2011 Highlights
Tea with the Minister
The Consumer Minister Edward Davey launched the Empowering and Protecting Consumers consultation at the TSI annual Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards Conference and Exhibition during the packed Tea with the Minister session on day one.
Excerpts from a busy few days at Conference - a full write up can be found in the July edition of TS Today
Welcome reception finds Conference given a Civic Welcome by the worshipful the major of Bournemouth Cllr Chris Rochester
Above: in the speakers lounge before the opening of Conference and first plenary. From left to right Gillian Guy, Baroness Christine Crawley, Guy Wilkes, Ron Gainsford and facilitator Martyn Lewis.
First plenary and Citizens Advice launch their research paper Desperate Times, Desperate Consumers the name inspired by the plenary title: Desperate Times, Desperate Consumers and Ron Gainford chief executive TSI says the trading standards service is facing desperate times with a potential funding cut of £100 million a year.
Speakers: Gillian Guy Citizens Advice, Guy Wilkes Financial Services Authority, Mick McAteer Financial Inclusion Centre, Martyn Hocking Which? Ron Gainsford TSI and Philip Collins Office of Fair Trading.
TSI Recognition awards go to Hampshire Trading Standards Mediation Scheme, Craig McClue for is work on Moonshine and Bishopsworth Senior Citizen Liaison Team. The TSI Hero award goes to Judi Cooper for her help in protecting a vulnerable friend from further financial loss from scammers.
Consumer Minister Ed Davey launched Department of Business, Innovation and Skill consultation document: Empowering and Protecting Consumers to a packed audience at the TSI annual Conference Tea with the Minister.
In
Above: a packed auditorium on day one set the tone for the three plenaries and masterclasses.
The second plenary Regenerating the economy through better business and Graham Russell of LBRO says the outcomes that matter to consumers are about ‘achieving things that affect the quality of life’.
Speakers Graham Russell LBRO, Philip Cullum Consumer Focus, Sukh Gill The Muller Group, Dr Kevin Hawkins Business, Innovation and Skills Red Tape Review, Mark Boleat Regulatory Policy Committee.
Above: delegates were invited to vote on basic questions to set an atmosphere of debate and questioning from the floor.
Toby Blume of Urban Forum stands up for regulations in the third and final plenary Big Society and Localism saying: ‘ it’s what protects the most vulnerable in society’ and Matthew Taylor of the RSA says its wise regulations versus stupid regulation, but warns trading standards has to find ways of ‘getting’ the people you regulate to be involved’.
Speakers: Toby Blume Urban Forum, Vanessa Griffiths Cheshire West and Chester Council, Matthew Taylor RSA, John Barradell Brighton and Hove Council
Tripartite agreement announced by TSI, LBRO and CIEH at Conference with a Joint Statement of Commitment to ensuring advice is still widely available to trading standards officers following the narrowing of the LBRO remit.
Mini-theatres proved very popular with queues forming as delegates arrived to collect their tickets and enquire about last available places.
The first masterclass by law firm QEB Hollis guides trading standards officers to successful prosecutions with three simple and basic principles.
Second masterclass with Lee McGill of the Department of Health finds that to achieve the Tobacco Control Plan for England six areas need addressing.
Third masterclass focuses on providing protection and delegates are told there are three strands to the Hampshire Safeguarding Unit.
Fourth masterclass has food for thought with EFLA as the European Commission’s new Food Information Regulation is criticised as being ‘bad regulation’ by Phil Dalton of Legal Impact.
Fifth masterclass finds the only way to solve problems is by ‘talking to each other’ but gets into a lively discussion over random testing.
It's the final afternoon and the Institute celebrates success with the College of Fellow's annual lecture by Jim Humble, followed by prize winners, admissions to the fellowship and the recognition of the first Trading Standards Practioners.