PCA Weekly News - 22nd August 2020
In your weekly PCA update this week:
- Green Homes Grant: The principles and the pitfalls
- Japanese knotweed: Buffer Zones and Boundaries
- CITB Levy Payment Process
- Second SEISS Grant
- New Guidance on Japanese knotweed
- Use of Face Coverings in Construction
- Just 1 Week until our Watertight Concrete Webinar
- Understanding Traditional Construction Principles
- HSE Update
Green Homes Grant: The principles and the pitfalls
The Green Homes Grant Scheme is coming and whilst it’s turning heads and grabbing those headlines, what does this mean to us, our members and homeowners. In Steve’s latest blog, he highlights the need to educate and engage with homeowners and the recipients of the vouchers to ensure they understand the implications of what they are about to do to their homes.
Members can click on the button below to read the full article…
Click to Read More >>
Japanese knotweed: Buffer Zones and Boundaries
When it comes to Japanese knotweed, we often hear about it’s amazing growth characteristics and how it can cause consequential damage to built structures. But, as your Technical Manager Peter Fitzsimons writes in his latest blog, this is only half the story… we need to talk about what’s going on in the soil!
Most of our members will be familiar with the issue, but hopefully there is something here for all professionals involved in Japanese knotweed management – there is definitely more below the surface than above it! Click on the button below to read the full blog.
Click to Read More >>
CITB Levy Payment Process
Members are reminded that CITB will be sending out information to all levy payers by the end of August and how levy payments are going to work over the next two years. In essence, CITB have confirmed that no one will need to pay any Levy until September 2020, which can be paid over 12 months. There will also be an option of spreading payments up to March 2022.
Members can find out more by clicking on the button below, or by contacting Jade in the office on 01480 400000.
Click for More Info >>
Second SEISS Grant
Members can now claim for the second Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grant and Thomas Quinn have outlined the key points below:
- Claim a grant of up 70% of average monthly trading profits, covering 3 months’ worth of profits – capped at £6,570 in total
- Eligibility criteria is the same as the first grant
- HMRC will be contacting those eligible (eligibility can also be checked via the button below)
- Those eligible can make a claim if they have been adversely affected by Covid-19, on or after 14 July 2020
- Claims can be made online until 19 October 2020.
Members can contact Thomas Quinn for guidance and assistance with this process on 01480 498161 / www.thomasquinn.co.uk.
Click for More Info >>
New Guidance on Japanese knotweed
PCA members are alerted to substantial updates that the Welsh Government has made to two key documents. Dr Dan Jones of Advanced Invasives provides a succinct summary of their research findings from ‘Japanese knotweed: controlling it on your land’, confirming that:
- glyphosate can be used to achieve effective control of Japanese knotweed and;
- the mix strength and timing of application are critical to achieving optimal dose-response (in line with The Sustainable Use Directive)
The second Guidance Note ‘Japanese knotweed: advice for community and voluntary groups’ gives a bit more detail regarding training and the processes required to establish effective Knotweed Management Plans.
We welcome news that recommendations are made in both documents to use PCA member contractors.
Japanese knotweed: Controlling it on your land >>
Japanese knotweed: Community & Voluntary Groups >>
Use of Face Coverings in Construction
The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has released guidance on the use of face coverings to help provide a consistent approach across the industry, which members may find useful.
‘The Use of Face Coverings in Construction during Coronavirus (COVID-19)’ proposes that employers make available face coverings as a minimum, where workers are not required to wear RPE for their specific task and their workplace meets all of the following criteria:
- an enclosed space;
- where social distancing isn’t always possible; and
- where they come into contact with others they do not normally meet
Members can access the guidance by clicking on the button below.
Click to Read More >>
Just 1 Week until our Watertight Concrete Webinar
What are your plans for Thursday 27th August? Why not join us and Ben Hickman from 9-10am as we discuss how you can protect your reputation and waterproof design, and ask ‘are basement waterproofing designers correctly specifying Type B watertight concrete?’
The webinar focuses on issues such as what class of watertightness do we need for basement concrete while learning more about crack widths, waterproofing additives and repair. Members can register by clicking on the button below.
Click to Register Now >>
Understanding Traditional Construction Principles
Understanding Traditional Construction Principles
Date: 15th September 2020
Location: PCA Head Office, Huntingdon
Cost: Just £185 +VAT
>> Need more information on the course – click here
Our traditional building construction principles course provides delegates with the understanding and knowledge of the different types of building construction and how the type will affect how a building performs. Perfect for both surveyors and technicians, covering all aspects of the building from the foundations to the roof and everything inbetween.
Contact the training team today on 01480 400 000 or email [email protected]
Click for More Info >>
HSE Update
Health & Safety Executive have released new advice and updates over the past few weeks and just to keep members up to date, you can access the very latest updates via the button below. This includes:
- Home working safely with display screen equipment
- If you have staff working at home, you must still manage the risks to their health from display screen equipment (DSE)
- RIDDOR reporting of Covid-19
- The reporting requirements remain unchanged
- More coronavirus updates and guidance
- Risk assessment, Hand sanitisers and surface disinfectants, Cleaning and hygiene, HSE’s role in test and trace etc.,.
Click for More Info >>
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