PCG Newsletter - 13th November, 2001 - 35/01 JR Appeal

In this issue:

• Delay to IR35 Appeal
• First IR35 case at commissioners – "Battersby"
• Comment on Tribunals
• Lobbying: CBI Conference
• CFT
• PCG Shop and book discounts
• Commercial / Lobbying opportunity - defence
• Members Resolutions
• Real Life Meetings

Delay to IR35 Appeal

The Court of Appeal hearing in PCG’s judicial review of IR35 has been put back to Tuesday 4 December 2001. The hearing is expected to last three days.

The Appeal was due 19th November but the IR’s legal team has other commitments. Having argued strongly that the hearing should take place, the PCG team reluctantly accepted the change.

The PCG is again setting up an office in the Cheshire Cheese, 5 Little Essex Street, London W1 for the duration of the appeal. All members are welcome to call in. https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=PCGbusiness-8972&p;=0&v;=c&s;=5

First IR35 case at commissioners – "Battersby"

In the first IR35 case to go before the Special Commissioners, contractor “Eddie Battersby” was found to be in ‘deemed employment’ and subject to IR35. For a full PCG analysis of this decision from PCG’S Director, Kevin Miller: https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=legalandaccount-40&p;=0&v;=c&s;=5 NB
To make this link you must be a full member of PCG and logged into the discussion forums.

Comment on Tribunals

For full analysis of the recent HP Tribunal and Appeal hearings from PCG’s expert team, including Kevin Miller, Francesca Largerberg, Anne Redston and Dave Smith see
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/members/appeals_and_tribunals.html

Lobbying: CBI Conference

Some excellent contacts were made when PCG participated in the recent CBI conference in Birmingham. PCG used the event to launch our efforts to promote the benefits of using flexible contracting businesses with a new client brochure, the Case for Contractors.
Report: https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=lobby-25560&p;=1&v;=c&s;=5
Press Notice: https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/press_pn1501.html
Client brochure – Case for Contractors https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/resources/brochure_case_for_contractors.pdf

CFT

Members will be aware that for some time PCG officials have been monitoring the activities of CFT Group Insurance Services. Kevin Miller contacted Lloyds of London who issued a press release. Lloyd’s are concerned that a number of commercial insurance policies naming Lloyd’s are now known to have been sold by CFT without cover having been arranged. https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/resources/CFT-press-release.pdf
Further details on the PCG noticeboard: https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=Notice-376&p;=0&v;=c&s;=5

PCG Shop and Book discounts

Delegates at the PCG’s recent conference were the first members to receive new PCG-branded merchandise. Each item has the PCG’s logo and are available now at competitive prices to the wider membership. The new products include:

• Document bags
  
• Diaries 2002
  
• Mousemats
  
• Lapel badges

Details of prices and how to order are available: https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/members/resources/pcg_shop.html

Also, members are now able to purchase two key IR35 related books at special PCG rates. The books are written by two of PCG’s key advisors, Dave Smith of Accountax and Anne Redston of Ernst & Young: Use the link below to buy IR35: Personal Service Companies By Anne Redston, for £44.50 (save £5) Tolley's IR35 Defence Strategies: From Contracts to the Commissioners By David Smith. £22.50 - 50% discount
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/members/book_order.html

Commercial / Lobbying opportunity - defence

PCG will attend a defence manufacturers association seminar on procurement from small business in the defence sector. We have negotiated a discount for members who wish to attend – Tuesday 20th November, Oxfordshire. https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=lobby-25671&p;=0&v;=c&s;=5

Members' resolutions

There is a members' forum on the site where members can post their own resolutions and seek support. Current 'live' resolutions can be viewed at:
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/wwwthreads.pl?a=l&f;=28

REGIONAL NEWS

Real Life Meetings
For the latest information and to start a local group see
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/wwwthreads.pl?a=l&f;=meet

To promote your local meet through the newsletter - email [email protected] with REGIONS in the subject matter, details of the event and a name and email contact point/or phone number for further information.

Thames Valley

The Thames Valley group now follows a rotating schedule:
1st Tuesday of each month - Basingstoke – 14th November
2nd Wednesday of each month – Farnborough - 14th November, 2001
3rd Thursday of each month – The Ship, Wokingham

Post CC meeting - London

Saturday 17th November, after CC meet Carpenters Arms, corner of Whitfield St & Howland St, just off Tottenham Court Rd (Goodge St tube)
from about 6pm - CC meeting scheduled for 5.30 finish

Herts – Old Welwyn

Christmas meal:
Thursday 29th November at Jade Palace, 23-25 Middle Row, Old Town High St, Stevenage, Starts at 8pm

Glos/Wilts/Worcs

Wednesday 21st November at 7.30 Golden Heart, Nettleton

Newcastle Upon Tyne

Wednesday 21st November starts at 7.30pm Carriage pub (Archbold Terrace - 2 minutes from Jesmond Metro station)

Chichester 22nd November

Thursday 22nd November at 8.00pm Old Cross pub in North Street

Cheshire Cheese, London 4/5/6 December (JR Appeal)

Tuesday 4th Dec - Upstairs (old War Room) available all day. Wednesday 5th Dec - Upstairs (old War Room) until 1700, then basement. Thursday 6 Dec - Basement bar all day.

CLC Christmas meal

Under discussion - see
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=meet-4152&p;=0&v;=c&s;=5
Please follow this link to Real Life meetings to get involved
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/wwwthreads.pl?a=l&f;=meet

Mark Roderick
(PCG Executive Team)

This newsletter is published by the Professional Contractors Group. Please feel free to circulate the newsletter to other independent contractors who you know, and who may be interested in joining the PCG. Some links in the newsletter will take you into the password-protected members' area of the PCG website. If you have forgotten your password, contact https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/scripts/public/access/form.pl

To view the Forum links in this newsletter, you must be first logged into the Forum. Further details available at https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/members/discussion_forum.html