Facilities Management Association

 

Wheelclamping on private land will be banned in England and Wales, the Government has announced.

 

The ban will be introduced in the Government’s Freedom Bill in November and will come into force shortly after receiving Royal Assent. Once in place, anyone who clamps a vehicle or tows it away on private land will face tough penalties.

 

The move follows significant controversy over car clamping on private land, including reports of employees being clamped whilst on work property and clamping firms using unclear signage and excessive fees.

 

Home Office Minister, Lynne Featherstone, said:

 

"The Government is committed to ending the menace of rogue private sector wheelclampers once and for all.

 

"For too long motorists have fallen victim to unscrupulous tactics by many clamping firms. Reports of motorists being marched to cash points or left stranded after their car has been towed are simply unacceptable.

 

"A ban on clamping and towing on private land will end this abuse and companies who decide to flout new laws will face severe penalties."

 

Meanwhile, a small business group has reacted angrily to news that the Workplace Parking Levy (WLP) scheme could be extended to more councils and has called on businesses to oppose the scheme in any way they can. From 2012, Nottingham City Council will be the first to impose a £250-a-year per space parking levy on ten or more eligible spaces.

 

An investigation by the Daily Telegraph has found that more Councils are actively considering implementing a workplace parking levy scheme. Councils found to be considering the levy include Bristol, York, Devon, Hampshire, Leeds, Bournemouth, South Somerset and Wiltshire.

 

The Forum of Private Business says it is “deeply opposed” to the scheme and believes it will provoke fury among business owners, who could be forced to pay tens of thousands of pounds each year for providing their employees with somewhere to park their cars. 
 

 

 

With two years until the start of the Paralympics, Ministers are urging companies to see improving disability access as a way of becoming more profitable as well as more socially responsible.

 

In 2012 one million disabled visitors are expected in London for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, bringing with them millions of pounds in business. The Government has said now is the time for British businesses to start preparing for these customers to be part of the Paralympic Games when they arrive in London in 730 days’ time.

 

To encourage businesses to become more accessible the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Office for Disability Issues (ODI) commissioned a report – 2012 Legacy for Disabled People: Inclusive and Accessible Business – which sets out the opportunities that disabled customers bring.
 

 

Environment Agency searches for environmental pioneers

The Environment Agency has called for entries for its first Environmental Pioneer Awards. The awards, which will be judged by a panel led by Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Chris Huhne MP, will recognise organisations that lead the way on environmental performance.

 

The Environment Agency is looking to recognise the achievements of these organisations in eight categories:

 

 

Entries can be made online before 8 October.
 

 

 

Britain’s national counter terrorist body has set up a free self-assessment tool for businesses and facilities managers to estimate how well prepared they are for a terrorist attack.

 

The Vulnerability Self Assessment Tool (VSAT) has been released as part of the work of The National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) and the national network of police Counter Terrorism Security Advisers (CTSA) on reducing the vulnerability of crowded places sites across the UK. NaCTSO and CTSA say that many of these crowded places consist of small to medium enterprises, yet many SMEs may not realise the implications of this.

 

The Crowded Places Vulnerability Self Assessment Tool (VSAT), which has been developed by NaCTSO in partnership with businesses across the UK, aims to assist owners, operators or those responsible for the security of crowded places to determine their vulnerability to terrorist attack.

 

CTSAs across the UK will be registering users and inviting them to complete the online assessment. Businesses can also register by contacting their local CTSA.