This Month's Articles: Independent Thinking, Project Monitoring - Why Bother?, It's Good to be Green, Stars in their Eyes?, Pub Disposals |
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Independent Thinking |
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Figures published by the Independent Schools Council in April showed a fall in independent school numbers and applications, particularly from UK families. Unusually, at this stage of the academic year, we are finding that independent schools still have numbers of places available, even in London. |
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From comments received from head teachers, it appears that a number of families, unsure of job security in the current financial climate, are still reluctant to risk committing to independent education in case they are forced to default and withdraw their child should money become a problem. |
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However, at a time when independent schools have spaces, it has been suggested by Catherine Stoker, Managing Director of Gabbitas Educational Consultants, that advantage should be taken of this resource and that the Government should provide funded places at independent schools. Her argument is that the relatively low cost of funding private places would allow the Government, and the taxpayer, to save money to plan a more strategic and sustainable development of increased primary places to meet future demand. |
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This is, of course, driven by the current reported crisis over primary school places in larger cities, particularly London, for children due to start school in September. The combination of a rise in birth-rates and a fall in applications for private schools suggests that, in the capital alone, there is a need for the equivalent of as many as 15 new primary schools to cope with demand. Families could, it is suggested, be left without a place for their child this year and consequently have a choice between home-schooling and delaying the start of school for a year. |
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If this suggestion were to be taken up, those independent schools registered as charitable trusts would be able to show public benefit - an obvious help in retaining this status. Equally, those smaller prep schools, for whom reduced student numbers pose a significant threat, may more easily survive the ongoing effects of the recession. |
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Clearly, this would be a brave political decision, but one that, on both an economic and educational level, might just help those families that both members of the coalition put so much emphasis on within their manifestos only a short while ago. |
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| Article by Pinders Director Steve Marriott |
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Project Monitoring - Why Bother?
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The Care Quality Commission is currently undertaking a review of how well the healthcare needs of people in care homes are being met. The review looks at people of all ages as well as their needs and dependencies. |
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| Every client likes to think they have identified and covered all actions needed in relation to the delivery of their proposed development, including selecting and appointing suitable professionals and contractors for their development team. |
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The reality is that often things are missed; professionals are not always as knowledgeable and competent as required; and contractors not as capable and experienced (or as cheap) as had been hoped. |
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The bank's project monitoring surveyor is appointed not only to check that the financials stack up, but also to ensure that legal and statutory requirements are met, build quality is acceptable, progress is satisfactory, and that any potential problems are identified as soon as possible with recommended actions. |
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At Pinders, we regard the project monitoring role as assisting the client as well as protecting the bank's interest. The ultimate aim is to help in getting the development completed on time, to a good standard, and within budget: a win-win situation. |
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| Article by Director Ray Chamberlin |
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It's Good to be Green |
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Pinders have recently been part of a successful team that achieved planning consent for a care home within the green belt. |
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Part of the existing building structure on site was derelict and it was believed that redevelopment would lead to rejuvenation of the site and add value to the local community by creating jobs. |
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In order to show that very special circumstances applied that would outweigh any harm from development in the green belt, we had to prove both a need for the care home and that there were no suitable alternative sites. |
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We undertook a Needs Assessment to examine the current and forecasted demand for long term care and the quantity and quality of care provision within the local and wider area. Our report analysed the local authority strategy regarding care of the elderly, unemployment statistics and other relevant information. From our investigations, both a qualitative and quantitative need for additional care beds was proven. |
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Our Sequential Appraisal Report assessed over 250 alternative sites, which were discounted for various reasons, mainly relating to physical factors such as size and usable area. |
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Pinders set up the initial planning meeting and were involved in various pre-application meetings. The case officer paid special attention to the Needs Assessment and Sequential Appraisal within the Planning Committee Report, helping lead to a unanimous decision in favour of granting permission at the Planning Committee Meeting. |
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Pinders have enjoyed success in a number of healthcare planning applications and would be pleased to informally discuss any proposals or assist with providing Needs Assessment Reports and Sequential Appraisals. |
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| Article by Pinders Joshua Gale |
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Stars in their Eyes? |
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The Care Quality Commission has announced that the current quality ratings system will cease prior to the new registration system and new standards. These will come into force on 1 October under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 when the NHS, independent healthcare and adult social care will all come under the same system of regulation for the first time. |
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We understand that the Commission has already begun discussions to try to establish how a new ratings system might work. Apparently, it will also draw on feedback from the recent consultation on assessments of quality in 2010-11 and it is intended to begin the process of developing different options later this year. |
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Given the wider brief of the CQC, the concept is that, as there will be new standards and a new registration system, then a new way to compare quality across adult social care services should also be introduced. However, it is worthy of note that, although the current quality rating system will stop, inspections will obviously continue and information about standards of care will continue to be published within the public domain. Furthermore, inspections due to take place before the end of September will be brought forward and it is hoped that, by the end of June, the CQC will have completed inspections of all services that are currently due. |
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| Article by Pinders Director Steve Marriott |
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Pub Disposals |
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As we move into the second half of 2010 there is no let-up on the level of disposals by large pubcos as they seek to trim their estates (and debts!). However, the opportunities offered vary widely. |
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Both Punch and Enterprise are still seeking to dispose of freehold units as trading concerns, with Admiral joining them with other 'opportunities' for development of units into alternative use. These sales are mainly being handled by the major business transfer agents on a national basis and cover the full spectrum of 'the good, the bad and the ugly'. The key to trading success for purchasers will lie in the skills and strengths they have to offer the business. |
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Sales at auction remain popular, with an increasing number of licensed premises made available in this manner. Some are closed and boarded units, either 'ripe for redevelopment' or suitable for reopening, whilst Enterprise in particular is still drip-feeding investment disposals of its central London outlets to the market. The advantage here is that the new freeholders will have Enterprise 'on the hook' for rent, as tenants, albeit having sub-let the units. |
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Mitchells & Butlers are also seeking to dispose of some of their franchised estate and have offered tenants the opportunity to bid. Unlike the large scale Punch sales to tenants in 2009, however, M&B are not giving first refusal to their tenants: simply inviting them to make a 'fully funded' bid, which will be considered along with all other options. As most readers will be aware, the problem for anyone aiming to take on premises at present is the general reluctance of lenders to positively engage with the licensed sector, and attempting to obtain funded offers for these M&B tenants has entailed some exceedingly tight timeframes. |
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Pinders have been able to assist a number of interested parties in their aim to purchase licensed concerns and it is hoped that many will be successful, as they represent exactly the sort of purchasers that banks should be funding: experienced tenants with a solid trading record to satisfy even the most pessimistic underwriter. |
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| Article by Pinders Malcolm Kidby |
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