it presumably suggests, which we knew already, that Guinness is good for you.”
The Sun’s Dear Deidre (Sanders): -The best thing I learnt from my grandparents is the value of ages-old skills which connect back through the generations – sewing, darning (!), planting out, potting up, cooking from raw ingredients – and the joy of bread and dripping.”
Mark Curry, former Blue Peter Presenter: -Grandma Curry had been a dancer as a young girl so never emerged without full make up, hair done and smart clothes. She knew I would become a performer and told me that however scruffy I was indoors, OUTDOORS was the stage and I should always look the part.”
Richard Randall, 60 Minute Makeover presenter and home decor specialist: -I owe so much to my Grandma, and feel our closeness gave me so much strength. She was called Agnes and lived until she was 82. She was always dignified, sophisticated and glamorous, and had a wicked sense of humour! A lady who will always be my guiding light.”
Highe concluded: -It’s fantastic to see celebrities coming out in support of the grandparents’ role and it demonstrates just how much of an impact they can have over their grandchildren’s lives. We want BeGrand.net to give something back to the grandparenting community by giving them a voice to raise and share issues that are relevant to them.”
To visit the website, go to www.begrand.net
HRH The Prince of Wales has become the Patron of the Historic Towns Forum (HTF) bringing together The Prince’s great interest in the built environment with that of the Forum’s work for our historic towns and cities.
The Support of The Prince is an important recognition of the Forum which seeks to share best practice across our historic towns and cities supporting those on the ground to do their work better and more efficiently embracing the best of the new whilst recognising the contributions of the past and the importance that heritage can make to quality of life and the making of places.
The Forum’s great strength is in bringing together professionals from across all areas of the historic built environment, public private and third sector, a role it has taken since 1987, offering events and publications on topical issues, and providing a strong platform to influence policy makers on behalf of our historic towns and cities.
Over the next year the HTFs work will cover PPS15, Community Engagement and the Local Agenda, the importance of Local Distinctiveness, Historic Towns and Climate Change, together with ongoing research on Park & Rides and the Growth of our Historic Towns.
Debbie Dance, HTF Chair said -We are delighted that The Prince of Wales has become our Patron at such an interesting time, when there is so much pressure on our towns and cities to change and an inherent need to get that change right if we can. Our job at the Forum is in making the right conversations happen and the Prince’s support will help us to do just that”.
Dortek, the market leading UK manufacturer and supplier of specialist hygienic hospital doors, has introduced a new door which is designed to help hospitals and clinics fight the spread of infection. Originally designed for use on operating theatres, the new fully glazed MF5 hermetically sealed sliding door is particularly suitable for isolation wards, Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and Critical Care Units (CCUs).
The new MF5 helps to cut the spread of infection in a number of key ways. Firstly the MF5’s unique patented track system which in combination with the doors own weight works together with a continuous neoprene gasket to create a perfect seal against the door frame. This seal has been independently tested and found to be over 99% effective, leaking less than 0.2 m3/hr of clean air with a typical pressure differential of 20 Pa. It therefore provides an excellent barrier to infection and reduces the quantity of clean air which needs to be generated, resulting in considerable cost savings. This is achieved without the need for a raised floor track – which makes for safer and easier access.
Next, its smooth, controlled, sliding action helps to reduce air disturbance and the consequent movement of airborne micro-organisms. The door cuts through the air causing minimal disturbance, whereas traditional hinged doors disrupt the airflows within the clean area each time they’re opened.
The door can be fitted with touch-less sensors to allow for hands free operation, making it ideal for high risk applications. Last but not least, the new door is designed to be easy to clean. It’s made from glass so at a purely practical level it’s easy to see when it’s dirty. However the clean design of the door with no ridges or ledges has no place to harbour infection.
-We are delighted to make our hermetically sealed, glass sliding door available to all through the introduction of the fully glazed MF5, said Mike Glanville of Dortek. -Early indications are that our new door can make a real contribution to the fight against hospital borne infections.
-When used in operating theatres it can significantly reduce the time it takes to build up the air pressure differential between the theatre and corridor to safe operational levels. When used in nursing environments, nurses can observe their patient without entering the room unnecessarily. Patients in turn can be nursed in isolation without feeling isolated. Our new doors really offer an all win solution.
The new MF5 hermetically sealed door is safe, reliable and low maintenance. The door blade is a strong 2 x 6mm thick hermetically sealed glass panel with flush anodized aluminium profiles to provide a smooth flat surface. The system can be specified as a single sliding or double leaf bi parting. A range of frames to suit particular wall construction and thickness are available in aluminium or stainless steel. Safe operation is ensured by the use of an intelligent automation which reacts immediately to even the smallest obstruction, photo sensors which stop the doors closing onto passing traffic, and a self diagnostic system facilitates fault finding and reduces expensive down time.
Dortek are market leaders in the manufacture and supply of hygienic door solutions to a wide range of sectors including the international pharmaceutical, healthcare, food and retail sectors. Recognised throughout the markets for it’s commitment to innovation, quality and customer service, over the last 40 years, Dortek has manufactured and installed in excess of 150,000 door sets.
Dortek have two facilities; one in UK and one in the Ireland.
www.dortek.com
Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP (BLM) has successfully defended local authority, Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council (Oldham MBC) in a personal injury case brought by John Maybury, which led to the conviction of the claimant and his witness for perjury.
Manchester Crown Court heard that Maybury sought compensation from his local authority, Oldham MBC, after sustaining injury as a result of falling down a flight of steps in 2004. He alleged that he had fallen because of loose flagstone paving on the steps. Maybury asked his friend, Jason Costigan to support his claim by telling the court that he saw him fall as a result of defective steps. However, at trial another witness advised the court that Jason Costigan had not been present when she had seen the claimant moments after his fall. When Jason Costigan was cross-examined he initially maintained the claimant’s story before subsequently admitting that had not been present when the accident occurred.
The recorder for the court found that the claimant had simply lost his balance and slipped on the steps, which were maintained appropriately by Oldham MBC. John Maybury and Jason Costigan had therefore brought a bogus claim. The claim was dismissed and Oldham MBC was awarded its costs.
Following the failed compensation claim the matter was investigated by the police who brought charges of perjury, willfully proving false statements and fraud against John Maybury and Jason Costigan. Both pleaded guilty to these charges. John Maybury received a prison sentence of six months in jail, whilst Jason Costigan was given four months for perjury.
BLM associate Paul Tarne acted for Oldham MBC. Commenting on the judgment, he said: “Our client’s are acutely conscious of the need to combat fraudulent claims. BLM is supporting clients through sophisticated investigations to help identify bogus claims and to ensure that those with genuine claims are suitably compensated.”
Sentencing, Judge Jeffrey Lewis said, “It has to be understood that if people lie in court on oath and that has resulted in prosecution in relation to that, that serious consequences follow.
“It goes to the heart of our judicial system that people should tell the truth. It goes to the heart of all we stand for that when you come before the court, that you take an oath to tell the truth and that is what you do.?
Iron technology leader Saint-Gobain PAM UK has warmly welcomed the publication of the latest official guidance from the Highways Agency on design considerations for ironworks on UK roads, which for the first time refers specifically to the recommended skid resistance properties of chamber tops and gully tops.
Document HA 104/09, entitled ‘Chamber tops and gully tops for road drainage and services: installation and maintenance’ is the latest Advice Note from the Highways Agency and forms part of the ‘Design Manual for Roads and Bridges’ which is the accepted industry ‘bible’ for highways specifiers.
The new document states that ‘where chamber tops are likely to be subject to
trafficking, including vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians or equestrians, covers proven to provide an adequate level of skid resistance shall be selected.’
It also recommends that products to be used at potentially high risk* sites on trunk roads and motorways should offer a minimum PSRV (Polished Skid Resistance Value) of 60.
According to Daniel D’bois, Head of Marketing – Access Covers & Gratings at Saint-Gobain PAM UK, this is very welcome news: -The issue of access covers which have become worn smooth by decades of passing traffic is one which can potentially affect all road users. These products are more slippery, especially in wet conditions, meaning increased risk of skidding, especially for road users on two wheels, and this is an area on which motorcycle users have been campaigning strongly for many years.
-The HA Advice Note means specifiers now have to ensure that products specified in high risk areas offer adequate skid resistance. This represents a landmark in safety in this area.
Saint-Gobain PAM UK has been at the forefront of innovation in access covers and in 2008 launched GripTop, a range of access covers with an aggregate top surface which comfortably exceeds the minimum PSRV requirements stated in document HA 104/09.
Following extensive trials in Bristol city centre, where the covers have been warmly welcomed by local cyclists and motorcyclists, GripTop is now being specified by a number of leading local authorities including Bristol City Council, Wigan Borough Council and Leicester City Council.
Daniel D’bois added: -Local authorities, as well as utilities, are increasingly coming round to the idea that they need to deal with the issue of access covers in high risk areas as a matter of priority, to avoid the possibility of legal action as a result of an accident involving a worn cover. GripTop represents a cost-effective, long-term solution which will maintain the required skid resistance in even the wettest conditions.
For further information about GripTop visit www.griptop.co.uk. HA 104/09 can be found in full at:
www.standardsforhighways.co.uk/dmrb/vol4/section2/ha10409.pdf
A Council that turned its back on a £147,000 Government grant to develop a child protection IT system, has just seen the system it developed independently scoop a prestigious national e government award.
Known as KCics, the system was hailed by the judges at the award ceremony this week as -breaking the mould. But more gratifying still for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea that designed it, hundreds of social work staff are commenting favourably on the reliability and ease of use of KCics. This includes many social workers who have previously worked in other boroughs, using other systems.
The controversial decision to reject the Government grant was taken in October 2008. Grants were available to all local authorities providing the systems they developed or purchased met a detailed government specification. However, after careful deliberation, Royal Borough child protection and IT experts concluded the spec. was just too elaborate.
They feared it would add unnecessary cost and was so detailed it would lead to box ticking rather than professionally judged assessments of risk. They also suspected that entering the information required under the specification would eat into critical time spent talking with and understanding children and family situations and that the system would be poor at generating documents for case conferences and other proceedings.
Feedback from local authorities that turned to the marketplace to buy systems compliant with the Government spec. strongly suggest the Council’s anxieties were well-founded. Many practitioners are reporting that these systems are difficult to use, time consuming and over prescriptive. Courts and other agencies are also expressing dissatisfaction with the forms they generate.
-We are very proud of this IT award, our system, and our officers who worked so hard to produce it, said Cllr Shireen Ritchie, Cabinet Member for Family and Children’s Services.
-Refusing a large Government grant is a difficult and controversial thing to do.
But we believe the Government spec. for this critical recording system was over engineered. It was wrong for the Royal Borough and wrong for our children in need.
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