UPDATES

STAFF UPDATES

GENERAL UPDATES

New guidance for charities on public benefit
New guidance has been produced by the Charity Commission on public benefit and what charity trustees need to consider in order to show that their charity's aims are for the public benefit.

http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/publicbenefit/default.asp

Consultations on draft supplementary guidance are expected from the Charity Commission shortly.  Public benefit provisions will come into force from late March 2008, and charities will begin reporting on public benefit as part of their annual reports from March 2009.

http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/news/pbnewsindex.asp

London Low emission zones
Are you prepared for the new London low emission zones (LEZ)? If you are operating in the London area you will need to update yourself on the details and implications of driving vehicles through these zones and consider the effects on your activities. This will particularly have an impact if your vehicle was first registered as new with the DVLA before 1 October 2001 ( Vehicles first registered as new with the DVLA on or after 1 October 2001 are assumed to be Euro III, so should meet the LEZ emissions standards until 2012).

For all information on vehicles affected, an online compliance test and the schedule for implementation visit the Transport for London Website

When vehicles have to meet the LEZ emissions standards:

• From 4 February 2008, a standard of Euro III for particulate matter (PM) for lorries over 12 tonnes
• From 7 July 2008, a standard of Euro III for particulate matter for lorries between 3.5 and 12 tonnes and buses and coaches over 5 tonnes
• From 4 October 2010, a standard of Euro III for particulate matter for larger vans and minibuses
• From 3 January 2012, a standard of Euro IV for particulate matter for lorries over 3.5 tonnes and buses and coaches over 5 tonnes

The cost of replacement vehicles will obviously be high and adaptations for some vehicles costly with some only reaching standards until 2012. If your organisation is involved in a food related project do keep up to date on the Local Food Fund http://www.rswt.org/localfood/ which should be coming on-line shortly, you could start thinking about ways to include these costs in your bid.   If your organisation is involved in another activity and you are aware of any funding or assistance to absorb any costs relating to the introduction of the LEZ please do contact pea@crn.org.uk to discuss, so that we can advise other members.

CRN UK Website Case Studies
At CRN UK we are always keen to know about your great work, innovative projects and examples of the way you run your organisation. We would like to have some new & up to date case studies on the CRN UK website to provide inspiration to potential groups and to keep you informed of what other members are doing.

If you would be interested in sharing this information with visitors to the website, or if you don’t have a website of your own and would like to have a page dedicated to your organisation, please complete the form available on this link: www.crn.org.uk/about/casestudyrequestform.doc and email it to Lizzy at info@crn.org.uk.

We look forward to learning what you are doing.

Every Action Counts Update
You should now have received your copy of What Happens When Every Action Counts booklet. This publication is available to download from the EAC website.
Visit www.everyactioncounts.org.uk/guides/whathappenswhenv1.pdf .

A second publication is also available on the Every Action Counts website which provides guidance and tips on minimising your community buildings’ impact on climate change. With checklists and examples of easy actions, this publication will also be handy for your work space or office – Your Community Building Counts can be downloaded from www.everyactioncounts.org.uk/guides/yourcommunitybuildingv1.pdf

Companies Act changes
There are a number of provisions that came into force on 1st October 2007 in relation to the Companies Act 2006, the key ones affecting Company’s limited by Guarantee relate to the duties of directors and to the resolutions and meetings of a company.  For example there are changes to the notice period for all general meetings of a company; members have a new statutory right to appoint a proxy to act on their behalf at meetings etc
It is always advisable to seek professional legal advice on all matters relating to company law, but you may like to look at an overview of some of these changes on the links below (any advice given should not be regarded as legally binding)
http://www.dsc.org.uk/charityexchange/legaleyes1007.htm
http://www.berr.gov.uk/bbf/co-act-2006/faq%20Act%202006/page38139.html

Health and Safety CD
Through European Social Funding (ESF), EU Skills working in partnership with the Environmental Services Association (ESA) and other waste management organisations has developed an interactive health and safety
CD, 'A Day in the Life of a Collection Operative'. This CD is aimed at raising awareness of the hazards that a Collection Operative faces, and also providing advice on the safe way to work.  The CD uses photographic
stills, video clips and hazard spotting exercises in order to provide a varied programme designed to raise awareness of the importance of health and safety.

This CD would be of particular interest to members operating kerbside collections. The CD takes approximately one hour to complete and can be used as an induction tool for new/agency staff, or as a refresher for existing staff.

Changes to National Minimum Wages
Businesses are being advised to prepare for changes in the National Minimum Wage (NMW) to make sure they do not fall foul of HMRC inspections. From October 1st a new band of pay rates for the NMW will come into force and businesses need to make sure that their payroll systems are ready to implement the changes. Some of the changes include:

Adult rate (workers aged 22 and over) will increase to £5.52.
Development rate for 18-21 year olds will increase to £4.60.
Development rate for 16-17 year olds will increase to £3.40

For legal requirements and further information visit:

http://www.berr.gov.uk/employment/pay/
national-minimum-wage/index.html

CRED
The business support that CRN's CRED Business Support Team has been providing to CRED funded projects came to a close on 28 September 2007. We would like to remind all organisations and projects that

the Community Waste Information Centre at http://www.communitywaste.org.uk still offers many links to information about everything from running / expanding / closing your project to waste regulations and partnership working.

Compost Doctors programme
The SME Compost Doctors programme is a Defra BREW funded pilot programme that aims to investigate the options for on-site composting of kitchen food waste. The programme received finding in year 2006/07 and has been successful in obtaining further funding for this year to continue monitoring the amounts of food waste composted on the projects.

The Compost Doctors advise on and assist in installing composting equipment in the grounds of catering establishments. They are working with these establishments to support the staff in setting up kitchen procedures to facilitate the separation of food waste. Having set up, staff are then trained in using the composting system and are supported by the Compost Doctor.

Contact Lizzy info@crn.org.uk .

MEMBERS QUESTIONS

Office Collection vehicle advice?
Paperchain would like to speak to any other members who may be able to advise or share their wisdom and experience on specialised collection vehicles for office collections, specifically looking at small models to service their city centre customers. Please do get in contact with Jenny Salmon at Paperchain if you can advise.

Contact: Jenny Salmon 01392 490255 *****