[jeff1]

to be totally honest I cannot decide yes or no

YES because it may help to deal with the ropey element for whom window cleaning is easy money.

NO because I dont trust local councils to run something like this properly.  Also if it wasnt enforced it would be yet another tax on legit businesses

Got me split both ways this one has.

Doug, in Scotland. who decides if you cant get a licence?  is it the local council? and what factors will make somebody disqualified?

Couple of good points in there Tennet

[Paul Coleman]

For those of us with nothing to fear and legit businesses a big yes

For the good weather and dole boys a big no

should only be a big yes on here then ?

There are other very good reasons for saying no which I have posted previously.  I'm on the borders of threee counties and work in them all.  Presumably I would be expected to buy three licences.  I don't want the office control freaks ruining my business thanks.

[Paul Coleman]

http://www.slwcn.org/area.htm

We are working on the above.

What you need to consider is do you want to be Police checked or not, the licensed will have to have some conditions otherwise anyone can apply. What I would recommend is have to be registered with the Inland Revenue etc..

Will need around 100+ votes on this plus a lot of research, have got some powerful players but it will facts and figures etc...

It will have to be a trial basis in one area before it can be copied accross all England but you have the advantage, it's what you want but you have to consider what will keep out the beer brigade.

Will keep this running for a few weeks.


Doug

The word Etc. could be a very big word.  Could you please qualify what "etc" would mean in this instance?

[jouk45]

I know a bloke up the road from me, who's been on the dole for as long as I have lived here (15 years) and he's a w/c, his whole family have been in and out of nick, so whats going to stop this sort of guy flouting the license law? will it be enforced enough to stop him? I very much doubt it.
I would back this Licensing 100% if I knew it would be policed properly.

they need to know they have insurance jeff, before they even buy a license,enforcemet is the key,

[Londoner]

Definite yes to this one. I have doubts about enforcement but its still a great step forward.
Anything to stop the cowboys.

[DASERVICES]

Doug, in Scotland. who decides if you cant get a licence?  is it the local council? and what factors will make somebody disqualified?

In Scotland,

Each individual goes through disclosure scotland and the Police will then recommend if the person is fit to hold a licence. They do not have the final say, the window cleaner can go in front of the licensing board and put his case forward that he is a fit person to hold a licence.

The benefit you guys have is this would be new so as a group you could work with the Council and set the rules and regulations. Like I said the key is KPI's, without that it will not work.

[Londoner]

Sorry, whats a KPI ?

[DASERVICES]

Key Performance Indicators - The Council need to be measured on how checks are made, how many are caught, public awareness etc...

[JSMC]

I'm against having a licence for different areas. Area wher ei live isn't that big but my partners father has work just up the road and it's anothe rcouncil. seems to be a lot of money for different areas and very unfair. Is this the only type of business where you need a licence for each different council apart from taxi drivers.

[DASERVICES]

Hi JSMC,

I would have agreed with you some time back but after looking into the whole of the Civic Act I can understand why there is a need for seperate licenses. We do acknowledge some Councils ae charging way over the odds for a licence which we will work on.

Window cleaners and taxi drivers are not the only trades that are covered by the civic act. You have wheelie bin cleaners, coffee vans, burger vans, mobile car valeters etc... all need a sperate licence if each area they operate.

As a business this will have little effect on us as we pass that cost onto our customers.

For example have just won a contract in Fife so I will now need to apply for a Fife licence. The cost of the licence was costed into the quote which the customer was happy in paying it. I fully made them aware about the licence, it's a good sales tool so you need to use it.

So what we really should be thinking about is running our business efficiently and factoring all costs in. There is no other businesses around that do not do this but unfortunately a lot of window cleaners will stick at same old pricing method that has been used for years, 25p per window etc...

Doug



 

[[GQC] Tim]

So......how much is a license?

[Alex Gardiner]

to be totally honest I cannot decide yes or no

YES because it may help to deal with the ropey element for whom window cleaning is easy money.

NO because I dont trust local councils to run something like this properly.  Also if it wasnt enforced it would be yet another tax on legit businesses

Got me split both ways this one has.

Doug, in Scotland. who decides if you cant get a licence?  is it the local council? and what factors will make somebody disqualified?

I agree with TennetClean above. (is that a first? )

My suspicion is that unless it was run perfectly and in a perfect world it would end up penalising the legitimate business owner.

On balance then I would have to vote NO.

[frames to panes]

Yes in principle but no in practice. If i have to fork out on a couple of licences as well as my public liability insurance, my stamp, my tax, van insurance, water meter etc. and Joe Bloggs the dole cheat is still working the next house off his ladders for the same fee but nill stopages then i'll be even less happy! If it can be policed properly then yes please!

[Alex Gardiner]

Just a personal question DA Services.

Why are you so passionate about this subject? What got you into this area of window cleaning? Just curious 

You must spend a lot of time promoting and working on this. Would your time have been better spent elsewhere, perhaps on your own business, building a bigger more efficient business.

[rhys11]

how much do window cleaners  pay for SLWCN in Scotland ??

[Paul Coleman]

I'm just wondering if any window cleaners from Scotland are voting in this poll.  I would hope that this isn't the case but I suppose if it's good enough for Westminster.........................     

[Steve Lowe]

Just a personal question DA Services.

Why are you so passionate about this subject? What got you into this area of window cleaning? Just curious 

You must spend a lot of time promoting and working on this. Would your time have been better spent elsewhere, perhaps on your own business, building a bigger more efficient business.

Hi Alex
You took the words out of my mouth What Doug and others are doing is really commendible and for Scotland i think its the right thing as they already have the licence and its a case of making it work for legitimate cleaners. In England i would vote no because my feeling is that it would not be policed. Look at the wahd is that being policed? Also like you say it is a massive amount of work and would it not be better spent on building businesses?
Good luck though !!

Steve

[jeff1]

Doug,
Is the seperate license fee for any different area that we work? or is it just for each seperate council area covered by a seperate council.

What I'm getting at is the six area's I cover they are all covered by the same council.

[DASERVICES]

how much do window cleaners  pay for SLWCN in Scotland ??

It's free to join and advertise as long as you are licensed.

We felt it would be ripping fellow window cleaners off if this was something that could not be done. But in future there will be some sort of joining fee which will have your insurance etc.. which it will make it worth while to join to cover costs etc..

The SLWCN will be a different association, members will have the final vote.

[Dean Aspects]

Doug,
Is the seperate license fee for any different area that we work? or is it just for each seperate council area covered by a seperate council.

What I'm getting at is the six area's I cover they are all covered by the same council.

The licence is by council areas this is why i need 3 licences (Angus, Perth and Kinross and Dundee)3 fees and 3 police checks ironically i am police checked by one police force (tayside police)

Dean