[DASERVICES]

SLWCN attended a meeting with Fife Council which went exceptionally well. After discussing the report on the window cleaning trade in Fife they acknowledged that something needs to be done to address the situation.

As a result in the coming months the SLWCN ,Fife Council and the Police Force will be holding a press conference highlighting why the need to only use licensed window cleaners. Local businesses will also be targeted to ensure they only use companies that licence their employees.

There will also be a leaflet campaign which the SLWCN will be working closely with Fife Council.
The question was asked how would our Industry handle the void that would be created, resulting in a shortage of window cleaners. The SLWCN stated that the Industry would recover from this as prices would have to rise thus making it possible to employee licensed window cleaners. The current prices within our Industry was also discussed and the Council agreed to work with the SLWCN in highlighting  to the general public why the need for prices to be higher.

It was also agreed that the SLWCN would host the list of licensed window cleaners and that they would encourage members of the public to view the list which they will confirm back that this is feasible. The Council stated it was in the public’s interest that they were aware who was licensed but asked that the SLWCN work on getting more window cleaners to advertise their services. SLWCN agreed to this and will be working closely with local window cleaners

The Council will be looking in finding funds for an Enforcement Officer but in the meantime will be asking Fife Police to do checks.They also asked if the SLWCN could also try and get the message to unlicensed window cleaners as well which we agreed to.

They would like to see the SLWCN become a focal point for licensed window cleaners and asked us to inform all licensed window cleaners about the SLWCN which we agreed. There were other issues about the license to be discussed but it was agreed that is was best to concentrate on Enforcement and once that was resolved to then discuss about the other concerns.

In summary the general public will be made aware of the need to use licensed window cleaners which is the main objective the SLWCN has been pushing for. We have now accomplished the initial stages and need to work closely with licensed window cleaners in improving our Industry.

[DASERVICES]

Other issues that now have arisen is a few Councils are now checking Yellow Pages etc.. and tracing unlicensed window cleaners. Letters have been sent out to these Companies.

On licence application forms it now states that this information is shared with the Inland Revenue.

[zeusjazmin]

does this apply to all areas?

[DASERVICES]

It will do in the long run, barr the six Councils that do not operate the licence, I do know from the last task report that a lot of Councils wanted it to be a fixed law. The meeting we had in Edinburgh the head of SOLAR is looking into licensing over all. We are awaiting his report.

[Stevie G]

i see this has been on going now for quite a while.
out of intrest how has it affected the cowboys, guys starting or even you guys
that are all ready licensed come to that.

stevieg.

[DASERVICES]

Hi Stevie,

To sum it up in Scotland you have to have a licence by law to work as a window cleaner. This was introduced to protect the public from unsavory characters. The problem that we have had is the window cleaners who obey the law get nothing in return.

The licence is there to protect the trade as well but Councils as we have found them to be a pen and paper department. As a result a lot of lads struggle to make a living as they are being undercut all the time what we call the beer trade. The guys who only work for their weekend beer and are on benefits etc...

Public knowledge is also a problem as they are unaware of the licence.

The SLWCN has tackled this from the legal side so the Councils cannot come with any excuses, the end result they will now have to stop unlicensed window cleaners as it is an offence punishable up to £2000 fine.

Hopefully in the long run this will benefit our trade and we should see prices rise. We are in this for a business not to struggle, there is a system in place we now need it to work for us.

Doug

[JSMC]

what i don't agree wit is you need one for each council area. i live in north lanarkshire but if i wanted to work in hamilton which isn't far from me i need to buy another licence.

this is the sticking point for me