Archive for March, 2009
Home enquiries up: Primelocation
Encouraging signs are appearing that people want to buy houses again - yet enquiries are still failing to convert into sales.
For story go to http://www.primelocation.com/news/home-enquiries-up/
Questions of Cash: ‘Abbey failed me on fraud: The Independent
Q. On 10 November £15,000 was transferred from my account to another account that was nothing to do with me. On the same day, £11,980 was paid from my account to a “Barbara”. This was also not sanctioned by me. Both transactions were conducted online and were fraudulent. I spoke to the fraud section of [...]
The role of the co-operative movement in building a sustainable future: Greening the Earth
Discussion paper
For PDF version, please email paulgosling@phonecoop.coop
The role of the co-operative movement in building a sustainable future
Introduction
The world is in crisis – in fact a simultaneous crisis on three fronts. The financial system is in turmoil – the so-called ‘credit crunch’. Food prices have accelerated to the point where basic food stuffs are unaffordable in [...]
A Presbyterian warning: Co-operative News
I fear this may be a continual theme in 2010. Another column, another inquest.
The year is already shaping up painfully for the mutual sector. In the last column we considered the sad fate of Equity Shoes. This time it is the turn of the Presbyterian Mutual Society, based in Belfast. I have referred to its [...]
Councils bank on it: Accounting & Business
Councils enter the banking market
by Paul Gosling
The idea of a council having its own bank may sound far fetched – yet until 1976 the Birmingham Municipal Bank was exactly that, Birmingham City Council’s very own bank.
Now history could repeat itself as the impact of the credit crisis spreads. Some local authorities, including Birmingham, are looking [...]
Accountancy news March 2009: Accounting & Business
AB March 2009
Main stories – UK edition
Businesses fail
Company liquidations in England and Wales jumped by half in the last quarter of 2008, rising from 3,000 to 4,600 in a year. This was also an 11.9% rise on the previous quarter. In addition, there were a further 2,428 corporate involvencies in the final quarter [...]
Sarah Wood profile: Accounting & Business
Sarah Wood FCCA, programme director, National Programme for Third Sector Commissioning, run by the Improvement and Development Agency for the Government’s Office of the Third Sector.
Q. What are your biggest challenges?
A. Securing the commitment of public services commissioners to our programme to increase the use of the third sector to deliver services. Ensuring the programme [...]
Bank of England gets desperate: Primelocation
Base rates have been cut to a new all-time low of a mere half a per cent, the Bank of England has announced. Underlining the weakness of the economy, the Bank also confirmed expectations that it is to increase money supply through an unfunded £75bn asset purchase programme.
For story go to http://www.primelocation.com/news/bank-of-england-gets-desperate/
Telecoms consolidate: Think magazine
Even in a recession, the telecoms sector remains strong – though the market in some regions are stronger than others. True, the phenomenal growth rates of the past have flattened out in much of Europe and in America, but other regions – including the Middle East and Asia – are continuing to shine.
“It is business [...]
Court action could follow Iceland losses: Local Government Chronicle
Local authorities are likely to sue treasury management advisors Butler and Sector over councils’ potential losses from Icelandic banks, according to local government financial consultant Howard Knight.
“In the light of the evidence given at the [Communities and Local Government] Select Committee on January 26th, I have no doubt that councils will be seeking expert advice [...]
