UBS plans to sell more loss-absorbing bonds to meet tougher bank capital rules after the Swiss bank tested investor appetite for these new instruments with an initial $2bn (£1.3bn) deal last week.

The new bonds are designed to help bolster the bank in tough times by absorbing losses. Their value can be written down if the bank’s common equity Tier 1 ratio – a measure of financial strength – falls below 5 per cent.

UBS’s deal attracted $5.5bn of demand from investors, which UBS said included private banks, long-only asset managers, hedge funds and banks investing for their own portfolios, in Asia and Europe.

The bank has maintained it is happy with the issue’s reception, but the take-up highlights that UBS has struggled to make the issue attractive to the big institutional investors the bank will have to tap if it is to sell these bonds in bulk.

It needs to sell roughly $16bn in total of capital instruments, measured by its target for risk-weighted assets, to meet new capital rules.

“(The) deal marks the beginning of an issuance programme as we build our loss-absorbing capital base to meet FINMA and the Basel Committee requirements for systemically important banks well in advance of the regulatory deadlines,” UBS’s financial head Tom Naratil said.

The bank is weighing issues in other regions and currencies for upcoming issues, which are likely to exceed $1bn in size, he said.

But institutional investors are concerned that the loss-absorption features of these bonds potentially put them behind equity investors in creditor rankings.

]]> 1.4274270 Thu, 23 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0000 http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/allam_to_break_240m_turnover_barrier_1_4274536

EGYPTIAN-born Assem Allam was imprisoned and tortured because he opposed the regime of President Nasser in the 1960s.

He fled, initially arriving in Germany before moving on to the UK. He enrolled as a postgraduate in the University of Hull’s Department of Economics and studied for a Masters degree while working as an accountant for a merchant banking group. In 1977, he joined Lincolnshire-based generator manufacturer Tempest Diesel.

He was made managing director within a year. He bought the company in 1981. In 1992, he renamed it Allam Marine and moved to Hull.

MPs have expressed “real concerns” that transport spending continues to be skewed towards London and the South East at the expense of Yorkshire.

The Government has been challenged to do more to ensure money is spent fairly after debate over the equity of spending was “stoked” by a report in December claiming 84 per cent of new infrastructure funding was for projects in the capital and South East.

West Yorkshire transport authority Metro has backed today’s call by the Transport Select Committee – which echoes demands in the Yorkshire Post’s Fair Deal campaign – and urged Ministers to put right a “legacy of discrepancy” which has seen schemes in this region stall while London goes ahead with tube upgrades and the £16bn Crossrail route.

The Government insists claims of a bias in transport funding are unfair because some schemes have wider impacts. But today’s report says: “There remain concerns that Department for Transport [DfT] spending, particularly on infrastructure projects, is unduly focused on London and south-east England.”

MPs accepted that it was difficult to calculate how spending is distributed between regions, but added: “We consider that the DfT could do more to ensure that its expenditure plans involve a fair allocation of resources across the nation.

“We recommend that the DfT’s next annual report and accounts includes a more comprehensive analysis of regional spend, including a fuller explanation of how its figures are arrived at.”

There has long been concern from politicians and businesses in Yorkshire that the region has been starved of cash for key transport schemes, with projects like Supertram in Leeds cancelled and vital road improvements such as upgrading the A63 in Hull denied funding until 2015 at the earliest.

The coalition insists it has given priority to infrastructure projects – which can create or preserve significant numbers of jobs and unlock other developments – when deciding where spending should be cut, and last year approved a string of upgrades in the region.

But a report by think tank IPPR North in December analysed commitments from the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement and discovered 84 per cent of infrastructure spending was aimed at London and the South East.

Metro director general Kieran Preston said: “With governments, including our own, recognising that investing in large infrastructure projects such as transport schemes can stimulate regeneration, we have received approval for a number of important projects recently.

“However, if our region is to be able to play its full part in the country’s ongoing economic growth, we need further investment in transport schemes such as the first stage of the New Generation Trolleybus network, Trans-Pennine electrification and Network Rail’s Northern Hub.

“This would start to counter the legacy of discrepancy, highlighted by the Transport Committee in this report, which last year saw Government transport spending in London at £744 per head, almost triple the £276 per head spent on transport in our region.”

A DfT spokesman said it was spending more than £1.4bn on 41 local transport schemes outside London and was backing a high-speed rail network.

But he added: “We cannot ignore the fact that London is the biggest city in the UK and a global capital supporting a large number of people who commute from outside the region.

“The Government’s strategy for transport investment is designed to ensure the maximum possible economic benefit to the UK as a whole – this means investing in the regions as well as ensuring that our major cities are able to compete in the world economy.”

THE boss of recruitment firm Hays said yesterday there was still evidence that bankers were heading overseas as hiring in the sector fell around 10 per cent and pushed its UK division to a £3m loss.

Chief executive Alistair Cox said the recruitment squeeze in the banking industry would persist for “some time” and had spread beyond the UK to markets such as Hong Kong as major players restructure their operations.

The recruiter’s results come as the banking industry faces pressure from all sides, as it battles with volatile markets, weak consumer confidence, increased regulatory heat and criticism over pay.

The slowdown, which was behind a 1 per cent drop in private sector fees, which make up 78 per cent of UK revenues, prompted Hays to close 12 UK outlets, cutting its total headcount by 4 per cent, including a 2 per cent drop in the number of consultants to 2,071.

However, the wider group was supported by a strong performance overseas, particularly in Germany, leading to a 21 per cent increase in overall operating profit to £63.1m. On the banking sector climate, Mr Cox said: “It’s quite uniform worldwide, not just focused on the UK.”

Across the group, net fees rose 11 per cent to £373.8m on a like-for-like basis, driven by 16 per cent fee growth in Asia Pacific region and 27 per cent fee growth in the Continental Europe and Rest of World arm. Hays announced a 55 per cent cut to its interim dividend to 0.83p, after profit growth slowed to 2 per cent between the first six months of the financial year and the previous six months.

THE Government insists it will not give insurance firms a “taxpayer subsidy” to convince them to continue offering cover to homes at risk of flooding despite warnings it is running out of time to agree a new deal.

Environment Minister Richard Benyon insisted there is “urgency” in negotiations with insurers who want more spent on flood defences in return for extending a guarantee that they will offer insurance to flood-risk homes.

The current deal, struck after the floods that devastated parts of Yorkshire in 2007, is due to expire next year and yesterday former Labour environment minister Ben Bradshaw warned homeowners were facing a “double whammy” of cuts to flood defences and uncertainty over insurance.

But Mr Benyon hit back: “Is there urgency about how we progress in our dealings with the insurance industry? Absolutely. Do we want an arrangement moving forward from 20 June 2013 that still ensures that insurance is widely available? Absolutely.

“We will make an announcement in the spring that will give a full year for new systems to be in place, providing clarity and ensuring that insurance is freely available.”

The Association of British Insurers has been critical of Ministers for failing to make more progress in negotiations over an extension of the so-called Statement of Principles.

The existing deal pledged to offer cover in return for a certain level of investment in building flood defences, but the Government recently cut the amount it is planning to spend on defences in the coming years and wants communities to contribute to the costs of schemes.

Mr Benyon said it was “not realistic” for the insurance industry to demand a “taxpayer subsidy” in return for guaranteeing to provide cover, but insisted he would work with the industry to find a solution.

Farmers are growing increasingly concerned by the spread of a damaging virus which has been identified in farm animals across the south of the country.

Schmallenberg Virus (SBV) has now been identified on 58 farms across southern England and farmers as far north as Scotland have been put on alert.

The virus, which effects sheep, cattle and goats, has been found in Wiltshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hertfordshire, Surrey, Hampshire and, for the first time last week, Cornwall.

Schmallenberg has so far not been identified in Yorkshire or any- where else in northern England.

The virus causes serious birth defects in newborn animals and is said to have arrived in the country from northern Europe. Scientists believe the virus is not harmful to humans.

A statement from the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency said: “Due to the increase in reports of SBV identified in France, the areas at comparatively higher risk in the UK have been revised in line with the plume modelling data from the summer which models areas at risk of midge incursion from northern Europe.

“The timing of the most dense plumes would have been in late October for this south west region. This is therefore in line with the appearance of deformities in lambs being born now, assuming the highest risk period for lambs is if the mother is infected at approximately one month into gestation.”

The majority of the English cases of SBV infection have been diagnosed in sheep to date, but three cases were identified in cattle earlier in the year. In Scotland, farming leaders have asked farmers to be on their guard about importing animals from at-risk areas.

Joanne Pugh, executive director of the National Beef Association, said: “We are still very much in the dark about its spread and how it got here from Europe. Farmers in Yorkshire have no reason to worry as yet but the whole country needs to alert to the fact that this virus is here in the country.”

Farmers will be hoping to avoid large-scale movement restrictions on cattle which were seen after Bluetongue was identified in UK herds.

SIRIUS Minerals has poached an expat investment banker from Down Under with “outstanding credentials” in fundraising to become chief financial officer.

Jason Murray, a 43-year-old British national, joins the York potash project developer from Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he has been head of capital markets in Australia for the last five years.

He will replace Andrew Lindsay, who is stepping down from his executive and board roles but will remain as a consultant to the company.

Russell Scrimshaw, chairman of Sirius, said: “We are delighted that someone of Jason’s capability has agreed to join the executive team and board of Sirius.

“Jason brings with him outstanding credentials in fundraising across many sectors and most importantly, the mining sector. In addition, Jason’s background in UK corporate taxation, corporate governance and building high performance teams will add greatly to the depth of the management team of Sirius.

“On behalf of the board and the shareholders I would also like to thank Andrew for his contribution since joining Sirius and wish him well for the future.”

Mr Lindsay helped Sirius Minerals complete two fundraisings to finance the drilling and development programmes in Yorkshire and to further the company’s North American and Australian projects.

Mr Murray comes with two decades’ experience in investment banking, including senior roles at Citigroup and JP Morgan, and has helped companies raise more than $250bn.

A COMPANY which manufactured components for a satellite has won an award and opened a second branch.

B-Tek Precision Engineering, a specialist in wire and spark erosion, or EDM, was handed the award of Most Dynamic Sub-Contractor at the 2012 Manufacturing Industry Awards, after manufacturing components for the Sentinel 2A satellite.

The company, whose original base is in Sheffield, recently saw the opening of its second branch in Beeston. Tony Sitek, managing director, said the premises in Leeds acts as the firm’s head office. He added: “Our longer term plan is to increase our capacity in Leeds which will allow us to increase our headcount as well as looking for opportunities outside the region in line with our objective of creating a national branch network.”

The business started in April 2011 with one employee and it now has four across the two sites. Mr Sitek added: “We plan on opening our next branch later this year, probably in the West Midlands with a view to operating a further three branches throughout the UK by 2014.” On the company’s award win, Mr Sitek added: “This award symbolises all that is good with SMEs and their ability to be able to react quickly and to be dynamic in an increasingly competitive global market.”

FULL enforcement of a new parking permit scheme in the Hillsborough Corner area of Sheffield is set to begin from next Monday, February 27.

The permit scheme was introduced a fortnight ago, on Monday, February 13, but for the first two weeks drivers parking without a valid permit have been issued with a warning notice, rather than Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs)

Coun Leigh Bramall, Sheffield Council’s member for transport and the environment, said: “This scheme at Hillsborough isn’t about penalising motorists, it is about helping residents and businesses get some priority back when parking. For the first two weeks of the scheme we have been issuing warnings rather than PCNs.

“This way people can have a chance to understand the changes in restrictions and change their habits accordingly.”

The aim of the permit scheme is to stop commuters parking on the streets in Hillsborough for free and then using the tram to get into the city centre, taking up spaces needed by businesses and residents.

Permits were introduced after a public consultation found two-thirds of locals in favour.

As with other parmit parking schemes in Sheffield, visitors to Hillsborough will be allowed 15 minutes’ free parking as long as they print a ticket from a parking meter.

Some parking spaces are designated for residents only, while parking in other spaces is 40p per hour, with waiting limits of two and four hours.

Coun Bramall added: “Permit parking is always about striking a balance but we’ve listened to the views of people in the area and hope that the Hillsborough scheme can go some way to improving things.

“In the past many residents and businesses have struggled to park outside their premises due to people using the area as nothing more than a free car park, parking up on residential roads and getting the tram into town.

“A lot of consultation has taken place and we hope we’ve got the balance right, but of course we will review the scheme and make any necessary adjustments.”

A review of the scheme will be held within the next year.

A spokesman for Sheffield Council said: “The operation of the scheme will be monitored. In particular, there are always likely to be displacement effects – some vehicles that used to park in the scheme area will move to streets outside the area.

“There will, therefore, be a scheme review which will include door-to-door questionnaires within the area and adjacent areas, as well as parking surveys.”

This comes after the council’s Labour administration came under fire from the opposition Liberal Democrats over a policy of increasing permit charges

The cost of parking permits is set to rise from £10 to £20 a year for a residents’ first car and £30 to £60 for a second car.

A DILAPIDATED church is on the brink of reopening as a community and faith centre after a £750,000 revamp.

The final phase of work is now getting underway as part of the big overhaul of Hunslet Baptist Church on Low Road in Leeds.

Over the last four years the building has undergone a complete refurbishment and renovation, converting the dilapidated structure into a vibrant new community centre and church in time to celebrate the building’s 175th anniversary.

The basement has been made structurally sound and completely remodelled to provide two meeting spaces, a kitchen and toilets.

The upper levels of the building are now having a new floor fitted with underfloor heating, partitions installed to increase the different uses of the site and a servery being created to provide beverages and simple food preparation.

These upper floors will be available for community bookings as well as for worship.

Construction work on the site is expected to be complete in the next couple of months and the building will hopefully be available for community use by June this year.

Anyone who is interested in using the new community facilities can contact Gill Knowles by email: hbc@hunslet-baptist.org.uk.

The Church is scheduling a grand opening in the autumn, celebrating the re-launch of the community building and also the 175th anniversary since it was built.

Funding for the work came from a number of sources, including the Garfield Weston Foundation, Church Urban Fund, Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust, Hesco Bastion Fund, Green Leeds/Biffaward, Grantscape, and The Veolia Environmental Trust, which gave £87,900.

These last three grants were given through the Landfill Communities Fund.

The church’s small congregation have also raised over £25,000 through events such as a charity fundraising concert, an abseiling event, gift days and open days.

Gill Knowles, project co-ordinator on behalf of the church itself, said the project had been a big success.

“We faced closure or demolition like so many old buildings, especially churches, but made the bold decision to step out in faith and breathe new life into our locality.

“We have far exceeded our expectations of what we hoped to achieve.”

McNabb Laurie, operations manager of The Veolia Environmental Trust, said: “We are so impressed with the determination to get this project underway and overjoyed that the building will soon be available for use.

“The Veolia Environmental Trust is proud to support projects such as this that will to serve the community for years to come.”

andrew.robinson1@ypn.co.uk

COUNCILLORS are being told that plans for almost 300 homes in Menston, near Bradford, should be given the go-ahead - despite a mass of objections.

Hundreds of villagers have objected to two separate applications, one to build 174 homes at Derry Hill and another for 125 homes off Bingley Road.

Councillors on the area planning panel (Shipley) are expected to make a decision on the plans at a meeting on Tuesday, February 28, at Kirklands community centre, Menston.

Up to 200 people are expected at the meeting, which begins at 9.45am.

Opponents of the plans are hoping to convince councillors to ignore the advice of the authority’s planning officers, who believe the plans should be approved.

Villager Alan Elsegood, of Menston Community Association, said the size of the developments would make worse the existing threat from flooding as well as add to traffic problems.

“I know we are called Nimbys but Menston has tight roads and there is a limit to what development can be put in. This really should be done with the consent of the community.”

He said the proposals would “wreck the character of the village”, adding: “We don’t oppose development on principle but this is unsustainable.”

And Graham Booth, of Menston Action Group, said the main issue was concern over future flooding as the village had “huge volumes” of underground water.

He claimed Bradford Council officers had misunderstood their concerns over flooding.

“Bradford Council seem to think we are talking about surface water, which completely misunderstands what we are talking about. The real risks are from ground water.”

He denied that residents were against all housing plans.

“We are not a group of Nimbys. We want to come up with ideas for housing but with these plans the scale is wrong.

“If they started building this they will cause serious harm to the whole community,” he added.

It is expected that an expert in flooding will make a presentation to councillors on behalf of the objectors,

The parish council has also objected to the housing plans.

In a joint objection with the community association, the parish council outlined a catalogue of objections and criticisms, including lack of provision for the elderly, failure to integrate affordable housing with the rest of the site and and fears over road safety.

The parish council pointed out that in April last year a parish referendum was held with the motion that ‘the council should refuse the planning applications at Bingley Road and Derry Hill’. The result was 98 per cent in favour of the motion.

The council’s report, to be discussed at the meeting on February 28, concludes that the Bingley Road plans would help towards affordable homes targets.

It adds: “The site will have a positive drainage system discharging to sewers that are remote from the site by agreement with Yorkshire Water....it is not felt that there is any increased flood risk to the east of the site...”

Neither the Environment Agency nor Yorkshire Water have raised any objections to the application on flood risk or sewerage grounds.

A planning report on the Derry Hill application says it will help boost the supply of new homes “at a time when housing delivery has dropped to undesirably low levels”.

The parish council and the community association have called for the Derry Hill plans to be rejected “until satisfactorily revised drainage proposals have been presented by the developer that meet the problems on Derry Hill in a comprehensive, adequate and lawful manner...”

But the council report says the plans can be granted permission as they accord with planning policies.

MOODY’s Investors Services yesterday revealed that it had placed Clydesdale Bank’s deposit and debt ratings under review for a possible downgrade.

The review has been triggered by the announcement that Clydesdale’s parent, National Australia Bank, is to carry out a strategic review.

Clydesdale and its sister bank Yorkshire will announce the outcome in May.

Earlier this month, Yorkshire Bank’s chief executive David Thorburn said that everything is under review as the bank strives to cope with deteriorating economic conditions, a challenging outlook and an increase in bad debts.

It is not clear yet how many jobs will be axed from Yorkshire and Clydesdale’s 8,300 employees, of whom 2,000 are employed in Yorkshire.

NAB chief executive Cameron Clyne said the review will definitely lead to changes.

“The review will assess many options and it’s still too early to determine the recommendation. We can say that retaining the existing business mix and structure will not be an outcome,” he said.

Moody’s placed on review for downgrade the A2 long-term senior debt and bank deposit ratings and the Prime-1 short-term rating of Clydesdale Bank.

Moody’s understands that the strategic review will look to reposition the business mix and structure in a “challenging economic environment” in the UK and improve returns.

Although Moody’s does not expect the outcome of the strategic review to dramatically change Clydesdale’s credit profile, the rating review will focus on the extent to which the strategic review leads to any changes in the shape of Clydesdale and any impact that this will have on profitability and funding.

In a statement, Moody’s said: “At this stage Moody’s does not expect to change its assumptions regarding parental support to Clydesdale from NAB, however the rating agency noted that if the likelihood of a sale of the bank was to increase as a result of the strategic review then this would additionally need to be revisit- ed.

“Currently Moody’s assumption of parental support results in ratings uplift of one notch in the senior ratings of Clydesdale.”

A Clydesdale Bank spokesman said yesterday: “Our ratings have not changed and are only under review at this stage.

“As a conservative bank, we have a long-held commitment to maintaining strong capital and funding levels.”

greg.wright@ypn.co.uk

OVER half of companies in the North East plan to boost their marketing budget during 2012, while 30 per cent intend to cut it, according to a survey by MindMetre Research, which also revealed that nationally, larger companies demonstrate a greater inclination to invest more in marketing than SMEs.

The annual MindMetre Marketing Barometer, which canvassed more than 2,000 large and small British companies, found that 54 per cent of companies in the North East plan to boost their marketing budget over 2012, while 30 per cent intend to cut it, with the difference between the two providing the net figure of 24 per cent.

In 2011, a total of 48 per cent of respondents in the North East planned to increase their marketing spend, compared to the 43 per cent which intended to reduce it, leaving a net difference of 5 per cent.

Despite this increase on 2011, however, 2012’s figure is the lowest for any region in Britain.

When it comes to Britain’s largest companies, 61 per cent plan to boost marketing spend while just 15 per cent aim to slash their budgets.

Fifty-six per cent of SMEs intend to raise their marketing budgets while 20 per cent plan to cut their spending. Paul Lindsell, MindMetre’s managing director, said: “These forward-looking survey results augur well for 2012, which, if marketing budget trends are taken as a forward indicator of overall business sentiment, may herald the beginnings of a true upturn for Britain Ltd.

“Unlike other studies, which only track the activities of Britain’s very largest businesses, this study embraces representation from the full range of company sizes.

“2011 may have seemed a year of economic despondency, but it was also a year where weak players went to the wall, and strong businesses survived, even making highly advantageous acquisi-tions.

“Although some sectors may still be suffering from low demand and over-supply, many more may have passed through their bloodletting stage and appear to be gearing up for growth, both at home and in buoyant overseas markets.”

NHS nurses and care workers should sign up to a code of conduct guaranteeing that elderly patients are treated with dignity and respect, an alliance of politicians, regulators and charities said yesterday.

Pensioners are being spoken down to, prevented from taking decisions, and denied privacy and the best medical treatment, they claimed.

The Dignity Code, launched by the National Pensioners Convention (NPC), sets out minimum standards for the dignified treatment of older people in hospital or the community.

Supporters include the Care Minister Paul Burstow and his Labour shadow Liz Kendall, Dame Jo Williams of the Care Quality commission and Peter Carter, of the Royal College of Nursing.

It urged hospitals, care homes and other institutions to agree a set of common standards of care for the first time to prevent cases of abuse and neglect.

Care workers could eventually have the guidelines written into their contracts.

The public is being asked to sign up to a petition calling for the code to be put in place.

Dot Gibson, general secretary of the NPC, said: “Every week we are struck by another headline which reveals the neglect and ill-treatment of older people either in their own home, a care home or hospital. This has got to stop.

“Much of what the Dignity Code calls for is to treat individuals as human beings rather than as second-class citizens who can have their wishes and feelings ignored and overlooked.

“Providing someone with personal dignity must be a basic requirement in any care setting – and there must be no excuse for denying someone their right to be treated with respect.

“The code should be seen in every GP surgery, social services department, hospital ward and nursing home.

“Individuals and their families should have confidence that certain practices will be unacceptable and that they can demand better treatment.

“This is the first step on the long road to getting 21st century care for Britain’s older patients.”

In a letter, 21 public figures who signed up to the code said that for too long many elderly people had been ignored and denied “the basic right to speak for themselves or make up their own mind”.

In this era of human rights, too many older people have seen their basic human dignity undermined in situations where they are treated as objects rather than people.”

The move follows a series of scandals involving the abuse of the elderly and disabled and comes at a time when funding of elderly care is under unprecedented scrutiny.

Around 400,000 people in England live in care homes while more than two million older people need care in some form.

Earlier this month MPs warned frail elderly people were being “passed like parcels” between different agencies.

The letter continued: “In extreme cases, there have been instances of abuse and neglect, but there are many examples of older people being spoken about as if they were not there, deprived of basic privacy or denied respect for their hygiene or personal appearance.”

The code calls on nurses and carers to obtain consent for treatments and also demands that elderly people be allowed to “speak for themselves” – either directly or through a friend or relation. It also says that older people should be addressed formally, rather than by their first name.

The petition is available to be signed by the public at: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/27050.

The lawyer leading a radical review of police pay is to reconsider controversial severance packages for chief officers following concerns over a potential £200,000 payment to North Yorkshire’s Chief Constable.

Tom Winsor will look again at payments to chiefs who are forced to leave their posts before 30 years of service after it emerged that Grahame Maxwell, who admitted gross misconduct, was in line for compensation.

North Yorkshire Police Authority must make the payment – which is governed by nationally agreed chief officer regulations – after Mr Maxwell leaves the force unless he takes another job in the police service.

Mr Maxwell will have completed 28-and-a-half years when his fixed-term contract ends in May. Last September, the authority refused his request for it to be renewed.

Under current rules, chiefs who are required to leave their posts before they have clocked up 30 years’ service – the maximum pension entitlement – are due a payment to cover 85 per cent of the difference.

Mr Winsor, a former rail regulator commissioned by the Home Office, has already studied the severance terms and recommended last month that they should be kept as they are.

But the Yorkshire Post understands that Policing Minister Nick Herbert will “draw his attention” to the issues again before he finalises the second part of his two-stage review, expected next month.

Any changes are unlikely to be approved before Mr Maxwell leaves the service, but Mr Herbert’s move has been welcomed by Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith, who called for the Chief Constable’s resignation last year.

Mr Smith said: “I am pleased that the Minister has listened to my argument.”

A Home Office spokesman said: “We recognise that there are concerns about this issue. Tom Winsor has said that the system of severance payments would be considered further in the final part of his report into police pay and conditions.”

A CEREMONIAL key used to open a public park for the first time more than 100 years ago may have been found in an antique shop.

The key, which is emblazoned with Hull’s coat of arms and also bears a fish motif, is thought to have been used to open the gates of Pickering Park in 1911.

It was found alongside two other items at a shop in South Cave which have been bought by Hull Council’s civic office for a total of £580.

A report said: “In view of the fish motif also on the key, and the context in which it was found, with a medal commemorating the opening of Pickering Park, it is probable that this is the key used to unlock the gates of Pickering Park in 1911, and which the council knows to have existed from the newspaper reports of the time.

“An alternative provenance could be that it was the ceremonial key for the adjacent Fisheries Museum opened in 1912.”

The medal, which also displays the coat of arms, has the words “Councillor Pearlman, Parks Committee” inscribed around the edge. On the back is an etching believed to be of the park and the words “Pickering Park, Opened 13th July 1911”.

The third item which was bought from Olde English Furniture Antiques and Collectables is a decorative pin with a picture of the ship in the centre. It is inscribed with “Hull Publicity Club” around the edge, “Past President” on the top, and “Alderman Benno Pearlman 1931” on the back.

The report says the three items, which are now on display in the Lord Mayor’s Parlour, were purchased after being brought to the attention of the Lord Mayor, Coun Colin Inglis, by a member of the council.

However, the civic office is seeking reimbursement for its outlay from the Alderman Rupert Alexander Alec-Smith Trust Fund, which was set up to buy objects of historic or artistic interest linked to the city.

The report said: “It has now come to light that it would be more appropriate to have purchased these items using the fund.”

The country’s largest parish church should become a Minster to boost tourism and help regenerate Hull’s Old Town, according to a charity.

The call from City of Hull & Humber Environment Forum follows news that Leeds Parish Church is to reclaim an “ancient title” and become a Minster.

Minsters were popular in Anglo-Saxon England and are seeing a resurgence in popularity with churches in the north of England including Rotherham, Halifax and Grimsby, already designated.

CHEF says the move will help raise the profile of the Old Town - which has struggled since the opening of the St Stephen’s shopping centre - and promote tourism.

The charity says it would also recognise the wide range of architecturally and historic buildings it has to offer - something not always recognised outside the city.

Community Environment Officer Adam Fowler said: “This isn’t just about renaming a building it’s about where the city sees itself going in the future and how the past can help shape the future.

“Holy Trinity Church has been at the centre of the community for over 700 years so this would be a great honour for both for the church and city.

“It would also help to recognise the city as an important tourist and cultural destination - if Leeds can do it, why can’t we?”

Vicar Dr Neal Barnes said: “I attended the first urban Minster conference in Halifax last September and in a sense we tick all the boxes.

“If there is a groundswell of opinion, particularly from the council and other civic bodies, that they want us to seriously look at it, we will.

“I suppose it is a bit of a subtle debate; Holy Trinity is England’s largest parish church and since it is the largest you could argue maybe that it makes sense for us to stay as Holy Trinity parish church.”

Since Dr Barnes became vicar 17 months ago, the church has been on a mission to raise its profile and stem losses, which have been eating into its reserves.

He said the figures hadn’t been audited yet “but it looks like in 2011 although we are still making a loss, it is significantly lower than in 2010.

“We are definitely going in the right direction and that’s encouraging.

“I feel a bit better about it, but we can’t keep our eye off the ball.”

Hull Civic Society is putting in a renewed bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for £40,000 to launch five new city heritage trails, using the 700-year-old church, described by historian Christopher Wilson as one of the greatest of the great medieaval parish churches in England, as one of the main hubs.

Chairman John Netherwood said the Minster idea was “tremendous” adding: “In many ways it is remarkable that it isn’t a Minster already in the same way as Beverley, Howden and Selby.”

The church, which has been a landmark for mariners since medieval times, has gained a much higher profile in the past year.

In April it will be the venue for Hull’s Real Ale and Cider Festival for the first time and will hold a service during the Sea Shanty Festival on July 22. It is also appointing a “pioneer” youth worker to work with students and younger people.

It will once again host a fashion show, as part of Hull Fashion Week in May.

CHANGES to school admissions are being proposed in Bradford to cope with a growing population.

Senior councillors in the city will discuss a report which includes proposals for increased admissions numbers at five primary schools and the expansion of nine primary schools.

Following public discussions, Bradford Council is proposing to change admissions numbers at Ashlands Primary School, in Ilkley, from 45 to 60, Ingrow Primary School, in Keighley, from 30 to 60 and at Wycliffe CE Primary from 30 to 45. Both Ashlands and Ingrow would also need to expand to accommodate these proposed increases and would need to go through a legal process to do this.

St Columba’s Catholic Primary School in Bradford and Idle CE Primary School are also proposing to increase admissions, but because both are Voluntary Aided, they can set their own admissions policies and carry out their own consultations.

Members will also be asked to approve the expansion of nine primary schools, in the second phase of a primary expansion programme. All require building work to accommodate larger pupil numbers.

These schools are: Ashlands Primary, Idle CE Primary, Ingrow Primary, Crossley Hall Primary, Iqra Primary, Ley Top Primary, Princeville Primary, Thackley Primary and Trinity and All Saints Primary in Bingley.

Coun Ralph Berry, member for children’s services, said: “With the district’s growing population we need to ensure that our schools have the capacity to cope. This means a great deal of planning ahead so that places are available when these children reach school age.”

The report, to be presented to the council’s overview and scrutiny committee on Tuesday and its executive in March, includes admissions policies for community and voluntary-controlled primary and secondary schools and co-ordinated admissions schemes for primary and secondary schools.

COMPARED to the issues that fire us up as politicians and campaigners, like reducing poverty and expanding economic opportunities, deficit reduction is perhaps a dry subject.

But it’s precisely because we on the centre left believe that active government along with good schools, hospitals and other public services can transform lives, and make our country fairer and more prosperous, that we must ensure we pass the test of fiscal credibility.

If we don’t get this right, it doesn’t matter what we say about anything else. Sound public finances will always be the indispensable platform for delivering better jobs, better services and a strong, growing economy.

What I want to demonstrate is that being trusted with the nation’s finances, and building a stronger, fairer Britain, are imperatives that are not only compatible; they are also inseparable.

For Labour, fiscal discipline is the absolute precondition for all that we want to achieve across every other area of policy. There are three key elements to our approach:

Targeted action to get the recovery back on track;

Tough decisions to control spending and fill the tax gap;

Reform to entrench fiscal sustainability.

On jobs and growth, our five point plan is a temporary and targeted stimulus to restore confidence, strengthen investment and raise employment – to get the growth we need to bring in the tax revenues and bring down the welfare bill. Some people have asked: how can your solution to the deficit be to borrow more? My answer is: it’s George Osborne that’s borrowing more – £158bn more than he said he would borrow.

But not borrowing to give a boost to businesses and people looking for work. Instead borrowing to fill the gap left by falling tax revenues, and the rising numbers of people out of work.

And because we can’t know now what state the economy or the public finances will be in at the time of the next election, we’ve been clear that we can’t make promises today about reversing cuts or tax rises – and we’ve warned that further tough choices will be needed to clear up Osborne’s mess.

That’s why Ed Miliband and Ed Balls have written to the Shadow Cabinet, and asked me to work with them, on first identifying where waste could be eliminated and substantial savings made; and second, how they would switch spending from lower to higher priority areas.

Labour’s willingness to take decisions based on the right priorities has already been demonstrated in the position we’ve taken on public sector pay.

When workers in the private sector are facing pay restraint, a one per cent average limit on annual increases is necessary to minimise public sector job losses. But we would freeze pay at the top to fund higher increases for those earning below £21,000 – meaning teaching assistants, care workers, and hospital porters would be hundreds of pounds better off under Labour.

Another choice we’ve said we’d make differently is on taxation and tuition fees. Under the Conservative-led government, banks are benefiting from a five per cent cut in corporation tax. Labour thinks that money would be better used bringing down the cap on tuition fees.

These are instructive examples of the care Labour would take, and the difference Labour could make, to ensure the heaviest burden of fiscal consolidation is borne by those with the broadest shoulders, not those already struggling to make ends meet.

And when resources are so constrained, we must also be absolutely ruthless in demanding maximum value for taxpayers’ money –- unlike this Government which seems to care so little about public services that it is shockingly casual and complacent about wasting scarce resources. We’ve uncovered extraordinary examples of questionable spending in Whitehall from £900 spent on cosmetics at the Ministry of Justice to £69,000 spent on music and piano stores by the Ministry of Defence.

We’ve seen a total failure to rein in excessive pay at the very top of the public sector – with serious questions being raised about the level of bonuses and the extent of Ministerially-sanctioned tax avoidance in Whitehall, quangos and other public sector bodies.

As we challenge the Government’s careless complacency, and prepare for the tough choices we would face as an incoming Labour Government, we will subject every line of expenditure to these tough tests:

Protecting the living standards of struggling families;

Prioritising employment, productivity and growth;

A ruthless insistence on value for money;

Ensuring that those who gained most in the good times cannot evade or avoid their responsibility to make a fair contribution.

All these individual decisions need to be taken within a clear fiscal framework. And so, as Ed Balls announced at the Labour Party Conference, we will be committing to new fiscal rules that will get our current budget back to balance.

Labour is ready to complete the job of deficit reduction in the next Parliament.

PARKS bosses have announced plans to close nine bowling greens as part of a cost-cutting scheme which aims to save £1.2m.

Sheffield Council said the closure of the greens would save £74,000 and said those under threat were at clubs where there was currently more than one green.

The authority said it had held talks with the Parks Bowls Association in a bid to ensure bowling clubs in the city were kept in business.

As part of the agreement, the association agreed to a £10 increase in the annual season ticket price to £55.

The association said it had “reluctantly” backed the proposals at a recent special meeting and the changes will be implemented with immediate effect.

The nine greens affected are at Meersbrook, Whiteley Woods, Hillsborough, High Hazels, Norfolk Park, Graves Park, Crookes Valley Park, Hollinsend and Greenhill.

Robert Jackson of the Parks Bowls Association added: “The proposals were a big blow for our sport, but we are relatively pleased with the outcome.

“The council is short of money and so are all the bowlers, but this is a sensible compromise.”

WEALTHY clients are continuing to flock to wealth manager St James’s Place, which reported a 30 per cent increase in 2011 profits yesterday.

Profits jumped from £84.2m in 2010 to £109.7m in 2011, in what it said had been a “record year” for the group.

The company said it will hand back more of the cash generated from its strong sales in 2011 to shareholders, with a one third increase in the annual dividend and plans for a similar hike next year.

The company, majority owned by Lloyds Banking Group, said that a 10 per cent net inflow of funds under management during 2011 helped boost operating profit by 12 per cent to £371.5m.

The company said that despite the stock market volatility seen in the second half of last year, the growth in cash earnings was strong.

As a result the board has decided to increase the full year dividend by 33 per cent.

It said shareholders can expect a “similarly significant increase in the 2012 dividend”.

Shore Capital analyst Eamonn Flanagan said: “This demonstrates the increasingly cash generative nature of the business model.”

Wealth managers cater to affluent clients, who tend to have over £50,000 to invest.

St James’s Place said there are more than seven million people in Britain who fit into this affluent category.

The company is benefiting from an ageing UK population and rising demand for financial services as more people have to make their own pension provision.

St James’s Place said funds under management grew to £29.5bn at the end of January, up £1bn from the end of 2011.

Chief executive David Bellamy said: “While mindful of the difficult economic conditions that persist, we have a good platform for further growth in new business in 2012 and we remain confident of achieving our medium term growth objectives.

“Market conditions were far from helpful. Last year from about August onwards people were getting very nervous about investing in anything.”

Alongside its annual results, the company announced the appointment of former newspaper editor Patience Wheatcroft as an independent non-executive director.

LIBRARIEs which are controversially set to be handed over to community groups as part of council cost-cutting still need volunteers to run them, council bosses admitted yesterday.

Doncaster Council unveiled plans last year to off-load 12 of the borough’s libraries to be run by volunteers, and the scheme is set to begin in the next four weeks.

Yesterday, the authority said “really good progress” had been made with around 200 volunteers coming forward, but appealed for more people to cover the required hours.

A council spokesman said: “If you are interested in giving any amount of your time, whether it’s one hour a month or three hours a week, whatever you can manage, please get in touch.

“The role of the volunteer mainly includes shelving books and tidying the shelves, helping customers with using computers and searching for information.

“Volunteers will also answer enquiries, put books and items onto a library card and reserve stock for customers which is then delivered from other libraries across the borough.”

The council said no specific qualifications were required, but added volunteers will need to have good people skills, to understand confidentiality and be prepared to go undergo basic training.

The spokesman added; “Although there will not be council employed library staff on site, there will be a strong partnership between the council’s library service and the volunteers.

“Each library will still receive new books, have computers and internet facilities, and will still have events and activities for children and adults run by the council’s library staff.”

The 12 libraries to become community managed are Balby, Bawtry, Bessacarr, Edenthorpe, Intake, Moorends, Rossington, Scawthorpe, Sprotbrough, Stainforth, Warmsworth, Wheatley.

Rossington, Stainforth, and Bawtry libraries will be the first to change over.

A SHORTLIST of the best applications made in response to a competition to help regional SMEs go global has been revealed.

The list will be whittled down to a final 10 on Monday via make-or-break auditions.

The overall winner will then be announced in March after a final pitch in front of a live audience of business leaders and an expert judging panel.

The Exporting For Growth initiative is run by UK Trade & Investment in partnership with HSBC and PwC. The overall winner for Yorkshire and the Humber will receive travel grants to global destinations of their choice – an opportunity to develop contacts, build first-person relationships and kickstart expansion in markets where there is a clear demand for their skills, products or services.

Also on offer is access to a range of international resources and research, and dedicated guidance from UKTI, PwC and HSBC.

Shortlisted SMEs include: ProperMaid, Huddersfield; Microlab Devices, Leeds; Innovative Support Systems, Barnsley; Orbis HR, Bradford; Industrial Textiles & Plastics, York; Waterguard Services, Barnsley; Brenmoor, Cross Hills, Craven; Environmental Defence Systems, Huddersfield; Simplytrak, Brough; Tomorrow Options Microelectronics, Sheffield; Bowness & Bowness, York; Doll Haircare, Leeds; Applelec Sign Components, Bradford; and Galglass, Barnsley.

Mark Robson, UKTI international trade director for Yorkshire and Humber, said: “The calibre of the submissions we’ve received has been hugely impressive, with a glut of truly innovative products, services and ideas that all deserve international recognition and success.

“It demonstrates once again that Yorkshire SMEs truly have the potential to stand out from the crowd in their respective markets.”

The competition attracted more than 40 applications from across Yorkshire and the Humber. Monday’s audition event takes place at the HSBC conference centre in Huddersfield.

YOU may think I am going off my rocker – assuming you had not already reached that conclusion – but I really do worry about our political leaders.

I think I worry least about Ed Miliband. He has had such a lousy start that things can only get better. He may surprise us all, though I doubt it.

He has nonetheless made progress, thanks largely to Europe, NHS reform and a dip in David Cameron’s Parliamentary form. He is not to be written off. Time is now on his side.

This would be an encouraging assessment if he were consistently making hay out of the coalition’s economic travails and its regular disarray. Sadly, he isn’t, which is not good for the governance of this country. To repeat myself, every decent government needs a strong, harassing opposition.

It is the coalition’s disarray that causes me to fret about Nick Clegg. Let me be clear: I hold no candle for the Lib Dem leader. Instead, my interest in him is that of a curiosity.

Here is a man whose entire political being is governed by two objectives: to maintain apparent support for the Government’s debt reduction strategy while at the same time differentiating his party from the Conservatives with an eye on the next election.

At the best of times, this would be an interesting balancing act but it becomes positively curious when most of the differentiation flies in the face of public sentiment, recently over Europe and a benefit cap of £26,000.

Generally speaking, the past 22 months have shown that Clegg is in coalition with the wrong party. He would be much happier having a slice of the action with Labour rather than the Tories, who are finding their Lib Dem allies increasingly frustrating.

Perhaps he sees a future in a permanently hung Parliament from which he picks his coalition partner. He cannot count on that but what else is there left for Lib Dems to dream about?

Which brings me to Cameron, who worries me most. I don’t have much time for peacetime coalitions. One consequence of our present one is that we are cutting debt too slowly and thereby prolonging the agony. This raises the question as to who is being damaged more by the coalition – Cameron or Clegg.

The truth is that in many ways No 10 has been good for Cameron. He looks authoritatively Prime Ministerial in a slightly well-fed, schoolboyish way – or am I getting old? He has a good presence and speaking voice and handles the world he meets in a vigorous, positive way.

He mostly gets it right, except when he comes over all matey and resorts to such advertising slogans as “Calm down, dear”, though I must say, being politically incorrect, that offended me not at all.

But – and this is a big but – he has never been able in coalition to develop a clear, consistent Conservative or popularly Eurosceptic line. He has to spend too much time keeping the peace. Since he cannot easily sack a Lib Dem, he has to pick and choose where to insist.

Evidently, he does not think preventing Vincent Cable from appointing a previously anonymous academic with silly ideas from becoming the nation’s university “fair access tsar” is worth a row.

He may be right, especially if nobody takes a blind bit of notice of Professor Les Ebdon, but it does not go down well with the Tory rank and file.

This is the problem. Coalition is preventing Cameron from becoming his own man. Put another way, it is tending to confirm among his natural supporters that he governs by jumping from one issue to the next, pledging solutions he cannot deliver, without any really strong feelings about anything. A surface skimmer.

Some Tories say it is too clever by half. Ed Miliband dismisses it as all presentation and no substance.

My worry about all this is that Cameron may have been just the man we needed in May 2010 when, as a nation, we fluffed it at the polls. But, in doing his national duty, he may well be diminished by it. That would be a pity, given his manifest gifts, which put him head and shoulders above his contemporaries.

If I were handling him, I would be calling for less style and more weight and depth.

I never had that problem with Margaret Thatcher. This is perhaps why I worry that Cameron will come to be seen as just a PR chappie.

A fate worse than death.

SHEFFIELD is planning to launch a £30m investment fund to kickstart economic development schemes in the city and surrounding region.

The city council plans to borrow against some of its property assets to help pay for infrastructure improvements, which it hopes will encourage more private sector investment.

John Mothersole, chief executive, met with Cities Minister Greg Clark yesterday to discuss the ambitious scheme.

Mr Mothersole told the Yorkshire Post: “My message was that Sheffield city region actually has strong demand for growth.

“We don’t need to stimulate growth – what we need to do is invest to make it happen.

“There is a chance for bigger, better, faster growth now. The country needs it. That’s what we can offer.”

He gave the example of the Lower Don Valley, where he said development is being held back because more investment in road infrastructure is needed.

“In a buoyant market, the private sector would invest in that. But the market is not sufficiently buoyant,” he said.

The Sheffield fund investment would bring land forward for development, create jobs and increase land values, he added.

Mr Mothersole said: “What the council will be wanting to do is to unlock potential where the money can be paid back once the success is achieved.

“In buoyant markets, the banks are sufficiently confident to invest in that.

“At the moment, across the whole country, bank finance is hard to find but there are still a lot of schemes that need to be brought forward.

“Sheffield, like many Northern cities, has viable schemes but they are not fundable at the moment.

“This is about breaking that log-jam. This is not about grants; this is about investment to keep Sheffield economy going forward.”

A new council report said the fund would “use the city’s asset base more effectively to deliver sustainable economic growth and increased prosperity for Sheffield, engaging the private sector more widely”.

Mr Mothersole said the council would not “underpin” the fund with core assets like schools, libraries or elderly care centres.

Instead, he said the council would use non-core assets as “internal security” to raise money.

He was in London yesterday to press for Sheffield to win more powers from Whitehall under the Government’s new ‘City Deals’ initiative.

The city wants more power over training cash to help close the skills gap, greater control over its transport system, support for technological innovation and backing to develop Rotherham’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre.

Coun Bryan Lodge, deputy council leader, said: “We believe in innovation and forward thinking and that is why the council is taking steps to create a fund to invest in economic growth.”

@bernardginns

THE Lord Mayor of Leeds will pay a short visit to Sri Lanka to formally hand over a children’s centre paid for by donations from people in the city following the tsunami in 2004.

The Building Hope charity, administered by Leeds City Council, has announced the completion of its children’s centre in Colombo and said the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Coun Rev Alan Taylor, will pay a short visit to Sri Lanka at the end of February to hand the centre over to Colombo Council.

It will be a permanent testament to the generosity of the people of Leeds, who rallied round to give what they could to help in the wake of the overwhelming loss of human life and appalling destruction caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.

The Building Hope Children’s Centre, in the district of Kirulapone, will provide valuable support to families.

It will include a nursery, library, under-5s playroom, a computer suite, a kitchen, counselling and training areas. There will be a particular focus on nutrition, with lessons for parents and mothers’ health support sessions.

The Sri Lankan capital suffered badly in the earthquake and the subsequent massive sea surge, which sent waves of up to 100ft surging into 14 countries, claiming more than 230,000 lives.

The appeal raised £146,000 in public donations and the local authority gave £100,000 to the project.

The Honourable AJM Muzammil, Mayor of Colombo, said yesterday: “I am truly grateful and hope we can help each other to enhance our cities and further strengthen our sister city ties between Colombo and Leeds.”

The Government has been condemned for not calling in a controversial scheme for a multi-million pound supermarket development in Scarborough as concerns mount that the resort’s independent traders will be decimated.

Plans for a new Tesco superstore in the town took a major leap forward this week as the Secretary of State Eric Pickles revealed the application for a new 65,000 sq ft outlet on Dean Road would not be called-in.

But Scarborough Town Against Tesco Store (STATS) said Mr Pickles had made the wrong decision and has vowed to “fight to the end” in a final battle against the development.

The group’s chairman, Malcolm Short, said: “We are condemning this decision. We believe the Government has got it wrong and I don’t think they have looked at it properly. I don’t think they have considered the impact it will have on the town and on the people that live in the area.”

Scarborough Borough Council rubber-stamped the scheme in December, along with plans which will see the existing Sainsbury’s store in Falsgrave Road expanded by 33,900 sq ft.

However, the application had to be referred to the Secretary of State due to the size of the store, the fact the site was not within the town centre and also because the proposal was a departure from the Local Plan - the council’s planning blueprint for the town.

But on Tuesday it was confirmed it did not need to be examined further as “the proposals do not involve a conflict with national policies on important matters nor have significant effects beyond their immediate locality, give rise to substantial regional or national controversy, or raise significant architectural and urban design issues”.

Pauline Elliott, the council’s head of planning and regeneration, said the council was pleased with the decision. “Although we understand that the decision remains unsupported in some quarters, this communication from central government demonstrates that the council as planning authority has acted correctly in following the proper planning procedures to reach the present stage.”

The application will be determined at local level by the borough council, which can now issue a decision notice.

However, another obstacle still has to be over come by the supermarket giant before it can start building the development. Tesco must now apply for permission to close a major link road, which is used by around 3,000 cars a day.

This decision could also be called-in by Mr Pickles and campaigners have pledged to mount pressure on the Secretary to stop the road closure in a desperate attempt to stop the development going ahead.

Mr Short said: “We are now doing everything we can to stop the closure of Trafalgar Street West. We have swerved our tactics and we are now collecting as many letters of objection as we can. We have already got 3,000 and we will be gathering more this weekend. These will be hand-delivered to the Secretary of State. We have always said we will fight to the end. This is now the final battle and we are going to give it all we can.”

Central ward councillor Eric Broadbent has also voiced staunch objections to the store, claiming the scheme would wipe out independent retailers and dramatically change the town’s shopping centre.

He said: “I’m disappointed with the Government’s decision. I have read reports that where a large supermarket is based, the first casualty is small businesses. The proof will be in the pudding when it actually happens - assuming it will - what the effect will be on the town centre. When both supermarket developments are completed, it’s very likely Scarborough town centre could become a ghost town.”

Both supermarket giants claim the new developments will boost jobs and help tackle long-term unemployment in the towns.

Matthew Magee, corporate affairs manager for Tesco, said: “We’re looking forward to creating new jobs and a better shopping experience in Scarborough.”

COMPANIES with growth potential that want to raise investment can take advantage of Connect Yorkshire’s Investment Readiness Programme, a series of six free-of-charge workshops.

The workshops are delivered by experienced professionals across the legal, financial, intellectual property and marketing sectors and run over a six-week period, comprising early morning and evening events, with the first starting on March 5, running until April 25.

Organisations involved in helping Connect Yorkshire deliver the programme include Garbutt and Elliott, PKF Corporate Finance, 3volution LLP, Clarion Solicitors, Knowles Warwick Accountants and Ward Hadaway Solicitors.

Connect Yorkshire is a not-for-profit organisation which has helped over 300 high-growth local companies raise £45m over the last decade.

Companies wishing to join the programme can find out more from.connectyorkshire.org or by calling 0113 384 5640.

A COOKERY school set up by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has won £80,000 to help continue its work from a charity which aims to help former coalfield communities.

Rotherham’s Ministry of Food has been given the cash from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT) to help 480 people to increase their cooking skills over the next 12 months.

The funding will provide cooking courses in the community and at the town centre shop, and staff said they would be “working closely” with local groups to find people who need support.

Ministry of Food managers said the cash would also support the recruitment of 30 volunteers, which aim to give people the chance to explore if a job in catering is of interest to them.

Spokesman Lisa Taylor said: “We are really pleased to have gained funding from CRT, this funding allows us to help more families and groups to cook fresh foods.

“We see people grow from being people who find cooking scary and difficult at the beginning to those who enjoy cooking and are proud of what they have achieved at the end of the 10-week course.

“The additional funding will also allow us to safeguard jobs, and develop volunteering opportunities for people who are interested in catering and teaching jobs”.

Joanna Saunders from NHS Rotherham, which is backing the scheme, said: “This is a great opportunity for people to gain confidence in their cooking skills and then enjoy cooking healthy meals from fresh foods at home”.

Anyone wishing to find out more about the courses, should call the Ministry of Food which is in Rotehrham town centre, on 01709 365944.

So says one of them, the West Hull and Hessle MP Alan Johnson, as he puts into perspective how significant the burgeoning renewables sector will be for a city which has lacked a core industry since its fishing fleet was decommissioned after the 1970s Cod Wars.

Hull’s elected representatives have been cautious in celebrating the decision by German giant Siemens to locate a factory manufacturing offshore wind turbines on Hull’s dockside.

The caution is understandable. As Mr Johnson says, the city has seen many false economic dawns, but he is in no doubt that this is the real deal. “For once, the politicians are underplaying this. It’s astounding what it will do for this area,” says the MP who compares the impact as “like oil to Aberdeen”.

The Siemens facility will bring 700 new jobs. Many thousands more will come in the supply chain and from other green energy investments along the Humber estuary.

Why the Humber? The key is location. It is just 12 hours “steaming time” to three huge North Sea wind farms where 5,000 turbines will be erected in what has been described as the biggest civil engineering project in the world. It will be a game-changer for an area with high levels of unemployment and reeling from the likely loss of 850 skilled manufacturing jobs at BAE Systems in Brough.

But, while the Humber bids to become the UK’s renewable energy capital, there is a challenge to ensure the resulting jobs and wealth stay in the region.

Offshore wind energy is in its infancy in the UK. On the continent there are established supply chains keen to profit as the industry develops in Britain, as companies heard at a conference, Offshore Wind: A Guide for Businesses, that was staged by industry body Renewables Network and specialist PR and marketing company Footprint Renewables. Some local businesses have already grabbed a slice of the action, notably MMS, based in Hull, which will build and operate a fleet of vessels to transfer technicians and equipment to the turbine fields. Others need to get up to speed – and fast.

Renewables Network business development director Sam Pick says Siemens will be “the magnet that drags the rest of the industry on” and says local firms need to find their place in the supply chain.

“Think about who you are going to send your invoice to – that’s where you target your products and services,” he urges. Mr Pick says the big reward for the region is long-term careers, not just jobs. “People can get into these careers and grow with the industry.”

Another speaker, Eric Collis, of the Humberside Engineering Training Association (HETA), said a rapidly-evolving industry required a workforce who could learn and relearn skills. They’ll be well paid, though. He quoted £52,000 as the going rate salary for a technician working offshore.

He also predicted fierce competition for contracts. “It will be like the Klondike. Competition will come in like seagulls,” said Mr Collis. “You’re no longer competing with the guy around the corner. You’re competing with the rest of the world and they’re hungry for the work too.”

Capacity to grow and access to funding were vital, said John Britton of Hull-based consultancy BCG Bridgepoint. He said the UK offshore wind industry would be four times bigger in 2016 than in 2010. By 2030, it is predicted to be eight times larger than in 2016. Tracking that exponential growth would see a SME with turnover of £300,000 today become a £10m business, he explained.

Rob Bell, of skills and logistics consultancy Archomai, highlighted a key difference from the Aberdeen experience: “North Sea oil made money; North Sea wind costs money.”

The industry’s subsidies meant pressure to reduce supply chain costs by 30 per cent to ease the taxpayer burden. “We’ve got to understand that this is not shopping at Harrods, it’s shopping at Lidl,” he cautioned. Suppliers would profit by driving down the industry’s costs, he said.

Logistics and supply chain expert Professor Chee Wong, from the University of Hull, said another challenge was compliance with a host of accreditations demanded by the likes of Siemens. The university is one of many organisations focused on developing a local skilled workforce equipped for the new opportunities.

Humber firms will also need to find and forge alliances or joint ventures, such as the British and Danish ownership of Alpha Energy, a company based in Hull supplying contract workers to the onshore and offshore wind industries. “You’ve got to put the air miles in,” says Director Bruce Marbrow.

And now is the time to act, says Mr Pick. He’s tired of hearing talk of “if” offshore wind will take off. “It’s not an if,” he says. “We need to be moving right now. This may be new here, but not in Denmark and Germany and companies here will be competing with existing suppliers there.”

HUNDREDS of school pupils have been given an insight into what the night skies would have looked like before the constellations became shrouded from view.

Children from Cundall Manor School in North Yorkshire were able to see an interstellar panorama which is no longer seen because of light pollution by using a planetarium that projects the night skies – and beyond - onto its giant dome.

The group of 400 students included Courtney Painter and Thomas Kayll, both 15, who are studying for a GCSE in astronomy, which has just been introduced at the independent school.

The head of science, Graham Smith, claimed the planetarium had led to an “overwhelming reaction” and created a desire among many of the pupils to sign up for the new astronomy course.

He said: “It was very inspiring and really helped even the young children understand our solar system and also Earth’s role within the cosmos – which gives great perspective and increases their understanding of what we are and where we are in the scheme of things and promotes the need to care for our planet.”

Ex-primary teacher Richard Lake runs the Polestar Planetarium, which he claimed helps astronomy “come alive” for children.

email paul.jeeves@ypn.co.uk

POLITICAL heavyweight Ed Balls is the star guest at the next meeting of the Yorkshire Post Business Club, writes Bernard Ginns.

The Shadow Chancellor will meet with Yorkshire business leaders next Friday and tell them about his plans to kickstart growth in the UK economy.

The Business Club is an influential forum for company chairmen, chief executive, owner managers and top advisers to debate the leading issues of the day.

The issue of growth, and where it is going to come from, is top of the agenda for most executives, particularly in Yorkshire, which has been exposed to public sector spending.

Mr Balls, a former close aide to Gordon Brown while Chancellor and Prime Minister, has been calling for “decisive action” to boost economic activity.

He wants to see VAT and income tax cuts, a rise in personal allowances and higher tax credits.

Mr Balls will deliver a speech and then take questions at next Friday’s event, which takes place at DLA Piper in Leeds.

GEORGE Osborne is being urged to consider introducing a tax break for married couples to help address the “unfairness” of plans to cut child benefit from higher rate tax payers.

The Chancellor is coming under mounting pressure from Tory MPs to alter the plans, which are due to come into force next year and have been criticised for allowing a couple earning £80,000 to keep their child benefit while a single income household earning £45,000 would lose theirs.

York Outer MP Julian Sturdy is pressing the Chancellor to adopt the controversial transferable tax allowance, which was pledged in the Tory manifesto, to reduce the impact of the changes on married couples where only one person works.

“If we’re going to move down the route of capping child benefit at a certain level, my concern is there’s a lack of fairness,” he said.

“I think transferable tax allowances is something the Conservative party was talking about before the election and would bring a level of fairness back into the system as well as supporting marriage.”

With the budget weeks away, Mr Osborne is coming under renewed pressure to re-think the child benefit plans which he announced in 2010 as part of the coalition’s package of austerity measures.

This week Tory MP Christopher Chope branded the plans to means test the benefit – worth £20.30 a week for the first child and £13.40 for any more – as “absurd and ludicrous”. The move – which will deny benefit to any family where one parent is earning over £42,725 a year – is designed to save £2.5bn a year while still protecting poor families.

Mr Chope claimed the withdrawal would punish hard-working families and abandon the “dearly and long-held principle that we should have a universal benefit for families with children”.

Other Tory MPs harbour concerns about the plans because they would strip the benefit from a single income household earning just over the threshold but not from a two-income household where each earns just under the higher rate tax band.

A better-than-expected budget surplus in January has raised hopes the Chancellor may be able to address the issue in the budget.

Exchequer Secretary David Gauke said it was “right and fair” for ministers to “support hard-working families” and admitted child benefit was “a vital and substantial income boost”.

But he added: “It is vital we ensure all parts of society contribute to tackling the economic legacy this Government has inherited.”

OPPONENTS to the planned new waste facility at Manvers, in the Dearne Valley, can now raise their objections with the Environment Agency.

Shanks Waste Management Limited today submitted an environmental permit application for the proposed Bolton Road waste treatment to the agency.

The company will need to gain the permit from the Environment Agency before it is allowed to commence operations at the new plant, which will recycle black bag waste from households in Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham - leaving just 1.5 per cent of rubbish to go to landfill.

In April last year Shanks Waste Solutions and Scottish and Southern Energy, which together formed the company 3SE, were selected as the preferred developers for the multi-million pound waste facility.

A spokesman for the Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham (BDR) Waste Partnership said: “The environmental permit is a permission that Shanks must obtain from the Environment Agency before operating the facility, to demonstrate it has a clear management and procedural programme for ensuring that it will operate to required standards. 

“A period of 20 working days is allowed for interested parties to comment on the application prior the Environment Agency determining the permit.”

The 3SE firm plans to build a Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) plant and an Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plant on the Bolton Road site, which could open in the spring of 2015.

It would process an expected 200,000 tons of household waste each year and first remove materials that can be reused or recycled - such as metals, glass, plastics and compost.

Remaining waste would be “biodried” and turned into fuel to be burned at the Ferrybridge power station, near Knottingley, in a process which could provide enough energy to power 36,000 homes.

The scheme will create more than 40 jobs at Manvers and a further 25 at Ferrybridge.

Thus far, 3SE’s plans have met with some criticism from locals, with only a fifth of people who responded to a public consultation on the development saying they were in favour of it.

In July last year, the company held three separate public exhibitions in Doncaster, Barnsley and Rotherham during which members of the public could view and comment on its proposals.

A total of 18,499 newsletters were also hand-delivered to households and businesses in the area.

However, only 129 people attended the public exhibitions and just 34 people – two per cent of the total number polled – responded to the consultation.

Of those 34 respondents, just seven people said the waste site would be a “good facility” and the other 27 raised concerns on a variety of issues, mostly traffic.

A planning application for the plant, which is supported by more than £77m of private finance initiative funding, was submitted to Rotherham Council in November last year but has still not yet been determined.

Prior to being considered by the authority’s planning board, the application is being scrutinised by a number of organisations including Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster councils.

Meanwhile, a Barnsley waste and recycling firm which recycles some of Britain’s biggest pieces of electrical kit has just completed a £4m expansion.

C Soar and Sons is the country’s largest specialist in dismantling, recycling and disposing of redundant equipment such as transformers and generators.

New investment at the company’s base in Tank Row, Stairfoot, has created 10 jobs as well as a revamped site with new offices, training rooms and a testing laboratory.

Operations manager Dale Evans said: “We hope that our recent investment will help us to become recognised as the centre of expertise in the disposal of power transformers.”

FIVE years ago Claire Lomas lay paralysed from the chest down and suffering from pneumonia at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham. She had been airlifted from the Osberton horse trials after a freak accident, in which her horse Rolled Oats had clipped his shoulder on a tree as the pair made their way around the cross-country course in the three-day event.

Claire, then 27, was thrown to the ground, breaking her back. She knew she’d done something serious – an injury worse than the broken pelvis and ribs she had suffered in another fall three years earlier. She was in intensive care and when the doctors told her it was unlikely she would ever walk again, she responded with: “You don’t know who you’re dealing with.”

A few years later, the former chiropractor is up out of her chair and training for the London Marathon, the first person in the UK to be fitted with a robotic ‘suit’ or ‘skeleton’, which means she can stand upright and walk. Eventually she will even be able to use it to climb stairs. She travels to train with this revolutionary system every week to Cyclone Technologies at Ottringham near Hull, a company which specialises in hi-tech customised wheelchairs and other equipment for people who have suffered paralysis.

While Claire carries the eight-hour power pack and computer control equiment on her back, the four motors strapped to her hips, knees and ankles do the walking for her, moving first one leg then the other and placing her feet as she tilts forward and shifts her crutches. Motion sensors around her waist and on the soles of her feet detect changes in balance.

The Rewalk system can’t cure her paralysis, but it means that she can lead a much fuller life and take part in the London Marathon on April 17, which she will be walking in aid of spinal research. Four-star equestrian events like Burghley Horse Trials, which had competed at for the first time not long before her accident, are off the cards but Claire says her thirst for a challenge is unquenched.

Five weeks into training twice a week with this cutting-edge technology developed in Israel, Claire’s becoming well accustomed to the system and likens it to Wallace and Gromit’s ‘wrong trousers’. She is able to cross a large room unaided, once she gets into her stride. As she completes one lap of the room she refuses to sit down, but swivels and heads off towards the opposite wall, her balance and gait closely observed by former Army fitness instructor Les Tobbell, engineer Ian Cornwall and physiotherapist Matt White. She is absolutely determined to complete the 26 miles, however long it takes. The Rewalk system can operate at 3km an hour, but no-one knows yet what distance Claire will be capable of in one session, and she could be on the road for two to three weeks.

“It’s hard work and exhausting and I’m not having a particularly good day today,” she says. “But hopefully tomorrow I’ll be better and get on faster. It can be very frustrating when you’re used to being good at physical challenges. I have never accepted that I wouldn’t walk again, so even before this I tried to keep as fit as possible.”

Claire was moved for rehabilitation in the spinal injuries unit at Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital, but found the regime frustratingly slow. After eight week she discharged herself to her parents’ home in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire and took control of her own rehabilitation, starting with a week of intensive work with a physiotherapist at the Project Walk Centre in California, before returning to a daily programme of exercise.

She was anxious to stop her leg muscles from wasting and, with the help of family, friends and a great number of people in the equestrian world, was able to install a special treadmill with a hoist and harness above to hold her in place in a frame as her legs are put through exercises. She also has a special exercise bike developed by the Christopher Reeve Foundation in California, which involves standing upright in a frame while electrical pads on her legs stimulate her muscles to move the pedals.

The same kind people (including a donation of £10k from the foundation set up by Matt Hampson, the former English rugby union prop who was paralysed by a scrum accident in 2005) have helped to raise £43,000 so that Claire will soon have her own custom-built version of the Rewalk system to take home. The equipment she’s currently using is adjustable to the needs of different users, and hundreds of people around the UK who have been paralysed are queueing up to travel to East Yorkshire to learn how to use it and potentially buy their own ‘bionic’ system.

The system Claire is currently using at Cyclone Technologies is the only robotic suit to be used commercially in the world. CT have the sole UK and Eire licence for the equipment and expect that demand will see their current £1.5m turnover double. They’re planning to offer future customers training courses at Ottringham with live-in accommodation provided nearby.

While Claire sweats it out, grappling with mastery of her robotic external skeleton, she’s watched closely by her mother Joyce – herself a former top-level equestrian – and Claire’s lively one-year-old daughter Maisie. “I know I seem a very ‘up’ and optimistic person,” says Claire, “but there have been really difficult, depressing days. Yet I’ve never felt down since I had Maisie – she just completes our lives.”

At the time of the accident Claire had been with the same boyfriend for a long time. “But I sensed afterwards that he only stayed with me out of pity and that actually made my life very difficult, so I ended it. About six weeks after that I said to myself ‘I wonder is there anyone out there who is willing to take on a woman in a wheelchair?’ I signed up with an online dating agency and in a couple of days Dan Spincer, who’s a research scientist, replied. He seemed to like me being outgoing and that I had skydived and had had flying lessons. He has a pilot’s licence. Ten months later we were married, after he proposed while we were on a skiing holiday.”

Claire took up skiing after her accident, and made such staggering progress that she was invited to join a development squad for the national paralympic squad. But by then she was pregnant.

“I had spent a while in my chair feeling ugly and unwanted, wondering if I would have a love life again. You want to feel attractive, like any youngish woman. I am extremly lucky. I do believe that you can experience a stroke of luck but you can also make your own luck, and I signed up with the dating agency – even though I was fully expecting that no-one would be interested.”

The word “lucky” crops up a lot in conversation with Claire Lomas. “There are so many people much worse off than me. In the spinal unit I saw a lot of people with many more problems. Spinal research is making improvements all the time and giving people hope, but the scientists can’t get there unless those who can raise money get out there and do it. I don’t care how long it takes – I will finish that marathon.”

To sponsor Claire go to www.get-claire-walking.co.uk

sheena.hastings@ypn.co.uk

BUSINESSES are invited to find out more about doing business in Dubai at World Trade Centre Hull & Humber today.

Fayha Sultan, marketing manager for the Government of Dubai’s tourism, commerce and marketing department, will be speaking about the business opportunities for Yorkshire companies in Dubai at the event, which runs between midday and 3pm.

The presentation is part of a series of seminars, chaired by the Government of Dubai, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) around the UK.

Ian Scott, UK and Ireland director for the Government of Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said: “Dubai is committed to retaining its position as one of the world’s leading business destinations with a diverse offering of unparalleled facilities and amenities for companies both large and small.”

He added: “The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing has introduced these seminars with a view to educating members of trade organisations around the UK about Dubai’s unique offering to enterprise and explaining how to go about setting up in the emirate to further stimulate growth in the region and expand UK businesses.”

A study by fDi magazine named Dubai as the ‘Middle East city of the Future 2010/11’. The event is free of charge. Anyone interested in attending is asked to pre-book by calling Ian Archibald at World Trade Centre Hull & Humber on 01482 485202 this morning.

SET top box maker Pace has signed a deal with TiVo, the digital video recorder specialist, to use TiVo’s award-winning software in Pace’s set-top boxes and gateways.

TiVo said the deal will enable operators around the world to use TiVo’s software in a selection of Pace devices.

Tom Rogers, chief executive of TiVo, said: “This global partnership with Pace is another step in achieving our constant goal of providing the TiVo service to an ever-expanding audience.”

Mike Pulli, chief executive of Pace, said: “We are thrilled to be working with TiVo as they have a great solution for operators looking to answer their customers’ increased demand for advanced and hybrid TV capabili- ties.

“We have seen increased interest from all segments of our service provider business to integrate the TiVo solution.”

POLITICIANS have issued a chorus of disapproval against contentious plans to relocate key NHS services from a hospital in North Yorkshire’s county town.

Members of Hambleton District Council voted unanimously to support a motion moved by the authority’s leader, Coun Neville Huxtable, to oppose the proposed shake-up of services at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton.

It was announced last month that inpatient paediatric care and a full maternity service could be axed at the hospital.

The proposals drawn up following a review would mean the majority of women would travel to Middlesbrough, Harrogate, York or Darlington to give birth - although uncertainty remains over the future of Darlington’s services.

The motion was backed during a full council meeting on Tuesday and claimed Hambleton’s residents are entitled to receive “medical care of the highest quality at a centre of excellence as close to their home as possible”. It also stated the rural nature of the district requires clinically-led maternity facilities to remain at the hospital as part of a “local hospital with a long-term future”.

The Yorkshire Post revealed yesterday that a protest rally will take place in Northallerton on May 5 and it is expected to attract over 3,000 people. But senior NHS officials maintained that keeping the status quo is not an option amid a need to streamline services. More than 1,250 babies were born in 2010-11 at the Friarage Hospital, making it the smallest maternity unit in the country. Leading specialists are warning it is unsustainable to maintain full paediatric services at the hospital which will have a knock-on impact on maternity care.

The review is being led by the Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which is made up of local GPs. One of the GPs and the CCG’s and shadow accountable officer, Dr Vicky Pleydell, stressed there is a need for a “real, open and honest discussion”.

She added: “We completely understand the local strength of feeling on this issue. As a group of GPs we are fully committed to the future of the Friarage Hospital and maintaining the fullest possible range of services there.”

More information is available online at www.nyypct.nhs.uk/friarage

email paul.jeeves@ypn.co.uk

What are the prospects for the property sector in Yorkshire and the Humber?

It will be a difficult market again in 2012 but there will be some specific opportunities particularly from pre-lettings, driven by occupiers with lease expiries.

What is the best project you have been involved in?

In recent years it has been the Advanced Manufacturing Park where my client is Harworth Estates. What goes on there is absolutely mind-blowing and you don’t need to be an engineer to appreciate just how important that sector is to the UK economy.

If I can have another choice I would say, historically, it was Princess Exchange, home of DLA, next to Leeds City Station. The scheme included the refurbishment of the derelict north concourse and now presents Leeds with a true gateway for people travelling into the city by rail.

What is your favourite building in the region and why?

I know it’s a slightly unusual choice, but the Emley Moor transmitter mast, because of its iconic design. You can mention it to almost anyone even if they are not from the area and they will know it.

If you could change one thing to improve the property industry in the region what would it be?

Greater availability of funding for the commercial property sector, particularly in terms of development and refurbishment activity, but also to allow investment by local businesses, which in turn will benefit the property sector.

Whom do you most admire in the property industry?

Kevin McCabe, chairman of the Scarborough Group and Sheffield United. He has demonstrated impeccable timing, in terms of predicting the ups and downs of the property cycle. He was also very early to recognise the potential of the Chinese and Asian economies.

WEALTHY individuals are being sought to invest up to £2m in a company that sheds light on one of Yorkshire’s best-known markets.

Loxa, which is based in Guiseley, near Leeds, wants to raise the cash to create jobs in Yorkshire.

The company, which was founded in April last year, designs and distributes low energy LED lamps.

Loxa recently secured a contract from Leeds City Council to provide lighting for Kirkgate Market, which dates from Edwardian times and is famous for its ornamental dragons.

Cedric Bainbridge, the majority shareholder in Loxa, said the planned fundraising was partly being driven by a lack of bank funding.

He said yesterday: “The target investor will be earning £100,000 a year plus.

“Our idea is to have a few high net worth individuals who will invest in the business.

“The business launched in April 2011 and by December we were suffering from over-demand.

“We have got five staff and £1m turnover. We could turn over twice as much immediately and 10 times as much within two years.”

With extra investment, the company could create up to 10 jobs internally and many more in the local supply chain, Mr Bainbridge said.

He added: “Ninety per cent of our goods are manufactured in China.

“We would like to bring the ‘metal bashing’ side of the business back to Britain.

“We want to develop a UK supply chain – the knock-on effect on metal manufacturing companies would be substantial.”

The company is looking to develop UK production for casings and fittings for its lighting products.

However, local investment is needed to bring these plans to fruition.

According to Mr Bainbridge, who has put around £500,000 into the business, investors can expect to see healthy tax-free returns, over three years as the fundraising is being run as an Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS).

EIS is designed to help smaller higher-risk trading companies raise finance by offering a range of tax reliefs to investors who buy new shares in those compan- ies.

Mr Bainbridge is a management accountant who has more than 20 years experience of working with SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises).

In many cases, he has worked with companies that were too small to have their own finance director.

He added: “It’s important to stress that this is a private offer and there are no plans for a flotation.”

Loxa already supplies major national wholesalers, including CEF, Rexel and Edmundson Electrical, but it has the potential to achieve much greater market penetra-tion.

Loxa has set up a new, satellite company, LX Lighting Distributors, which will act as authorised importers of Loxa low energy commercial lighting products.

Lx Lighting Distributors’ sole activity will be the purchase of stocks for resale to Loxa.

LX Lighting Distributors is offering an initial share issue to raise up to 2m ordinary £1 shares, which will make up all the share capital in the company, in blocks of no less than 10,000 shares.

Further information can be found at www.loxa.co.uk

greg.wright@ypn.co.uk

WEALTH advice business Towry has lost a legal battle with Raymond James Investment Services and seven of its advisers over alleged breaches of restrictive covenants.

As well as defending its own case, Raymond James has supported the advisers involved since they joined the firm from Towry.

The advisers included James Chandler, who is the principal at Raymond James’ Investment Services office in Hessle, East Yorkshire. Peter Moores, the chief executive at Raymond James, said: “We are very pleased that the judgment handed down today dismissed the case against Raymond James and the seven advisers affiliated to us.

“The judgment confirms that the advisers did not breach their restrictive covenants, that there was no misuse of confidential information and there was no conspiracy to injure Towry.

“Raymond James is scrupulous in our recruitment process and in providing guidance to wealth managers looking to leave their present employers to join Raymond James where they can build their own client book.”

Mrs Justice Cox DBE in her judgment noted: “Having regard to the whole evidence in this case, the allegations against Raymond James do not withstand scrutiny.”

Andrew Fisher, the chief executive of Towry, said: “We are obviously disappointed that the Court did not find in our fa-vour.

“We did not undertake this action lightly but to protect our legitimate business interests for our clients and shareholders. The judgment does support the efforts of professional services firms like ours, to protect their legitimate business interests, through contractual non-solicitation, non-dealing and confidentiality clauses.

“The contracts of the former Edward Jones employees were materially different to our standard Towry contracts in that they did not contain a ‘non-dealing’ clause and we are confident that our current Towry contracts afford us appropriate commercial protection.”

greg.wright@ypn.co.uk

A PIONEERING project to create a free wi-fi internet zone in the heart of York is due to be extended across the city centre.

The trials to provide free internet access in the city centre have been heralded as a major success after attracting more than a million internet hits.

The pilot scheme was launched in November last year, and York Council confirmed yesterday that it is now looking to extend the free wi-fi coverage within the area contained in the city’s medieval walls.

There has always been an aspiration to make the wi-fi pilot a permanent scheme, although yesterday’s announcement is the clearest indication yet as to the success of the trials.

The council’s cabinet member for corporate services, Coun Julie Gunnell, has urged businesses, residents or visitors to come forward to help shape the plans to extend the scheme.

Coun Gunnell said: “ We are particularly interested in knowing your experiences of using the wi-fi zone including how easy you found it to use and whether an extended city centre wi-fi area would be useful to you.”

The free wi-fi coverage saw York become one of only a handful of towns and cities in the UK to offer the internet perk, although many locations on the Continent have already introduced the technology.

The project is aimed at improving York’s city centre facilities for visitors and businesses as well as residents.

The pilot area covers St Helen’s Square and Coney Street, providing a free wireless connection open to anyone with a laptop or smartphone.

The Digital York scheme is part of York Council’s Reinvigorate York initiative - an ambitious project to improve and enhance the quality of the city’s public spaces.

Views and ideas on extending the trial can be emailed to comments@york.gov.uk or sent to ICT Services, York Council, 4, Museum Street, York, YO1 7FD.

email paul.jeeves@ypn.co.uk

OIL giant Royal Dutch Shell has made an agreed £992.4m bid for Mozambique-focused Cove Energy, offering a full price to open up a new gas frontier for the Anglo-Dutch oil major in East Africa.

Cove’s main asset is an 8.5 per cent stake in the Rovuma Offshore Area 1, in Mozambique, where operator Anadarko said recoverable reserves could top 30 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

The project partners plan to build plants to freeze the gas into liquefied natural gas (LNG) and ship it to Asian markets.

Analysts said the small size of the stake meant Shell would likely approach other parties in the project and offer to buy part of their stakes.

“As the number one LNG player, Shell absolutely must be in East Africa... we should assume that 8.5 per cent is too small for them,” said Irene Himona, oil analyst at Societe Generale.

Shell said it had a “firm intention” to make a 195p per share cash bid, which Cove’s directors said yesterday they would recommend to shareholders.

Financial analysts at Citigroup agreed the deal made sense for Shell but said the “valuation looks stretched”.

Richard Savage, at Mirabaud, said in a research note that the price suggested that Shell expected the declared reserves to be increased in time.

Shell’s proposed bid is an over 70 per cent premium to Cove’s closing share price on January 4, when Cove announced plans to sell, although investors were already betting on a bid at that point.

Himona said other bidders could yet emerge and analysts at Westhouse tipped the Korea National Oil Corp, India’s GAIL, and Chinese state-controlled oil groups such as CNOOC as potential deal spoilers.

Any deal to buy Cove, which also has interests in Tanzania and Kenya, is subject to Mozambique government approval.

Invented by Tunbridge Wells birdwatcher Peter Adolph, when he was refused a trademark to call the game simply Hobby, he opted for Subbuteo, the Latin name for the Hobby Hawk

The game has since been sold in more than 50 countries and the rules translated into 16 languages.

In 1987, 16-year-old British player Justin Finch, then ranked fifth in the world, made the front pages after insuring his right hand for £160,000.

An all-star Subbuteo squad of the Millennium included Gordon Banks, Sir Stanley Matthews, Denis Law and George Best.

Half Man Half Biscuit wrote a nostalgic tribute to Subbuteo called All I Want for Christmas is a Dukla Prague Away Kit.

People who use one of Britain’s most important canals for wildlife are being invited to give their views on a report into its future management.

The 9.5-mile Pocklington Canal, between Canal Head, near Pocklington to the River Derwent in East Cottingwith, is renowned for its flora and fauna - including several sites of scientific interest - distinctive bridges and lock chambers.

Only navigable in its lower reaches, the canal is used by relatively few boats but is a popular with walkers, cyclists and kayakers.

The Pocklington Canal Audience, Conservation and Interpretation Plan, commissioned by British Waterways, tries to find a balance between the needs of users and protecting the canal’s ecology and heritage.

The plan - which can be found on British Waterway’s website - may be used as a basis for a future funding bid.

Jane Thomson, from BW, said there were “many, often very different, demands being placed on the canal”, adding: “We have to think very carefully about how we manage that to ensure we all get the most out of it whilst respecting the rich biodiversity and heritage that proves such a draw in the first place.”

1. Tenacity – so many new and even established SME businesses fail because the owners and managers give up. The ones who succeed, succeed against the odds. Whatever your size or turnover, business is not for quitters.

2. Advice – listen to good people who know what they are talking about. The SME business community offers many business owners who are willing to offer advice and help and who can save you making expensive mistakes. Find trusted mentors who are willing to offer impartial advice and be a critical friend.

3. Flexibility – no one gets it bang on right first time and within the SME sector it is vital to move with the ever changing times and adapt your business model to deliver what the customer now needs.

4. Networks – make business friends. It’s easy to feel isolated as an SME but you’d be amazed how many other business owner/managers feel the same. Connecting, sharing and communicating your values is the lifeblood of any business.

5. Staffing – A smaller workforce means there’s nowhere to hide and every person is accountable for the future of the business – which is empowering in the right hands. You need to be selfless as a boss and a great inspiration, setting examples on good work practices and a good work ethic.

6. Systems – no matter how small your business, formalise your working practices. Being unified in procedures leads to good quality service so get your systems right. From taking orders to delivery to handling enquiries and dealing with complaints.

7. Business Plan – even established SMEs need to know where they’re going, how they’ll get there and what they’ll need on the way. Without it, chances are you won’t make it.

8. Finances – the biggest weakness in the SME world! Get your numbers right from day one. Employ a book-keeper or an accountant, but do it straight away. If you can’t afford then learn yourself through a book-keeping course.

9. Access to Finance – this remains one of the biggest SME hurdles. There is hope for aspiring businesses who have trouble sourcing their finance from the banks through CDFIs (community development finance institutions) of which there are eight across the region and through organisations like Finance Yorkshire.

10. And the final one is tenacity – I wonder why?

AN ONLINE pet supplies retailer is planning on nearly doubling its headcount this year as part of its plans to capture 10 per cent of the UK’s £2.7bn market over the next 18 months.

Leeds-based Monster Pet Supplies was founded in 2010 by Jonny Gould, and is now approaching its first full year of trading with turnover forecast to hit £1m. Mr Gould predicts sales will increase by 300 per cent to £3m in the next financial year.

In the last 12 months, Google has ranked Monster Pet Supplies as the number one searched for company in the UK and number two in the world when searching for ‘pet supplies’. Monthly sales increased by 40 per cent to around £150,000 from December to January.

The company sells general merchandise, from dog beds to cat food, as well as medication for pets. It sells brands including Royal Canin and Hills, as well as sourcing from local suppliers.

Mr Gould said: “In my opinion we are just scratching the surface. The market value of pet food, pet medication and pet accessories in the UK is £2.7bn.”

The company is currently re-investing in warehouse management systems, is planning to move to a larger warehouse and has plans for recruitment. At the moment the team is working from about 3,000 sq ft at Barkston House in Croydon Street, Leeds, but Mr Gould said he’s looking for somewhere of about 15,000 sq ft. He added: “We have eyeballed a place very nearby. We are running out of space.”

Mr Gould said: “In 2010/2011 there were four of us. Now, there’s 12 of us. We are looking for two more as we speak and I expect to take on another 10 more, including those two, by the end of 2012.”

The firm is introducing an automated ‘picking, packing and putting away system’ for the warehouse, explained Mr Gould, who added: “At the moment it’s a bit ad hoc. This new system will improve efficiency. We are also introducing an automated reordering capability to the website for customers so people can easily set up the reordering of pet supplies.”

The website also allows customers to get repeat prescriptions when ordering medication, which Mr Gould said gives the firm “an edge over other online pet pharmacies”.

Mr Gould added: “Being online gives you the ability to sell a wider range of products and also bulk products like big sacks of dog food which are one of our most popular products because we can sell cheaper than the traditional retailers and we can deliver to the door. Customers are after a wider choice of merchandise now and we’ve probably got 300 types of dog beds which you would struggle to have on display.

“It’s really down to choice, price, efficient delivery and convenience.”

Monster Pet Supplies also wants to invest in a trade counter to create a retail presence for people in the Yorkshire area.

And it has placed emphasis on building an online community, Mr Gould said.

“We engage with customers through social media, Facebook, Twitter, and we constantly keep engaged through our blog.”

He explained that Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) plays a key role in boosting the firm’s online presence, adding: “A lot of attention is spent on SEO but it’s a continuous process.

“It’s not something you just pay for and turn on. It’s all about Google recognising you as a quality site.”

Mr Gould said he is not expecting to make a profit this year as everything has been re-invested back into the business, but he said by the end of this calendar year he hopes to be turning over a profit.

Mr Gould owns the business. His brother, Adam Gould, left his job as a lawyer to join the company as operations director. Mr Gould’s wife, Sarah Gould, is product manager at the firm.

suzan.uzel@ypn.co.uk

The Speaker of the House of Commons will give a public lecture on parliamentary reform at Hull University today.

John Bercow MP will be speaking in the Allam Lecture Theatre from 7pm as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the university’s department of politics and international studies.

The university said Mr Bercow sees himself not only as the protector of the rights of the Commons, but also an advocate of strengthening it. He has used his powers as Speaker to enable back-benchers to have more of a voice in scrutinising the executive.

In his talk entitled ‘Reform and Parliament’, Mr Bercow will argue that change is natural, desirable and essential to continuity.

He will talk about the ‘Urgent Question’, a device which allows any MP to ask the Speaker to summon a Minister to the House to answer a matter of importance which has suddenly emerged suddenly.

It was a seldom used, with only two granted in the 12 months before Mr Bercow became Speaker, but he has since permitted 89 Urgent Questions. He will assert that this is a positive change for the House.

He will also highlight the work of the Reform of the House of Commons Committee which was created after the expenses scandal in 2009.

One of the main recommendations made by the Committee was that chairs of select committees should be elected by secret ballot in order to make them truly independent.

The prominence achieved by the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee in their investigation of News International is cited an example of how effective the new system is.

Professor of Government Lord Norton said: “It is a huge pleasure to welcome the Speaker to the university as part of the celebrations surrounding the 50th anniversary of the Department of Politics and International Studies.

“As well as his commitment to parliamentary reform, he is to be admired for being a true ambassador for the House of Commons. He encourages greater engagement with the public and facilitates the use of the chamber for such things as youth parliaments. He is a real inspiration and this is a rare opportunity to hear him speak on the fascinating issue of reform.”

Drivers in Kirkburton and Denby Dale areas of Kirklees are being warned there have been a number of instances of car crime in the area.

In a bid to get the crime prevention message across officers will be at Armitage’s garden centre in Shelley on Saturday.

The Kirkburton and Denby Dale Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) will be at the garden centre from 10am until 3pm to speak to the public about car crime and vehicle security. As part of the event, they will also be handing out a number of crime prevention devices. £1 Anti-tamper screw kits will be available, as will steering wheel Disklock devices, at a thirty per cent discounted price of £70.

PC Sally Baines of the NPT said: “Unfortunately we have had several instances of car crime in the area recently, many of which could have been avoided if valuables had been removed from vehicles.”

Mark Wall, crime reduction officer for the Kirkburton and Denby Dale area added: “This event is light-hearted, but should drive home a simple and effective message. If people leave any items of value in their cars while they are not in them, their vehicles are sitting ducks.”

SHOPKEEPERS in Howden are being invited to a seminar to learn how to spot forged banknotes after several traders found they had been given counterfeits when presenting their takings to a bank.

Police said fake £20, £10 and £5 notes had been passed to small businesses, including a hairdressers and a bakers, suggesting the criminals were deliberately avoiding larger firms where CCTV and more stringent security checks are in place.

The notes all had the same or similar serial numbers and on first glance appeared to have the silver strip running through the paper, but this had been printed on rather than being in the actual note. They have, however, been described as being of a “reasonably high standard”.

Sgt Jo Matthews, from Howden Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Counterfeiting is the ultimate technology for people who want to get something for nothing. Britain’s notes contain a variety of security features but forgers still try to make the perfect copy.

“It is not difficult to see the watermark, hologram and metal thread inside banknotes.

“Banknotes which are printed for the UK have a wealth of hidden security features. Run your fingernail across the number ten in the top right corner and you’ll feel how bumpy the surface is. The tactile intaglio print deposits the ink in recesses in the paper surface also giving the banknote its crisp, shiny quality.

“Behind Darwin’s head, the pastel blues, greens and oranges are not made up of dots of colour, like most graphics, but instead are made up of tiny lines as a result of the offset printing techniques used. There is also microprint hidden inside the images. A magnifying glass will reveal the word ‘ten’ printed inside the Queen’s pearls.”

The seminar will be held in the Shire Hall in Market Place on Wednesday, March 14, from 10.30am, with a representative from HSBC bank in attendance alongside police.

A GROUP of volunteers who have helped tend to one of Yorkshire’s national parks for the last decade have celebrated the landmark anniversary.

Three of the current group – Alan Bailey, Eric Lee and Vera Silberberg – attended the very first task to help maintain the North York Moors National Park. The Hobs, as the group is known, got together for a meal to commemorate 10 years of work looking after the national park’s rights of way and wildlife.

Founding member Mr Bailey said: “I saw an article regarding starting a volunteers group at around the time that I was about to retire and the idea appealed to me. My wife and I were, and still are keen, walkers particularly within the national park and it seemed a positive way of putting something back and saying thanks.”

The volunteers meet every Tuesday to carry out tasks including footpath clearance, drystone walling, tree planting and fence repairs. The Hobs are named after the mythical creatures that supposedly live in the national park and help with household chores and farm work. More information about volunteering is available from Jo Dowson on 01439 770657.

email paul.jeeves@ypn.co.uk

Young offenders are being given the opportunity of a career in the property industry with the launch a new initiative by Caddick Construction.

The firm, which is based in Knottingley, West Yorkshire, has joined forces with the charity Construction Youth Trust and taken on its first teenager on a six-month work placement.

The 17-year-old, who is serving a sentence at Wetherby Young Offenders’ Institution, will work four days a week on the £2.9m construction of The HUT, a youth centre in Castleford, which will feature a sports hall and bowling alley as well as a computer lab, cinema, and conference areas.

WALSH Taylor, the ambitious insolvency and business support group, has hired Yorkshire Bank’s former director for small business, Gary Lumby MBE, as a non-executive director to further its expansion plans.

The Guiseley-based firm offers corporate and personal insolvency services and advises businesses on refinancing and turnaround situations.

Mary Taylor, managing director, said: “We are delighted to have attracted someone of Gary’s calibre and reputation to the firm and I am certain that he will help us to continue our growth strategy and help guide the firm and our clients in the right direction.”

THE “unacceptable” extent to which Northern schools are eclipsed by their Southern counterparts in supplying students to Oxford and Cambridge has been revealed in data provided to MPs.

Private schools in the South-East dominate a list of the top 100 institutions who send most youngsters to the elite universities – while just three Yorkshire schools feature.

It has also emerged that in two of the region’s parliamentary seats – Barnsley East and Hull East – no more than five pupils even applied to go to one of the Oxbridge institutions last year, compared with 230 in the affluent London suburb of Richmond Park, and 62 in Skipton and Ripon.

Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart, chairman of the Commons education select committee, said it was a “real concern” so few Oxbridge students come from schools in the region.

“Our children are bright enough but clearly do not receive the support at home and at school that they should,” he said. “The current position is unacceptable and we all, collectively, need to do something about it.

“It isn’t good enough. Parents, schools and pupils need to do better. Northern pupils need to aim higher, work harder and be the best they can be. We can have no complaint. The solution lies in our own hands.”

A list of the 100 secondary schools sending most children to one of the Oxbridge institutions, which was placed in the House of Commons library, reveals 42 per cent of those taking GCSEs at North London Collegiate School ended up there. In all, 20 schools – 18 independent, two selective and all in the South East – saw at least one in five pupils going to Oxbridge.

Only three Yorkshire schools make it into the top 100 – Leeds Grammar School (14 per cent), Sheffield High School (11 per cent) and Wakefield Girls’ High School (nine per cent).

Separate figures show a massive divide across Yorkshire in the number of pupils applying last year to study at Oxbridge. Barnsley East and Hull East are among almost 30 constituencies across the country where five or fewer youngsters applied, while fewer than 10 applied in Hemsworth, Hull North, Hull West and Hessle, Leeds West, Sheffield South East and Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough. Aspiration is highest in Skipton and Ripon, while 57 from Sheffield Hallam applied.

The figures come amid a furious political row over Business Secretary Vince Cable’s decision to force through the appointment of Prof Les Ebdon as director of fair access despite opposition from Tory MPs concerned at his criticism of top universities for failing to widen their intake.

Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman warned there was a “deep cultural divide” and said many schools fail to instill pupils with the aspiration to succeed.

“It’s easy to blame Oxford or Cambridge colleges or elite universities but there’s a culture out there. In certain parts of the country, in many schools people are not given the impression that elite universities are for them.”

A spokesman for Oxford University said there is a far greater concentration of students taking A-levels in London and the South East, and results are better.

“Oxford does an enormous amount of recruitment and outreach work to attract the best applicants from all over the country; the limiting factor in admissions is the number of students achieving the grades necessary to make a competitive application, and the numbers applying to Oxford,” said a spokesman.

“Oxford does an enormous amount of work to encourage all students with the grades and ability to come to Oxford to make an application, regardless of where they come from.”

Comment: Page 12.

Building materials giant Travis Perkins forecast solid progress in 2012, after reporting a 37 per cent rise in full-year profit to £297m.

Travis Perkins, also a home improvement retailer, said it expected its markets to remain tough in 2012. Turnover rose 52 per cent to £4.78bn, up six per cent on a like-for-like basis.

“Whilst the private sector is growing quite healthily, the amount of activity that it is creating is not quite enough to offset the fall in public sector construction,” said chief executive Geoff Cooper.

The company forecast a low single-digit decline in trade market volumes, reflecting a fall in the number of housing transactions in 2011 and a contraction in public sector expenditure as the government moves to cut its budget deficit.

Travis Perkins, whose brands include City Plumbing, Keyline, Tile Giant and Wickes, also predicted a more substantial decline in the consumer sector.

A POLISH mother-of-four from Bradford has admitted organising four bogus weddings and taking part in one herself.

Andzelina Surmaj, 30, pleaded guilty to her roles in the sham ceremonies at churches across East Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

All the weddings involved Eastern Europeans marrying non-EU citizens, understood to be Nigerian nationals.

Appearing with co-defendant Milan Cina, 38, at Burnley Crown Court, they both pleaded guilty to several counts of assisting unlawful immigration.

Czech national Cina admitted jointly organising the four sham weddings with Surmaj and also pleaded guilty to acting as a witness at another ceremony.

Unmarried Surmaj, who has been in the UK for 12 years, also admitted giving a false address at her sham marriage at St Peter’s Church in Newbold, Rochdale, and possessing a fake Czech Republic ID card.

Cina, of Lister Gardens, Bradford, was remanded in custody, while Surmaj, of Girlington Road, was granted conditional bail in order to make personal arrangements.

Sentencing was adjourned until March 19.

Judge Beverley Lunt told Surmaj she faced a custodial sentence of “some length”, while Cina was warned a prison term was “inevitable”.

FIREFIGHTERS have spent the morning tackling a huge blaze at a domestic appliance repair building in Keighley.

A fork lift truck containing LPG gas containers was inside the three-story building on Beck Street, raising fears of an explosion.

A total of ten appliances attended the blaze at its height, in the early hours.

Police have closed off South Street in both directions between Worth Way and Oakworth Road.

]]> 1.4273303 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:50:54 +0000 http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/travis_perkins_year_profit_jumps_37_per_cent_1_4271233

BUILDERS’ merchant and home improvement retailer Travis Perkins posted a better than expected 37 per cent rise in year profit as it won share from rivals and forecast more growth in 2012.

The firm, which trades as Travis Perkins, Keyline, CCF, City Plumbing, Benchmarx, Tile Giant, Wickes and BSS, and has branches across Yorkshire, said it made an underlying pre-tax profit of £297m in 2011.

That compares with analysts’ consensus forecast of £287m and £217m made in 2010.

Turnover rose 52 per cent to £4.78bn and was up 6 per cent on a like-for-like basis as the firm gained market share. Like-for-like sales were up 1.8 per cent in the first seven weeks of its new financial year.

Travis Perkins said it expected another year of solid progress in 2012 even though it expects its markets to remain subdued.

The firm, which ended 2011 with net debt of £583m raised its total dividend 33 per cent to 20 pence.

THE boss of recruitment firm Hays said there was still evidence that bankers were heading overseas as hiring in the sector fell around 10 per cent and pushed its UK division to a £3m loss.

Chief executive Alistair Cox said the recruitment squeeze in the banking industry would persist for “some time” and had spread beyond the UK to markets such as Hong Kong as major players restructure their operations.

The recruiter’s results come as the banking industry faces pressure from all sides, as it battles with volatile markets, weak consumer confidence, increased regulatory heat and criticism over pay.

The slowdown, which was behind a 1 per cent drop in private sector fees, which make up 78 per cent of UK revenues, prompted Hays to close 12 UK outlets, cutting its total headcount by 4 per cent, including a 2 per cent drop in the number of consultants to 2,071.

However, the wider group was supported by a strong performance overseas, particularly in Germany, leading to a 21 per cent increase in overall operating profit to £63.1m.

HOUSEBUILDER Barratt Developments reported a return to profit in its first-half results, and said the second half of the year had got off to a positive start.

Barratt, one of the larger listed housebuilders, posted an upbeat performance despite a wider stagnant property market, helped by its strategy of an increased focus in building homes in higher-margin areas.

The company reported pre-tax profit in the six months to December 31, 2011, of £22m versus a loss of £4.6m in the same period the year before.

Revenue increased by 8.6 per cent to £953m, against weak comparative figures impacted by bad weather last year.

“Over the last six months we have continued to improve the performance of the business, despite the wider economic uncertainty,” Barratt chief executive Mark Clare said in a statement.

“We have seen a strong start to 2012 and over the first seven weeks private reservations are running 21.8 per cent ahead of this time last year.”

The average price for Barratt properties rose 3.1 per cent to 181,000 pounds in the six months to the end of December.

Barratt operated from around 400 sites at the end of December last year. It plans to open about 20 Yorkshire sites during 2012, including in Hull, Howden, Whitby, Castleford and Wakefield. The sites will create close to 2,000 new homes.

WEALTH management group St James’s Place has announced the appointment of financial journalist Baroness Wheatcroft as an independent non-executive director.

The group, which has a Leeds base, said the appointment will take effect from April 2.

Baroness Wheatcroft, a member of the House of Lords, was previously editor-in-chief at the Wall Street Journal, Europe.

She is the former editor of the Sunday Telegraph and was business and City editor of The Times between 1997 and 2006. She has been a non-executive director of Barclays Group and Shaftesbury.

The company also announced that Roger Walsom, a non-executive director since 2005, will be retiring.

Charles Gregson, chairman, said in a statement: “I am delighted to welcome Baroness (Patience) Wheatcroft to the Board of SJP as an independent non-executive director.

“Patience brings a wealth of business, board and senior management experience and her appointment is an important further step in the ongoing development of the SJP board. On behalf of the board, I would also like to thank Roger for his substantial contribution over the last seven years.”

THE “unacceptable” extent to which Northern schools are eclipsed by their Southern counterparts in supplying students to Oxford and Cambridge has been revealed in data provided to MPs.

Private schools in the South-East dominate a list of the top 100 institutions who send most youngsters to the elite universities – while just three Yorkshire schools feature.

It has also emerged that in two of the region’s parliamentary seats – Barnsley East and Hull East – no more than five pupils even applied to go to one of the Oxbridge institutions last year, compared with 230 in the affluent London suburb of Richmond Park, and 62 in Skipton and Ripon.

Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart, chairman of the Commons education select committee, said it was a “real concern” so few Oxbridge students come from schools in the region.

“Our children are bright enough but clearly do not receive the support at home and at school that they should,” he said. “The current position is unacceptable and we all, collectively, need to do something about it.

“It isn’t good enough. Parents, schools and pupils need to do better. Northern pupils need to aim higher, work harder and be the best they can be. We can have no complaint. The solution lies in our own hands.”

A list of the 100 secondary schools sending most children to one of the Oxbridge institutions, which was placed in the House of Commons library, reveals 42 per cent of those taking GCSEs at North London Collegiate School ended up there. In all, 20 schools – 18 independent, two selective and all in the South East – saw at least one in five pupils going to Oxbridge.

Only three Yorkshire schools make it into the top 100 – Leeds Grammar School (14 per cent), Sheffield High School (11 per cent) and Wakefield Girls’ High School (nine per cent).

Separate figures show a massive divide across Yorkshire in the number of pupils applying last year to study at Oxbridge. Barnsley East and Hull East are among almost 30 constituencies across the country where five or fewer youngsters applied, while fewer than 10 applied in Hemsworth, Hull North, Hull West and Hessle, Leeds West, Sheffield South East and Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough. Aspiration is highest in Skipton and Ripon, while 57 from Sheffield Hallam applied.

The figures come amid a furious political row over Business Secretary Vince Cable’s decision to force through the appointment of Prof Les Ebdon as director of fair access despite opposition from Tory MPs concerned at his criticism of top universities for failing to widen their intake.

Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman warned there was a “deep cultural divide” and said many schools fail to instill pupils with the aspiration to succeed.

“It’s easy to blame Oxford or Cambridge colleges or elite universities but there’s a culture out there. In certain parts of the country, in many schools people are not given the impression that elite universities are for them.”

A spokesman for Oxford University said there is a far greater concentration of students taking A-levels in London and the South East, and results are better.

“Oxford does an enormous amount of recruitment and outreach work to attract the best applicants from all over the country; the limiting factor in admissions is the number of students achieving the grades necessary to make a competitive application, and the numbers applying to Oxford,” said a spokesman.

“Oxford does an enormous amount of work to encourage all students with the grades and ability to come to Oxford to make an application, regardless of where they come from.”

CLERGY from churches across the Diocese of Wakefield will set up prayer stalls in two busy shopping centres.

Members of the Cathedral Chapter and vicars from churches across Wakefield will run a stall in the Ridings Shopping Centre, Wakefield, while the vicar of Huddersfield, the Rev Simon Moor and members of Churches Together in Huddersfield will set up a stall just outside Huddersfield Parish Church, on Byram Street.

The events take place today, the start of Lent from 11.30am to 1.30pm.

The Bishop of Wakefield, the Rt Rev Stephen Platten said: “We’ve all had someone shout at us “say one for me vicar” and while it may be said off the cuff, it underlies the fact that people feel a need to pray.

“We live in tough times and this is a very good and simple way for us to engage with people where they are, listen to their hopes and fears and help them say a prayer if they wish,” he said.

It is the third year the diocese has run the initiative which in the past has included prayer boxes in pubs and doctors’ surgeries for people to post their prayers. They are collected in and offered up at one of the weekly cathedral services.

SOME of the most vulnerable communities in North Yorkshire are being targeted in the first phase of a scheme to tackle fuel poverty.

Thousands of householders living along the Yorkshire coast and in the Ryedale district are being offered help to counter the soaring cost of heating their homes.

North Yorkshire County Council is spearheading the scheme after receiving £48,000 from the Government at the end of last year.

The cash will finance the innovative Hotspots scheme, which helps the elderly and those on a low income to access key services including advice on benefits and improving insulation in their homes.

A series of events in the Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale areas will be held this week to publicise the scheme. More sessions are due to be held in the Selby district, which has also been identified as a key area, in the coming months.

The council’s executive member for health and adult services, Coun Clare Wood, said: “We recognise the vital role it plays in keeping people safe and warm in their homes, reducing fuel poverty and in turn, ill health. We intend to ensure that as many people benefit from the scheme as possible. ”

There has already been a dramatic increase in fuel poverty – defined as the need to spend more than 10 per cent of household income on fuel to maintain adequate warmth – amid predictions that bills will continue to rise by as much as 25 per cent by 2020. A total of 27 per cent of homes in Ryedale are officially classed as being in fuel poverty - the greatest percentage of households in the region.

The first event will be held today at Allatt House in Scarborough, before another session is at the Pickering Memorial Hall tomorrow. A third event will be held on Friday at Church House in Flowergate, Whitby. All the events will be staged from noon to 2pm.

More information is available from the Hotspots team on 01904 554465.

email paul.jeeves@ypn.co.uk

PET drugs firm Dechra Pharmaceuticals said half-year revenues and profits continue to grow, driven by its pharmaceuticals business, as people continue to treat their pets despite the downturn.

The group, which makes drugs for animals and humans, said turnover in the six months to the end of December grew nine per cent to £209.5m.

Underlying pre-tax profits were £14.3m, up three per cent from £13.9m in 2010.

“People are still spending the money on their animals,” said chief executive Ian Page, adding discretionary spending is weaker.

“In our key subsidiaries we are still getting about three per cent growth, but the pharmaceutical side is the strong driver.”

Dechra’s Dales Pharmaceuticals plant in Skipton won US regulatory approval late last year, in an “absolutely massive” coup for the business, according to Mr Page.

“We can wave flags and shout about it,” he said. “It’s not just the financial benefit it will have. It’s the badge of honour that it gives to third party manufacturing contracts.”

The plant can now make Vetoryl 120mg capsules, used to treat Cushings disease, for the US market, after winning approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Mr Page said Dechra is now looking to win approval for other types of pet drugs and new dosage varieties at Dales.

The site has seen a 9.4 per cent increase in contract manufacturing versus a year earlier.

The group said its sales of specialist pet diets were flat in the period, due to phasing of orders.

Its NVS services business per formed “strongly”, delivering a 7.3 per cent sales increase.

However, margins declined at its services business due to tough competition and changes in the mix of products it sells.

Dechra said the results were in line with its expectations and it continues to trade “robustly”.

“The overall economic environment will continue to pose challenges, especially in our services segment, however overall market growth continues to exceed pre-year expectations,” it said.

Dechra increased its interim dividend by 10.8 per cent to 4.1p per share.

Charles Stanley analysts said: “We expect a better second half which will benefit from product launches in new jurisdictions and the first contribution for the latest acquisition.

“However, the shortfall in NVS has led us to reduce our estimates for this and next year.”

Shore Capital analysts added: “It is clear that the company has suffered from a continuation of competitive pressures which have necessitated further discounting to hold market share.”

BOMB disposal specialists put one of their well-known robots to an unusual use yesterday, when the machine unveiled the new name for a South Yorkshire-based veterans’ rehabiitation centre.

St Dunstan’s was formed in 1915 to provide help to servicemen who had lost their sight in the First World War, and has helped veterans of every conflict since.

But it was recently decided the charity needed to change its name to make its purpose more clear - leading to yesterday’s announcement that it would now be called Blind Veterans UK.

The charity was originally founded by the then owner of the Daily Express Lord Pearson, and helps those who have lost their sight in conflicts as well as former servicemen and women struggling with blindness in later life.

Charity staff and those who have benefited from its help were present at yesterday’s event, at Blind Veterans UK’s rehabiliation and training centre in Fulwood Road, Sheffield.

The robot which carried out yesterday’s unveiling is known as the Wheelbarrow, and was operated by a member of the 521 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron, which is based at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire.

housing bosses yesterday unveiled plans to scrap an organisation which was set up to maintain council homes eight years ago.

Around 1,000 staff were told their jobs were at risk in the move, which Sheffield Council said would save taxpayers around £1.2m a year.

The council carried out a ballot of tenants asking whether they wanted their homes managed directly by the authority or to continue under the so-called arms length management organisation (ALMO) Sheffield Homes.

The city’s housing spokesman Coun Harry Harpham revealed the results yesterday and said 88 per cent of those who had taken part had voted for the change.

Around 26,500 votes were cast, a turnout of 55 per cent of Sheffield Homes’ 40,000 tenants.

Coun Harpham said he “could not guarantee” any jobs within the organisation, which was founded to access Government Decent Homes cash, to refurbish social housing.

He added: “This is a big decision for the city and will determine how we shape council housing in the future.

“We would like to thank Sheffield Homes for the great job it has done over the last eight years.”

Coun Harpham said the results of the ballot would be used to inform an official decision which will be made by the council’s ruling cabinet on March 21.

Senior staff at Sheffield Homes were told yesterday afternoon. Nobody from the organisation was available for comment.

]]> 1.4270252 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0000 http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/union_questions_closure_of_car_park_used_by_hundreds_1_4269818

ConcErns have been raised over where hundreds of hospital staff will park after the trust which runs Hull Royal Infirmary announced one of its car parks is to close.

The Fountain Street car park has around 450 places but it is due to close on May 1 after the lease with the owners ran out.

Pauline Lewin, Chief of Infrastructure and Development, said they were seeking a solution.

In a statement she said: “We realize that this will be a concern for both staff and patients and we are therefore working on a number of arrangements to alleviate the pressure this will inevitably put on our car parking provision.

“Specifically, we are currently negotiating other car parking options including a number of parking spaces at the KC Stadium and a Park and Ride facility from Priory Park. We will also undertake a review of the Argyle Street car park to ensure that spaces are being maximized.

“Wherever possible we will be encouraging our staff to choose public transport options and working closely with public transport providers to develop services accordingly.”

However regional officer for Unison Ray Gray said the proposals “were not an answer to what is an ever increasing problem.”

He said: “Even now it is difficult to find a place as a patient or as a member of staff. A lot of time they are full and for staff on night shifts or early starts Park and Ride is not always available and the right way of getting backwards and forwards.

“Argyle Street is a huge area but it is maxed out in terms of parking.”

The hospital also said it was introducing “pay on exit” barriers, following feedback from users.

You can’t teach an old dog new tricks – especially when it comes to working for the police.

Humberside Police has launched a recruitment drive for five youthful canine members of their drug and cash detection team.

The breeds they are looking for are Labrador, Springer or Cocker Spaniels and they need to be keen to play ball.

Hounds of the right age and temperament – 12 to 24 months - are in short supply because of the London Olympic Games.

PC Paul Harrison, who has been a dog handler for 16 years, said: “We need working dogs who are pro-active. What we normally do is contact the breeders who we normally use, but unfortunately they have nothing in.

“We think the problem is the Olympics because there’s that many dogs which will be required for searching and over the last few months they have been bought up and trained up and are ready to go. All the forces have a commitment to send search dogs.

“What we want is a very dog, that is keen for a toy or a ball and is keen to search.

“Some dogs will stroll around a field having a sniff, we want the dogs who go in search of things.”

Humberside Police has 30 dogs in its dog section – 20 general-purpose German Shepherds, four explosive search dogs and six drug and cash dogs, either Springers, Labradors or Cocker Spaniels.

Pc Harrison said: “The reality is if you get the right dog, breed is unimportant. However we have found over the years, Springers, Cocker Spaniels and Labradors have the right sort of temperament and attitude. People will buy them because they are cute but don’t realise what they are buying.”

The new recruits will be allocated to a dog handler and become part of a team with the handler and live at home with them.

The training takes just five weeks and the dogs will then be allocated to jobs across the force area, including searching vehicles used in crimes and taking part in raids.

The dogs are trained to sniff out nine types of drugs - and two types of notes, Euros and sterling.

Policing with dogs is thought to date back to the 12th century when parish constables used bloodhounds - but apparently they were “unreliable, bad-tempered and savage “ and used more often to protect their masters than catch villains.

When the police tried to use bloodhounds to track down Jack the Ripper in 1888, one of the dogs bit the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and both dogs ran off - leading to a police search.

History records that in 1908 the North Eastern Railway police who used Airedales to put a stop to theft from the docks in Hull formed the first recognised UK Police Dog Section.

Anyone with a dog which may be suitable should contact handlers Jon Fenton on 07917 174632 or Paul Harrison 07976 618646.

NATURAL chemicals firm Croda International reported record annual results yesterday as consumers splash out on beauty and anti-ageing creams despite the economic downturn.

The Snaith-based company, which is poised to join the FTSE 100, said pre-tax profits rose 26 per cent to £242.2m in the year to December 31, driven by strong growth in health and personal care products.

New chief executive Steve Foots said that despite the economic hardship, people are still spending money on making themselves feel better about their appearance.

“We’re not seeing any sign of trading down anywhere,” he said. “People are still spending money on beauty and anti-ageing creams, lotions, shampoos and conditioners.”

Mr Foots believe that consumers are more willing to trade down on food than beauty products.

“People want to look good,” he said. “It’s the feelgood factor, like lipstick during the war.”

Croda’s best performance was in Latin America where sales grew by 11 per cent and Europe, where sales grew by nine per cent.

Sales in North America grew by a more modest four per cent after the group parted company with a major distributor.

In Asia, a deliberate decline in marketing in the industrial specialities business held sales back to an increase of three per cent.

Mr Foots said the Latin American market is keen on high end personal care products.

“In Brazil women apply products far more often than in India and China,” he said. “It’s a question of disposable income. In India and China they have less, but that will change.”

At the moment Europe accounts for 44 per cent of Croda’s business, North America is 24 per cent and emerging markets account for 32 per cent.

Mr Foots believes that emerging markets could make up half the business in the next six years.

Croda is famous for its innovative new product launches and this year these will include anti-ageing product Resistem, which uses plant stem cell technology to reduce wrinkles, redness and promote a glowing complexion.

Croda, which supplies companies such as L’Oreal, Chanel, Clarins, Estée Lauder, Boots and Procter and Gamble, said all the big major cosmetics industries are looking at Resistem.

Another new product is Crodasone Cystine which straightens hair without the need for high temperature hair straighteners.

“You apply it and it gives you smooth, sleeker hair. You also have to reapply it – we like that,” said Mr Foots.

Croda, which is very cash-generative, raised its final dividend by 20 per cent to 30.25p, taking its total dividend to 55p per share.

Mr Foots said the company is looking at small acquisitions of between £5m to £10m and up to £40m, particularly companies that have technologies that Croda lacks.

A BENEFIT cheat who claimed disability living allowance while working as a delivery driver has been given a suspended prison sentence.

John Carter, 57, started receiving the benefit in October 2007 on the grounds that he was virtually unable to walk and needed assistance with his daily needs.

But by April the following year he was working six days a week for a Halifax delivery firm handling packages weighing up to 15.5 kilogrammes during three-hour shifts.

Carter, of Newlands Avenue, Sowerby Bridge, was initially questioned about his work in December 2009, but he denied being employed for the previous 20-month and earning £15,000.

Further investigation by the Department of Work and Pensions led to Carter being questioned again in October the following year and he finally admitted the offending.

Prosecutor Giles Bridge told Bradford Crown Court yesterday that Carter had been overpaid just over £13,000 in disability living allowance and an additional £17,000 in income support.

Carter admitted charges of failing to notify the department of a change in his circumstances and Judge Peter Benson said he should be ashamed of his actions.

The court heard that Carter had already paid back £4,000 to the DWP and he now faced a further confiscation hearing to recover the rest of the money.

He may have to sell his home in order pay back the cash.

Lawyer Chris Haddock, for Carter, said he was deeply ashamed and disappointed with himself.

Judge Benson said Carter had deliberately defrauded the taxpayer by taking money that he was not entitled to.

But the judge said he was prepared to suspend Carter’s eight-month jail term for two years and ordered him to do 200 hours unpaid work for the community.

The Proceeds of Crime hearing is expected to take place in July this year.

The Greek bail-out is “good for Britain”, Chancellor George Osborne insisted yesterday as he hailed the deal as a “really significant step” towards resolving the eurozone crisis.

Single currency governments approved a second massive rescue package for the ailing nation after more than 12 hours of talks in Brussels.

Haggling over figures, financial targets and Greek government belt-tightening pledges went on through the night in a last-ditch attempt to rally markets and put crisis-hit Athens back on the path to economic recovery.

Mr Osborne said: “Of course, resolving the Greek situation is only part of resolving the eurozone crisis but I think we took a really significant step towards that last night and that is good for Britain because resolving the eurozone crisis would be the biggest boost that Britain could get for its economy this year.”

The Chancellor said the package was a major step towards securing debt sustainability in Greece.

“That’s been the crucial missing ingredient,” he added. “They have not, in the past, come up with a sustainable position for Greece. I think they have made real progress now towards giving a sustainable debt position for Greece.

“Of course the Greek people, the Greek political system has to deliver really difficult decisions now but I don’t think Greece has any other option.”

He added: “Hopefully we can all move on now and get the European economy growing.”

In return for the latest 130bn euro (£110bn) bail-out and a private creditor debt write-off worth about another E100bn euros (£84bn), the Greek government is pledged to implement fully a severe austerity package of pay, pension and jobs cuts, as well as finding savings of E325m (£270m) in this year’s national budget.

The Greek economy received a E110bn euro (£91bn) bailout from the EU and IMF in 2010 but it was not enough to lift Greece out of crisis.

]]> 1.4270253 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0000 http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/book_donations_boost_coffers_for_cash_strapped_librarians_1_4269828

LIBRARIANS in Sheffield have launched a new money-making scheme by asking people to donate their unwanted books which will be sold on to help boost the service’s budgets.

Under the “give and take” scheme all libraries in the city will now accept donated books, talking books and music CDs, they will all be offered for sale for 50p each.

Branches in Frecheville, Firth Park and the city’s Central Library will be the first to offer readers the chance to purchase the donated books from the new section.

The council’s spokesman responsible for libraries Coun Mick Rooney said: “Donated books will either be added to the libraries collection, or be offered for sale.

“Both these options will ensure that your books can be enjoyed again by lots more readers. The money raised will be used to buy new books for the city’s libraries.

“We are really proud of our innovative library service in Sheffield and this new scheme is just another way of promoting lifelong learning and celebrating reading.

“We know that libraries are close to people’s hearts, with over 2.6m visitors and at least 2.5m books borrowed over the last year.

As a member of the library you can always borrow a book for free, access the internet, and attend range of events and activities.

“This is just the start of changes to your library service – this summer we will be asking people to say what they want to help us design a service fit for the future.”

The give and take scheme is due to be introduced in all libraries across the city in the next few months. Find out more collections by visiting www.sheffield.gov.uk/libraries.

Concerns have been raised over the escalating cost of fuel amid attempts to boost vital public transport links across the Yorkshire Dales.

Wensleydale residents claim they are being forced to pay expensive taxi bills and high charges for a volunteer car scheme if they want to travel to the nearest hospital due to soaring prices of fuel and mileage costs.

They say poor connections, long journey times and limited public transport is leaving travellers in the dale no other option.

The issues were highlighted at a public meeting in Leyburn, which was organised by the Dales Integrated Transport Alliance (DITA) as part of the biggest transport revolution in the national park’s history.

Leyburn and Hawes are proposed sites of DITA travel hubs, eight of which are planned throughout the Dales under the scheme, which was launched in Nidderdale in October.

Helen Flynn, chairman of DITA, said: “The hubs will be places where the residents and visitors can find out more about the transport that is available in their area- whether it be commercial bus, community bus, demand responsive services, community car club or cycle hire. The hope is that by spreading awareness of the all the transport resources that are already there, people will be able to get about more easily, making greater use of shared forms of transport.”

DITA, which was set up after North Yorkshire County Council announced it was slashing its transport budget by 10 per cent, secured a £1.1m grant from the Department for Transport’s local sustainable transport fund in July.

PATROLS of volunteers to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour are being introduced in Whitby.

A recruitment drive is being staged to sign up members for the Street Angels scheme, which is already operating in towns and cities across the country including Scarborough on Friday and Saturday evenings.

The Scarborough’s Safer Community Partnership, which will co-ordinate the Whitby scheme, said the patrols will target town centre bars, restaurants and public transport during busy periods.

However, while volunteers will provide support they will not be required to get involved in incidents, just report them to the police. It is hoped the first patrols in Whitby will start in June and the scheme will also involve members of local church groups, North Yorkshire Police and Scarborough Borough Council. Anyone can volunteer as long as they are aged 18 or over, and comprehensive training will be given to all recruits before they take to the streets. A meeting to highlight the scheme will be held at 7.30pm on March 22 at Flowergate United Reformed Church in Whitby. More information is also available from Deacon Helen Webster at helenweb2@gmail.com or on 01947 602248.

email paul.jeeves@ypn.co.uk

Nick Clegg has pledged to deal with the “ticking time bomb” of teenagers who are not in work, school or training.

The Deputy Prime Minister announced a £126m scheme to get 16 and 17-year-olds back into employment or education.

The initiative is part of the coalition’s Youth Contract scheme, announced last November in a bid to tackle youth unemployment. Under the new initiative, charities and businesses will be invited to bid for contracts worth up to £2,200 to take young people on.

They will receive an initial payment up front, and more money when the youngsters show progress.

At least 55,000 16 and 17-year-olds “Neets” – not in education, employment or training – who have no GCSEs at grades C or above, are expected to benefit.

Mr Clegg said: “Sitting at home with nothing to do when you’re so young can knock the stuffing out of you for years.

“It is a tragedy for the young people involved – a ticking time bomb for the economy and our society as a whole.

“This problem isn’t new, but in the current economic climate we urgently need to step up efforts to ensure some of our most troubled teenagers have the skills, confidence and opportunities to succeed.”

This group of teenagers has been singled out because evidence suggests that unemployment early on can have a permanent effect on earning potential. By the age of 42, someone who has been frequently unemployed as a teenager is likely to earn 12-15 per cent less than their peers, the Department for Education (DfE) said.

The announcement comes less than a week after the latest unemployment figures showed that the numbers of 16 to 24-year-olds not in work increased by 22,000 to 1.04 million in the three months to December.

The last Neets figures, for the third quarter of last year, showed that more than a million 16 to 24-year-olds (1,163,000) – almost one in five – were considered “Neet”.

Speaking on Sky News, Mr Clegg said: “I think it is incredibly important that, at that very vital moment in someone’s life, when they are in their teens, that they don’t lose the ambition and the hope and the optimism about working. Because once that is lost, all the evidence is that it has a long-term scarring effect and makes it very difficult for youngsters to move into stable employment as adults.”

]]> 1.4270250 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0000 http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/tales_of_the_macabre_are_big_hit_with_theatre_audiences_1_4269829

IT would seem Bradford audiences can’t get enough of either the Terrible Tudors or the Vile Victorians.

The Horrible Histories stage show, based on the hugely popular Terry Deary books, is in Bradford next week - and the Alhambra Theatre has already added an extra performance due to massive demand for tickets.

The Horrible Histories books, which are the best-selling non-fiction books for children in the world and have been translated into 40 languages, are history lessons told like never before, featuring all manner of disgusting characters revealing stories from our past.

The BBC adaptation has won the British Comedy Award for best TV Sketch show and the RTS Best Childrens TV programme.

It seems the stage adaptation is equally popular, with the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford, which is hosting the show from February 28 to March 3, adding an extra performance on the final date the show is in town.

Produced by the Birmingham Stage Company, the Terrible Tudors features the legends of ‘the torturing Tudors’, and tells the story of the fate of Henry’s headless wives and his punch up with the Pope while in Vile Victorians the show reveals exactly what a baby farmer did.

For tickets call 01274 432000. The extra show is at 6pm on March 3.

SENIOR medics in Doncaster have welcomed a decision to turn Mexborough’s Montagu Hospital into a specialist rehabilitation unit.

Changes planned under the “Moving With The Times” proposals have now been agreed after a 13-week public consultation.

These changes will be implemented over the next three years.

Dr Sam Feeney, clinical lead for the Moving with the Times project, said: “We are delighted that the board have approved our plans, which we believe will improve health outcomes for the people of Doncaster who will benefit from what promises to be a state-of-the-art specialist rehabilitation centre at Montagu Hospital.

“The proposals will also help secure the future of Montagu by increasing the amount of day surgery and endoscopy procedures the hospital offers.

“The hospital developments will be matched by an expansion of community services so we can provide more care where patients have told us they would like to receive it – either at home or as close to home as possible.

“Advancements in technology mean that more patients can now be cared for at home appropriately and safely.

“Evidence shows that enabling patients to move to a course of rehabilitation or reablement as quickly as possible after a hospital stay helps them to recover better and return to everyday life much faster.”

As part of the changes to services, some wards at Tickhill Road Hospital will close and the rehab services they provide will transfer to Montagu Hospital.

Montagu, meanwhile, will house a 58-bed rehabilitation unit to treat patients who have fallen, have had an acute illness or have had a stroke.

Ron Calvert, chief executive of Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, added: “This decision will put an end to months of uncertainty about the range of services we provide at Montagu Hospital.

“The future of Montagu Hospital is assured.”

Leeds Building Society posted a record operating profit yesterday following an increase in customers and savings but its chief executive warned the UK economy would be “subdued” in 2012.

The UK’s fifth largest building society said operating profit for 2011 increased by 21 per cent to an all-time high of £102.4m, while pre-tax profit rose by 19 per cent to £50.2m.

Savings balances grew by £329m to a record level of £7.4bn and the society attracted 58,000 new members, taking total membership to a record 691,000.

Profits were also boosted by a 25 per cent increase in mortgage lending to £1.23bn.

The average loan to value was 51 per cent compared to 53 per cent in 2010. However, Leeds said 4,000, or one in three, of its mortgages were sold to first-time buyers. The number is expected to rise in 2012 following the launch of its 95 per cent mortgage last month.

Chief executive Peter Hill told the Yorkshire Post: “A lot of the mortgages we sold in 2011 were shared ownership and higher loan-to-value but it was a broad mix.”

He added: “I expect to see lending up in 2012 but our figures won’t be a dramatic double-digit growth. The environment will be fairly tough and there are a number of challenges we will have to contend with, including the increased cost of funding.”

Meanwhile, its cost income ratio reduced to 31 per cent from 34 per cent, which it said was the best of any building society in 2010. Capital and reserves increased by eight per cent to a record £572m, up from £531m in 2010.

Mr Hill, who took up his post last August, said: “I’m very pleased, we’ve had an excellent year.

“We have always tried to think long term. When the market was booming we did well but we didn’t go mad. It means we are strongly capitalised and can afford to be pretty steady. Big banks are finding it difficult because they are not in such a strong position.”

He added: “I think this year will be tough for the economy. We won’t see much growth but I don’t think we will fall off a cliff either. For lenders in a good position it will mean opportunities but others will look at shoring up their balance sheets. The net impact will be subdued.”

A CLARION call to provide a united front against plans which could see full services for mothers and children axed at a North Yorkshire hospital has been launched by a council leader.

A date for a mass rally has now been set and Foreign Secretary and Richmondshire MP, William Hague, will address the crowds that gather to protest against plans to switch the Friarage Hospital’s maternity and paediatric units to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

Now, the leader of Richmondshire Council, Coun John Blackie, is urging supporters of the campaign to mount public pressure on the NHS and has called on North Yorkshire communities to stage their own individual protest during a consultation on the proposals.

He said: “The Fight for the Friarage has absolutely rock solid support amongst the 150,000 people in the communities across the 75 miles of rural North Yorkshire the hospital serves. 

“A meeting I amongst others addressed in Northallerton attracted 400 people, all of whom were incredibly concerned, and most were outraged, by the proposals to transfer the services to the James Cook.

“This support needs to be translated into public pressure on the NHS and I ask that all district councillors encourage all the individual health communities in or serving their wards, be it mothers-to-be circles, playgroups, schools, grandparents get-togethers, social and voluntary organisations and so on, to make their own individual protest during the forthcoming public engagement period lasting between now and June.

“The more of these individual contributions that are made, the better as it will demonstrate that the proposals are hitting out at the whole spectrum of the unique extended family network we have here in North Yorkshire.”

The protest rally will take place in Northallerton on the afternoon of Saturday, May 5 and it is expected to attract over 3,000 people.

The crowds will assemble in the grounds of County Hall and expecting mothers will lead a march through the town centre to the Friarage Hospital itself. An exact time has yet to be confirmed.

The Yorkshire Post revealed last week that William Hague would speak at the protest after adding his voice to the campaign following a meeting earlier this month with the leaders of North Yorkshire County Council and Hambleton and Richmondshire District Councils.

Mr Hague claims the move would leave Yorkshire Dales mothers-to-be with what will be one of the longest journeys to access key services in England and he understood to have already met Health Secretary Andrew Lansley over the closure.

Mr Lansley has now been confirmed to be visiting the Upper Dales Health Watch in Hawes on March 15 in order to discuss the proposed changes, which if accepted could come into force early next year.

There has been a growing backlash against the controversial plans, which follow a review by the National Clinical Advisory Team (NCAT) and go out for a three-month public engagement exercise next month ahead of a formal public consultation.

More than 1,250 babies were born in 2010-11 at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton, making it the smallest maternity unit in the country.

But leading specialists are warning it is unsustainable to maintain full paediatric services at the hospital which will have a knock-on impact on maternity care.

Coun Blackie said: “There is complete agreement that James Cook University Hospital is an excellent hospital for complex healthcare episodes such as heart by-pass and cancer. The problem is that for nearly all the residents of Richmondshire, it is too far away to provide the unpredictable yet urgent care required when having a baby.”  

The South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs both the Friarage and James Cook hospitals, says it is considering the NCAT report.

sausage-skin maker Devro posted a better than expected rise in full-year profit and said it continued to invest in new facilities, reflecting its optimism on the back of rising meat consumption in emerging markets.

The company, which each year makes enough collagen casing to stretch to the moon and back several times, is also benefiting as its alternative to increasingly expensive sheep gut casings allows meat processors in the developed world to cut costs.

Devro, which is listed on the FTSE 250 index of mid-sized companies and makes casings for everything from German bratwurst to breakfast bangers, estimates that global collagen consumption grew 10 per cent in 2011.

“The volume growth is the key to this story,” said Investec analyst Nicola Mallard, who upped Devro’s target price to 335p from 315p following full-year results published yesterday.

“They’ve got access to developing and emerging markets – places like Latin America and eastern European markets have been particularly strong for them.”

Shares in the company fell 4 per cent, however, as analysts pointed to a strong rally in the run-up to the results and worries over rising energy and raw materials costs.

Devro said it was also positive about the coming year after a strong finish to 2011 that helped it overcome disruption earlier in the year caused by earthquakes, floods and poor weather in a number of its markets.

The Scotland-based company said it hoped to build on sales growth in Latin America and Russia.

]]> 1.4269834 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0000 http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/gove_warns_of_press_inquiry_threat_to_freedom_of_speech_1_4270251

The Leveson Inquiry into Press standards has given rise to a “chilling atmosphere” which threatens freedom of speech in the UK, Education Secretary Michael Gove claimed yesterday.

Mr Gove cautioned against allowing “judges, celebrities and the establishment” to become the arbiters of where the limits of free speech should be set.

Questioning the need for additional regulation of the Press, he said existing laws were already in place to deal with wrongdoing by “rogue” reporters.

And he praised News Corporation chief executive Rupert Murdoch for his decision to open a Sun on Sunday this week to take the place of the defunct News of the World.

Speaking to a Westminster lunch, the Education Secretary – who worked for Mr Murdoch on the Times – said he saw “dangers” in the inquiry into the Press chaired by appeal court judge Lord Justice Leveson, which was commissioned by David Cameron last year in the wake of claims of phone-hacking at the News of the World.

Mr Gove said: “It is undoubtedly the case that there were serious crimes which were committed, but we know that these crimes were serious because they broke – if the allegations are proved – the already existing criminal law.”

He went on: “However, there is a danger at the moment that what we may see are judges, celebrities and the establishment – all of whom have an interest in taking over from the Press as arbiters of what the free press should be – imposing either soft or hard regulation on what should be the maximum of freedom of expression and the maximum of freedom of speech.”

Mr Gove said that the Leveson Inquiry came at a particularly difficult time for the UK’s newspapers.

“That is why whenever anyone sets up a new newspaper – as Rupert Murdoch has with the Sun on Sunday – they should be applauded and not criticised, and why journalists should be more assertive in making the case for Press freedom,” he said.

MORe than 50 people, including business owners, cinemagoers and concerned parents, have objected to an application for a sex establishment licence by a lapdancing bar in Sheffield.

Spearmint Rhino in Brown Street, close to the Sheffield Hallam University students’ union, art galleries and the Showroom cinema, has been forced to apply for a sexual entertainment licence, under new powers granted to local authorities under the Policing and Crime Act 2009.

Until now the club, which is part of a national chain, had been operating under a standard alcohol licence.

However, Sheffield Council adopted the new guidelines last year, which mean that sex clubs have until May 1 this year to either gain a new licence or be closed down.

At a meeting next Tuesday, February 28, members of the authority’s licence board will consider an application from London-based Sonfield Developments Ltd – the company which operates Spearmint Rhino – for a sexual entertainment venue licence.

A total of 56 letters of objection have been submitted opposing the new licence and claiming, among other things, that the club is “inhibiting the growth and development” of nearby businesses.

One objector said the area is a “cultural hub for young people” and added: “For this area to develop into the future as a thriving area, drawing inward investment and supporting the production of world class artistic products, the quality of the area needs to be protected.”

Another opponent said: “Many of the cultural institutions in the Cultural Industries Quarter work closely with children under the age of 16, as does Sheffield Hallam University, which is also adjacent.

“Having a sexual entertainment venue in such close proximity is inappropriate and unwelcome.”

Another member of the public said: “The club is immediately adjacent to the public open space adjoining the Sheffield Hallam University students’ union.

“Having a pole dancing club overlooking this is inappropriate. It gives exactly the wrong message to parents and prospective students about the environment into which the young people, fresh from school, will be arriving.”

One opponent told the council: “As a woman, as a mother and as a proud citizen of Sheffield I am offended and embarrassed by the presence of a lap dancing club in the heart of our Cultural Industries Quarter.

“This establishment promotes women as passive objects of entertainment and normalises this objectification as a ‘fun night out’ for the boys.”

Another woman said she felt “profoundly uncomfortable walking past Spearmint Rhino ,and anticipating what I may have to deal with as I do so.”

In its application, Sonfield Developments points out that only the entrance foyer is visible from the outside of Spearmint Rhino, and “no areas where relevant entertainment is provided are visible from the outside, due to the location of the rooms and windows being boarded or blacked out.”

The application adds: “The premises has operated for a number of years with policies and practices to promote the licensing objectives under the Licensing Act 2003. No complaints have been received.

“It is not proposed to change the operation, policies or practices.”

A lengthy list of the rules of the club is also submitted with the application.

These rules ban customers from touching the dancers and add that customers must remain fully clothed at all times.

Dancers, meanwhile, must wear high heels – with a minimum of a three-inch heel – even while performing a nude table dance.

Tuesday’s meeting begins at 10am at Sheffield Town Hall.

Volunteers at the Olympics will be able to achieve a national qualification to help them find work after the Games have finished, it has been announced.

Food giant McDonald’s, one of the official partners of the London Games, is helping to select and train up to 70,000 volunteers.

The company said up to 1,000 of them, many of unemployed, will have the chance to obtain a City & Guilds Level 2 Award after the Games if they complete a period of training and sit an exam.

Everyone completing the qualification will also be offered an interview for an apprenticeship at McDonald’s.

Jez Langhorn, Vice President, People of McDonald’s, said: “It’s always been our ambition to use our role as Presenting Partner for the Games Maker programme to deliver a lasting legacy that will create opportunities for the volunteers themselves, will raise hospitality standards in our own business and across the service sector as a whole.”

Lord Coe, chairman of London 2012, seen meeting volunteers above, said they will have the chance to gain a “valuable” qualification”.

McDonald’s expects to serve over 1.75 million meals during the Games and Skills Minister John Hayes said: “Excitement and anticipation around the Olympic Games is building, and with the help of companies like McDonald’s, and the enthusiasm of the nation, we really can make London 2012 the best Olympic Games to date and achieve a lasting skills legacy.”

Banks and building societies are leaving people with hearing loss feeling “financially excluded”, campaigners have claimed.

Deaf customers are not receiving equal access to services and the increased reliance on technology such as telephone banking means they have an even tougher time, Action on Hearing Loss argued.

Campaigners said that half of those with hearing problems surveyed are unhappy with the communication methods they have with their bank or building society.

The charity found from its 6,000 members that three-quarters visit their branch in person, although less than half would prefer to communicate in this way.

One-third of respondents had experienced difficulties relating to hearing loss or deafness when communicating with their bank or building society.

Roger Wicks, a director of the charity, said: “Some banks are failing people, which can leave them frustrated and isolated, and can lead to them feeling financially excluded.

“We strongly believe that people with a hearing loss should have equal access to their banking services.”

The study argued that staff do not always understand the “text relay” system for phone communication, which allows customers to type a message which is relayed through an operator.

Action on Hearing Loss, formerly known as the RNID, surveyed 152 bank and building society branches and found that in more than half (52 per cent) there was no induction loop or the loop was not available, switched on or working.

The charity said one anonymous customer had told them about the problems in branch, saying: “(They) try to speak with me through a glass screen. They have counter loop sign but staff don’t know what it is or how it works. There is no deaf awareness.”

AA spokesman for the British Bankers’ Association (BBA) said the body would like to speak to the charity directly to discuss its concerns.

He said: “The UK’s banks have invested heavily in recent years to ensure all potential customers have full access to their services.

“On occasions when this fails, it is important to understand why and we would be keen to better understand this group’s concerns.”

People are being invited to have their say on how vast tracts of open sea off the Yorkshire coast should be developed in future.

The Government is introducing a planning system for the sea in a similar way to the one on land and wants views from locals.

As well as being a busy shipping area, Yorkshire’s East Coast is dredged for aggregates, used for gas storage and extensively fished.

In future, it will be home to many hundreds of offshore wind turbines, increasing the number of potentially competing interests.

The plans, which will cover an area from Flamborough Head to Felixstowe, will dictate the best route for a pipeline or where turbines should be sited.

They will take into account leisure activities like sailing and diving, as well as the need to conserve and protect marine species and habitats.

There is a session in Hull today from 1am to 3pm at The Deep aquarium and this evening from 5pm to 8pm at Hornsea Town Hall.

Tomorrow there is a session at The Spa Bridlington, from 11am to 3pm.

There will be MMO planners on hand and large-scale maps of the area showing potential uses.

MP Denis MacShane has again expressed his dismay at the refusal of the Department for Education to reveal details of the proposal for Rotherham Central Free School in his constituency.

The Yorkshire Post revealed earlier this month that Rotherham Council expects the school – backed by a Chuckle Brother – to be unable to open as there are no confirmed plans, staff or pupils in place despite the planned secondary being among those given the go-ahead to open this year.

Mr MacShane is now making a formal complaint.

In a letter to Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove, the MP said: “It seems unfair to me for my constituents to be under-informed on a large investment of public money due to open in September. There has still been no public outlet of information from the proposers, Future Access Schools, and to this day we still have no idea where the school might be located.”

A BOY from Yorkshire has landed a dream job as a toy tester for a national company.

Dexter Hughes, aged two, from Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, saw off strong competition to secure his place as the character Professor Galt, a creation of Galt Toys.

Applicants had to demonstrate their skills on YouTube.

The Galt Toys competition gave four children the chance to star on its website, test its toys and win £250 worth of Galt toys for the family.

Galt searched for four children to make up its own Galt Team - Professor Galt, Leonardo DiGaltci, Princess Galt and Baby Galt.

Dexter was entered into the competition by his mother, Lisa Hughes, who said: “Dexter’s personality is almost as big as his hair, so we thought he would be perfect as the Face of Galt. We are thrilled that he has won, and he can’t wait to test out his new toys.”

The Face of Galt competition, which ran for five months, invited parents to upload a video to a dedicated YouTube channel showing their child dancing, singing or telling a silly joke or funny fact.

“The wonderful array of entries, judged by the Galt toy developers, made judging all the entries their best task of the year,” said a company spokesman.

John McDonnell, managing director of James Galt Ltd, said: “We were delighted with the response from parents to the Search for the Face of Galt competition and have been impressed with all the entries we received, which made the judging very difficult.

“The four finalists we’ve chosen really do bring something special and unique to the Galt Toys brand as we all know who the real toy experts are – children.”

Almost 160,000 children start smoking every year in the UK – enough to fill around 5,200 classrooms, a charity warned.

The 157,000 children aged 11 to 15 who take up the habit every year could also make up 14,000 junior football teams, according to Cancer Research UK.

The charity, which wants plain packaging for tobacco, says eight out of 10 people start smoking before they are 19 and more must be done to prevent them starting.

Almost a million under-15s – more than a quarter (27 per cent) of all children – have tried smoking at least once .

Among 12-year-olds, 1 per cent were smoking regularly in 2009, another 2 per cent smoked occasionally and 2 per cent said they used to smoke. A year later in 2010, as 13-year-olds, 3 per cent of children smoked regularly, 2 per cent smoked occasionally and 4 per cent used to smoke.

Jean King, Cancer Research UK’s director of tobacco control, said: “Far too many young people start smoking every year. We must act to bring this number down.

“The tobacco industry spends a great deal of money on designing cigarettes and their packets so they seem glamorous, appealing, fashionable and attractive in an effort to recruit more customers.

“Our research has shown that selling all cigarettes in standardised packs will help reduce the appeal of smoking and give children one less reason to start smoking.”

Jim Richardson, 56, from Prudhoe in Northumberland, started smoking when he was about 15 and was diagnosed with advanced and inoperable lung cancer in 2010.

The father of four who runs nurseries and after-school clubs said: said: “I would hate to think that any of the hundreds of children we have looked after might ever go through what I have because they were tempted by one glitzy packet attempting to make smoking look cool.”

HOUSEHOLDERS in the East Riding are being praised for their commitment to recycling after diverting thousands of tonnes of waste away from landfill.

Latest figures show massive increases in recycling rates from kerbside collections, securing significant savings in the amount of penalties charged to the local authority for taking waste to a tip.

In a five-week period leading up to the end of January, a total of 53 per cent of household waste was recycled - an 11 per cent increase on the same period last year.

The biggest increase was in the amount of food waste, garden waste and cardboard collected in brown bins - a total of 2,248 tonnes representing a 260 per cent increase.

A total of 2,365 tonnes of paper, card, drinks cans, plastics and glass were collected in the blue bins, in increase of 67 per cent on the same period last year.

That meant the amount of residual waste destined for landfill after being collected in the green bins fell by 26 per cent to 6,800 tonnes.

Symon Fraser, East Riding Council portfolio holder for environment, housing and planning, said: “These are stunning results. The folk of East Riding pulled out all the stops over Christmas and in January to keep out of landfill as much of their waste as they could.

“The increase in what was put in the brown bins shows our residents heeded the calls to put the turkey carcases and cardboard packaging in the brown bins. Their enthusiasm will help us to provide the compost giveaways in a few months’ time.”

As well as reducing its impact on the environment, the increase in recycling will boost council budgets and save millions of pounds in the spiralling costs of sending excess waste to landfill.

Last year, the council sent 90,000 tonnes of unrecycled waste to landfill, for which it paid a landfill tax of £56 per tonne, or more than £5m. In two years the charge is set to rise to £80 per tonne, which would incur a penalty of £7.2m based on those figures.

Residents in Holderness helped make the most significant inroads into the waste mountain.

The reduction in the amount of waste collected in the green bins was 36 per cent over the five-week period, followed by a 28 per cent drop in Market Weighton and Pocklington, 27 per cent reductions in both Beverley and Haltemprice, 22 per cent falls in Bridlington and Driffield, and a 17 per cent reduction in Goole.

The figures come as residents across East Yorkshire are being urged to commit to new long-term recycling rates.

Hull and East Riding councils have launched a review of their Joint Sustainable Waste Management Strategy, which will guide the management of household waste for the next eight years.

As part of the review, the councils are proposing eight aims along with targets and actions for achieving them.

The targets include:

* Recycling and composting between 60 and 65 per cent of household waste by 2020;

* Reducing the amount of biodegradable waste sent to landfill to 20 per cent of the 1995 level of 97,376 tonnes by 2015/16, and to 15 per cent by 2020/21;

* Encouraging residents and businesses to become responsible for the waste they create.

The recycling and composting target would be 65 per cent in the East Riding and 60 per cent in Hull, because there are bigger gardens in the East Riding and more flats and apartments in Hull.

Announcing the review, East Riding Council leader Stephen Parnaby said: “We must now look ahead knowing that we face some challenges, the pressures on our budgets being just one. But there is much to be encouraged about and in the handbook we list the ways in which we will provide value-for-money services and facilities to manage waste through to 2020.”

To see the handbook outlining the proposals and comment on the review, visit www.target45plus.org.uk.

IT REMAINS a defining moment in the battle to retain the Falklands Islands from the invading Argentine forces.

And to mark the 30th anniversary of the conflict, a Yorkshire-born paratrooper who led the final attack in the Battle of Goose Green will reveal his memories of the key moment in the Falklands War.

Peter Kennedy will give a talk at Harrogate Theatre about the first decisive land battle in the Falklands conflict, with all proceeds going to three military charities, Help for Heroes, The Royal British Legion, and The Parachute Regiment Charity. Mr Kennedy grew up in Keighley where many of his relatives still live. However, he now lives in Shrewsbury with his wife, Shirley, who is originally from Haworth. He rose to the rank of Major in a 25-year Army career - with the majority of the time spent with the Parachute Regiment.

The father-of-three, 54, said: “It is only in recent times that I have really thought about what happened, but when you start talking about the conflict all the memories start flooding back. The talk will raise money for causes which are close to my heart, as two of my children have themselves pursued military careers.”

The talk will be held from 7.30pm on May 29, and tickets priced £15 are available on 01423 502116.

email paul.jeeves@ypn.co.uk

Council tax could rise three per cent for two years in a row in Hull, opposition councillors claim.

The figures come from the medium term financial plan, which are part of the budget proposals being discussed on Thursday.

This year council tax in the city is being frozen as Hull Council, like many others round the country, took advantage of a one-off grant from the Government.

However the Lib Dems claim city ratepayers are in for a sharp rise in 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 because Labour’s spending plans will create a gap of £24m in the council’s finances.

Labour’s Phil Webster branded the claims “ridiculous”: “This is an officer assumption not a member assumption; we haven’t even discussed council tax in the future - but we have made a decision this year which is zero.

“What happens if the Government comes forward and says they will fund a freeze again?”

The Liberal Democrats are putting forward proposals to find £11m of savings, including nearly £5m to cover inflationary costs of three per cent on a wide range of “non pay” items - everything from fuel to pens and paper.

Their amendments also include proposals to develop a £5m apprenticeship scheme to tackle residents concerns including street cleaning and £1m towards the green energy sector. They insist they could still afford a council tax freeze beyond this year.

But Coun Webster said their plans to save money from inflation costs would mean having to make a decision “to turn the heating down or stop feeding pensioners” and came with a health warning from an officer that “no definitive assurance can be given as to the deliverability of these proposals.”

Coun Mike Ross, deputy leader of the Lib Dem group, said there would still be money to fund necessary costs: “What we are saying is we don’t believe in a blanket ban for inflationary costs. We have to use limited taxpayers money wisely and efficiently.”

TRANSPORT technology group Tracsis expects to beat market expectations for its full year results after securing a lucrative contract.

Tracis revealed yesterday that it had received a “significant” order for its data-logging and condition monitoring equipment.

Tracsis has grown steadily since it was spun out of the University of Leeds’ School of Computing in 2004.

The company’s products allow transport operators to computerise staff and crew scheduling through ‘smart planning’. Its MPEC subsidiary, bought in June last year, allows remote monitoring of trackside equipment, reducing costs of maintenance for operators. The latest order comes from an existing UK client and has a total value of £2.9m.

In a statement, Tracsis said: “As a result of this win, and continued successful trading across the group, the company advises that its revenue and profit expectations for the year ending July 31, 2012 are expected to be ahead of current analyst expectations.”

John McArthur, the chief executive, said: “We are delighted to have won this further order, which is testament to the quality of the product we offer.”

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley is doing “a very good” job and understands the NHS better than most, said David Cameron in defence of the under-fire Cabinet minister.

The Prime Minister backed his colleague after an opinion poll showing a majority of voters were in favour of ditching the legislation altogether.

Asked if he would sack the architect of the controversial reforms at a Downing Street Press conference, Mr Cameron replied: “I think Andrew Lansley is doing a very good job.

“I have worked with him for many, many years and I think he understands the health service better than almost anyone else in Parliament and does a very good job and he has my support.”

Mr Cameron said reform “always involves argument” but he was confident the Government could win the arguments and show that the changes would improve the NHS.

FIVE times as many parents and students in Yorkshire believe the main reason to go to university is to get a good job rather than receiving a well-rounded education, new figures reveal.

A poll carried out by financial services giant KPMG has also shown that three-quarters of the students and parents questioned in the region fear higher tuition fees could be a barrier which prevents them or their children from going into higher education.

The figures show concern over the impact of tuition fees – which soar up to £9,000-a-year from September – is slightly higher in Yorkshire than across the rest of the country.

KPMG launched the survey of 1,000 people nationally – 500 parents and 500 school leavers or students – to gauge how people’s attitudes have been affected by the changes to fees introduced this year.

The survey reveals that 63 per cent of those questioned in Yorkshire believe that being set up on a path towards a good career is the main reason for going to university, compared with a national figure of 68 per cent.

This was by far the most popular choice given for wanting to get into higher education.

Only 13 per cent of Yorkshire respondents thought getting a well rounded education was the main reason to go to university while six per cent believed it was “to find yourself” and three per cent said it was to “have fun.”

Nationally the figures showed that parents were more concerned about the impact of fees than current students or school leavers.

Of the parents questioned 77 per cent said that the increase would be a barrier for their child to go to university. Two thirds of current students said that the increase would have been a barrier to them attending, while 69 percent of school leavers planning to go to university feel that the fees could be a barrier.

Despite this, a strong majority still believe that going to university is as important as ever – 71 percent overall, and 78 percent of current school leavers.

One in five parents – 19 per cent – admitted that “part of me hopes my child won’t get in or hadn’t got in to university because of the costs I could face.”

KPMG’s northern education sector director Derrick Jones said: “It is really important for young people and their parents to look at all the options available to them. For many, a traditional route through university will remain the best course. But there are alternatives. Much has been done by Government and businesses to open up access to work experience including internships and apprenticeships, and more sponsored degrees and other schemes have sprung into being.

“From KPMG’s perspective, and that of most large employers, we want to choose the best people from the widest possible pool of talent. That’s why it is also crucial for employers to do more to develop programmes that offer credible, quality alternatives to school leavers for whom traditional degree study is not the best match.

“It’s clear that university is shifting from being the last step in an individual’s education to being the first decisive step in building a career. While we can debate the pros and cons of this, the fact is that young people cannot afford to let the grass grow under their feet in today’s highly competitive environment.

“Return on investment it seems is the order of the day. This appears to be borne out in the recently released UCAS figures which showed a drop in applications and an emphasis on subjects that were perceived to offer better employment prospects, such as science, technology and maths.”

The Yorkshire Post reported last month that applications to the region’s universities have slumped by more than 20,000 for courses starting this year as the figures suggested that Yorkshire is being hit harder than the rest of the country by the Government’s £9,000 tuition fee hike.

Several Yorkshire universities have suffered major drops in numbers this year, including Sheffield Hallam in Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg’s home city, which had 18 per cent fewer applications – a drop of almost 9,000.

KPMG’s poll has also showed that with increased costs comes raised expectations. Seventy-eight per cent of all respondents believe that universities need to improve careers services, and 69 per cent said that they need to provide more timetabled careers advice.

Satisfaction levels amongst current university students were mixed. While 82 percent are satisfied with the academic teaching, only 48 per cent are satisfied with the careers advice on offer. Among school leavers, the verdict on careers advice available at school was similar with 55 per cent satisfied, and 20 per cent saying they were dissatisfied.

Expectations were not limited to universities themselves: respondents are also looking to employers to do more.

Eighty-nine per cent of respondents want to see companies offering more work experience, internships and apprenticeships, while eighty two per cent believe they should offer more sponsored degrees.

Three quarters of respondents believe that companies need to put more school outreach and contact programmes in place.

KPMG launched a school leavers programme last year which offers work experience from day one with a starting salary of £20,000, a university degree with all tuition fees paid, and an accountancy qualification.

More than 90 school leavers joined the firm through this route including five in the firm’s Leeds office. KPMG plans to double its school leaver intake this year. The firm is also developing a contact programme with over 100 secondary schools around the country.

One of the UK’s biggest pawnbrokers unveiled higher profits yesterday after it said its business benefited from a lack of lending by high street banks.

Reading-based Albemarle & Bond, which has 174 stores and around 40 gold-buying pop-up shops, said its area of the market, which also includes payday loans, had been helped by the volatile and tough economic climate.

Albemarle, which has offered gold-buying services alongside traditional pawnbroking since 2009, said the gold-buying division saw an 88 per cent surge in gross profits to £12m as volumes bought increased by 57 per cent in the six months to December 31.

The wider group saw pre-tax profits increase 12 per cent to £12.1m, as the gold-buying division was also helped by the strong price of gold, which broke the 1,900 US dollars an ounce barrier last September and is currently at 1,740 US dollars.

Chief executive Barry Stevenson said: “We have been helped by the recent market environment which has seen traditional high street banks reduce the levels of consumer credit they offer as well as the general economic environment.”

Albemarle, which also trades as Herbert Brown, is two years into a five-year growth plan, which includes increasing the number of stores. The group opened 14 stores in the first half of the financial year and is on track to open 25 across the full year.

Its pawnbroking business recorded a 14 per cent rise in gross profit to £17.2m, as the pledge book for the division increased by 7 per cent to £38.3m.

However, the higher price of gold did not benefit all divisions as its retail arm was hit by weaker sales of jewellery, leading to a drop in profits to £2.7m, from £4.1m.

York’s smallest secondary school is set to close because of falling school rolls and changing demographics.

Just 40 pupils have applied for a place at Burnholme Community College in September, which has around 270 pupils.

There will be a parent’s meeting tonight at 6pm where proposals to close the school – rated “good” in its last Ofsted inspection – by 2014 will be discussed.

Coun Janet Looker, Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Young People’s Services, said: “The school isn’t on an upward spiral – it is on a downward spiral.

“The school itself is fine but there are two factors, when you have only 270 children because the school is funded on pupil numbers it doesn’t attract enough funding to sustain the staff.

“The other issue is you can’t attract sufficient staff to really give you a broad curriculum.

“The demographics have changed, there are more secondary school places then secondary school pupils... there are lots of spaces in the sector so parents can move onto different schools and it just started to slide away. If every parent in the area had chosen Burnholme we would probably be keeping the school open.

“It is also an area that has been significantly affected by student housing and that has had an impact on the number of families with school-age children living in the area.”

Coun Looker said Archbishop’s Holgate School, which is an academy, could take most of the children.

City of York Council will be holding a public consultation next month. If the closure is agreed the 172 students in Years 9,10 and 11 will finish their education at Burnholme before it closes.

The 114 students in Year 8 and Year 7 would move to new schools in 2013 and 2014 in order to start their GCSE courses at neighbouring schools.

Chairman of governors Kim Daniells said: “The governors at Burnholme are very proud of the outstanding achievements of our staff and students and recognise the impact that any closure would have upon all those who know and value our school.

“We also recognise our duty to ensure that resources are used for the benefit of all. We would be deeply saddened by the closure of our school but are committed to working towards a solution that safeguards the best interests of all concerned.”

REFUSE collectors have voted to stage strike action after their bosses were accused of “filling their pockets” while imposing a three-year pay freeze on frontline staff.

Sheffield Council pays private firm Veolia to deal with household waste and recycling under a 35-year contract and receives an inflationary increase from the authority on its fees each year.

But the GMB union, which represents 200 bin collectors, said while the increases have been given to the company, they have not been passed on to the workforce.

Regional organiser Peter Davies said: “While the front line staff are out there emptying the bins, Veolia’s management have been lining their pockets.

“Our members had been led to believe that Veolia was suffering in the same way as the council was, with no increases in funding.

“But it turns out the company has been seeing a rise in what it gets from the council every year, but has not been passing it on to its workers. Our members are furious.”

Mr Davies said 60 per cent of staff returned their ballot papers, with 75 per cent backing a strike and 86 per cent backing action short of a strike.

A mass meeting of staff has been scheduled for the beginning of next month to decide what action to take and set any dates for industrial action.

A spokesman for Veolia said: “Wage reviews for our Sheffield refuse collection staff are undertaken at national level as part of the National Joint Council arrangements, under which no increases have been awarded.”

“Veolia has always honoured pay increases agreed by the NJC and will continue to do so in the future.

]]> 1.4269823 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0000 http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/charges_could_be_introduced_at_museum_saved_from_the_chop_1_4269830

ADMISSION charges could be introduced for a trial period in a bid to preserve the future of a West Yorkshire museum with historic Brontë connections.

Senior councillors in Kirklees will meet next week to discuss introducing the charges - which officers warn could lead to a reduction in visitor numbers - but will help to safeguard the future of Red House Museum, in Gomersal.

There was a public outcry, together with criticism, from a number of quarters including the world-renowned Brontë Society which declared closure proposals for the museum to be “an act of vandalism on the local tourist industry.”

Red House was once the home of Mary Taylor, a close friend of Charlotte Brontë.

The plan was originally part of proposed savings to meet budget shortfalls.

But after an outcry it was announced there would be a rethink on Red House with Coun Mehboob Khan, the leader of Kirklees Council earlier saying: “We have proposed to save Red House Museum – it is an important part of our history and we want to look at more innovative ways of generating the income needed to keep it running, or look at how we might make the saving elsewhere.”

The local authority needs to reduce its overall budget by £64m. Members of the council meet to discuss its budget today.

If the budget is agreed members of the council’s cabinet committee are due to meet next week to discuss whether to back proposals to introduce charges at Red House for a trial period.

A report to committee members says: “Following proposals to close Red House as part of the 2012/13 budget, members have expressed a wish to develop a package of options to increase income to the Museums Service to achieve the budget reduction instead of closing Red House.

“One part of that income generation could be achieved by introducing, for a trial period, charging for admission to Red House. This paper sets out a proposal for introducing the charging from April 2012 to allow for evaluation of the success of the trial before the next budget process.

“Officers will also be developing other measures to increase income.”

It is proposed that adults will pay £3.50, children £1.50 and a family ticket will be available for £8.50. Season tickets will also be available, allowing visitors to make unlimited return visits to the site as well as Oakwell Hall.

The report to the cabinet committee, which meets on Tuesday, adds: “Red House Museum attracted 28,602 visitors in 2010/11. It has a high ratio of adult visitors who comprise 70% of the audience. Its Brontë connections help to draw tourists and day visitors as well as local visitors.

“Red House is therefore relatively well placed to accommodate admission charges given the profile of its visitors and the wider interest generated by its Brontë connections.”

“Admission charges will impact on visitor numbers and make visiting less affordable for low income households, although this will be mitigated by concessions for Kirklees Passport Holders. It is estimated that the initial reduction in visitor numbers could be around 30% or 6,000 visitors but will yield income of around £20,000.

“It should be noted that opening hours are also scheduled for reduction from autumn 2012 as part of the councils Medium Term Financial Plan and this will also reduce visits to the site,” the report adds.

Council officers also say that discussions are underway to create a Friends organisation for the museum which can work in the interests of the site and help support its work.

Charlotte Brontë is known to have been a regular visitor to Red House. She also featured the home in her novel Shirley.

Built in 1660, Red House was home to a family of cloth merchants and manufacturers.

joanne.ginley@ypn.co.uk

FARMERS are to be given vastly increased input into policy formation as part of a Government programme to cut red tape, with Ministers pledging to allow food producers to be “farmers, not form-fillers”.

Ministers at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) yesterday pledged to slash regulation for farmers and said the announcement would be the first in a series designed to cut bureaucracy across all walks of business life.

Among the measures set to be introduced will be simplified environmental rules and a pilot to share data between Government departments to reduce the amount of forms farmers must complete.

The most significant announcement, however, was the news that the farming industry will play an increased role in policy formation, with an exchange programme between staff at Defra and the NFU set to begin in April. As well as giving the farming industry greater input into Government, it promises to look for non-regulatory solutions wherever possible.

The Government has also pledged to publish a much-requested “Food Plan” to analyse how the UK is going to produce enough food to continue to feed itself.

The announcements, made at this week’s National Farmers’ Union conference in Birmingham, were given a cautious welcome by farming leaders, with the NFU bosses urging Government to implement these changes speedily so that farmers can grow their businesses effectively.

Defra made the announcement in response to the Farming Regulation Task Force which it set up in 2010 to look at ways to reduce bureaucracy.

As well as reduced paperwork and greater participation, there are to be fewer farm inspections and a pledge to try to end the six-day livestock standstill rule.

Defra Secretary Caroline Spelman told delegates the announcement would create “a legacy of freedom” for Britain’s farmers and Farming Minister Jim Paice called it “a new approach to working with the farming industry”.

He said: “With rising global demand for food, farmers and their skills are in huge demand... The response to the Farming Regulation Taskforce commits to clear actions that will make it easier for farmers to get on with their jobs and make the most of those opportunities.”

While the NFU welcomed the announcements it questioned why it had taken Government so long to implement the proposals, given that they were recommended nearly a year ago.

Deputy president Meurig Raymond said: “We had hoped for an implementation plan but have instead an Implementation Group. Now is the time for action.

“Farming’s experiences of previous de-regulation commitments have not bred confidence that businesses, as opposed to regulators, will benefit from these proposals.”

The union’s president, Peter Kendall, also used his opening address to again highlight the lack of progress on a Groceries Code Adjudicator, saying that the general public “would be shocked” if it was aware of how food producers and farmers were treated by large retailers.

Comment: Page 12.

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