Friday, 8 June 2012
Stepping Back
Seems strange to read of my 'retirement' but I'm getting used to doing so. A TSI press release was published a couple of weeks ago (see http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/) followed by the advertisement for my successor in our TS Today monthly publication and this morning I've just seen a piece in the Municipal Journal for 7 June. Recognised the photo! Although it will be another 10 months before I finally 'step back' (my preferred term) from my CEO role with TSI time already feels as if it is racing. Still so much to do and achieve and still so many ambitions for TSI, Trading Standards and me. A young 61 maybe (??) but with much unfinished business in support of my often brilliant trading standards peers and consumers and business too. Our TSI Annual Conference is however almost upon us, 26-28 June in Manchester, and I am conscious that this will be my last at the TSI executive helm. As always I am relishing the Conference occasion and the TSI team has put together the sort of wonderful show trading standards and our partners need and deserve. Hoping to see many of you in Manchester. Fabulous venue, fantastic city.
Friday, 29 July 2011
Red Tape Challenge - Again
If you are in trading standards or another of the 'regulatory' (not a descriptor I am at all fond of but central and local government seem to insist?!) or public protection professions you get used to but no less weary of being described by politicians and similarly slavishly by their officials as a 'burden' on business. There is always the occasional and convenient anecdote available to illustrate this of course which feeds the policy by anecdote appetite but does little to paint the real picture. Trading standards has been a 'better regulation' profession long before it became a soundbite for politicians many of whom had been party to the imposition of red tape burdens in the first place as making new legislation too often has been the response to any new malpractice etc. We invented the 'home authority' principle which businesses of all sizes have found so supportive for 40 years and which Government and Parliament have since extended to the 'primary authority' principle in tandem. Good. Some rules can be daft and no longer fit with our modern needs. Why would you want to impose controls on the sale of chocolate liqueurs or Christmas crackers? So when Vince Cable made his announcement yesterday that the Red Tape Challenge is to see 160 regulations scrapped in the retail sector I raised another weary and muted cheer but with a resigned eye to looking for his applause of the burdens that my trading standards peers lift from small, medium and big business rather than impose. One day perhaps......although to be fair he has said that we are the most important front line service together with CAB in the entire consumer landscape so that gives us hope!
Monday, 28 February 2011
Olympics need trading standards
The 2012 Olympics. A big thing for trading standards. Today I chaired a meeting of trading standards colleagues from the London councils and from local authorities outside of London who are hosting events.
Big concerns about the lack of resources to tackle the counterfeiters, ticket touts and other rogues who will look to hijack the Olympic Games opportunity to rip off consumers, UK and overseas visitors, and leave a bad taste in the mouths of those who will be here to enjoy the spectacle and the experience.
The good thing is that I can see the professionalism and resolve of trading standards practitioners kicking in. The bad thing is that they need much more real help from central and local government and from the Olympic authorities and business to be able to keep the Olympic parks and the hinterland fair and clean of consumer crime. I shall be writing to Ministers and others to press the case even at this late hour.
Big concerns about the lack of resources to tackle the counterfeiters, ticket touts and other rogues who will look to hijack the Olympic Games opportunity to rip off consumers, UK and overseas visitors, and leave a bad taste in the mouths of those who will be here to enjoy the spectacle and the experience.
The good thing is that I can see the professionalism and resolve of trading standards practitioners kicking in. The bad thing is that they need much more real help from central and local government and from the Olympic authorities and business to be able to keep the Olympic parks and the hinterland fair and clean of consumer crime. I shall be writing to Ministers and others to press the case even at this late hour.
Change Happens
So much happening in the trading standards arena that I can hardly draw breath.
The BIS consumer landscape review, the planned abolition of the OFT, Consumer Focus and more, the suggested centralising of enforcement by the Food Standards Agency, the creation of the new Financial Conduct Authority and the possible transfer of consumer credit regulation to Canary Wharf from the OFT.....are all but part of the turbulence we currently are navigating.
I was on Radio 4 You and Yours today. I was asked about the changes I had seen in my 40 plus years in trading standards and consumer affairs. There were many of course and setting up the OFT in 1973 was a big one. Now that is to go and I made the point that the changes being condensed into these past months and the next two years will more than outpace those of the previous 40.
At the same time my trading standards colleagues across the country are having to cope with increasing demand alongside decreasing capacity as funding cuts of 40% start to bite. Their will to win however remains undaunted and they will look to new ways to support the consumers and businesses that need them.
By the way - the Financial Conduct Authority was to be the Consumer Protection and Markets Authority. A pity somebody changed their mind because the 'consumer' word should be there!
The BIS consumer landscape review, the planned abolition of the OFT, Consumer Focus and more, the suggested centralising of enforcement by the Food Standards Agency, the creation of the new Financial Conduct Authority and the possible transfer of consumer credit regulation to Canary Wharf from the OFT.....are all but part of the turbulence we currently are navigating.
I was on Radio 4 You and Yours today. I was asked about the changes I had seen in my 40 plus years in trading standards and consumer affairs. There were many of course and setting up the OFT in 1973 was a big one. Now that is to go and I made the point that the changes being condensed into these past months and the next two years will more than outpace those of the previous 40.
At the same time my trading standards colleagues across the country are having to cope with increasing demand alongside decreasing capacity as funding cuts of 40% start to bite. Their will to win however remains undaunted and they will look to new ways to support the consumers and businesses that need them.
By the way - the Financial Conduct Authority was to be the Consumer Protection and Markets Authority. A pity somebody changed their mind because the 'consumer' word should be there!
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
Trading standards and wealth creation
Today's last quarter report on the state of the UK economy has obviously raised eyebrows here and overseas at our disappointing performance. The Chancellor apparently blamed the bad weather 17 times in a lunchtime interview. The same snow and ice doesn't seem to have hurt the German economy though? We should all be worried at this lack of growth because it hurts us all.
I've always said that trading standards is part of wealth creation in its support for business, consumers and therefore the economy. News stories like today's throw up all sorts of mind blowing statistics. For example UK manufacturing grew in the last quarter by 3.3%. I thought 'great' until the commentators deflated that little bit of good news by telling us that manufacturing only accounts for 12% of GDP. Only 12% which means 88% is made up of non manufacturing service industries etc.
I knew the industrial revolution was long behind us but that 12% still surprised me. I wonder what the German or French figures are? Must find out.
I've always said that trading standards is part of wealth creation in its support for business, consumers and therefore the economy. News stories like today's throw up all sorts of mind blowing statistics. For example UK manufacturing grew in the last quarter by 3.3%. I thought 'great' until the commentators deflated that little bit of good news by telling us that manufacturing only accounts for 12% of GDP. Only 12% which means 88% is made up of non manufacturing service industries etc.
I knew the industrial revolution was long behind us but that 12% still surprised me. I wonder what the German or French figures are? Must find out.
FSA Chief seeks new consumer safeguards
Today's FT carried the heading 'FSA chief seeks new consumer safeguards'. The pink newspaper is always worth a look but never more so than when it talks 'consumer protection' and I was certainly drawn to its headline this morning. I'm sure Lord Turner's remarks and timely interest in consumer protection is not unconnected with the anticipated relocation of consumer credit regulation from the OFT to the new FSA, Financial Services Authority, successor body (or one of them) the Consumer Protection and Markets Authority, CPMA.
The tried and trusted Consumer Credit Act looks likely to give way to a new Financial Services Act. Canary Wharf has never been what I would call close to front line consumers and nor to front line trading standards. In the new world of the CPMA and the already up and running Consumer Financial Education Board I very much hope that those bodies and people can relate to ordinary consumers and even trading standards officers. The lifts in Canary Wharf can quickly get you down from a great height to ground level. That is where consumer credit controls and enforcement against the terror of loan sharks have to be real.
The tried and trusted Consumer Credit Act looks likely to give way to a new Financial Services Act. Canary Wharf has never been what I would call close to front line consumers and nor to front line trading standards. In the new world of the CPMA and the already up and running Consumer Financial Education Board I very much hope that those bodies and people can relate to ordinary consumers and even trading standards officers. The lifts in Canary Wharf can quickly get you down from a great height to ground level. That is where consumer credit controls and enforcement against the terror of loan sharks have to be real.
Friday, 21 January 2011
Consumer Direct onwards
I've been looking at 'The Citizen' news journal published by Citizen's Advice. Glad to see it led by a foreword they kindly asked me to write. Its inclusion helps to symbolise the emerging importance of the new and ever stronger relationship that will exist between trading standards and Trading Standards Institute with Citizen's Advice and CABx together with Citizen's Advice Scotland.
This is the new world being prompted by the 'consumer landscape' proposals of Vince Cable and his BIS team. First we need to secure the future of the successor service that CAB will have to construct from Consumer Direct. This has become part of the backbone of trading standards and cannot be lost.
It is clear to me though that from the top down Citizen's Advice and CAS are as determined as we are to see an even better successor in place by April 2012 latest. The new chief executives of both organisations and their teams continue to impress and that was reinforced when I met again with Gillian Guy at Citizen's Advice yesterday. She clearly has all the right qualities to lead her organisation into its extended future and also to help lead their new partnership with trading standards.
This is the new world being prompted by the 'consumer landscape' proposals of Vince Cable and his BIS team. First we need to secure the future of the successor service that CAB will have to construct from Consumer Direct. This has become part of the backbone of trading standards and cannot be lost.
It is clear to me though that from the top down Citizen's Advice and CAS are as determined as we are to see an even better successor in place by April 2012 latest. The new chief executives of both organisations and their teams continue to impress and that was reinforced when I met again with Gillian Guy at Citizen's Advice yesterday. She clearly has all the right qualities to lead her organisation into its extended future and also to help lead their new partnership with trading standards.
Monday, 17 January 2011
More speed less haste
Interesting to hear the Prime Minister being interviewed/interrogated by John Humphrys this morning. The PM in effect saying that 'all change' was the order of the day and there is no time to waste. Humphrys was saying that it is all too quick, mistakes will be made etc. They focused on the NHS and Andrew Lansley's mission to rid us of PCTs and localise decision making to GPs (whether they are ready or not?).
Has the PM really put Oliver Letwin and Danny Alexander on his shoulder just in case he is running too enthusiastically?
I can't help but relate these conversations to the trading standards world I am closest to. I accept that any Government will look to get the bad news out of the way in the first half of it's reign so the preoccupation with speed rather than distance is to be expected. But we only need to look at the Parliamentary debates around the Public Bodies Bill which seeks to abolish consumer relevant organisations like Consumer Focus and the Office of Fair Trading to know that there are real concerns around 'more haste less speed'.
It feels like we are all caught in extra turbulent waters. The key is to know how to swim and not sink.
Has the PM really put Oliver Letwin and Danny Alexander on his shoulder just in case he is running too enthusiastically?
I can't help but relate these conversations to the trading standards world I am closest to. I accept that any Government will look to get the bad news out of the way in the first half of it's reign so the preoccupation with speed rather than distance is to be expected. But we only need to look at the Parliamentary debates around the Public Bodies Bill which seeks to abolish consumer relevant organisations like Consumer Focus and the Office of Fair Trading to know that there are real concerns around 'more haste less speed'.
It feels like we are all caught in extra turbulent waters. The key is to know how to swim and not sink.
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
We are all in this together?
Not one of the better days in my trading standards life (40 years of it now!). These are very difficult times for so many of my professional friends and colleagues. Some of the pillars that have become such a familiar part of the trading standards world are crumbling before our eyes.
LACOTS was set up as the trading standards coordinating body in 1978. I worked for it for 13 years from 1989. It has done a fantastic job and is a real success story. Genuine value for money.
It became LACORS and then the Local Government Regulation, LGR, and I always feared for its future when it moved under the same roof as its parent the Local Government Association -feared for its independence and its top slice funding both of which were its core strengths.
Now it is to go and quickly, a victim of the Local Government Association, LGA, losing subscribers and money and a 38% cut over 4 years in top slice funds to the central bodies like the LGR.
Trading standards needs the LGR and never more so than now, but that won't persuade the LGA. Now therefore is the time to stay together, to keep close, to take strength from being a team working to fill the huge void left by LGR. But others see it differently and see opportunity. I try to understand them. I'm glad I'm not easily depressed.
LACOTS was set up as the trading standards coordinating body in 1978. I worked for it for 13 years from 1989. It has done a fantastic job and is a real success story. Genuine value for money.
It became LACORS and then the Local Government Regulation, LGR, and I always feared for its future when it moved under the same roof as its parent the Local Government Association -feared for its independence and its top slice funding both of which were its core strengths.
Now it is to go and quickly, a victim of the Local Government Association, LGA, losing subscribers and money and a 38% cut over 4 years in top slice funds to the central bodies like the LGR.
Trading standards needs the LGR and never more so than now, but that won't persuade the LGA. Now therefore is the time to stay together, to keep close, to take strength from being a team working to fill the huge void left by LGR. But others see it differently and see opportunity. I try to understand them. I'm glad I'm not easily depressed.
Saturday, 8 January 2011
Three Lions show us the way
Wasn't it great to see an England cricket team wear the three lions with such pride and purpose?
Their resounding Ashes victory down under has given so many of us, whether cricket fans or not, a wonderful boost at the start of this new year. They have illustrated what teamwork, preparation, courage and determination can achieve. All those qualities are required for trading standards and for TSI in this extraordinary year of change and transformation ahead.
The three lions boys have shown that belief and a positive attitude can turn the odds in your favour and ultimately secure success. An inspiration and very timely too.
Talking of lions I hope that another pride of Lions will be similarly inspired to turn the odds in their favour too when they entertain Birmingham City in the FA Cup third round at The Den today. I'll be there to cheer them onto victory.
Another boost when we all need it most. Taking part is fine but playing well and winning...there is no better feeling whether in work or recreation. Welcome again 2011. We are ready for you!
Their resounding Ashes victory down under has given so many of us, whether cricket fans or not, a wonderful boost at the start of this new year. They have illustrated what teamwork, preparation, courage and determination can achieve. All those qualities are required for trading standards and for TSI in this extraordinary year of change and transformation ahead.
The three lions boys have shown that belief and a positive attitude can turn the odds in your favour and ultimately secure success. An inspiration and very timely too.
Talking of lions I hope that another pride of Lions will be similarly inspired to turn the odds in their favour too when they entertain Birmingham City in the FA Cup third round at The Den today. I'll be there to cheer them onto victory.
Another boost when we all need it most. Taking part is fine but playing well and winning...there is no better feeling whether in work or recreation. Welcome again 2011. We are ready for you!
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
Loan Sharks and Scams
Not everyone knows what an incredible and courageous job many of my trading standards friends do in tackling the menace of illegal money lending. The Government via BIS has funded a handful of teams to bring loan sharks to task and they have been spectacularly successful.
More than 500 loan sharks have been arrested, £37million of illegal debts have been written off, over £1.3million cash has been seized from the sharks, 16,000 victims have been helped, and £20million of assets are being investigated with a view to removing these from illegal money lenders.
The return on the funds provided has been immense and we have all been working hard to ensure that the funds did not fall foul of the Government's cuts to public spending. Imagine our delight when we saw the Consumer Minister Ed Davey MP announce on 28 December that funding would continue for this work and for our scambuster teams for the next year and probably to 2013.
In these cash strapped times for ordinary people the loan sharks are only too eager to sink their teeth into those desperate for money. That's is when the cycle of ever growing repayments and potential threats begins. Loan sharks beware.
More than 500 loan sharks have been arrested, £37million of illegal debts have been written off, over £1.3million cash has been seized from the sharks, 16,000 victims have been helped, and £20million of assets are being investigated with a view to removing these from illegal money lenders.
The return on the funds provided has been immense and we have all been working hard to ensure that the funds did not fall foul of the Government's cuts to public spending. Imagine our delight when we saw the Consumer Minister Ed Davey MP announce on 28 December that funding would continue for this work and for our scambuster teams for the next year and probably to 2013.
In these cash strapped times for ordinary people the loan sharks are only too eager to sink their teeth into those desperate for money. That's is when the cycle of ever growing repayments and potential threats begins. Loan sharks beware.
Hooray for Trading standard officers and MBEs
It was brilliant to see two of my trading standards colleagues awarded MBEs in the New Years Honours list. Fantastic.
Martin Woodley does a great job in Oxfordshire in leading the fight against doorstep crime. Too many hard-pressed people are taken to the cleaners by rogues and criminals that see them as fleecing targets. They have no hearts or conscience and think nothing of robbing the elderly and others of their life savings. Martin and his team work closely with the police and other agencies to track them down and his MBE award is richly deserved.
Similarly Peter Aston has done an exceptional job in supporting consumers across the north west of England. He runs Warrington and Halton trading standards services and is one of those guys who leaves no stone unturned in his determination to help those who need help. If there isn't a solution on the shelf he'll look to invent one and he has been an inspiration to many trading standards professionals who work their socks off in support of honest people and businesses. Both suffer at the hands of the cowboys if they are allowed to run unchecked. Martin and Peter are two examples of trading standards professionals who live to stop that happening.
Martin Woodley does a great job in Oxfordshire in leading the fight against doorstep crime. Too many hard-pressed people are taken to the cleaners by rogues and criminals that see them as fleecing targets. They have no hearts or conscience and think nothing of robbing the elderly and others of their life savings. Martin and his team work closely with the police and other agencies to track them down and his MBE award is richly deserved.
Similarly Peter Aston has done an exceptional job in supporting consumers across the north west of England. He runs Warrington and Halton trading standards services and is one of those guys who leaves no stone unturned in his determination to help those who need help. If there isn't a solution on the shelf he'll look to invent one and he has been an inspiration to many trading standards professionals who work their socks off in support of honest people and businesses. Both suffer at the hands of the cowboys if they are allowed to run unchecked. Martin and Peter are two examples of trading standards professionals who live to stop that happening.
Tuesday, 21 December 2010
Trading Standards in a fight for survival
We really are in a fight for survival.
I'm seeing local councils imposing cuts of 40 and 50% on their trading standards service budgets. Most of those services are too small anyway and to have to absorb that sort of hit will prove injurious at best and fatal at worst.
Yesterday BBC Breakfast did a short expose of the work and risk TS faces. Trading standards is a real force for the good. I think the BBC understands that. Most of its viewers will. I'm not sure though if the Local Government Minister Bob Neill MP does.
For the purposes of the BBC programme he gave a statement "Every bit of the public sector needs to do its bit to help pay off the massive budget deficit. Government has been living a credit card lifestyle and its time to pay off the bills. Town hall trading standards should focus their finite resources where public welfare is most at risk. This means tackling the like of cowboy builders and shops which peddle alcohol to children, but not wasting time on prosecuting greengrocers for using imperial scales."
Either the minister knows too little of the work and impact of trading standards or he just sees it as fair game for a political shot. Believe me minister if you did take the trouble to experience just a day with my trading standards colleagues you would see the intelligence driven and courageous way in which they tackle fraud, crime, scams, illegal sales of alcohol, tobacco, knives and more to the young and never give a thought to greengrocers selling in imperial or metric.
You should be applauding trading standards and helping it sustain its help to consumers and businesses in need, not looking to throw a poorly informed brick at it when it needs your support most. After all, your coalition government colleague Vince Cable MP has just recently stated the value he at least attaches to front line trading standards. Perhaps you don't agree?
I'm seeing local councils imposing cuts of 40 and 50% on their trading standards service budgets. Most of those services are too small anyway and to have to absorb that sort of hit will prove injurious at best and fatal at worst.
Yesterday BBC Breakfast did a short expose of the work and risk TS faces. Trading standards is a real force for the good. I think the BBC understands that. Most of its viewers will. I'm not sure though if the Local Government Minister Bob Neill MP does.
For the purposes of the BBC programme he gave a statement "Every bit of the public sector needs to do its bit to help pay off the massive budget deficit. Government has been living a credit card lifestyle and its time to pay off the bills. Town hall trading standards should focus their finite resources where public welfare is most at risk. This means tackling the like of cowboy builders and shops which peddle alcohol to children, but not wasting time on prosecuting greengrocers for using imperial scales."
Either the minister knows too little of the work and impact of trading standards or he just sees it as fair game for a political shot. Believe me minister if you did take the trouble to experience just a day with my trading standards colleagues you would see the intelligence driven and courageous way in which they tackle fraud, crime, scams, illegal sales of alcohol, tobacco, knives and more to the young and never give a thought to greengrocers selling in imperial or metric.
You should be applauding trading standards and helping it sustain its help to consumers and businesses in need, not looking to throw a poorly informed brick at it when it needs your support most. After all, your coalition government colleague Vince Cable MP has just recently stated the value he at least attaches to front line trading standards. Perhaps you don't agree?
Friday, 17 December 2010
Christmas Spirit??
Christmas really started for me yesterday evening when I attended the Carol Concert for the National Hospital Development Foundation, NHDF, at St. George's Church, Queen Square, London.
It was a beautiful scene with snow falling which certainly put me in the mood. The NHDF is the fund raising charity for the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and I have looked to support it because of the debt I owe the hospital as a patient and have raised funds over several years.
I was really pleased because the NHDF asked me to do a reading at the concert. Although I'm used to public speaking this was different and especially as the other readers were professional and well known actors. Nonetheless I caught my breath and read 'A Small Dry Voice' from 'Memories of Christmas' by Dylan Thomas. It was great fun and if you haven't read it yourself then I can recommend it as a starter for this festive season.
Then back to the harsh world of today and in my trading standards capacity I have been reminded of the crooks, scoundrels and cheats who use Christmas to fleece, scam and rob the vulnerable.
Loan sharks preying on those they know can't afford to buy presents for their loved ones. Counterfeiters passing off fakes as the real thing to unwary consumers. So at the festive time of year spare a thought for those that know nothing of the Christmas spirit and look only to crooked gain at the expense of others. Work with trading standards to stop them.
It was a beautiful scene with snow falling which certainly put me in the mood. The NHDF is the fund raising charity for the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and I have looked to support it because of the debt I owe the hospital as a patient and have raised funds over several years.
I was really pleased because the NHDF asked me to do a reading at the concert. Although I'm used to public speaking this was different and especially as the other readers were professional and well known actors. Nonetheless I caught my breath and read 'A Small Dry Voice' from 'Memories of Christmas' by Dylan Thomas. It was great fun and if you haven't read it yourself then I can recommend it as a starter for this festive season.
Then back to the harsh world of today and in my trading standards capacity I have been reminded of the crooks, scoundrels and cheats who use Christmas to fleece, scam and rob the vulnerable.
Loan sharks preying on those they know can't afford to buy presents for their loved ones. Counterfeiters passing off fakes as the real thing to unwary consumers. So at the festive time of year spare a thought for those that know nothing of the Christmas spirit and look only to crooked gain at the expense of others. Work with trading standards to stop them.
Tuesday, 14 December 2010
Public Health Officers return to town halls
Public health officers are set to return to the town hall across England in what ministers are describing as the biggest shift in power in 40 years. Amazing. The Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has said in his White Paper 'Healthy Lives, Healthy People' that councils will be tasked with improving public health and fighting obesity, alcohol, drugs, smoking and more. Ring fenced funding of £4bn may follow.
This is all very timely given the news this morning that a third of those living in the west midlands are obese. That is frightening and I really hope that councils have the appetite for their new public health role and digest it well. They should look seriously to their trading standards and environmental health practitioners to play a major part as their Public Health Officers.
Another reason not to slash and burn their budgets and to invest in their capability and future.
Let's hope they can and will use some of that ring fenced money to do so. I can see us knocking on the doors of the new Directors of Public Health. Let's hope they are open doors.
This is all very timely given the news this morning that a third of those living in the west midlands are obese. That is frightening and I really hope that councils have the appetite for their new public health role and digest it well. They should look seriously to their trading standards and environmental health practitioners to play a major part as their Public Health Officers.
Another reason not to slash and burn their budgets and to invest in their capability and future.
Let's hope they can and will use some of that ring fenced money to do so. I can see us knocking on the doors of the new Directors of Public Health. Let's hope they are open doors.
Job losses too big to handle
Why does it feel like we are losing more than we are gaining? Probably because it is true. I've just finished my monthly task of writing my column for our TS Today magazine. I am usually inspired at the prospect (seriously!) but this time I was composing my thoughts on the back of the massive funding cuts to the grants to local councils announced by the Government yesterday. The Local Government Association, LGA, are predicting 140,000 job losses.
I fear for so many of my trading standards friends and colleagues, our TSI members. They are all fantastic professionals dedicated to their task but this funding sword is being waved in all directions as it cuts the flesh and bones of council services. TSI is 130 years old next year and our members have always been predominantly employed in local government. The health of the profession is entwined with the health of local authorities. Their sickness is our sickness. I don't blame councils because they have an impossible task in trying to balance priorities. That doesn't mean that I feel like staying in the same emergency ward as them though. There has to be another way if we are to sustain the trading standards profession as we know it and that is where my interest is. Inspiration returning!
I fear for so many of my trading standards friends and colleagues, our TSI members. They are all fantastic professionals dedicated to their task but this funding sword is being waved in all directions as it cuts the flesh and bones of council services. TSI is 130 years old next year and our members have always been predominantly employed in local government. The health of the profession is entwined with the health of local authorities. Their sickness is our sickness. I don't blame councils because they have an impossible task in trying to balance priorities. That doesn't mean that I feel like staying in the same emergency ward as them though. There has to be another way if we are to sustain the trading standards profession as we know it and that is where my interest is. Inspiration returning!
Friday, 10 December 2010
Trading Standards or Tuition Fees?!
It's been another manic week for me and for us all at TSI. The Government's plans to change the machinery for consumer representation and protection, to abolish quangos and others and to use the broad shoulders of trading standards to carry even more of a consumer enforcement role is really churning the waters. I hope those shoulders can withstand the weight but with councils cutting their already meagre budgets by 30-40 percent even the strongest of trading standards services are going to wobble or fall.
What a day we chose yesterday too to take our trading standards case to Parliament! We had to run the gauntlet of thousands of protesting students, police and barriers to reach the House of Commons and then once we were inside and ready to lobby MPs and Peers we fell foul of a little debate on tuition fees!
Not to be deterred we scoured the building and managed to grab the attention of those MPs that had taken a break from the debating chamber and I am sure that they will all have been convinced by the strength of our case. The country without a strong front line trading standards workforce is unthinkable at a time when people and businesses needs them most.
Never a dull moment and the best way to take a break from a week like that is to get on my motorbike and enjoy that tarmac - snow and ice permitting!
What a day we chose yesterday too to take our trading standards case to Parliament! We had to run the gauntlet of thousands of protesting students, police and barriers to reach the House of Commons and then once we were inside and ready to lobby MPs and Peers we fell foul of a little debate on tuition fees!
Not to be deterred we scoured the building and managed to grab the attention of those MPs that had taken a break from the debating chamber and I am sure that they will all have been convinced by the strength of our case. The country without a strong front line trading standards workforce is unthinkable at a time when people and businesses needs them most.
Never a dull moment and the best way to take a break from a week like that is to get on my motorbike and enjoy that tarmac - snow and ice permitting!
Monday, 6 December 2010
From Strasbourg to Basildon
A very helpful meeting with our most recent TSI Vice President Malcolm Harbour MEP today. From his vantage point as Chairman of the European Parliament Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee we talked around a range of matters ranging from consumer product safety to commercial practices to the Services directive and through to improving the resilience of business between Europe, China and the USA.
TSI delivers the UK European Consumer Centre and the equivalent for Services and we look forward to inviting Malcolm to see more of our good work in helping consumers via our contact centres and web services at our TSI head office in Basildon.
We are fortunate at TSI in having so many advocates and supporters not only in the UK Parliaments but also in Strasbourg and Brussels. I think they all recognise TSI and trading standards as a genuine force for the good and lend their help and always wise counsel in a very encouraging way. We shall see some of this on Thursday of this week when we take a TSI roadshow into the Westminster Parliament and illustrate to MPs and Peers the fantastic work that my trading standards colleagues around the country do for people, businesses and communities.
TSI delivers the UK European Consumer Centre and the equivalent for Services and we look forward to inviting Malcolm to see more of our good work in helping consumers via our contact centres and web services at our TSI head office in Basildon.
We are fortunate at TSI in having so many advocates and supporters not only in the UK Parliaments but also in Strasbourg and Brussels. I think they all recognise TSI and trading standards as a genuine force for the good and lend their help and always wise counsel in a very encouraging way. We shall see some of this on Thursday of this week when we take a TSI roadshow into the Westminster Parliament and illustrate to MPs and Peers the fantastic work that my trading standards colleagues around the country do for people, businesses and communities.
Sunday, 5 December 2010
Look out for the Cowboys
You can be sure that as the snow melts and reveals the damage done to roofs, drives, drains and more then the cowboys will be out and about knocking on doors and looking for those that are most vulnerable to being ripped off.
Time to be careful and cautious and to do your best to know who you may be doing business with. TSI remains on record as calling for a complete ban on cold calling by property maintenance people but our calls continue to fall on deaf ears. I remain astonished that in this 21st century UK we don't have any reliable way by which consumers can choose a trader to repair or improve their home. We have a plethora of different schemes but none of which are significant enough to appeal to needy consumers.
Some schemes are run by the commercial sector and others by the public sector, many by my trading standards colleagues such as 'Buy With Confidence'. What we need is a mark and brand that enjoys high levels of consumer confidence and awareness. For example the 'kitemark' was once known to and seen by consumers as a mark of product quality. We have made such poor progress over the past twenty years and its about time we tackled the challenge.
Oh well and before I get too depressed......at least my Millwall Lions won 3-0 and moved up to 11th in The Championship!
Time to be careful and cautious and to do your best to know who you may be doing business with. TSI remains on record as calling for a complete ban on cold calling by property maintenance people but our calls continue to fall on deaf ears. I remain astonished that in this 21st century UK we don't have any reliable way by which consumers can choose a trader to repair or improve their home. We have a plethora of different schemes but none of which are significant enough to appeal to needy consumers.
Some schemes are run by the commercial sector and others by the public sector, many by my trading standards colleagues such as 'Buy With Confidence'. What we need is a mark and brand that enjoys high levels of consumer confidence and awareness. For example the 'kitemark' was once known to and seen by consumers as a mark of product quality. We have made such poor progress over the past twenty years and its about time we tackled the challenge.
Oh well and before I get too depressed......at least my Millwall Lions won 3-0 and moved up to 11th in The Championship!
Thursday, 2 December 2010
Localism and Devolution -it must be right?!
Localism rules and devolvement sort of rules. I say 'sort of' because we are only part way along the exploratory journey of the evolvement of devolvement of Westminster powers and responsibilities to Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.
Consumer affairs laws remain for example largely reserved to the Westminster Parliament. This has meant that my trading standards colleagues in Scotland and Wales have always laboured under the handicap of being seen by Holyrood and local government politicians and officials there as being in a service that itself is devolved but is delivering largely reserved matters.
That isn't helpful to them and their services have suffered accordingly. Indeed they are but a shadow of the pre-1996 local trading standards services. Now Scotland, for example, is talking of galvanising the police and fire services into perhaps a single Scotland police service or four fire boards.
There is a window of opportunity for trading standards there to be part of these new structures. I think there is general acceptance now that 32 trading standards services in Scotland is not conducive to future impact and effect. This leads to the point that 'localism' is not always right for services, like trading standards, that also have to have a strategic role. Localism is a strapline for this coalition government and I understand the point.
But then I hear the Transport Secretary saying this morning that he will investigate why some councils are gritting roads better than others. Obviously he wants to see the national road grid kept open and consistently so. Quite right. But localism rules Mr Hammond and councils must be able to choose whether they spend cash on rock salt or trading standards. That's right isn't it??!!
Consumer affairs laws remain for example largely reserved to the Westminster Parliament. This has meant that my trading standards colleagues in Scotland and Wales have always laboured under the handicap of being seen by Holyrood and local government politicians and officials there as being in a service that itself is devolved but is delivering largely reserved matters.
That isn't helpful to them and their services have suffered accordingly. Indeed they are but a shadow of the pre-1996 local trading standards services. Now Scotland, for example, is talking of galvanising the police and fire services into perhaps a single Scotland police service or four fire boards.
There is a window of opportunity for trading standards there to be part of these new structures. I think there is general acceptance now that 32 trading standards services in Scotland is not conducive to future impact and effect. This leads to the point that 'localism' is not always right for services, like trading standards, that also have to have a strategic role. Localism is a strapline for this coalition government and I understand the point.
But then I hear the Transport Secretary saying this morning that he will investigate why some councils are gritting roads better than others. Obviously he wants to see the national road grid kept open and consistently so. Quite right. But localism rules Mr Hammond and councils must be able to choose whether they spend cash on rock salt or trading standards. That's right isn't it??!!
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