BUSINESSES that save old products from landfill are being asked to take part in a new research project.
The study, by the University of Chichester and West Sussex County Council, will look at how companies recycle and dispose of products.
Working on behalf of the West Sussex Environment and Climate Change Board, the two organisations want to hear from businesses operating in the Maintain, Mend and Pass-On sector, so that they can offer greater support.
Dr David Cooper, from the university, said: ‘We want these businesses to get in touch with us and give us a short summary of what they do, allowing us to build up an accurate picture of the county in relation to these businesses and their practices.’
Businesses should contact makedoandmend@chi.ac.uk.
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Print this pageSource: www.portsmouth.co.uk
East and West Sussex fire merged call centre site announced - BBC News
The location of the merged East and West fire service emergency call centre has been announced.
East Sussex and West Sussex fire will start taking 999 calls at Haywards Heath fire station from September 2013.
Managers said the merged operation would allow more staff to be on duty, help to cut costs and provide a more advanced operation.
The fire services said there would be some job losses but they did not have a figure at this stage.
'Maintain local knowledge'Christine Field, of West Sussex County Council, said: "The town is geographically central to both East and West Sussex and its location creates equal opportunity for staff in the two existing control rooms to consider relocating to the Sussex Control Centre.
"This will help to retain the valuable skills and control experience in both services and, in addition, maintain local knowledge from across both counties - something that was important to the public during consultation.
"A single fire control centre in Sussex will have more staff on duty than either of the two current control rooms, as well as save money.
"It will also enhance working with the police and other agencies during an emergency."
John Livings, chairman of East Sussex Fire Authority: "The move towards a single control room for Sussex has arisen due to our shared desire to deliver the best possible fire and rescue services to the communities of Sussex, as well as the need to reduce costs in public spending.
"The new Sussex Control Centre provides an opportunity to deliver improvements in attendance times, the provision of information to the incident and improve the co-ordination of operational resources across the two services."
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Monty Panesar helps Sussex beat the clock and beat Surrey - The Guardian
Festival cricket has been at its most obdurate here. Almost washed away on Thursday, nearly blown away on Friday, and kicked in the coffers every day, it still survived to present an exciting finish before an appreciative crowd. Even the sun came out at the end.
Horsham's stoics deserved some decent action on the final day of this important Division One fixture, and they received it, as Sussex roundly outplayed Surrey. The home side, set 22 to win from a minimum of six overs, won by 10 wickets with 25 balls to spare.
This Surrey side abound with talent. But they have won one game with the season half gone – against Sussex in their opening match – and unless they find some form soon they will be fighting relegation. Trailing by 227 on the first innings, they were within a few overs of saving the game when James Anyon took the last wicket, bowling the determined Rory Hamilton-Brown for 47. Surrey's top order has been inconsistent and they are in need of an opening batsman, having tried five combinations in eight matches.
Resuming on 39 for one, Surrey lost their first wicket when the nightwatchman Stuart Meaker, inside-edged Steve Magoffin into his stumps. The recalled Mark Ramprakash again looked diffident, a shadow of his imperious past. He survived long enough to play himself in but as soon as he had done so he was out for 37, lbw as he attempted to sweep Monty Panesar.
Sussex missed the chance of another breakthrough just before lunch when Chris Nash, at short leg, dropped Zander de Bruyn off Magoffin. It was not an expensive mistake. De Bruyn, dropped on 16 had added only five runs when – like Ramprakash – he was lbw attempting to sweep Panesar.
Steven Davies struck some pleasing drives and there were five fours in his 35 before he edged Panesar to Michael Yardy at slip. Encouraged by Panesar's success, Yardy opted for twirl from both ends and in his first over, Nash had Tom Maynard lbw.
Surrey were looking bad and soon they looked shambolic. Gareth Batty drove to wide mid-on and set off for a single. But he had not spotted that his captain, Hamilton-Brown, was going nowhere, and by the time he had conveyed that message to Batty it was too late for him to make up his ground and he was comfortably run out.
With Panesar and Nash in comfortable control, it was a small surprise that Yardy took the new ball, at 179 for six, 10 minutes before tea. But by now the Surrey batsmen looked equally hesitant against pace and spin. At tea they were 183 for seven. Murali Kartik, swinging, was bowled by the impressive Anyon and Jonathan Lewis looked unhappy to be given out caught behind off Nash. But Jade Dernbach resisted for almost half an hour to take Surrey to the brink of safety before the fall of Hamilton-Brown.
The only bad news for Sussex is that Queensland have asked for the return of Australian fast bowler Magoffin.
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Sussex beat Surrey by ten wickets at Horsham - wscountytimes.co.uk
Sussex wrapped-up a ten wicket County Championship win against Surrey at Horsham today in a tense finish.
Ed Joyce and Chris Nash guided Sussex to the win after they had been set 22 runs to win from the final six overs of the match when Surrey were dismissed for 248 in their second innings.
Surrey had started the day 39-1, but Sussex chipped away throughout the day, with wickets at regular intervals.
They were 183-7 at tea, before Murali Kartik, who had gotten away with some big heaves, saw his middle stump sent cartwheeling by Jimmy Anyon with Surrey still 30 runs short of making Sussex bat again.
New batsman Jon Lewis dug in alongside his skipper Rory Hamilton-Brown and eked Surrey towards to final hour of play, but Sussex introduced Chris Nash for a second spell, and in his second over, the Horsham boy teased the thinnest of edges from Lewis to set up an enthralling finish. Anyon then wrapped up the Surrey innings when he emphatically ripped Hamilton-Brown’s off-stump out of the ground, it meant needed 22 runs off six overs in their second innings to secure the win.
Nash and Joyce wasted little time in racing to their victory target, with Joyce hooking one enormous six off Lewis into the Barrack Field, to see Sussex home with four overs to spare.
Source: www.wscountytimes.co.uk
Giant private firm to take on 600 West Sussex council jobs - The Argus.co.uk
Giant private firm to take on 600 West Sussex council jobs
2:00pm Saturday 9th June 2012 in News By Neil Vowles
A giant private sector firm has been chosen to take on hundreds of council jobs and run back-office services in a deal worth up to £154 million.
West Sussex County Council has confirmed Capita as its preferred bidder for a huge outsourcing project that will see responsibility for payroll, human resources, finance, procurement and office services transfer to the firm.
About 600 council staff would transfer to Capita later this year as part of the ten-year agreement which could eventually see 800 staff swap employers.
The deal is set to save the council £5.8 million over the next three years as part of total planned cost savings of £79 million.
Opposition councillors have raised concerns about what safeguards will be put in place if savings are not met and departments have to be brought back in-house.
The contract is expected to be formally signed by the end of the month and would start at the beginning of September.
Parallels have been drawn with joint venture company Somerset One, which was set up in 2007 by Somerset County Council, Taunton Deane Borough Council, Avon and Somerset police and IBM to modernise the local authorities’ business processes.
Earlier this year, Somerset decided to bring 160 HR advisory, development and learning jobs back in-house after making losses of £31.5 million.
Liberal Democrat councillor James Walsh said: “This is not dissimilar to the Somerset arrangement.
“I want to have assurances that the contract will be precise and specific, and that it will be subject to close monitoring by elected councillors of all parties in West Sussex.”
A West Sussex County Council spokesman said: “It would not be appropriate for us to comment on decisions made by Somerset County Council. They were outsourcing a different set of services.
“We have followed rigorous procedures in procuring a partner to work with us.
“Levels of performance, standards and service have been identified as part of this process, and will be carefully monitored throughout the life of the contract.”
A Capita spokeswoman said: “We are thrilled at the prospect of working with West Sussex County Council and look forward to supporting the council in delivering services.”
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Source: www.theargus.co.uk
Not another one! Brownlees in new London selection row - Daily Mail
By Derek Hunter
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Britain's Olympic build-up was rocked on Saturday by its second selection row in a week.
Two ‘pacemaker’ athletes have been picked for the six-strong triathlon team at the London Games to help the Brownlee brothers, Alistair and Jonny, to an anticipated gold and silver double.
The uproar over the selection of Stuart Hayes and Lucy Hall ahead of better and more experienced athletes follows the furore over taekwondo’s Aaron Cook, who has been overlooked for the British team despite being world No 1.
Controversy: The squad selection has caused a new row
Four seasoned triathletes will appear for Team GB at London — world champion Alistair Brownlee, 24, and his world No 2 brother Jonny, 22, in the men’s race, and world champion Helen Jenkins and Vicky Holland in the women’s event.
But Hayes and Hall will fulfil the duties of pacemakers at the expense of better all-round triathletes Will Clarke, Tim Don, Liz Blatchford and Jodie Stimpson, who were all overlooked. The squad will operate on ‘team orders’ to help the Brownlees and Jenkins get medals.
‘It’s hard because two of those people have basically walked on to an Olympic team,’ said Clarke, 27, who is ranked No 12 in the world. Don, son of former Premier League referee Philip Don, is No 13 while Hayes is ranked No 46.
Clarke added: ‘There’s not any other sport like that, where someone qualifies so easily considering what others like us have been through. We’ve been racing at the top level around the world for years, gaining ranking points, and they’ve walked on to the Olympic team. But I’m still good friends with Stuey and wish him all the best.’
Brothers: Alistair Brownlee (left) and Jonathan Brownlee (right)
A report that triathletes, unhappy with the selection policy, had ‘heated words’ with selectors was vindicated when Clarke’s wife, Clare, pointed her followers on Twitter to it and said it was a ‘great summary’ of what had happened during the selection process.
Clarke, who received numerous messages of support at his surprise omission, tweeted: ‘Finally the Team GB Triathlon team has been announced. Gutted to not be part of it but good luck to the guys and bring back some medals.’
The Brownlee brothers finished together in first place at the Blenheim triathlon as Alistair made his comeback from injury. On form, they would be expected to win gold and silver in London, while Jenkins is favourite in the women’s event.
Not selected: Aaron Cook's omission caused a stir
British Triathlon want to maximise their chances, however, hence the inclusion of Hall and Hayes, who are quick swimmers and cyclists and can pace their team-mates before fading.
Hall said: ‘They made it clear that, if I was going to take this place on the team, I would be going as someone to help [Jenkins]. Everyone can’t be happy with the decision. People are always going to be upset. That’s how it is, that’s sport.
‘It’s horrible to think some people don’t get to fulfil their Olympic dreams. I hope they understand why I’m taking this opportunity. It’s a home Olympics. I can’t turn it down.’
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
London 2012: bus workers threaten Olympics strike - Daily Telegraph
At least 800,000 extra passengers are predicted to use London's buses during the Olympics, said Unite.
Peter Kavanagh, regional officer for the union, said: "There are only seven weeks until the Olympics and the whole world is watching London.
"It's a disgrace that London's mayor, Boris Johnson, and the bus companies have allowed this dispute to get this far.
"Our members are only asking for an extra £17 a day which will just about buy you a pint of beer and a portion of fish and chips at the Olympics.
"Our members want the Games to be a success but their patience has run out.
"We have given Transport for London and the bus operators almost a year to resolve this issue.
"Every single London transport worker in London will receive a reward to recognise their major contribution to this historic occasion except for London's bus workers.
"It is time for TfL and the bus companies to consider this landslide vote in favour of strike action and resolve this dispute.
"This dispute could be brought to an end now if the bus companies and TfL have the will to provide the relatively small amount of money compared to the billions being spent on the Games."
Transport for London (TfL) said the union was demanding a £500 "bonus" for each of the 24,000 bus drivers in London for working during the London 2012 Games.
TfL maintains bus drivers are employed by private companies and that their pay and conditions are a matter for those private companies.
Leon Daniels, TfL's managing director of surface transport, said: "I am not surprised that 70% of London's bus drivers did not vote for strike action.
"That is because about 70% of London's local bus services are not affected by the Olympic Games.
"The whole country is really entering into the spirit of the Games and the overwhelming responsible majority are pulling out all the stops to make it a huge success.
"Only Unite appears to want to exploit it by adding a further multi-million pound burden to the hard-pressed farepayers and taxpayers of London.
"We are really disappointed that the Unite leadership is encouraging its members to take this unnecessary strike action.
"Unite has already negotiated binding deals for pay and conditions with each of the London bus companies for this year and those companies are keeping their end of the deal.
"Attempting to tear up those agreements and get a new one with less than 50 days to go before the Games is completely reprehensible and out-of-step with every other provider of services in this city this summer."
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Concierge firms boom as the rich flee to London - The Guardian
London is facing an unprecedented surge in the number of companies offering concierge and other special services to the very wealthy, as new groups of rich emigrés relocate to the UK to escape instability abroad.
Russians have been joined by Indians and continental Europeans among the overseas buyers that have purchased 60% of the prime property available in central London in the past few years, according to estate agents. The growth in foreign purchases appears to be matched by the growth in companies that are willing to do anything for their clients – any time, any place, anywhere.
Alistair Gill, the manager of Mayfair Concierge, which started business last month, said companies such as his were there to open doors, simplify procedures and obtain the unobtainable for those who could afford it. "While times are tough, there are still a lot of people who enjoy a high quality of life – who are cash-rich and time-poor. It's a growth market," he said.
Clients typically pay a retainer of around £5,000 a month, for which they expect 24-hour service but still must meet all other costs. Neither the price of the services nor the economic climate has had much effect on demand. Andreas Ash, marketing director of Greek Concierge Group, which has been in business for three years, said his company was working at capacity with a waiting list of 350 people. "We won't be able to accept most of them. It's all about service, and if we take too many members we'll degrade our service," he said.
Russian, Indian and French buyers have accounted for almost one third of recent central London house purchases, but there has also been an increase in Greek and Italian arrivals, a spokeswoman for estate agent Knight Frank said. The French are escaping a tax regime in which the wealthy are likely to be required to pay more under the new presidency of François Hollande; the Russians are investing in an insurance policy against possible persecution from an authoritarian leader, Vladimir Putin; and other Europeans are moving their money out of the unstable eurozone.
What they share is a desire for certain aspects of British life – private education, hunting and fishing – as well as everything they might expect from a playboy's paradise, such as reservations at restaurants and nightclubs, and sometimes even drugs and prostitutes. But going to the right shoot, ensuring your child jumps the school waiting list or getting a seat at a restaurant that is fully booked for the next year require skills and contacts beyond most of us.
Gill describes the typical concierge as someone who has worked in five or six-star hotels, "someone who loves people and is well balanced, understands what people want and is unshockable".
People in the industry are happy to talk about extravagant requests but less comfortable talking about personal services such as prostitution and drugs, which they are often asked to accommodate. According to Ash: "We have been asked for some things like escorts. We always do our best, but if it's not a healthy business situation we have to say that is as far as we go."
Even some of the legal requests are as demanding as they are unusual. One company recounts how it was requested to organise a two-hour shopping spree with an unlimited budget for a client and her two friends in the style of the film Pretty Woman. "With no prior warning, and without being allowed to explain the challenge, we had to get the co-operation of managers and numerous assistants at more than a dozen stores, including Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Hermès, Chanel and Yves St Laurent. Two hours later, what had started as a stroll for four friends had become a convoy of cars and vans carrying £250,000 of shoes, clothes and accessories," the website recounts.
The same site describes how the company received a call from a client at 10.40pm, saying he wanted to get engaged at breakfast the next morning. "We sourced $20m of diamond jewellery overnight in time for him to propose when his girlfriend awoke," according to the site. On many occasions, the company has been commissioned to make clients' wives burst into tears of happiness.
Some of the companies employ linguists to ensure London feels just like home. Ten Lifestyle Concierge has teams of Russian and Chinese speakers to deal with the growing number of clients.
Bryn Dyer, a director of Ten, said: "Typically our London-based Russian members will use us to get set up here. They also ask us for tutoring services, help getting their children into private schools, finding exclusive retail items, booking high-end restaurants and finding theatre tickets. Our London-based Chinese members are similar in tastes, but tend to be younger students. They tend to use us to book high-end restaurants, hotels and taxis."
All the companies say they expect their business to expand over the coming years and many are opening branches all over the world and recruiting staff. Bryn Dyer said: "The demand for our services is most definitely increasing. Not just in London but globally, as the wealthy elite are increasingly mobile."
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
London 28 Widnes 24 - The Sun
Kaufusi rumbled over as the hooter sounded at the Stoop and Powell said: “That is the type of win that galvanises you as a group — and I really hope this builds the chemistry of the squad.
“For us to get two late scores shows our resolve and it is great to have something positive rather than negative to focus on.”
Kaufusi bailed out a London side who looked on course for an eighth straight defeat after try doubles from Widnes’ Cameron Phelps and Frank Winterstein.
Phelps touched down after three minutes, with Winterstein levelling things up at the break after home scores from Aussie Craig Gower and Omari Caro.
The Widnes pair struck again after the interval, but London scores from Tony Clubb and Dan Sarginson kept it close before prop Kaufusi’s late show.
Denis Betts, who saw Broncos move above his Vikings in the table, said: “We have to be philosophical about it.
“We won a game in the last minute last week and lost one in the last minute here.
“It would have been great to push ourselves away from the foot of the table but it was not to be.”
Source: www.thesun.co.uk
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