Commenting on the Transport Secretary’s announcement of reforms to the way Britain’s road network is managed, Caroline Williams CEO Norfolk Chamber, said:
“Business growth requires a road network that’s well maintained, congestion free and upgraded where necessary. For too long, the Highways Agency has been struggling to deliver on these requirements.
“So we welcome the announcement that the Highways Agency is to become a public corporation, managed in a more business-like fashion, and that it will have the same sort of five-year funding certainty that has helped to improve the rail network in recent years.
“Business has had enough of ‘stop-start Britain’. We’ll be watching closely to ensure that these changes enable companies and their employees to move full speed ahead on a better national road network. We will also urge ministers to bring forward some of the new road maintenance spending they’ve promised after 2015, as urgent action to maintain our roads is required now. We will also continue to call for improvements to the A47 which is currently claiming so many lives”
Mary Ann Forbes died last Sunday and her funeral will be held on Wednesday 24 July at Gorleston Crematorium. She was heavily involved with the Great Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce. Below are some words of remembrance from past President Michael Boon.
Mary Ann Forbes joined the Great Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce during my term of office as President in 1987-89. There was a need to encourage businesses in Great Yarmouth of the value of the long standing town Chamber at that time and she threw herself into the task quickly.
She was energetic in delivering the Chamber services locally and also using those of the Norwich and Norfolk Chamber, of which Great Yarmouth eventually became a part, quickly making contact with her colleagues in the City to assist the Great Yarmouth members when necessary. She became the local face of the Great Yarmouth Chamber assisting a succession of Presidents during their terms of office.
Mary Ann was active in promoting the Chamber’s role as a local business organisation, attending exhibitions in the UK and in the Netherlands on the Great Yarmouth stands, to assist in promoting Great Yarmouth as a united front in being able to deliver a range of opportunities.
During the whole period I was on the Great Yarmouth Chamber Council her enthusiasm for her job was evident. She was tenacious and would always go the extra mile in contacting Chamber members who might be able to assist prospective members by her knowledge of who was who in the Great Yarmouth business community. She acted as a focal point of information when we all needed to enquire about new firms coming into the town and likewise assisted the incoming firms not only with Chamber membership but with the means to develop their business by contact with existing members.
Even when she entered the early stages of a cruel illness, which eventually forced her to retire in from her role January 1999; she continued to have enthusiasm for her job and never complained about her own circumstances while getting on with the Chamber’s work. Her smile, sense of humour and persuasiveness were infective and she will be fondly remembered by those of us who were Chamber members during her time as Great Yarmouth Manager as someone who enjoyed her job and meeting and assisting the wide range of people in the business community with whom she came into contact.
Michael Boon
Former Great Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce President
The June inflation figures revealed that CPI inflation rose to 2.9%, up from 2.7% in May. The largest upward contribution came from motor fuels and clothing, partly offset by a downward contribution from air transport. The minutes of the latest MPC meeting revealed that the committee voted unanimously in favour of leaving the level of QE and interest rates unchanged. This is in contrast to the 6-3 split seen over recent months.
The latest labour market figures published on Wednesday revealed that in the three months to May 2013, unemployment fell by 57,000, and employment rose by 16,000. Retail sales rose by 0.2% in June, more modest than the 2.1% increase in May.
The public finance figures were published today and showed that public sector net borrowing (excluding temporary effects of financial interventions and the effects of the transfers from the Bank of England Asset Purchase Facility Fund) was £12.4bn, £0.5bn higher than in June 2012. Public sector net debt currently stands at 74.9% of GDP.
The first estimate released by Eurostat for the eurozone trade in goods balance with the rest of the world for May 2013 shows a €15.2 billion surplus, compared with +€6.6bn last year. EU imports from most of its major partners fell in January-April 2013 compared with last year, except for Turkey (+5) and India (+3%). The most notable decreases were recorded for imports from Norway (-16%), Japan (-14%) and Brazil (-11%). EU exports to most of its major partners grew in January-April 2013 compared to last year, except for India (-5%) and China (0%). The largest increase was recorded for exports to Switzerland (+25%).
The Presidency presented in public to the Council its work programme and priorities for agriculture and fisheries.
As regards agriculture, there was be a public debate on the state of play on the common agricultural policy (CAP) reform package after a political agreement was reached with the other EU institutions on the proposals for the direct payments regulation, the single common market organisation (CMO) regulation, the rural development regulation and the horizontal regulation.
Concerning fisheries issues, ministers reached an agreement for a full general approach on a proposal for the European maritime and fisheries fund (EMFF) within the framework of the common fisheries policy (CFP) reform package. This agreement on budgetary issues achieves the work initiated by the Council in October last year when a partial general approach was reached covering technical aspects. This will enable the Council to start negotiations on the EMFF with the European Parliament during the autumn. The Council also confirmed the political agreement on the two other proposed regulations for CFP reform: the basic provisions regulation and the market regulation.
The Commission then briefed the Council about a consultation on fishing opportunities for 2014, outlining the state of the stocks, providing a limited overview of the economic performance of the EU fleet, and committing to management using long-term plans and to management in accordance with scientific advice.
The European Parliament is in recess from this week. Business resumes on 26 August with a week of external parliamentary and committee activities. The EP press room will be closed from Monday 22 July until Friday 23 August inclusive.
This week, the BCC was cited in the House of Commons debate on National Parliaments and the EU, and in the House of Lords Finance Bill debate. The High Speed Rail (Preparation) Bill continued in the committee stage, and the BCC has highlighted the importance of investment in infrastructure projects for business.
On Wednesday, the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill was published. The Bill seeks to create a Registrar of consultant lobbyists, defined as those who are wholly or mainly funded by the people they lobby for, and whose main business is lobbying. The Bill also introduces regulations to third parties campaigning during election periods, and requirements that trade unions provide information about their memberships. This Bill was debated in the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee on Thursday.
The House of Commons rose for summer recess on 18 July and will return on 2 September.
Next week, the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Bill will have its second reading in the House of Lords. The Intellectual Property Bill will enter into the report stage of its passage through Parliament. The BCC has highlighted the importance for British businesses to be able to protect their inventions across EU countries, and the creation of a design rights opinion service will enable more IP disputes to be settled without resorting to litigation. The free movement of EU migrant workers will continue to be debated in the House of Lords (EU Sub-Committee for Internal Market, Infrastructure and Employment).
GDP growth in Q2 2013: +0.6% on the quarter, +1.4% on the year
Services growth is +0.6% on the quarter, +2.1% on the year
Manufacturing growth is +0.4% on the quarter, -0.9% on the year
Construction output is +0.9% on the quarter, -1.0% on the year
Commenting on the GDP figures for Q2 2013, published today by the ONS, John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:
“The modest, positive growth seen in the second quarter of the year shows that things are looking up. The gradual progress made by the UK economy – particularly in the services sector where exports continue to surge – is pleasing to see. Confidence among businesses is high when looking ahead to profitability and turnover, and many have intentions to take on staff later this year. Our surveys are forward looking, compared with the ONS statistics which are retrospective, so our growth predictions could end up being even more optimistic when looking at the remainder of 2013.
“Firms are feeling upbeat and are capable of expanding. More and more are adopting a ‘have a go’ attitude when it comes to exporting, which is really encouraging as this will go a long way to driving growth further still. But strong, sustained growth requires efforts from the government too, as businesses need an enterprise-friendly environment for the economic to go from good to great. New and existing exporters need more support to help them diversify into fast-growing markets, and access to finance for dynamic, growing businesses must be made more available. We must be careful not to choke off the growing optimism and confidence that is coming through, but instead be more proactive in nurturing the modest recovery that is starting to gather pace.”
David Kern, Chief Economist at the BCC, added:
“The increase in GDP was as expected, and suggests that the UK economy is likely to experience moderate growth over the next two or three years. While it is pleasing that the economy continues to grow, there is no room for any complacency, as the level of output is still 3.3% below its peak early in 2008. The services sector remains the main driver, but both manufacturing and construction are still showing year on year declines. The figures will underpin business confidence and reinforce the positive messages conveyed by our surveys. However the recovery is not yet secure and the government must make every effort to ensure that the economy can cope with unexpected setbacks. Despite signs that the eurozone may be returning to growth later this year, the international situation is still uncertain. Overall however, the figures provide a welcome, positive message.”
Draft Electricity Market Reform Delivery Plan published for consultation The government has published a consultation on the level of financial support for renewable energy. The draft EMR Delivery Plan provides details on the support mechanism and draft strike prices for renewables investors, and aims to help incentivise up to £110bn of investment in new electricity infrastructure by 2020. The draft strike prices for renewable energy will apply to onshore and offshore wind, tidal, wave, biomass conversion and solar projects. The consultation closes on 25 September. A final version of the delivery plan will be published in December.
DECC report shows UK energy imports at ‘record levels’ last year A report by the Department for Energy shows that the UK remained a net importer of energy in 2012, with a dependency level of 43% – an increase of 6.9% from 2011 levels. This was accompanied by a fall in primary energy production of 10.7% in 2012 compared to a year earlier, despite consumption rising by 1.7%. The Digest of UK Energy Statistics report shows that renewable energy accounted for 11.3% of total electricity generation in the country in 2012 – up from 9.4% in 2011.
Heavy industry exemptions from ‘green’ policies The government has introduced proposals to allow heavy industry to avoid the costs of long-term, fixed price contracts for green electricity. These proposals are designed to ensure that the UK’s energy intensive industries are not made uncompetitive or forced to move production overseas as a result of rising energy prices. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, together with the Department for Energy and Climate Change has opened a consultation about the proposal which will run until 30 August 2013.
Smaller businesses and the energy market This month saw further progress towards creating a fairer energy market for smaller businesses. After pressure from the BCC and other trade associations, the main energy companies are starting to tackle the issue of auto-rollover; the process whereby business are automatically tied into costly long-term deals if they fail to cancel their contract within a set time. British Gas became the first energy supplier to commit to stop selling rollover contracts to business customers. If followed E.ON call for all energy companies to put an end to the practice.
Support for shale gas The UK’s fledgling shale gas industry received a boost this month when the Treasury announced that they plan to introduce a tax regime that will see shale gas producers pay 30 per cent tax on their profits, compared to the 62 per cent that the oil and gas industry has traditionally paid. The Treasury also reiterated plans to force shale gas companies to give local communities at least £100,000 per well in the hope of persuading them to allow fracking to proceed near their homes.
Oil and gas commission established An expert commission will be set up to examine how an independent Scotland could maximise the returns from North Sea oil and gas, the Scottish government has announced. A new paper has set out the SNP administration’s plans for the industry if it secures independence. The commission will be chaired by Melfort Campbell, who co-chairs Scottish Enterprise’s Oil and Gas Industry Advisory Group.
Upcoming developments
Government announcement on gas storage
Energy Bill to complete its Parliamentary stages and become an Act of Parliament
Offshore wind industrial strategy
Draft nuclear strike price to be published
Oil & gas review interim conclusions will be published in the autumn
A final version of the EMR delivery plan will be published in December.
For further information contact Tom Nolan at 020 7654 5824 or [email protected]
UK deficit on trade in goods and services was £1.5bn in June compared with a deficit of £2.6bn in May
There was a deficit of £8.1bn on goods, partly offset by a surplus of £6.5bn in services: both the goods and the service trade balances improved between May and June
There was a significant improvement in Britain’s performance on trade in goods with countries outside the European Union
Commenting on the trade figures for June published today by the ONS, Tracey Howard, International Trade Director at Norfolk Chamber, said: “The large fall in Britain’s trade deficit is yet more positive news for the economy, with longer-term comparisons signaling an improvement in the UK’s trading performance. Britain’s exporters are now starting to focus more on trade with countries outside the EU.
This is particularly encouraging as these countries are growing at a faster rate and will be the ones that provide the greatest opportunities for Norfolk exporters. Local exporters can find out more about these countries by attending the Chamber’s ‘Better Exporting’ event series. The focus will be on India, Brazil, Qatar, Russia, South Africa and Vietnam.
The series will provide information on these fast growing countries, including details on the stability of the market and the business opportunities available there. The important cultural aspects that you need to be aware of when speaking to and visiting prospective clients, will also be covered. Tips and advice on what to look out for will also be shared by a local company, who is already trading in that particular country.
Commenting further on the June ONS trade figures, David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: “Despite these improvements, our trade deficit is still too large and we aren’t making enough progress in rebalancing our economy towards net exports. Our recent surveys reveal huge untapped potential among British exporters, especially in the service sector, and unleashing this potential will help to secure a sustainable recovery. The government must seize this momentum and do more to help British exporters penetrate new markets and compete on a level playing field in key areas such as trade finance, insurance and promotion.”
The first ‘Better Exporting’ event will be held on Tuesday 15 October at Dunston Hall from 3.45pm – 6.45pm and series is sponsored by UKTI and Dunston Hall Hotel. Full details of the events can be found on the Norfolk Chamber website: www.norfolkchamber.co.uk.
A 10-week public consultation for the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk on the draft Detailed Policies and Sites Plan began this week.
When finalised, the ‘Detailed Polices and Sites Plan’ will, in conjunction with the Core Strategy, help to govern planning decisions in West Norfolk for the next 13 years. The Core Strategy, adopted by the council in 2011, details the scale of future development and the broad locations for residential and business development. The ‘Detailed Polices and Sites Plan’ (the subject of the consultation) will identify the specific sites for that development.
The Core Strategy concluded that sites need to be allocated for 6,000 new homes to be built in the borough by 2026 and determined that the majority of growth should be accommodated by the towns, the areas immediately surrounding King’s Lynn, and larger rural hubs, which have the facilities and capacity to accommodate some expansion.
The draft plan also proposes new development boundaries in larger villages and sites which could, between them, accommodate the 875 homes that were identified in the Core Strategy for the borough’s larger villages. The number of houses allocated to each of the 54 larger villages varies from zero to 60, with the average being 16.
As well as detailing the size and precise sites for future residential and business developments, the draft ‘Detailed Policies and Sites Plan’ includes policies that would help to guide planning applications and decisions in the future. These policies cover matters such as affordable housing, development boundaries and the protection of strategic road networks.
To find out more information, on the plans and how to add your comments click here.
The Bank of England Agents’ summary for August highlighted that construction output has strengthened, as activity in the housing market has picked up. Investment intentions point to only modest growth in capital spending and domestic growth in manufacturing output is unchanged. Employment intentions point to a slight increase in staffing levels over the coming months. To read the report in full click here.
Read updates issued by the Export Control Organisation including details about imposition of arms embargoes, Open General Export Licence amendments or announcements about Control List changes.
Notice to Exporters 2013/21 The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has decided to grant an Open General Export Licence (OGEL) in support of the Joint Strike Fighter project (JSF, also known as F-35 or Lightning II). The Export Control Organisation is finalising the draft of this OGEL. We expect to publish it by the middle of October.
Norwich City Council is currently holding a consultation on their draft Economic strategy for the Norwich urban area, which looks towards the next five years (2013-18).
Essentially, the strategy will provide strategic guidance and sets out how Norwich City Council, working with the business community and with our local partners, will focus activity and resources to stimulate economic activity and jobs growth.
This consultation period runs until Tuesday 3 September 2013, so you only have 1 week left to submit your views. To have your say and to view the full draft Economic strategy 2013-18 click here.