Rushmoor Climate Change Consultation
Last night I went to a climate change consultation with my local Rushmoor Borough Council.
40 local residents were invited down to Aldershot on a cold February night to discuss the borough’s policy and, arranged into small groups, we brainstormed Rushmoor BC’s plans for the environment and the future.
Of course, the number one topic raised was the issue of climate change itself. Currently, if you spend a lot of time in the media, the subject of climate change seems to be getting a real kicking. The Climategate affair, involving the leak of data from the University of East Anglia on the eve of the Copenhagen summit, followed by the controversy over the predictions of retreating Himalayan ice and now Sir David King’s attack on the IPCC mean that a lot of scepticism is creeping in and, last night, a few dissenting voices were heard in the room.
The important consensus though was that climate change is happening. It’s not just global warming or global cooling, but variations in “local” climate all over the world and, whether it’s man-made or natural, it’s best to prepare for it.
So, that first hurdle over, Rushmoor BC presented their plans for the next 20 years. The big issue locally is the Aldershot Urban Extension, meaning that our neighbouring town of Aldershot is to be the subject of a 4,500 home expansion. Whilst brownfield sites are preferable for new builds, it seems inevitable that so many more homes will be needed and the council will have to develop a new “town” of so many houses.
This will surely impact upon on our small Borough which is already a busy commuter area (with great links to London and the south coast via train and motorway). The plans are to lessen the impact of any new development, and Rushmoor BC made bold statements to meet and exceed environmental building standards by an additional 15%.
That prompted questions of “are the current environmental standards stringent enough?” meaning that beating them by 15% is a fairly easy task plus that age old question of “the council says it will meet & beat standards but will it actually do it?”
Many ideas were bandied around in our group with a lot of focus on restoring localisation, creating closer community, water run-off into the River Blackwater etc. Plus there was great interest in the proposed new power plant, powered, presumably, by local waste and providing heat & energy. The notion of creating an “eco town” was popular with the notion that Rushmoor could be as well-regarded as the city of Brighton which is always thought of as one of Britain’s greenest urban places.
The usual topics of individual wind & solar power arose with ground-heat pumps and green roofs being thrown in for good measure.
Overall, a wealth of ideas were explored and there seems to be a consensus that the majority of people were in favour of bold steps in order to make the borough a greener place in terms of planning over the next 20 years or so.
The Natural Environment
The second part of the night revolved around Rushmoor’s natural environment. Surrounded by military land, we are blessed with a fairly natural environment that is protected by its ownership under the MOD.
The consensus was that we should not only protect every single piece of green environment that we have around here but that we should also restore and improve upon it. Natural and man-made attrition of the trees in the borough is something close to my heart as I’ve seen numerous trees come down locally over the years, never to be replaced. Do we get an organisation like the Woodland Trust involved to help us re-green Rushmoor?
Cycle paths were mentioned again as local citizens expressed a desire to expand cycle routes and to encourage more use of cycles in the borough. One resident even complained that where he locked up his cycle in the North Camp part of town they had removed the cycle racks and never replaced them!
Conclusion
There was a very healthy discourse over the evening and a number of people felt as though this was just the first of many discussions regarding the environment in Rushmoor. The many notes that were made were taken away to be digested by the council and they will have much food for thought.
Some great ideas came out of the meeting and, for starters, I would like to see the replacement and replanting of more trees, an extension of cycle tracks and a push to get more people cycling, loft insulation for all, better buses and routes and a green roof initiative.
Every piece of green and MOD land must be fought for and preserved and the inevitable expansion of Aldershot MUST be sustainable, green and a benefit to current residents not a detriment.
Finally, I’d like to see flights to Farnborough Airport capped as they are. I’ve seen no major benefit to the local economy from the planes flying in and, working near the airfield, the avgas fumes are unpleasant and unhealthy, not to mention the M3 motorway and the ridiculous “sound barrier” erected for residents who brought houses right next to the M3 but complained it was too noisy! (irony?) Thanks to them the sound bounces off the wooden fences and pollutes an even greater area.
Let’s hope Rushmoor Borough can only get safer, greener and cleaner.
Whether You Believe in Climate Change or Not
I’ve just been reading the article Stolen e-mails embolden climate change skeptics regarding the Climategate affair where scientists at the University of East Anglia’s Climate Research Unit had their emails hacked. Now I’m all for “leaks” of information that may be of public interest but that “thousands of e-mails and other documents made over the course of 13 years” are available is a considerable breach. I just hope it was perpetrated by Americans who hacked into the UEA CRU’s system so that we can horse-trade for Gary McKinnon, although I suspect this is a far cry. But I digress…
The article about the stolen emails pits Sarah Palin, the next Republican Presidential hopeful, versus President Barack Obama and the fact that he is going to Copenhagen to possibly get some sort of deal on the climate talks and that she doesn’t want him to go. This is yet another typical polarisation of opinion that we seem to see everywhere these days; you’re either with us or against us. Agree or disagree. Black or white. Hot or cold? Deal or no deal?
Let’s all, please, STOP FUCKING AROUND by being either red or blue, green or not green and just DO SOMETHING about the environment WHETHER WE BELIEVE IN CLIMATE CHANGE OR NOT.
Now this doesn’t apply so much to the hippies and the tree-huggers who are already well on their way to a sustainable lifestyle, but mainly to the middle and the far right of the spectrum;
This planet we live on is an ecosystem. You hear that? Eco SYSTEM – A system that has developed and evolved over millions of years and has found its own balance. We humans are upsetting that balance. We have chopped down millions of acres of rainforest. We are polluting our seas. Many species are in danger of extinction. We are pumping crap into the air, crap into our rivers and oceans and we’re eating crap, selling crap and consuming crap. Despite our technological breakthroughs and our many human achievements we are still a pretty fucking stupid bunch of primates aren’t we? When I was a kid I laughed at the phrase “Don’t shit on your own doorstep”, but we do, don’t we? All the time.
Now, do yourself, and the rest of us, a favour and start thinking about what’s actually going on and then do something about it. Even something as simple as having this ridiculous “touch effects technology” bullshit and having your clothes smell “nice” every time you brush against stuff is NOT good for the planet. By thinking the latest “fabric softener” is wonderful is a fallacy: it’s just chemicals and advertising. Go out into the countryside and take a deep breath… THAT is fresh. Chemicals with the scent of pine is NOT FRESH.
So, whether you believe in climate change or not…
- Ditch the gas guzzler
- Drive less
- Walk
- Cycle
- Take public transport, the train, the bus
- Share a car, car pool
- Stay at home, work from home
- Turn the thermostat down
- Insulate your loft
- Get a new efficient gas boiler
- Wear a hat or a jumper rather than crank the heat up
- Buy organic
- Ask for less packaging
- Buy local
- Visit the farmers’ market
- Eat less meat
- Consume less
- Turn off the TV
- Don’t believe the hype
- Reconsider that widescreen TV purchase – do you really actually need it?
- Wake up, open your mind
- Talk
- Discuss
- Listen
- Learn
- Get involved
- Care about your local environment
- Don’t buy nasty chemicals, use environmentally-friendly stuff
- Remind yourself what nature’s really like
- Respect wildlife, take an interest
- Use sustainable materials
- Invest ethically, use an ethical bank
- etc
- ad verbatim
- …
I could go on, there is SO MUCH we can all do and we CAN ALL DO these things. Demand ethics, sustainability and environmentally-friendly goods, services and practices and then they will become the DE FACTO services – all the old unsustainable ways will go the way of the dinosaurs when there is no demand for them and organic will naturally be cheaper than non-organic.
I’ll say it one last time: Whether you believe in climate change or not, whether you think it’s man-made or not, just use your brain and stop being a trash human, stop being so selfish, drop the ego and start being more considerate and work out where you fit in the grand scheme of things.
As the Native American saying goes:
“We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children.”
Are you Green or Mean?
Test your green credentials and discover how environmentally friendly you really are.
Life is full of little challenges. Anyone who aspires to live in a greener way will have experienced those moments when a little devil suddenly appears on your shoulder.
“Go on, buy a gas-guzzling SUV,” it says. “So what if you live in Chipping Norton, not the Australian Outback? You’ll be able to park on top of other vehicles – it’s practical.”
The way we respond to these ethical temptations defines who we are. Friends of the Earth is an organisation that knows a lot about being green: It is the most influential environmental network in the world, with more than 2 million supporters in 77 countries. That’s why Friends of the Earth has launched a new website to help you work out how green you really are on a range of issues from food and fashion to charities and holidays.
There’s no doubt that we’re all getting better at being kind to the planet – recycling and using low-energy light bulbs is now part of the daily routine for people across the country. That’s great news, but many of the things that are most harmful to the planet are still not widely publicised. That means it’s harder for you to make an informed choice.
So how environmentally friendly are you? Taking the test will not only give you an insight into how environmentally friendly you really are, but also help you beat climate change.
So don’t waste another minute – visit www.meanorgreen.com
<h2>Introduction</h2>
<p>There are some 165,000 businesses in the hospitality, leisure and service sectors where tipping is common. These sectors are an important part of our economy employing some 1.3 million workers. Restaurants, hotels and bars make up the largest proportion of the sector (about 80%), but tipping is also an important feature in industries such as hairdressing, casinos and private car hire.</p>
<p>From 1<sup>st</sup> October 2009, service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges can no longer be used to make up <strong><a href=”http://www.is4profit.com/business-advice/employment/national-minimum-wage.html” title=”national minimum wage” target=”_blank”>national minimum wage</a></strong> pay. This means that all eligible workers must receive at least national minimum wage in base pay with any tips they receive being paid on top.</p>
<p>All workers must receive the statutory national minimum wage. The <strong><a href=”http://www.bis.gov.uk/” title=”Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)” target=”_blank”>Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)</a></strong> aims to empower consumers through clear information on what happens to the service charge, tip or gratuity they leave. The customer should know what is happening with his/her money and be able to make a judgement on its fairness.</p>
<p>Additional voluntary measures are being introduced through this <strong>Code of Best Practice</strong> to improve the information available to consumers and workers about service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges. The Code provides businesses with practical guidance on how to operate in a fair and transparent way and should ensure consumers have sufficient information to make an informed choice before they leave a tip or gratuity or pay a service charge.</p>
<p>The Code applies to all tipping sectors including:</p>
<ul>
<li>hotels and restaurants</li>
<li>gambling and betting outlets</li>
<li>hairdressing and other beauty therapy businesses</li>
<li>taxi operations</li>
</ul>
<p>This guidance has been developed by trade unions, business representatives and consumer groups to provide a mechanism by which individual businesses can demonstrate their intention to operate a fair tips policy. It has been endorsed by the following organisations who will promote it to their members:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong><a href=”http://www.cbi.org.uk/” target=”_blank”>Confederation of British Industry</a></strong> (CBI)</li>
<li><strong><a href=”http://www.bha.org.uk/” target=”_blank”>British Hospitality Association</a></strong> (BHA)</li>
<li><strong><a href=”http://www.gmb.org.uk/” target=”_blank”>GMB</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href=”http://www.tuc.org.uk/” target=”_blank”>Trades Union Congress</a></strong> (TUC)</li>
<li><strong><a href=”http://www.unitetheunion.com/” target=”_blank”>Unite the union</a></strong></li>
</ul>
<p>This article sets out the four principles of the Code of Best Practice and provides guidance on ways in which businesses can make information available to consumers and workers. Businesses signing up to the code accept the principles in their entirety.</p>
<p class=”footnote”>© 2009 Crown Copyright</p>
<hr class=”system-pagebreak” title=”Code of Best Practice Principles of Transparency” />
<h1>Tipping: Code of Best Practice</h1>
<h2>Code of Best Practice Principles of Transparency</h2>
<p>Businesses participating in this Code acknowledge that the following four principles represent best practice in ensuring transparency in relation to service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges:</p>
<ul>
<li>Businesses will clearly display on their premises prior to the point of purchase or choice their policy relating to mandatory and discretionary service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges, and make this accessible.</li>
<li>Businesses will have a process in place to deal with requests from customers about how and to whom all service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges are distributed, and the level and purpose of deductions.</li>
<li>Businesses should ensure that workers understand and are able to confidently explain the business’ policy on service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges to customers, or know where to direct customers for further information, and without risk of detriment.</li>
<li>All workers should be fully informed on the distribution and breakdown of service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges and the level and purpose of any deductions. Businesses should seek to reach agreement with workers on any change of policy.</li>
</ul>
<p class=”footnote”>© 2009 Crown Copyright</p>
<hr class=”system-pagebreak” title=”Guidance on Transparency for Consumers” />
<h1>Tipping: Code of Best Practice</h1>
<h2>Guidance on Transparency for Consumers</h2>
<span style=”background: #f5f5f5;”>
<p><strong>The Code states that:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Businesses will clearly display on their premises prior to the point of purchase or choice their policy relating to mandatory and discretionary service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges, and make this accessible.</li>
<li>Businesses will have a process in place to deal with requests from customers about how and to whom all service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges are distributed, and the level and purpose of deductions.</li>
</ul>
<p>Businesses must apply these principles in line with legal requirements of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations. Information provided about service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges must not be misleading under the terms of these Regulations. Enforcement of the Regulations is the responsibility of the Office of Fair Trading. All complaints from either consumers or others relating to misinformation can be made to the <strong>Consumer Direct Helpline</strong> on <strong>08454 040506</strong>.</p>
</span>
<p><strong>When?</strong></p>
<p>Businesses should ensure that information about service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges is made available to consumers on the premises and before they make the decision to make any discretionary additional payment.</p>
<p><strong>What?</strong></p>
<p>The information should cover:</p>
<ul>
<li>whether a charge is mandatory or discretionary</li>
<li>whether an amount is deducted by the business to cover costs incurred in handling these charges (deductions could be credit card and banking charges,
and/or payroll processing costs)</li>
<li>whether cash tips and card tips are distributed differently</li>
<li>how the remainder is shared between the business and the workers</li>
</ul>
<h3>Where?</h3>
<p>There are a variety of ways for the business to make the information easily available on the premises to consumers, for example:</p>
<ul>
<li>clear and easily visible written information available on door stickers or wall notices or on menus displayed outside the venue</li>
<li>on the menu in the case of restaurants</li>
<li>in the reception area and/or at the gaming table in the case of casinos</li>
<li>information on the bill presented to the customer</li>
<li>information made available to customers in the bill folder in leaflet form or on the `tips’ tray</li>
</ul>
<p>In addition, businesses should ensure that workers can direct consumers to further information, for example a written statement setting out the business’ policy on service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges. Businesses may wish to make further information available through their websites or on promotional material.</p>
<h3>Examples of disclosures that businesses may wish to consider using:</h3>
<h4>Example A</h4>
<span style=”background: #fff8dc;>
<p><em>We are committed to the Code of Best Practice on Service Charges, Tips, Gratuities and Cover Charges.</em></p>
<p><em>This restaurant adds a discretionary service charge to customers’ bills.</em></p>
<p><em>Ten per cent of any discretionary service charge or card tip which you choose to pay is retained by the business to cover the charges we incur in processing your payment, card fraud losses and administration costs in distributing sums to staff</em></p>
<p><em>Twenty per cent of the discretionary service charge or card tip is retained by the business [this includes deductions for breakages, till shortages and walk-outs] and 70% is shared between the staff</em></p>
<p><strong><em>All cash tips go to the staff</em></strong></p>
<p><em>The amount available for staff in the restaurant is shared out through a system controlled by a staff representative.</em></p>
</span>
<p><strong>Or</strong></p>
<span style=”background: #fff8dc;>
<p><em>We are committed to the Code of Best Practice on Service Charges, Tips, Gratuities and Cover Charges</em></p>
<p><em>For every £1 received in card tips, the staff keep 70p, 10p covers business costs and administration and 20p goes to the business [this includes deductions for breakages, till shortages and walk-outs]. All cash tips go to the staff</em></p>
</span>
<h4>Example B</h4>
<span style=”background: #fff8dc;”>
<p><em>We are committed to the Code of Best Practice on Service Charges, Tips, Gratuities and Cover Charges.</em></p>
<p><em>If you choose to leave a tip through a card, we will retain 10% to cover the charges we incur in processing your payment, card fraud losses and administration costs in distributing sums to staff and business costs [this also includes deductions for breakages, till shortages and walk-outs].</em></p>
<p><em>The remaining 90% is allocated to the staff in the business and is shared out through a system controlled by a staff representative.</em></p>
<p><strong><em>All cash tips go to the staff.</em></strong></p>
</span>
<p><strong>Or</strong></p>
<span style=”background: #fff8dc;”>
<p><em>For every £1 received in card tips, 90p is shared amongst the staff and 10p covers administration, processing and business costs [this also includes deductions for breakages, till shortages and walk-outs]. All cash tips go to the staff.</em></p>
</span>
<p><strong>Example C</strong></p>
<span style=”background: #fff8dc;”>
<p><em>We do not add a service charge to your bill.</em></p>
<p><em>100% of the tips you leave are distributed amongst the staff according to their wishes.</em><strong><em><br clear=”all” />
</em></strong></p>
</span>
<p class=”footnote”>© 2009 Crown Copyright</p>
<hr class=”system-pagebreak” title=”Guidance on Transparency for Workers” />
<h1>Tipping: Code of Best Practice</h1>
<h2>Guidance on Transparency for Workers</h2>
<span style=”background: #f5f5f5;”>
<p><strong>The Code states that:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Businesses should ensure that workers understand and are able to confidently explain the business’ policy on service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges to customers, or know where to direct customers for further information, and without risk of detriment.</li>
<li>All workers should be fully informed on the distribution and breakdown of service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges and the level and purpose of any deductions. Business should seek to reach agreement with workers on any change of policy.</li>
</ul>
<p>Businesses must comply with national minimum wage legislation including the 2009 amendment: this means that regardless of how they are paid no service charges, tips, gratuities or cover charges can be used to make up national minimum wage pay. Businesses must also ensure that they comply with current employment law more generally.</p>
<ul>
<li>Complaints from workers relating to their rights as employees can be made to the <strong>Pay and Work Rights Helpline</strong> on <strong>0800 917 2368</strong>.</li>
<li>Any complaints about accurate information on a business’ policy on service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges can be made to the <strong>Consumer Direct Helpline</strong> on <strong>08454 040506</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</span>
<p>Businesses that comply with the Code should ensure that their employees understand the policy relating to service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges. This means that businesses should ensure that all workers:</p>
<ul>
<li>understand the process for the distribution of service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges between the business and the workers, and between the workers themselves (for example, workers should be told if a tronc operates and who the tronc master is)</li>
<li>are aware of the amount and purpose of any deductions from service charges, tips, gratuities or cover charges, and seek to reach agreement with workers on any policy change</li>
<li>have access to a written statement setting out the business’ policies on service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges which can be provided to consumers</li>
<li>are aware of the level of deductions from tips, service charges and gratuities made to cover breakages, till shortages or customer walk-outs</li>
<li> are aware of the business’ grievance procedure</li>
</ul>
<p> Businesses should give information to workers in the form of a written statement. Where the business employs a cohort of workers where English is not the workers first language the business should consider making information available in other languages.</p>
<p>This statement should include:</p>
<ul type=”disc”>
<li>how tips are distributed and, if applicable, if this is done through a tronc</li>
<li>if cash and card tips are treated differently</li>
<li>the name of the tronc master if appropriate</li>
<li>how much might be deducted for administration and what this covers</li>
<li>any other deductions</li>
<li>what happens during holidays, sick leave, parental leave and other forms of leave</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Where tips are passed to workers without national insurance deductions, workers should be informed that this may have implications for entitlement to certain social security benefits.</strong></p>
<p class=”footnote”>© 2009 Crown Copyright</p>
<hr class=”system-pagebreak” title=”Further Information” />
<h1>Tipping: Code of Best Practice</h1>
<h2>Further Information</h2>
<h3>Enquires or complaints</h3>
<ul>
<li>
Pay and Work Rights Helpline: <strong>0800 917 2368</strong></li>
<li>Consumer Direct Helpline: <strong>0845 404 0 506</strong></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/” target=”_blank”>Trading standards</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.acas.org.uk/” target=”_blank”>Acas</a> (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service): <strong>08457 474 747</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Relevant advisory web links</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href=”http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/” target=”_blank”>Business Link</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/” target=”_blank”>Citizen’s Advice Bureau</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/”>Consumer Direct</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/” target=”_blank”>Consumer Focus</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.direct.gov.uk/” target=”_blank”>Directgov</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.oft.gov.uk/” target=”_blank”>Office of Fair Trading</a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Relevant tipping sector web links</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href=”http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/” target=”_blank”> British Hospitality Association</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.nhf.biz/” target=”_blank”>National Hairdressers’ Federation</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.casinooperatorsassociation.org.uk/” target=”_blank”>Casino Operators’ Association</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.britishcasinoassociation.org.uk/”>National Casino Industry Forum</a> (formerly the British Casino Association)<br />
</li>
<li><a href=”http://www.fourthhospitalitv.com/” target=”_blank”>Fourth Hospitality</a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Relevant workers web links</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href=”http://www.unitetheunion.com/” target=”_blank”>Unite the Union </a><a href=”http://www.unitetheunion.com/”></a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.gmb.org.uk/” target=”_blank”>GMB</a><a href=”http://www.qmb.org.uk/”></a><br />
</li>
<li><a href=”http://www.tuc.org.uk/” target=”_blank”>TUC</a></li>
</ul>
<h3>References</h3>
<ul>
<li>HMRC guidance – <a href=”http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/helpsheets/e24.pdf” target=”_blank”>Tips, Gratuities, Service Charges & Troncs</a> (80k PDF)</li>
<li><a href=”http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/pdf/uksi_20081277_en.pdf” target=”_blank”>Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008</a> (224k PDF)</li>
<li><a href=”http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/Taxes/BeginnersGuideToTax/DG_4015904″ target=”_blank”>The National Minimum Wage Regulations 1999 (Amendment) Regulations 2009</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/Taxes/BeginnersGuideToTax/DG_4015904″ target=”_blank”>National Insurance guidance</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/Pay/DG_10027201″ target=”_blank”>National Minimum Wage rates</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.hmrc.gov.uklquidance/cwq2.pdf” target=”_blank”>HMRC employers further guide to PAYE and NIC</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si1993/Uksi 19930744 en_1.htm” target=”_blank”>Income Tax (Employment) Regulations 1993</a></li>
</ul>
<p class=”footnote”>© 2009 Crown Copyright</p>
<hr class=”system-pagebreak” title=”Model Statement for Workers” />
<h1>Tipping: Code of Best Practice</h1>
<h2>Model Statement for Workers</h2>
<span style=”background: #f5f5f5;”>
<p>We make a discretionary service charge of <em>[xx]</em>% to customer bills for service. Customers are free to amend or remove the service charge when their bills are settled.</p>
<p>Service charges together with any non-cash tips or gratuities added by customers are distributed to workers through a tronc. The business will retain [xx] <em>%[this covers</em> <em>overheads / administration of the tronc / card handling charges].</em></p>
<p><em>[Name]</em>is the tronc master responsible for the administration of the collection and distribution of service charges, tips, and gratuities paid through the tronc.</p>
<p>By using this system, service charges and any other pooled tips and gratuities, are able to be distributed to you without any value added tax (VAT) having first to be deducted. Payments are then made to you with any income tax due having been deducted – but without any national insurance contributions (NICs) having to be deducted.</p>
<p><strong>You pay NICs to build up your entitlement to certain social security benefits, including the state pension.</strong>The type and level of NICs you pay depends on how much you earn and whether you are employed or self-employed. You stop paying NICs in the year you reach state pension age. You should be aware that if you do not make minimum payments for NICs this may impact upon your entitlement to these benefits. You can find out more about national insurance by visiting the <strong>Directgov</strong> website <u>(<a href=”http://www.direct.gov.uk/”>www.direct.gov.uk</a>).</u></p>
<p>If you receive cash directly from customers or cash tips have been left on the table these belong to you and it is up to you to decided with other members of staff if you retain or pool them. Cash tips are counted as earnings for income tax purposes and it is <strong>your responsibility to</strong> make proper disclosure to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in respect of these earnings.</p>
<p>During periods of leave (including annual leave, sick and all other forms of paid leave) you will be paid your basic wage.</p>
<p><em>[For businesses with a tronc: The tronc master will inform you about the arrangements for the distribution of service charges, tips and gratuities during periods of leave.]</em></p>
<p><em>[For businesses without a tronc: The arrangements for the distribution of service charges, tips and gratuities during periods of leave are (business to insert).]</em></p>
<p>Our basic pay rates will always be at least the national minimum wage level. The current national minimum wage rates can be found by visiting <a href=”http://www.direct.gov.uk/”>www.direct.gov.uk</a></p>
</span>
<p class=”footnote”>© 2009 Crown Copyright</p>
<hr class=”system-pagebreak” title=”Definitions” />
<h1>Tipping: Code of Best Practice</h1>
<h2>Definitions</h2>
<p>Consumers are often confused by the distinction between service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges. The Code uses the following definitions:</p>
<h3>Service Charge</h3>
<p>An amount added to the customer’s bill before it is presented to the customer. A service charge is almost always based on a percentage of the bill. If it is `discretionary’ or ’suggested’ the customer is totally free to make payment or not.</p>
<h3>Tips and Gratuities</h3>
<p>Tips and gratuities are voluntary payments given by the customer, over and above the amount of the bill (and any service charge) and being of the nature of a personal reward from the customer to the worker. Usually, tips are monies left in cash, whereas gratuities (or card tips) are payments made electronically through a card terminal.</p>
<h3><strong>Cover Charge</strong></h3>
<p>A fixed charge per customer which is usually mandatory. Mandatory charges must be stated on tariffs or, in the case of restaurants, menus.</p>
<h3><strong>Tronc</strong></h3>
<p>A tronc is an arrangement for the pooling and distribution of service charges, tips and gratuities to workers. Troncs are commonly used in the hotel and catering industry and are increasingly used in the casino sector. A tronc has a special status for the purpose of <strong><a href=”http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/” target=”_blank”>HM Revenue & Customs</a></strong> (HMRC) regulations relating to income tax and National Insurance (NI).</p>
<p>For a tronc to comply with HMRC regulations, it is an essential requirement that workers decide who participates in the tronc and how distributions are made, <strong>not</strong> the employer.</p>
<p>Regulations allow for payments made to employees which come from discretionary service charges and or tips, to be left out of earnings when calculating NI. If an organised arrangement exists for a person to act entirely independently of the employer to decide:</p>
<ul>
<li>which employees will get a share of discretionary service charges, tips and/or gratuities, and</li>
<li>how much those employees should get</li>
</ul>
<p>then there will be no NI liability.</p>
<p>Formal guidance on NI and PAYE income tax is set out in <strong><a href=”http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/helpsheets/e24.pdf” target=”_blank”>HMRC guide E24</a></strong>.</p>
<h3>Tronc master</h3>
<p>The person who distributes monies from the tronc is known as the tronc master and is normally a worker or committee representative. The tronc master is responsible for operating PAYE (income tax) on payments distributed through the tronc.</p>
<h3>HM Revenue & Customs E24 Guide</h3>
<p>The <strong><a href=”http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/helpsheets/E24.pdf” title=”HMRC E24″ target=”_blank”>HMRC E24</a></strong> is a guide to income tax, National Insurance, national minimum wage and VAT and how they apply to service charges, tips, gratuities and troncs.</p>
<p class=”footnote”>© 2009 Crown Copyright</p>
<hr class=”system-pagebreak” title=”List of Stakeholders” />
<h1>Tipping: Code of Best Practice</h1>
<h2>List of Stakeholders</h2>
<p>The following businesses and organisations were consulted in developing the principles of this Code:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href=”http://www.allbarone.co.uk/” target=”_blank”>All Bar One</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.bdo.uk.com/” target=”_blank”>BDO Stoy Hayward</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.baha-uk.org/” target=”_blank”>British Association of Hospitality Accountants</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.bha.org.uk/” target=”_blank”>British Hospitality Association</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.bisl.org/” target=”_blank”>Business in Sports and Leisure</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.birminghamchamber.com/” target=”_blank”>Birmingham Chambers of Commerce</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.britishchambers.org.uk/” target=”_blank”>British Chambers of Commence</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.carluccios.com/” target=”_blank”>Carluccio’s plc</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.cbi.org.uk/” target=”_blank”>CBI</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/” target=”_blank”>Consumer Focus</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.flva.co.uk/” target=”_blank”>Federation of Licensed Victuallers Association</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.fsb.org.uk/” target=”_blank”>FSB</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.fourthhospitality.com/” target=”_blank”>Fourth Hospitality</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.gmb.org.uk/” target=”_blank”>GMB</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.metrorest.com/” target=”_blank”>Metropolitan Restaurants</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.nhf.biz/” target=”_blank”>National Hairdressers’ Federation</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.oft.gov.uk/” target=”_blank”>OFT</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.paramountrestaurants.co.uk/” target=”_blank”>Paramount Restaurants</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.ransomesdock.co.uk/” target=”_blank”>Ransome’s Dock</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.tuc.org.uk/” target=”_blank”>TUC</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://www.unitetheunion.com/” target=”_blank”>Unite the union</a></li>
</ul>
<p class=”footnote”>© 2009 Crown Copyright</p>
Sky go Greener?
When I switched my Sky box on the other day (at the wall socket, of course) I was greeted with a message screen that I had not seen before.
The vivid green screen that turns to red with the glassy Sky logo and a chameleon perched atop it is accompanied by the narrative:
We can all do our bit to be greener.
By switching your Sky box to standby, together, we can save enough energy to light all the homes in Birmingham for a whole year.
Remember, go red, be greener.
Switching to standby, aye? I thought that standby was the problem because it still uses electricity whereas the really green option is to just switch off at the wall.
All I can find regarding Sky being greener is an article that says a software update last year, rolled out to 9 million customers, could switch off the Sky box during the day, supposedly when not in use. I’ve seen the Sky box tell me it was going to switch off after 2 hours of inactivity and Sky reckon it saves their customers £20 Million a year – that’s about £2 per customer.
Now, if Sky could go just that little bit further and totally switch the whole box off that would be even better 
Cleantech Tipped to be Highest Growth Area
A report today from Britain’s Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has tipped “Cleantech and renewables… to become two of the most important sectors of the economy.”
The encouraging news comes from a survey of British business leaders who have also tipped technology and media to be growth sectors in the UK over the next decade.
43% of the business leaders questioned considered that cleantech will grow at the fastest pace by 2020, followed by science & technology (20%) then media & entertainment (15%).
Whilst the UK government is mainly interested in the economic aspect that new growth areas will have on the country, in order to pull us out of recession and keep us competitive in the world marketplace, it’s very encouraging for the population at large; if Britain is to see growth in cleantech & renewables then there will be investment in green research and green jobs will be created. Although why the Vestas wind turbine plant in the Isle of Wight was allowed to close with a loss of around 700 jobs still remains a mystery (and a crying shame) when Number 10 are touting the benefits of a green future for this country.
The government have also recently launched their iawards competition for British companies to compete in, demonstrating their skills and innovations. Aswell as combating aspects such as terrorism and an ageing population, the green aspects of the iawards include
Preserving finite natural resources in the face of population growth and climate change
So let’s hope that the government puts its money where its mouth is and pushes the green agenda so that we can go to Cop 15, the United Nations Climate Change Conference (7-18 December 2009) with a genuinely green direction that can contribute to cutting carbon emissions. 80% by 2030? Let’s hope so!
Anti Climate Lobbyists Reach New Lows
Lobbying firm sends ant-climate change bill letters from “old peole’s homes”.
After last week’s news that big oil are against a better environment it seems that the lobbyists who oppose any moves to limit climate change (incase it dents the profits of big business) have stooped to a new low point.
The Guardian reports that a U.S. Congressional hearing has uncovered over a dozen forged letters to members of congress opposing the climate change bill. The house select committee on energy independence and global warming has confirmed 13 forged letters and is still investigating a further 45 written correspondences.
Bonner & Associates, a lobbying firm, was hired to fight against the climate bill proposed by President Barack Obama. The bill, if passed, aims to reduce America’s carbon emissions by 17% by 2020 and by as much as 83% by 2050. That’s an aggressive and staggeringly brilliant cut in CO2 if it can be accomplished but Bonner & Associates and their paymasters, PR firm Hawthorn Group in turn bankrolled by the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, are against cuts in emissions.
The forged letters so far have supposedly been sent from ethnic groups and even old people’s homes.
If America put all its heart & soul into renewal energy and green technology then it would be able to create new job opportunities in these environmental industries. But as long as the corporations are short-sighted enough to fail to see beyond the current status quo then they will attempt to derail any attempts forAmerica to go green.
Scrappage Scheme for Greener Goods
The car “scrappage scheme” (vehicle discount scheme) was introduced in the UK some months back to encourage people to trade in old cars for new. Anyone owning a car aged 10 years or older can get a good discount, around £2000 or so, off a new vehicle.
Whilst the environmental credentials of such a scheme are a little thin when compared to the economic impetus that was intended (remember, the scrappage scheme was dreamt-up in the midst of a recession when the new car industry in this country took a major downturn) the green benefits are indeed there to some degree.
Modern household appliances could be next to benefit from the “scrappage scheme” if the idea is applied to white goods, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). They say that by scrapping VAT on the most efficient appliances households would be encouraged to buy greener goods. This, say the BRC, would cut household carbon emissions by 1% by 2020, removing 1.3 million tonnes of CO2 emissions a year by that time. It’s not a lot but every little counts.
The cost of such a scheme is estimated to cost around £500 million, but the BRC point out that that is a similar amount to how much VAT was lost in just 2 months since December 2008 when the Chancellor dropped VAT from 17.5% to 15%.
The benefits to households cutting their energy costs is certainly appealing. A 1% cut in carbon emissions is not much but 1.3 million tonnes of CO2 out of the atmosphere is good. The production and transportation of these new efficient appliances would need to be considered especially seeing as the UK probably doesn’t have much left in the way of refridgerator, washing machine and cooking appliance manufacturing these days (considering so many consumer goods are produced in China!)
With new appliance being twice as efficient as models from 10 years ago, environmentally-conscious customers would certainly see the benefit in a scheme of this nature, and smaller retailers, like local high street stores, certainly need a boost when competing with the larger superstores, but how this will pan out we have yet to see…
Big Oil Against a Better Environment
As if you didn’t already know it, big oil are against safeguarding the environment.
Is that alarmist? Propagandist? Or is it just another big lie because all of us environmentalists “hate cars” and are suckered by “peak oil” which is all a big scam to give governments more control over our lives?
Actually, big oil railing against the environment is totally true, and here’s the proof:
In a communication to lobbyists, Jack Gerard, the President of the American Petroleum Institute, wants to “move aggressively” to counter any efforts at climate change legislation.
The oil industry aims to turn public opinion against limitations on environmental destruction by exaggerating the figures that environmental reforms will cost. Big oil and the industries that continue to consume oil and damage the environment are quite happy to disseminate lies in order to derail important environmental protection legislation.
This is all quite disconcerting when the big oil companies are already greenwashing public opinion in to believing that they are the way forward in the future of renewable energy whilst actually stifling investment and innovation in such areas.
The main point is that legislation in the United States will pave the way for positive action s to protect the environment and combat climate change at the Copenhagen climate change summit in December 2009.
Back in March, Gerard said:
I have no doubt that as the new administration and new Congress take office, energy policy will be a topic of renewed and even more intense debate. It is up to us to lead the way in forging a new path forward.
Reading between the lines, the oil industry is concerned that it will lose power as oil reserves decline, even though oil prices would rise for an ever-more scarce natural resource. The “new path forward” is that it wishes to control energy in the future too.
Our challenges will be great, but I strongly believe that this is the time for us to create an effective partnership involving industry, government and consumers to nurture and sustain sound energy policies for our country’s future.
The challenges are the loss of revenue and loss of control with the “partnership” being a cynical attempt to hoodwink consumers into believing the oil companies are the future, even if they currently oppose anything that will threaten or damage their present near-monopoly.
Watch out for the rallies, apparently planned to “exert maximum pressure on Democrats in conservative areas”.
Wind Turbine Syndrome
Just when you thought it was safe to put up a wind turbine in your garden, along comes a study that suggests that wind turbines cause health problems.
Dr Nina Pierpont, a New York paediatrician, conducted tests over 5 years in the USA, the UK, Ireland, Italy and Canada on people living near wind farms. Her self-funded study has identified a number of health issues arising from living in the vicinity of wind farms ranging from tachycardia ( an abnormal heart-beat) to general irritability. Other affects have included disturbed sleep, headaches, tinnitus (a constant “buzzing” in the ears), nausea, blurred vision and panic attacks.
Dr Pierpont found that when subjects moved away from near the location of the windfarms most of the ill symptoms had gone away.
The conclusion of the five year study is that Dr Pierpont is recommending that windfarms are not built within 2000 metres (2 kilomteres or 1.25 miles).
The full results are to be published in October by K-Selected Books, but you can a sneak peek at some of the findings over at WindTurbineSyndrome.com
It will be interesting to see how this research is accepted when the full findings are officially published but as long as it doesn’t play into the hands of the pro-nuclear lobby then Britain should make greater strides to generate more electricity from off-shore windfarms.