12th February, 2000 - PCG Rules now up for review

PCG Constitution. Proposals now available for review.
Having started the PCG back in May my objective was clear; together with members to try and effect some change, having achieved the best we could, to then provide information for members on how to best deal with any changes. Then to close down.

We voted back in September to become a representative body. You had asked for this and we have engaged Lawyers to draft a constitution suitable for our purposes.

We now have the draft up for your review and approval.

Following a period for review and minor amendments we will put the new constitution to the vote and following this we will move to elections for the new Committee (or as it will be known the: Consultative Council-CC)

Some of you have suggested I stay on:- I hope to stay on and serve on the CC and will stand and offer myself for election, but it is time to step down.

1. However difficult we might have thought it would be to defeat IR 35 politically I raised expectations that this was possible. We had to believe that, otherwise why fight? We have not achieved that. I know I could not have worked harder, but understandably members will be disappointed and will question our past strategy. Time for a fresh start as we move into the implementation stage.
2. Of necessity (and also playing to my strengths), we have had to be confrontational to get any of the movement we have achieved. As one of the Institutions said, "We will give you the bullets, you can fire them" I will certainly not be on Dawn's Christmas card list! We might wish to adopt a different strategy in the future. That is best achieved with a different Chairman.
3. As an Agent, Client and Contractor I thought all interests would be aligned in fighting IR 35. How wrong can you be!! As such we could increasingly be going "head to head" with Agents. The fact that I am an Agent will be used to weaken our case. "He would say that, he is trying to compete with us" or " He just wants that data to use through his Agency". A Contractors group needs to be run by and for Contractors.

The timetable is as follows.

1. Members review the new rules starting 11th Febraury
2. the members to vote on the new rules 19/20/21 February
3. nominations for the consultative council to open on 22 February
4. elections to the consultative council 1/2 March

This will allow the new structure to be in place ahead of the introduction of IR 35.

You can review the new rules: Here

Test of New server
We have had some negative reports on the performance of the New server. We would be grateful if you could help us understand these problems by carrying out some bench-marking over the next few weeks.Please go to the following web page and follow the instructions. You can do this test as many times as you can stand to see the pictures!! http://www.webtastic.co.uk/scripts/test.html - link expired

Seminars
It was a pleasure to see many of the members for the first time at the Southampton Seminar. The venue was sold out and I am grateful for the feedback received. I look forward to meeting more of you on the upcoming road show - http://www.ir35update.co.uk/pcg_seminars.html - link expired

Kind Regards

Andy White
Chairman PCG

Please note: as I will be on the road it will be difficult to answer emails. The reply email address is to David Hopkins who will try and answer any points. He will be very busy so I would suggest you use the forums as much as possible.