BIONIC is a major new project that will address the issues of biofuel supply and use in transport specifically from the perspective of Local Authorities. They will also promote developments in the regional production and use of transport biofuels.

Here’s their latest news from Merseyside:

Public awareness surveys carried out in Liverpool

Merseytravel have undertaken public awareness surveys to establish the level of knowledge and interest in biofuels in Liverpool. The surveys were conducted over two days in the centre of Liverpool.

The surveys indicate that people recognise the environmental benefit of using sustainably produced biofuels but are unsure of where they can buy them, and which ones are suitable for their vehicles. We will use the results to plan key messages for 2010 to help people to get more information about biofuels in our area.

Biofuels and business

Merseytravel have attended several business related events in recent months and have presented to key groups such as the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, the Merseyside Transport Partnership’s Transport Health and Environment Forum and the Lancashire Climate Change Partnership. These groups provide access to key decision makers in the region helping to raise the profile of BIONIC with policy makers.

ECOtravel Bureau website enhanced

Merseytravel have enhanced the successful ECOtravel Bureau website (http://www.ecotravel.org.uk/) to include information on sustainable biofuels and the BIONIC project. The Bureau provides free and impartial information and advice to both the public and business communities on Merseyside with regards to reduced emissions vehicles and fuels. The popularity of the Bureau website has increased every year since its launch in 2004 and is expected to receive in excess of 170,000 hits in 2009. The website is a legacy of CATCH, a part EC funded project which ended in 2005 which demonstrates Merseytravel’s long standing commitment to promoting less environmentally damaging transport options.

BIONIC in the media

Merseytravel are working with local media to promote the work of the project. The local paper, the Liverpool Echo has launched an environmental website and supplement which will include information about BIONIC. The Liverpool Echo is the biggest selling newspaper on Merseyside and has the second largest circulation of any evening newspaper outside London making them an ideal conduit.

For more info, please contact: andrew.leadbetter@merseytravel.gov.uk

Peel Holdings recently submitted an outline planning application to Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council for their Wirral Waters scheme.

Wirral Waters is a major mixed use development on the cleared site adjacent to East Float, Dock Road Seacombe. The application seeks permission for:

    * 422,752 sq m of office space
    * 13,521 residential units
    * 100,00 sq m of cultural, education, leisure, community and amenity space
    * 60,000 sq m of retail and food uses
    * 38,00 sq m of hotel and conference facilities
    * A further 485,000 sq m of space within any of the above classes
    * Associated parking, landscaping, public space and infrastructure

Further details are available the Wirral Waters website or from Wirral MBC (Application number OUT/09/06509)

Peel Holdings are also progressing proposals for Liverpool Waters – a similar major mixed use scheme of approximately 60 hectares along the North Liverpool Docks.

Liverpool City Council has asked the Chamber for views on the Wirral Waters scheme. We will be responding to both Liverpool City Council and Wirral MBC, and are therefore very keen to hear views from members.

For any comments, please contact Esther Sumner in the Policy Department – esther.sumner@liverpoolchamber.org.uk or 0151 227 1234 x2236. You may also submit comments directly to Wirral MBC.

The Department of Energy & Climate Change administers applications from developers seeking consent to build national energy infrastructure projects. This includes power stations, onshore and offshore renewables, overhead power lines, onshore underground gas storage and onshore pipelines. They also manage compulsory access arrangements through wayleaves and compulsory purchase orders (CPOs).

Important regulatory changes are being introduced from 1 March 2010:

Due to legislative changes introduced under the Planning Act 2008 the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) will take over responsibility for processing new consent applications for the following nationally significant infrastructure energy projects from 1 March 2010 (consent applications received by DECC before 1 March 2010 will remain with DECC until a decision has been taken):

• Electricity generating stations generating more than 50 megawatts onshore and 100* megawatts offshore
• Electricity lines at or above 132 Kilovolts
• Certain nationally significant gas infrastructure (see the Communities and Local Government: Planning Act 2008[external Link] web page for details)
• Cross country oil and gas pipelines at or above the threshold of 16.093 kilometres/10 miles in length and certain licensed gas transporter pipelines

As a consequence of these regulatory changes developers will in future have to submit applications to the IPC under the Planning Act which replace the provisions of existing legislation.

More details can be found on the DECC website here

Over the past few weeks, major snowfall has disrupted many local businesses. Traffic chaos and temporary suspension of public transport have meant some workers have been unable to attend the workplace. With forecast of further snowfall, Mark McKeating of Hill Dickinson LLP considers whether local businesses are required to pay their staff for a “snow day”.

Does an employer have to pay employees who cannot attend work?

In broad terms, if the workplace is open, and unless it is expressly provided for in the contract of employment, then the answer is no.  Employees have a duty to attend the workplace unless they are sick, on annual leave or have some other authorised absence (e.g maternity leave).

Therefore, any employee who fails to turn up to work because of being “snowed in” is absent without authorisation. As an employer you have the legal right to deduct pay for the days the employee is off work.

However, a degree of caution should be exercised. The employer should consider whether it is in the best interests of their business not to pay employees. Deducting wages from employees “snowed in” could lead to a long term loss of morale amongst staff.

The employer should also have regard to the employee’s circumstances, for example, has the employee taken time off to look after their child following a school closure.  Penalising any employees in this predicament could potentially expose your business to a claim of discrimination. 

Can the employer offer any alternatives?

We recommend that the employer considers alternatives to accommodate the employee’s absence. Examples are: -

• Working from home.
• Propose that the employee takes the day off as holiday.
• Reach an understanding that the employee will make up the lost time in due course.
• Suggest to the employee that they take the time off as emergency dependant’s leave if schools close and they are required to look after their children.

“S-no-w excuse”?

If you have a reasonable belief that the employee is using the snowfall as a false excuse for their absence from the workplace, then it may be appropriate to consider disciplinary action. 

Minimising future disruption

In the short term, communicating to employees that any further time off due to “snow days” will be made up or taken as a holiday may act as a sufficient deterrent to those employees abusing the current position to their advantage.

In addition, employers should consider introducing an “adverse weather policy” or amending its current absence policies to cover “snow days”, so that their employees will know what is expected of them and the options they have if they are “snowed” in.

Should have any further questions on any of the above issues or other employment law queries you can contact Mark McKeating on 0151 600 8000 or mark.mckeating@hilldickinson.com

3 November from 12 to 2 at Liverpool Chamber

Free event. Networking lunch included

Liverpool Chamber want you, the private sector,  to feed into the next Local Transport Plan. 

We at the Chamber recognise this as a vital issue to Liverpool business, and are keen to promote strategic engagement on the key transport issues and to facilitate such a forum.  A program of quarterly forums was developed to engage the business community in discussions on future transport issues.  The forums are an opportunity for in-depth discussions on the city region’s transport planning. 

Liverpool Chamber have been working with the Local Transport Plan team to feed private sector views into the next round of transport planning.  The forum will be considering the the results of the latest transport model. 

To book your free place contact esther.sumner@liverpoolchamber.org.uk or call her on 0151 227 1234

New regulation is introduced twice a year, on 1 October and 6 April.  A full list of updated and new regulation is available from the Department of Business Innovation and Skills.

Of particular note and changes to National Minimum Wage and tips. NMW has increased to £5:80 for workers over 22, and £4:83 for workers 17-21, £3:57 for workers who are over compulsory school age but under 18. Tips and service charges can no longer count towards NMW

There have also been changes under the Companies Act. Companies need to provide a service address for every director, and keep a separate record of residential addresses. Exemptions have been provided for business in some sensitive sectors. Changes have also been made to rules regarding viewing of company records.

For further information and to register for regulation updates, visit Business Link’s website.

Environmental guidance for your company can also be found on the NetRegs website, to help you meet your carbon emission targets.

The renew, reuse and recycle message has been adopted by Liverpool’s artistic community for Liverpool Chamber’s environmental art competition.

Following the launch, the Chamber’s judges have been impressed with the standard of the work submitted. The competition was created to encourage professional artists and designers from across the region to create art from recycled materials. The theme of the competition is Reduce Reuse, Recycle, the three key processes for creating a more sustainable environment.

One of the items entered has been created by local designer Ilsa Parry, currently featuring on Design for Life on BBC2. The funky light fitting is made up of aluminium swarth produced when engineers machine items on a lathe. Ilsa explained: “The swarth product represents how one man’s junk can be another man’s treasure, simply by changing its context.”

Maresa Molloy, Head of Policy and Information at Liverpool Chamber said:

“We have already seen some through provoking and stunning designs, however there is still time to create something amazing and enter the competition. The closing date for entries is 31 October.”

Selected entries will be exhibited at the Chamber’s Annual Dinner on 26th November. The winning entry will receive £500, there will be a £250 prize for the runner up.

The competition is free to enter. Professional artists, living or working in the Merseyside area wishing to enter can download an application form from the Chamber’s website www.liverpoolchamber.org.uk/art-award.html

You are invited to the 2009 Core Cities Summit which will take place in Liverpool on Tuesday 3rd & Wednesday 4th November 2009.

The Core Cities Summit will be the primary urban policy forum for 2009, a prestigious gathering of influential decision makers from government, business and the public sector. A transformational two-day programme promises to inform, challenge and inspire delegates by presenting world-class thinking and debate on cities and the economy.

But this year’s Core Cities Summit will not be just a talking shop. The Summit will be the catalyst to set a new agenda for a prosperous future, engaging all three main political parties to develop new policy ideas creating new vision for city economies beyond the current recession, safeguarding employment and increasing investment.

An exceptional line up of confirmed speakers includes Nick Clegg, Will Hutton and Kjell Nordstrom and The Summit will be chaired by the BBC’s Politics Correspondent Jon Sopel.

You will find full details of the event on our website at www.corecitiessummit.com including speakers biographies, the summit agenda and details of the event venues.

Delegate tickets are £495 plus VAT per place which includes attendance to the Summit Gala Dinner at the imposing Liverpool Cathedral and featuring Rory Bremner.

To register for the event please complete the online registration form available at www.corecitiessummit.com. Alternatively, call the Summit registration team on +44 (0)1224 636200 or email team@corecitiessummit.com.

Liverpool Chamber has signed up to the 10:10 pledge, organised by The Guardian newspaper.

The pledge states that partricipants will strive to cut their carbon emissions by 10% in 2010.

It’s free and once you’ve signed up you get access to resources to help you make the necessary changes to reduce your outputs.

Liverpool Chamber is already committed to becoming a greener organisation, not only as part of Liverpool’s Year of the Environment, but also for the longer term.

Then get yourself in our ‘little green book’!

Liverpool Chamber of Commerce is developing a ‘Little Green Book’ which will give businesses information on environmental issues including legislation, funding opportunities, greening the supply chain and business support. 

The final section will be a directory of locally based companies that provide environmental services or technology. 

If you would like to be included in this section, please contact Esther Sumner - esther.sumner@liverpoolchamber.org.uk with contact details and a 20 word description of your company’s environmental services.