Amenity Forum Event

There has been much change over recent times with matters relating to weed, pest and disease control in amenity areas. There are also some significant challenges ahead and these impact on everyone concerned with this important sector, whether responsible for specifying work, actually undertaking such control or indeed having involvement in any part of it - storage, sales, distribution etc.

The Amenity Forum has organised a number of free updating events over the first few months of 2014 to address such issues and provide opportunity to discuss fully the implications. The first of these will be held at the headquarters of Amey at Oxford on January 17th commencing at 10am. Information on other events planned is provided later in this release. Each workshop will last no more than two and a half hours and there will be plenty of time for questions and discussion.

Each event will open with an update on recent policy changes provided by a senior member of the Chemicals Regulation Directorate. This body is responsible for shaping and implementing UK policy on such matters. The presentation will include reference to such issues as the Water Framework and Soil Directives as well as updating those present on the requirements following enactment of new legislation in 2013 relating to the Sustainable Use Directive.

This will be followed by a presentation from Professor John Moverley, Chairman of the Forum, who will look at the specific practical implications of policy changes and also other challenges impacting on the sector. The Forum has recently issued a document setting out the key Golden Rules for weed, pest and disease control and John will expand on this, setting out requirements and implications.

A third presentation will be provided by Paul Singleton, Chairman of the Forum's Education & Skills Committee. Paul will identify training requirements, both essential and strongly recommended. He will also give detail on the Amenity Assured standard and the importance of everyone operating at such a level. The final presentation will be given by the hosting organisation for each event providing a personal perspective on the way ahead.

At Oxford on January 17th, this perspective will be given by Nick Martens who is the HSEQ Director at Amey.
Following on from the Oxford event, other similar events planned are as follows:

• Bingley, Yorkshire - February 4th
• Bourne, Lincolnshire - February 28th
• Ashbourne, Derbyshire - March 10th
• Maidenhead, Berkshire - March 12th
• Stockport, Cheshire - Date to be announced

Please note that apart from Oxford, all other events are scheduled to commence at 2pm.

Professor John Moverley said ''the Amenity Forum is the national voluntary initiative seeking to promote best practice in our sector. It is important that industry can fully demonstrate its ability to regulate itself and ensure the highest standards. We have made substantial progress but more remains to be done and it is vital that everyone involved in this important sector are fully up to date with changes and implications.

This is why we are promoting these free updating events and we hope as many as possible will be able to attend''

Whilst events are free to attend, it is essential to pre-register. This is most easily done by emailing Alan Spedding, Secretary to the Forum, at Alan.Spedding@amenityforum.co.uk or contacting him direct.

Further information on how to do this is given at the Forum website, www.amentyforum.co.uk

FULL PROGRAMME FOR THE OXFORD EVENT
From 9.30 am Arrival
1000 Welcome and introductions
1005 Update on policy changes and their impact - Grant Stark/ Nigel Chadwick , Chemicals Regulations Directorate
1030 Key challenges and issues for the sector - John Moverley, Chairman, Amenity Forum
1055 Training, Skills and Standards - changes and challenges - Paul Singleton, Chairman Education & Skills Committee for the Forum
1120 An Industry Perspective - Nick Martens, HSEQ Director Amey
1145 General Discussion
1215 Conclusions & Actions going forward - John Moverley
1230 Forum Event ends