We are looking for Class 2 drivers to join our new fleet based out of Portbury. You will be working for one of the UK's leading independent suppliers of bathroom furniture and products.
This role will include an average of 13 drops per day to stores across the UK. No assembling required, sack barrow or pump truck provided for offloading.
Ensure first class customer service is experienced at all times.
Adhere to specified time restrictions given under current legislation.
Ensure all vehicles checks are performed at the start and at the end of each journey, reporting all defects as per the current procedure.
Drive in a safe, responsible and courteous manner always, and in accordance with company policy & procedures, legislation and traffic regulations.
Carry out vehicle checks and ensure that defects are reported immediately and complete all paperwork in line with procedure.
Report to the traffic office at start and finish of shift for debrief.
Have a positive, flexible attitude to work.


The New York Department of Financial Services has issued a proposal on how they want to regulate cryptocurrencies. Under the proposal, businesses would have to learn the identity of their customers. They would also have to maintain a reserve equal to the amount they are holding for their customers, and undergo strict security audits.
Google has added Bitcoin support to its currency conversion in Google Search. Google is working with Coinbase to support the conversions. The move follows on Google's addition of Bitcoin to Google Finance last month.
Dell is the latest company to accept Bitcoin payments. The computer hardware company is now the world's largest ecommerce business to accept Bitcoin, according to CEO Michael Dell.
Anthem Vault Inc, a precious metals dealer, has launched INNCoins. The currency is backed by physical gold, with the aim to make gold more acceptable as a form of currency. There will be 10 million INNCoins in total, which are expected to be fully in circulation by July 2015.
Dogecoin block rewards halved this week. As a result, Dogecoin's network hashrate also halved and went from about 90 GH/s to 45 GH/s. Even though the drop is severe, it comes after a recent surge in hashrate following the arrival of new Scrypt ASICs. It leaves the hashrate at the value it had two months ago.


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English town told to stop feeding the fatberg
Thread: English town told to stop feeding the fatberg
A 64-metre "fatberg", a mass of congealed waste has been found in a sewer under the British seaside town of Sidmouth, in the southwestern county of Devon, a water company says.
"Devon's largest fatberg has been discovered in Sidmouth," South West Water said on Twitter on Tuesday.
"It's a whopping 64 metres long; that's over six double-decker buses back to back," it said, posting two photographs of the grey "fatberg" filling most of the brick and concrete sewer.
South West Water urged local residents to "think sink" and "love your loo".
"Don't pour cooking oil, fat and grease down the sink (and) only flush the (hash)3Ps - pee, paper and poo," it tweeted.
Andrew Roantree, South West Water's director of wastewater, said he expected engineers to need about eight weeks to "dissect this monster in exceptionally challenging work conditions".
They will start work on February 4, wearing breathing apparatus to remove the fatberg manually and with "special sewer jetting equipment", the company said.
A much larger fatberg, stretching about 250m, blocked a sewer in east London's Whitechapel district in 2017. Part of it was exhibited at the Museum of London last year.
Roantree said the Sidmouth fatberg showed "how this key environmental issue is not just facing the UK's cities, but right here in our coastal towns".
"Thankfully, it has been identified in good time with no risk to bathing waters," he added.
Sidmouth is a holiday resort known for its sandy beaches.
english, ps, ratio-free, ratio-less, ratioless, ratioless trackers, time, twitter

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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UHRC Launches digital Human rights education strategy for Youths
by RICHARD KINTU on June 2, 2022 add comment 13.1K views
UHRC Chairperson Mariam Wangadya in a group photo with staff who were trained in digital human rights education
Ugandan youths will learn more about their rights and how to defend them, thanks to a new human rights education strategy coined for them by the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC).
The new strategy was announced Monday by the Commission Chairperson Mariam F. Wangadya during a workshop at which a select group of UHRC staff were trained on the use of social media for Human Rights Education.
At the training which took place at Esella Country Hotel in Wakiso District, Wangadya revealed that the commission will take its human rights defence mandate to the digital platforms.
She said this is in a bid to touch base with the country's youthful population who now consume most of their information via digital platforms, especially social media.
"The Uganda Human Rights Commission has no choice but to adjust to this changing environment and follow its clientele to the digital spaces. This is particularly so in respect to the youth who have easily embraced the technology," Wangadya revealed to the first cohort of staff trainees.
According to the chairperson, the commission rolled out a plan to train all its staff and equip them with the necessary skills to utilise social media in human rights education work.
She however noted that due to financial constraints, they began with a few trainees but who will be tasked to pass on the skills they have acquired to their colleagues at work.
Why go digital?
Wangadya told participants that the advancement of technology, particularly the internet, has changed the consumption patterns of information and news, which requires all public organisations like UHRC to adjust to the new trends so as to remain effective and relevant in their work.
"It (technology) has transformed how information is now generated, stored, retrieved, disseminated or received. Interaction between individuals, entities, societies and nations has equally taken a new turn. The ability of the internet to facilitate information-sharing in real time and transcend barriers of physical distance, has comprehensively changed the communication dynamics… All these developments point to the fact that the Uganda Human Rights Commission has no choice but to adjust to this changing environment and follow its clientele to the digital spaces," she said. The UHRC's new strategy is vindicated by statistics which show this unprecedented shift, especially ever since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic which limited physical interactions.
"The Covid-19 pandemic that hit the world about three years ago brought another twist to this reality. In view of the restrictions that governments imposed to manage the pandemic, especially on physical gatherings, internet-based resources ceased to be a luxury for a few and became a necessity for individuals and corporate entities. The reality of digital migration came alive during that period of unprecedented challenges, as the shift from physical to cyberspace became for many, the most effective or even the only alternative," she noted.
She also stressed that even after the pandemic has been largely managed, the reality is that the digital migrants have generally stayed put in cyberspace, thus necessitating deliberate strategies by organisations to find them there.
According to the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Market Performance Report of April 2021, there was a significant increase in digitisation and dependence on online resources. The global picture showed that 4 out of every 10 persons have a social media account. For instance Facebook reported an active account base of 2.74 billion users closely followed by YouTube with 2.3 billion and WhatsApp Messenger at 2 billion, while Asian chat powerhouse WeChat/Weixin reported an estimated 1.2 billion active users. On the other hand, TikTok, Instagram and SnapChat reported a combined user base of 2.4 billion accounts at the end of March 2021.
Zoom and Microsoft Teams, which are meeting and conferencing applications, dominated the remote working market, accounting for 145 million and 300 million daily active users respectively. The UCC report acknowledged the inescapable presence that social media and online resources continue to have in the everyday lives of people.
Back home in Uganda, although the data was not as comprehensive, UCC estimated that internet users would be about 13.92 million by end of 2021 which is represents a rate of internet penetration of 29.1% of the total population. Social media had 2.8 million users representing 5.9% of the total population, up from 2.5 million the previous year. In the same period, 590,000 more subscriptions were made for mobile and fixed phone lines which translated into about 7 lines for every 10 individuals in Uganda. The use of smartphones also significantly increased from slightly over 6.6 million in December 2019 to about 8.2 million in March 2021.
Wangadya reminded his team that given the statistics above, "there is no doubt that the internet and digital spaces have presented great opportunities for human rights education." She, however, cautioned the trainees to beware of the negative effects that come with social media usage, saying only adequate knowledge of these tools will help staff to mitigate such challenges.
"This ToT is therefore timely, since technology alone will not accomplish our work if we are unable to understand or appreciate it. It is an adequately skilled and well-prepared human resource that will be able to harness and operate the technology to effectively enhance the promotion of human rights. I therefore look forward to results from this training, which will be exemplified by staff capacity to apply and share the skills acquired; greater information sharing and dissemination across the world; more visibility of the Commission on social media; more innovative ways of promoting human rights; and ultimately an empowered citizenry able to participate in their governance and decision-making on their affairs," she said.
Tags : Mariam F. WangadyaUganda Human Rights CommissionUHRC
Min. Nankabirwa Rallies Bishops To Support Uganda's Oil and Gas Projects
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2-316 Memorandum for the Secretary of War, December 3, 1940
Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press
Collection: Papers of George Catlett Marshall, Volume 2: We Cannot Delay
Memorandum for the Secretary of War
December 3, 1940 [Washington, D.C.]
Subject: Seizure of Brazilian vessel by British Navy.1
With reference to Colonel Regnier's2 statement in his memorandum to you of November 29th, outlining the British position with relation to the seizure of the "Siqueira Campos", I think that the following details of our point of view should be brought forcibly to their attention:
The Brazilian Government purchased the war materiel in question, from Germany, after seeking bids from England and the United States. England did not choose to sell the materiel, and we did not have it to sell. Therefore, the contract with Germany—the only available source.
We denied the Brazilian Government their urgent request for arms and equipment, which we then had surplus. This materiel was turned over to the British Government at the time of the Dunkirk disaster. The large quantities involved have made it impossible for us to meet the requests of most of the South American countries. We have been greatly embarrassed in this situation. We are doing all in our power to build up a unified spirit in the Americas to offset the Nazi and Italian efforts to bore from within. This is a matter of great importance to us, which would seem to outweigh very decidedly the arguments of the British Government in this particular case.
We are seriously embarrassed because of our efforts to help Great Britain. The "grave breach" in the British blockade I cannot believe to be comparable to the grave embarrassment in which this Government is placed because of its present and previous policy of assistance to Great Britain.3
Document Copy Text Source: George C. Marshall Papers, Pentagon Office Collection, Selected Materials, George C. Marshall Research Library, Lexington, Virginia.
Document Format: Typed memorandum.
1. Several shipments of German-made arms purchased by Brazil had already reached that nation, but the British government advised the Brazilian government that no further shipments would be permitted. When Foreign Minister Oswaldo Aranha's request that the Siqueira Campos be permitted to sail was rejected, he told the United States State Department that the Brazilian Army was determined to get the shipment and that if Britain did not relent, he would resign and permit the appointment of a new foreign minister having antidemocratic views. On November 16 the Brazilian government ordered the vessel to leave Lisbon without British permission. On November 21 the British notified Brazil that the ship had been seized and interned at Gibraltar. Brazilian authorities protested angrily. The United States charg
2-316.doc
Papers of George Catlett Marshall, Volume 2: We Cannot Delay
Holding Rights: Public Information
Holding ID: 2-316
Rights: Public Information


As a child of the 90's there are a ton of cartoons I remember growing up watching (aside from all of the Disney movies, of course.) Some that some to mind off of the top of my head include Courage The Cowardly Dog, Hey Arnold, and Rugrats just to name a few. There were sooo many great ones that I sometimes forget what all I used to watch. This list definitely sparked some memories for me and if you were a 90's baby it probably will for you too.
Frontierbundles.com used Google Trends data to discover the top cartoons from the 90's that people are still talking about in every state. Iowa's choice was Batman: The Animated Series. That wasn't one of the ones that I was crazy about, but I definitely remember it being on.
Check out the full list here. What were your favorite cartoons growing up? Let us know in the comments!


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The recipe for cloud success? Sustainability and talent
Matt Larder, head of cloud, explains the philosophy behind the growth of Softcat, a challenger in cloud transformation
Matt Larder
Head of Cloud, Softcat
Matt Larder Linked In
Cloud skills are in short supply. Three-quarters of organisations cite a lack of skills as a challenge on their journeys. Other barriers include the IT delivery gap, a taxing landscape of cloud partners and a growing imperative that investments align to a sustainable future. Given these pressures, why is Softcat quietly confident for the future? It's because the company's ethos and vision for cloud are firmly grounded in its culture and the way it works.
Cloud journeys depend on people; those with a passion for outcomes built on rapidly evolving technology. Yet as cloud technology has rapidly grown, so have the gaps in talent and recruitment. As of early 2022, Softcat employs 1,700 people across nine locations to serve its customers with their digital workspace, cybersecurity and hybrid cloud needs in the UK and Ireland. The company's growth is attributed to our culture, which started 29 years ago and is built on our ethos that people come first.
This powers our focus to annually bring through the next generation of talent and ensure that irrespective of age, gender, or experience, we provide equal opportunity for development. We work with schools and universities to raise awareness of what the technology industry has to offer. As a result, we are seeing many more young people
drawn to the industry.
Daisy Mossop, GTM (go to market) manager at Softcat (pictured) is a product of Softcat's commitment to young talent. A graduate of the company's award-winning apprenticeship scheme, Mossop is also just one example of Softcat's commitment to diversity in the tech sector. Incidentally, the company's emphasis on sustainability was an important factor for Mossop in choosing to work at Softcat. Indeed, we have observed that young people want their employer to provide an environment that not only educates and nurtures, but also demonstrates values they can relate to; values such as community, social responsibility and sustainability.
Thanks to the rise of digital channels and 24 months of lockdowns, many younger employees are self-taught, having learned a variety of new skills from their sofa. It's here our approach bears fruit: Softcat achieved fifth position in the 2021 Super-Large Category of the UK's Best Workplaces
Awards; won the top apprenticeship employer in the UK award in 2021 and 2022 by RateMyApprenticeship; and has also grown its tech starter programme, which continues to promote women in technology.
Evolving career motivations
Engaging young talent isn't enough when they face significant hurdles starting their careers. The cost of living is rapidly increasing, and experience is still a primary factor for many recruiters. So, providing opportunities to mitigate these pressures is important, as is understanding and making a progressive effort to address the evolving expectations of not just younger members of our team, but also our customers and the wider society. It's here that the sustainability imperative is impossible to ignore. Global e-waste is growing at a staggering rate. UN research found that the world discarded a record 53.6 million tons of e-waste in 2019, of which only 17% was recycled. By 2030, it's predicted this will increase to more than 74 million tons a year.
So what is the link between finding new talent and sustainability? In recent surveys by Global Tolerance, 42% of employees want to work for an organisation that has a positive impact on the world. Research from fastcompany.com highlights that nearly 70% said that if a company had a strong sustainability plan it would affect their decision to stay long term.
It's this context that underpins Softcat's commitment to be a responsible employer and business partner.
"The IT industry needs to lead the way toward a net-zero future. As technology and its place in society proliferates, the requirement for it to be sustainable becomes paramount"
Graham Charlton
CFO, Softcat
This is why, through a range of initiatives that have gained total employee buy in, Softcat has reduced its emissions by 37% over the past five years, while growing revenue and expanding our workforce.
Cloud: a different approach
While the new breed of 'born in the cloud' partners have attracted the industry's top talent and accomplished well-publicised transformations, this has left an undesirable legacy: a skills bubble slowing the growth for the whole market and an oversight in the components of cloud adoption that are considered less exciting, regardless of their importance. Flexera research highlights that 55% of organisations are having challenges with cloud software licensing and 59% of organisations are still to focus on cloud migration. This creates divisive views that cloud can positively or negatively impact sustainability.
A cloud journey can reduce IT infrastructure, cutting energy output and lowering emissions. But conversely, 30% of cloud spend is wasted according to Flexera research. This ultimately means someone else's equipment contributing to your Scope 3 emissions - perhaps less than it originally was, but not as low as it could be.
Softcat has taken a different approach. Armed with an appreciation of sustainability, both climate and commercial, we help customers get maximum results by emphasising the importance of managing commercial relationships and providing intelligence regarding cloud usage to avoid waste and sprawl, which supports sustainable change. We do this with small and mid-sized businesses as well as enterprises, across private and public sectors. This gives us a breadth of experience that provides a platform to support digital transformation.
A recent example is Softcat's partnership with a leading public cloud provider to support UK Police as part of the One Government Cloud Strategy to transform legacy IT. Digital forensic units are experiencing an exponential increase in demand for data processing on live and archive storage. Our partnership has demonstrated an 80% reduction in analysis time for a single mobile phone image and a 90% reduction in storage costs versus on-premises. This increases department efficiency and reduces carbon footprint using modern cloud technology in place of ageing on-premises equipment.
The future: no dreamwork
The cloud scene is teeming with providers. Much rarer are partners prepared to build and invest in a lasting community that embraces young talent and reflects the values of its people and customers. In the long-run, it's a people-first ethos, with a sustainable attitude that delivers cloud outcomes that support lasting growth. It's here we measure our success. We have maintained annual customer satisfaction results at 95%, and despite the challenges of a global pandemic, we hold a Net Promoter Score of 59 - a great position in the technology industry.


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28th November - Snow & Leisure Centre planning application submitted to Middlesbrough Council
Prism Planning have today (28th November 2019) submitted to Middlesbrough Council, on behalf of our client Subzero (Middlehaven) Ltd, a planning application for a 20,588m² snow & leisure centre development on land south of Priestman Road, Middlehaven, Middlesbrough, near to Middlesbrough Football Stadium.
Our client's aim for the Subzero project is to provide a commercially successful, high quality, regional leisure attraction providing indoor skiing facilities (two indoor ski slopes, a nursery slope for beginners and tuition and a main slope for more accomplished skiers and snowboarders) supported by sports retail, food and beverage outlets (cafes, bars, restaurants & hot food takeaways, some probably in-combination) and other complimentary leisure uses (a climbing/ice-climbing wall, soft play area, trampolines and ten pin bowling are envisaged). The development will provide new sport, recreation and leisure opportunities for local people and attract visitors and business to Middlehaven/Middlesbrough from across the region.
Our Director, Rod Hepplewhite, led on project managing the preparation and submission of the planning application and has been involved with the project from day one, including the preparation and submission of the previous outline planning application that was approved by Middlesbrough Council in April 2017. Projects of this scale and complexity take time to develop, during which time the site increased in size and the form and orientation of the building on site altered as the detailed design of the building evolved to accommodate the range and layout of the facilities proposed.
Officers of Middlesbrough Council were kept advised of progress in preparation of the planning application and we are hopeful that planning application will be granted early in the New Year.
9th October 2019 - Specialist Chemical Site Expansion Moves a Step Closer
Prism Planning are delighted to have been selected by Addison Project and Lianhetech to submit their planning application for the refurbishment and extension of the Lianhetech plant at Seal Sands.
Formerly known as Fine Organics, the company have been one of the leading manufacturers of specialist chemicals in Teesside and currently employ around 260 staff on their site which was set up in the 1970s.
The current planning application that has just been submitted to Stockton Borough Council will see a multi-million pound investment in the existing plant, including the establishment of new car parks, new production lines and various ancillary outbuildings. The application represents a substantial investment in the firm following its acquisition by Lianhetech.
The application is expected to be considered by Stockton Borough Council in the future weeks.
If approved, the application will not only consolidate the existing jobs and presence of the company but will lead to a further 80 staff being employed on the site.
It is recognised that this good news will be most welcome, following the recent announcement over the uncertainty of Ineos plant at Seal Sands.
20th September 2019, Replacement dwelling allowed in Conservation Area
Planning permission was sought for the demolition and replacement of a single detached house in a North Yorkshire Conservation Area. The house was not listed and had a significant array of structural issues associated with it and restricted ceiling heights at ground and first floor level. It was also subject to damp and flooding problems. The consulting engineers, having considered all the issues recommended demolition and re-build, despite the fact that parts of the house dated back to the 18th century.
Prism were called in to assist and produced a detailed Heritage Impact Assessment, for the project. Opponents to the scheme had tried to secure the listing of the building and had put forward a great deal of confused arguments claiming the building was of significant historic interest. Their case had got the ears of Historic England who took the listing case forward.
Untangling the claims took a substantial amount of time, but Prism managed to defeat the listing attempt, only to have planning officers then try to declare the building to be a locally designated asset and faced a committee report that recommended refusal of the replacement dwelling.
Steve Barker, Prism MD, spoke at the planning meeting, pointing out a series of errors in the report and incorrect interpretations of planning law in the advice given to members. Despite the same objectors also speaking at the meeting, we managed to secure the unanimous overturning of the officer recommendation with members supporting the recommendation. It's a challenge to overturn any officer recommendation, even under the best of circumstances and to do so unanimously was unprecedented.
Dealing with a heritage matter is a tricky issue and a great deal of care is required. This case demonstrates that the team at Prism have the capability and knowledge to tackle some of the most sensitive and challenging heritage cases and we would be very pleased to talk to potential new clients about how we might be able to assist.
20th May 2019, Offshore Marine Energy Park Proposed on Land at South Bank, Redcar
Prism Planning today submitted a Scoping request under the Environmental Impact Regulations for the development of an offshore marine energy park to service the burgeoning offshore wind turbine industry. The site at South Bank on the Tees involves part of the former steelworks. The project would provide a new base for the offshore sector, allowing for the import and assembly of the components used to deliver the offshore wind programme that the UK desperately needs.
The proposal would see the development of a new 950 metre long quay along the South Bank wharf, replacing the present derelict structure. On the site, components would be stored, assembled and shipped on to new purpose-built vessels designed to deliver the new offshore programme. In order to do this, new cranes would be built, including the most powerful conventional crawler crane in the world and a new rail crane, which would be more than twice as tall as the Transporter Bridge. It has been estimated that nearly 250 jobs would be created during the construction period and thereafter 600 permanent jobs for workers and management associated with the proposal. A CGI image of how the site might look is attached below.
Prism were very pleased to be selected to manage this project and look forward to working with Able and the Local Planning Authority to deliver this much-needed redevelopment project. Further enquiries on this matter should be directed to Steve Barker, Managing Director of Prism Planning Ltd, or Neil Etherington, Business Development Director at Able UK.
Successful Removal of Agricultural Occupancy Condition - by an unusual route.
Prism have just been successful in removing an agricultural occupancy condition attached to a client's property - and achieved it via a most unusual route. The conventional approach usually requires the property being advertised for sale for a 1 or sometimes 2-year period, at a price that reflects the lowered value of the property. The field is often fraught with disputes over valuations and challenges to the marketing process - stamina is normally required and a number of cases simply get abandoned.
Our clients had lived at the property for a number of years and assumed that they met the occupancy criteria - indeed they had correspondence on file from the Council confirming this point.
Prism had reviewed the history of their site and formed a different view - which in due course was supported by an independent review by barristers at No 5 Chambers - the acknowledged set for planning advice in the country.
Prism then proceeded to submit an application for lawful development - based upon more than 10 years of non-compliance with the condition - a position the team were very sure about.
Fresh minds at the LPA, reviewing the back files of the case came to another unusual view - that the original occupancy condition, because of its non-standard wording was so badly drafted that it could not actually be complied with by anyone and was, in their minds completely unenforceable going forward. They invited Prism and our client to present an application to remove the condition as a consequence and then went on to grant that consent.
Naturally our client was delighted by the outcome and by the removal of the occupancy condition! The case highlights that the removal of occupancy conditions is rarely straightforward, but that it can be done, if circumstances have changed radically since the property was first built. Anyone in this position should seek expert advice from Prism Planning who have a track record of success in this very specialist field of planning.
14.03.19 - Sometimes you're in for the long haul ….
At long last, some 5 years since our first involvement in the project and 4½ years since the planning application was submitted, Prism Planning secured outline planning permission, backed by a S106 Legal Agreement, on 14th March 2019 in respect of a housing-led development of some 83.5 hectares (206 acres) of land at High Tunstall, Hartlepool. The development will provide up to 1,200 homes, a neighbourhood centre including a primary school, a new distributor road and amenity open space including structure planting.
We recognised from the outset that a scheme of such magnitude was never going to be straight forward and so it turned out. Through a combination of the scale of the proposed development, the site's location and the local environment, the planning application required an Environmental Impact Assessment, a Habitats Regulation Assessment, a Transport Assessment and detailed archaeological investigation.
Prism Planning project managed the preparation of the planning application submission, preparing the supporting Planning Statement and leading on the preparation of the Environmental Statement, including over-seeing the work undertaken by a host of environmental consultancies and the architects who prepared the many iterations of the masterplan drawings and the associated Design & Access Statement.
The application was submitted at the time that Hartlepool Borough Council were preparing of a new Local Plan (adopted May 2018). To accord with the then emerging Local Plan, the scale and land-take of the proposed development was reduced from the original 2,000 homes and 118 hectare site proposed. Rod Hepplewhite, our Director, attended the Local Plan Examination Hearings in September/October 2017 and successfully supported the Council's proposed allocation of the High Tunstall application site as a 'Strategic Housing Site', a significant step forward in the ultimate approval of the planning application.
The scale of the proposed development and the proximity of the site to the A19(T) necessitated extensive negotiations with Highways England and highways engineers from Hartlepool Borough Council. Consequently, associated with the development and part financed by it, significant highway works will be undertaken, including a northern by-pass to Elwick village linking to the A19, the provision of a new grade separated junction north west of Elwick, gap closures on the A19, and improvements to aa number of junctions with Hartlepool.
The site lies within relative proximity to the coast, which is protected under a number of ecological designations (including the Durham Coast Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast SPA and Ramsar. As a consequence, given the scale and nature of the proposed development, there was a requirement to consider and address the potential impacts on these European sites under the Habitat Regulations. This resulted in the development being provided with larger areas of amenity and recreational open space than had been originally been proposed.
We have dealt with many applications for residential development of various forms over the years, although it is fair to say that the High Tunstall development is our largest and most complex residential development. We have built up a good level of expertise on the subject and recognise that no two developments are the same and have learnt to be prepared for the unexpected, which held us in good stead for the High Tunstall project.
12.03.19 - 22 Apartments and shops Approved in Darlington
Today Prism celebrates its latest approval in Darlington. Two large three storey buildings containing apartments and retail units were granted permission subject to a Section 106. At present Darlington is claiming in excess of 80 years of housing supply which gives it more power to refuse applications.
The application site is brownfield and located within Darlington, a number of buildings are presently located at the site. It is adjacent to a mixture of industrial and residential uses.
The application was a resubmission with a revised noise report which targeted potential impacts from the nearest industrial use, should the vacant building become occupied. Our Planning Statement was able to make the differences between the submission and resubmission clear. During the application we also managed issues such as surface water flooding by directing them to the right specialists. The result was that the resubmission was successful and permission has been granted subject to a legal agreement.
If you are looking at developing a site and seeking advice please get in touch.
Residential subdivision success at committee
Prism celebrates its latest success at committee today in Stockton. In its first planning committee since adopting its Local Plan, Stockton Planning Committee voted to grant the application for the subdivision of a dwelling into two units.
Prism was brought in for a resubmission as the original application had been refused for being a cramped over development of the plot. Following analysis of the application and a redesign The Planning Statement focused on proving the site was within the Councils sustainable Design Guide SPD for garden space and also that the local character would not be impacted by the proposals.
The Planning Statement submitted with the application showed how the application was suitable for the proposed development and it went into Committee with the Case Officer recommending approval.This is the result of an application which tackled the issues of visual impact, suitable garden sizes and impacts on neighbour amenity from potential additional noise.
If you are looking at subdividing your property and are seeking advise please get in touch for advice.
New website, new offices same Prism Planning
As the new year gets underway and Prism Planning has settled into its new offices on Woodland Road, we have reviewed the old website and decided to replace it. Below is a highlight of the more than ten years of news that have been made.
If at first you don't succeed………come to Prism!
Our client had converted a former stable building into a house, without having first got the benefit of planning permission, through a misunderstanding in how to draw down permitted development rights. This hadn't gone down well with the planning authority, for understandable reasons, with an appeal against their initial refusal of planning permission being unsuccessful.
In looking at the reasons why the Inspector initially agreed with the Council, Prism considered that there was scope to mitigate the harm that the Inspector had cited. We brought in a professional Landscape Architect, Guy Rawlinson and with his help, devised a new landscape mitigation plan. We then went further a crafted a unique legal agreement, or Unilateral Undertaking, relating to the way in which the landscape could be managed if consent were granted. A second, revised application was submitted.
Unfortunately, the Council maintained its initial stance and went on to refuse the second application, escalating matters by also serving our client with an enforcement notice. The Council had seemingly ignored both our landscape plan and our legal agreement.
At the second appeal, the new Inspector commended the landscape assessment and plan and criticised the Council for ignoring the Unilateral Undertaking that Prism had carefully prepared, finding it robust and fit for purpose. He was critical of the Council's opposition to the development and granted our client consent to remain in occupation with his family, subject to complying with the legal agreement and undertaking additional planting.
Our client can look forward to spending Christmas in his own home, not hunting for a new one!
Whilst it is never a good idea to carry out development without planning permission, if you do find yourself in a tricky situation, come and talk to us as soon as possible. As this case makes clear, if there is a solution to be found, we specialise in finding it! Don't give up until you've talked to Prism.
Having a big sale, on-site celebrity, or other event? Be sure to announce it so everybody knows and gets excited about it.
None of our equestrian projects are tales of whoa…
Prism Planning has continued its unbroken record of success with equestrian projects by winning another appeal for an equestrian workers dwelling.
Our clients had set up Stotfold Crest Rising Centre near Elwick, several years ago, under the expert guidance of Lesley Perry. Following a bad wrist fracture which hasn't properly healed, Lesley decided she needed to take more of a backseat role and hand over the reins (!) to her daughter, Anne Marie, a top level equestrian in her own right who has competed at international level and is without doubt an Olympic contender for Tokyo.
The proposal submitted to Hartlepool Council involved the construction of new, high quality stables, a horse walker and a new house for Anne Marie and her family, in accordance with currently applicable case law on the subject which was cited at length to the Council.
Despite warm support from the Parish Council, who could see the benefits to the area in having Anne Marie set up her base in the north east, officers from the Council decided to ignore relevant case law and refused permission, arguing it was contrary to the Local Plan.
A hearing was held into the case in August, and the Planning Inspectors decision allowing the scheme was made public last week. In her appeal decision, the independent inspector noted that the humanitarian principles embodied in the High Court cases cited by Prism in support of the application were relevant to the case and should have been taken on board more fully by the Council. She was also critical of the Councils attempts to remove permitted rights from the proposed new dwelling and restored those rights, along with the main permission.
Prism are naturally delighted with the outcome.
Over the 10 years we have been in existence, we have fought several key battles over equestrian development -the most recent case being the promotion of an all weather international show jumping arena in the Green Belt at Gateshead for Philippa Curry, a former UK Show jumping Coach of the Year. Philippa's proposals were due to be rejected by officers but following a committee speech by Steve Barker of Prism, members of the planning committee voted to approve her application.
Have an equestrian project or issue -we can probably help -and have a track record to prove it.
Planning Portal Financial Transaction Service
Over 90% of all planning applications are now submitted online and The Planning Portal is the platform we use to submit them. At present, applications are submitted by ourselves via the Portal, then transferred automatically to the Local Planning Authority who validate the application and process the fee payments.
However, this is all about to change. From 10th September 2018, the Planning Portal will process all fee payments before transferring the applications on to Local Planning Authorities. In addition to the actual application fee, there will also be a processing fee of £16.67 + VAT (£20 in total) charged per application submission (the service is currently free).
Details of the proposed changes are summarised below (source: email from The Planning Portal 23/08/18).
"We are pleased to announce that the new service will be operational from 9am on Monday 10 September.
From this time, the Planning Portal will take all payments for planning applications in England made through our planning application system (1App).
Once the payment is made by either you or your client, the application will be released to the relevant local authority along with the planning application fee.
A service charge of £16.67+VAT will be added to the planning fee for each application, to cover the cost of providing the service and enable us to invest in improving the 1App system itself.
The service will simplify the planning application process across England, offering a consistent range of payment options and saving you and local authorities time tracking down payments – an issue which causes so many delays at validation.
You can read our step-by-step guide to find out how it will work. We have also published a comprehensive list of FAQs.
The key changes are as follows:
Timing of the release of applications
Applications will be released once payment is received and confirmed by us. The time it takes for us to receive payment and therefore to release an application will vary depending on the payment method chosen. You can find a table of these timescales in our recently communicated FAQs
As now, and in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Development Management) (England) Order 2015, the period for determination by local authorities will start once they receive the application.
Paying us online or by phone
If your planning fee is less than £1,000, you can pay online or nominate your client to pay.
You or your client can also pay over the phone at any time of day or night, 365 days a year.
Paying us by bank transfer – Faster Payment, CHAPS and BACS
For planning fees over £1,000, Faster Payment will usually be the best option."
Double Success for Prism Planning re: Two Separate Anaerobic Digestion Plants
Prism Planning secured planning permission for the same client, ENER-G Bio Solutions, in respect of two separate anaerobic digestion plants, one near to the Thinford roundabout, County Durham and the other at Riverside Park West, Middlesbrough in a single week. That can't be bad going and is indicative of Prism Planning's growing expertise in this area of renewable energy production. Indeed, we have built up a good level of expertise on the subject and recognise that although no two developments are alike and all require a comprehensive raft of technical documentation to support the planning application. Through our own expertise on the subject and the connections we have with environmental and transport consultants we can address all issues that are likely to be raised by local planning authorities.
At their meeting of 1st May 2018, Durham County Council's County Planning Committee supported the officer recommendation that planning permission should be granted for the construction and operation of an anaerobic digestion plant on land at Mount Huley Farm, Croxdale, Durham.
On Friday 4th May 2018, Middlesbrough's Planning & Development Committee voted unanimously to support the officer recommendation that planning permission should be granted for the construction and operation of an anaerobic digestion plant on land at Riverside Side Park West, Middlesbrough.
Both plants will process food wastes that would otherwise go to landfill together with farmyard manures and silage to produce bio-gas. The bio-gas will then be both purified and compressed for injection into the Gas Grid, there being a connection point to a gas pipeline near to both sites. The resultant bi-product from the process known as digestate, which are odourless, will be spread on the farm fields as a fertiliser and soil improver instead of farmyard manure and imported nitrate fertiliser which are used at present.
Our Director, Rod Hepplewhite, attended both meetings and spoke in support of the applications, setting out the case for approval of the development and reinforcing the planning officer's recommendation that the application be approved. All material planning considerations had been addressed; neither plant will result in a significant impact upon the landscape or visual amenity nor cause noise or odour nuisance or give rise to traffic issues of any significance, harm to the local ecology or adversely impact any features of archaeological importance.
We had worked in a positive manner with the respective case officers throughout the course of the applications to address issues raised and respond promptly to requests for additional information. Both AD plants represent an appropriate form of sustainable development at the site, which accords with national and local planning policy together with the 'National Anaerobic Digestion Strategy and Action Plan and The Waste Management Plan for England.
Prism Planning Succeed at Appeal – Enforcement Notice Quashed, Planning Permission Granted
Prism Planning are delighted to have successfully defended at client at appeal against an enforcement notice served by Gateshead Council, with the notice being quashed and planning permission being granted.
Wilsons Motor Auctions had inadvertently undertaken works at their premises on the Portobello Industrial Estate, Birtley without first obtaining planning permission. The motor auctions site had been going from strength to strength, with new offices and auction hall being created and additional storage area for cars was required. Unfortunately, our clients hadn't realised that forming an extension to their car park by laying rolled road planings over an untidy area of grass within the curtilage of their premises required planning permission, it does as it constitutes a change of use of the land and represents engineering works also.
Ahead of our involvement, our clients had submitted a retrospective planning application to Gateshead Council immediately following contact from the Council's planners advising of their oversight and inviting the submission of an application. Their followed a period of constructive discussions with the planning case officer, with agreement being reached on a number of measures that would address concerns that had been raised by some neighbours. This culminated in the application being reported to the Council's Planning Committee with a recommendation that planning permission be granted subject to conditions.
Unfortunately, the Committee disagreed with the recommendation, refused planning permission and instructed their officer to instigate enforcement proceedings. We were engaged to appeal against the enforcement notice and against the refusal of planning permission, which we did contemporaneously.
We were pleased to note from the Inspector's decision letter that in quashing the enforcement notice and granting planning permission he agreed with every single point we had made as to why the development undertaken was acceptable in planning terms. The appeal decision is subject to planning conditions, all of which had previously been agreed to by our client.
Replacing a caravan with a bungalow – Prism setting a precedent
Prism Planning succeeded with the tricky task of replacing a caravan with a bungalow in the open countryside. For background we had previously gained a Lawful Development Certificate (LDC) at the site for a caravan. The caravan was now old and would need replacing, with the Client exploring options, we were tasked with submitting an application for a bungalow.
At Prism Planning we aim to limit our Clients costs. Having investigated the possibility of gaining permission and the potential costs of a full application we recommended a pre-application submission to establish the Councils likely response. The Council's comments were mostly encouraging though there was some confusion of how much an existing LDC would benefit an application.
Having discussed options and recommendations with the Client an application was made which resulted in a refusal partly on car journeys and partly on design. Whilst a redesign can be the fastest resolution to overcome design issues, we could not convince the Council there would be no further traffic impacts on a site which clearly already had a residential use. However, to reduce reasons for appeal we resubmitted the application (there are no planning fees to pay on re submissions) reducing the scale and changing the siting of the proposals. This was also refused.
At appeal we successfully demonstrated that the weight accorded to an LDC should be greater than the Council had given. The traffic impacts would be no greater than was present for the existing caravan, our redesign was suitable for the location and the site already had a domestic appearance. As a result, replacing the caravan with a dwelling was acceptable and the Inspector allowed our appeal. Whilst each application is judged on its own merits this decision sets a new precedent for replacement dwellings, giving a clear indication that a replacing a caravan with a dwelling is possible where an LDC has allowed the caravan.
If you are in a position where you are seeking a building to replace a caravan or seeking an LDC we may be able to help. Whilst these are complicated in nature we value our high success rate so will tell you simply what your chances of success would be.
Prism Planning Secures Planning Permission for a 1200 Home Development in Hartlepool
Prism Planning are delighted to announce that the High Tunstall housing development of 1200 homes has at long last been granted outline planning permission, subject to the completion of a S106 Agreement. This represents the largest housing development approved in the Tees Valley in recent years.
The proposals were brought forward in 2014, when Tunstall Homes proposed a detailed masterplan, including a new distributor road, local centre, primary school, amenity open space and structure planting. The scheme was one of the largest in the North East and required an Environmental Impact Assessment under current European legislation.
The original masterplan included provision of 2,000 new homes, but following the two-stage public consultation by Results Communications Ltd, and continual dialogue between the client, Tunstall Homes, and Prism Planning with Hartlepool Borough Council, the planning application was submitted for consideration the same year.
Rod Hepplewhite, one of the directors of Prism Planning, which operates nationwide, said the approved application represents the changes in market conditions, and the benefits of adopting a considered approach through early engagement with stakeholders.
"The application, accompanied by a detailed masterplan, originally sought permission for 2,000 homes on a larger area of land but as the towns housing needs reduced, so did the scheme.
"As might be expected of a development of this size and on a greenfield site on the edge of town, the application raised a number of issues, not least the scale of development proposed and proposed access arrangements. We have been working closely with the client and stakeholders to ensure that what was proposed will be of benefit to Hartlepool, as well as the surrounding area."
The approved scheme will lead to a variety of much needed improvements to the A19, helping to close off a number of dangerous junctions, as well as leading to the start of Hartlepool's western by-pass, which will significantly help traffic flows across the town.
Hartlepool Borough Council's Planning Committee resolved to accept the officer recommendation for approval of the planning application for land south of Elwick Road in High Tunstall.
The scheme represents a new record for Prism Planning, which deals with applications for small, one-off developments as well as large masterplanned, multi-use developments.
The proposal was designed to not only meet the housing demand in Hartlepool but to provide community facilities for residents expected to move into the new homes.
If at first you don't succeed then…….!
Prism is wrapping up 2017 in style with success in the hotly debated new prior notification procedure just introduced, relating to industrial buildings being converted to residential use.
Our case involved a site where an appeal for conversion of a workshop had been rejected by the Council and Planning Inspectorate earlier in the year, solely on peculiar and bizarre grounds of sustainability. The new right seemed to cut straight across the previous concerns and we just had to try it out for the client!
Having been one of the first practices in the UK to submit this Prior Notification we were aware of the potential challenge ahead and difference in interpretation that the Council might have, particularly having regard to the sites background. However, experience of the Prior Notification procedure and sound interpretation of rules assisted the application. A robust statement was created showing how the site was suitable for conversion.
Prism was initially commissioned to fight an appeal for conversion of the workshop building which was dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate for the unusual reason that the business occupying the building could potentially continue at the site, resulting in a net gain in traffic movements. However, no other buildings were available for this to occur and in any event planning permission would be required for this. The lack of rigour in the dismissal seemed to be challengeable. We were actually in discussions about a possible legal challenge to the appeal decision -but the new right came along in the interim and offered a potentially cheaper and quicker way to get to the same end point.
The final result was a tribute to the clients stamina and our determination. If at first you don't succeed…..dig in a find another way around the problem!
If you have a building that is in industrial use and may convert to residential use, please ask for a professional view from the experts at Prism.
Happy Christmas to one and all, from us all at Prism.
Extending a business centre onto sports grounds: A game of two halves and nobody lost!
Prism has been celebrating its latest success with a major planning application for extended business centre approved. The existing business had been established for a number of years and land to the west had been reserved for future development. In the meantime, it was offered to a nearby sports grounds to be used as a football pitch. Stockton Council had then designated the site as an outdoor playing space.
Prism's expertise meant we were able to meet exception criteria of developing a designated outdoor playing space. The pitch was replaced by an adjacent new pitch of equivalent or better quality to ensure consultees such as Sport England were satisfied. Site visits were carried out to examine the conditions and requests of grass types and soil compositions were responded to. The result was a new pitch that was significantly better in quality than the existing that would serve the needs of the club for years to come.
In the meantime, despite the outline nature of the scheme, a Flood Risk and Drainage Strategy was required by the Council. This was commissioned and submitted by Prism which resulted in a satisfactory planning condition.
Whilst this is a unique set of circumstances Prism was able to successfully navigate the issues and the result was a successful application. If you have a challenging set of issues facing your site and want to discuss your probability of success, please get in touch.
Secure dog exercise area approved by Darlington Borough Council
Variety is the spice of life, or so the saying goes. While housing and housing related projects may be the bread and butter of a planning consultant's working life, it's always nice to deal with other subjects. Yes, we handle quite a few anaerobic digestion, equestrian and agricultural projects but when something entirely different comes along it makes for a pleasant change. And so it came to pass ….
Earlier this year our Director, Rod Hepplewhite, was approached by a new client who was interested in establishing a secure dog exercise area on a field just outside one of Darlington's villages. Through her work with the Dog's Trust she had become aware of a latent demand and need for a secure place where dog owners whose pets had special needs (such as being anxious when near other dogs or people or running off when let off the leash and not returning) could be exercised in a safe and secure environment. The nearest such exercise area to Darlington is in Thirsk, which has proved to very popular such that booking a time-slot isn't always easy.
It was clear that the demand/need for the facility was there but the question was how would the local planning authority view such an unusual proposal. Rod advised the client that given the proposed location and the unusual nature of the proposal the submission of a pre-application inquiry to the Council would be a good idea. This proved to be the case as we were able to engage in positive discussions with the case officer, including a very useful site visit, at an early stage. We addressed issues raised, including providing a new entrance to the field from the country road, and answered all questions and were given a good steer on the preparation of the planning application. The same planning officer dealt with the planning application such that it proceeded to approval in a smooth manner, helped along by us providing an in-depth explanation of the background to the proposed dog exercise area, what it would entail and how it would be operated.
A combination of tactics and being open and honest helped win the day. The planning application submission included information above and beyond planning requirements but going that extra mile secured the planning permission for our client that she sought. That is what Prism Planning is all about, going that extra mile for our clients.
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Prism Planning is a UK Registered Company
Prism Planning Ltd, Milburn House 17 Woodland Road, Darlington, DL3 7BJ
T: +44 01325 740 610
E: Admin@Prism-Planning.com


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Exactly What To Eat To Reduce Your Diabetes Symptoms
By Aviva Patz
enterphoto/Getty Images
Ever since Jennifer Ross was diagnosed with diabetes, she's had to avoid the temptation of Halloween candy, melt-in-your-mouth Krispy Kreme doughnuts, and even orange juice. But the Manhattan native has discovered she feels best when she doesn't indulge in carby, sugary junk—and focuses instead on protein-rich foods such as hard-boiled eggs for breakfast, sushi for lunch, and meatballs for dinner. "When I eat more protein, my blood sugar stays balanced and I don't get headaches while I'm sitting in a meeting," says Ross, 29, cofounder of Be-Mixed, a zero-calorie, zero-sugar cocktail mixer.
A recent study suggests that Ross's personal strategy is actually smart science. The research, presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, shows that a high-protein diet improves blood sugar control and decreases liver fat in people with type 2 diabetes, without harming the kidneys. And it doesn't seem to matter whether the protein comes from plant or animal sources, as long as it makes up 30% of your diet (the USDA recommends 10 to 35%).
MORE: 13 Power Foods To Lower Blood Pressure Naturally
In the study, conducted at the German Institute of Human Nutrition in Berlin, men and women were divided into two groups eating protein-rich diets: One ate animal-based protein from meat and dairy, and the other ate plant-based protein from sources such as lentils and chickpeas. Both groups got the rest of their nutrition from 40% carbohydrates and 30% dietary fat (the same ratios as in the Zone Diet). After 6 weeks, all participants had improved glucose metabolism and reduced liver fat, but the animal-protein group also showed better insulin sensitivity, and the plant-protein group showed better kidney function. (Find out what a perfect day of eating enough protein looks like.)
Brian Yarvin/Getty Images
These results don't surprise J. Michael Gonzalez-Campoy, MD, who sees the power of healthy eating every day as medical director and CEO of the Minnesota Center for Obesity, Metabolism and Endocrinology (MNCOME). Here's how it works: "The normal trigger for insulin release is a rise in plasma glucose," he explains, "which happens after eating carbohydrates that have a high glycemic index—they turn to glucose in the blood readily—such as potatoes, beans, rice, pasta, and sweets." Eat these foods in abundance and you could develop chronic insulin stimulation. In turn, a high insulin level over time has many effects in the body, including the birth of new fat cells (to accommodate the excess energy) and more fat storage in existing fat cells. At some point, the body has to start stashing fat in other organs, including the liver.
By contrast, when you fill your plate with protein instead of soluble carbohydrates (foods high on the glycemic index), the body secretes less insulin and this whole process is reversed. "Intake of foods lower on the glycemic index improves metabolic function over time," says Gonzalez-Campoy, "and this leads to improved cardiovascular disease risk factors and weight loss maintenance." (Diet is just one piece of your plan to reverse your diabetes diagnosis; Rodale's new book The Natural Way To Beat Diabetes, shows you exactly what you need to do to get your life back.)
As far as Gonzalez-Campoy is concerned, the higher-protein, lower-carb meal plan used in the study validates the recommendations issued by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and the Obesity Society in their Healthy Eating Clinical Practice Guideline. "All adults, and especially those with diabetes, prediabetes, insulin resistance, overweight, or obesity—and even those who do not have any of these problems—can benefit from healthy eating," he says. "The meal plan in this study is a healthy plan that would benefit anyone."
MORE: This Breakfast Could Lower Your Diabetes Risk
Bringing It Home
We asked two registered dieticians who specialize in diabetes to devise a typical day's menu on a "30% protein, 40% carbohydrates, and 30% fat" meal plan—the same ratio of macronutrients as those used in the German study. Gonzalez-Campoy stresses that however you mix it up, 10 to 35% of your daily calories should come from protein.
From Veronica Salsberg, MS, RD, LDN, a dietitian in clinical research at the Joslin Diabetes Center, which is affiliated with Harvard Medical School:
Breakfast: ½ whole wheat English muffin with 1 Tbsp trans fat–free margarine spread, 1 hard-boiled egg, and 1¼ cup strawberries
Snack:
john shepherd/Getty Images
5 to 6 oz nonfat fruit-flavored Greek yogurt with 1 Tbsp chopped nuts
Lunch: Roast beef sandwich made with 1 small (1-oz) whole wheat pita bread, 3 oz low-sodium lean roast beef, 2 slices red onion, and lettuce; plus ¾ cup carrots and ⅓ cup hummus
Snack: ⅓ cup cut pineapple with 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese (Check out these 10 portable high-protein snacks.)
Burwell and Burwell Photography/Getty Images
Chicken and vegetable stir-fry made with 8 oz raw chicken breast strips, ½ cup snow peas, ½ cup water chestnut slices, ¼ cup chopped green onion, and ½ cup mandarin oranges (canned in juice), stir-fried in 1 Tbsp peanut or canola oil, 1 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce, and a minced garlic clove. Served over 1 cup cooked brown rice.
MORE: 9 Power Foods That Boost Immunity
From Toby Smithson, MS, RDN, CDE, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and author of Diabetes Meal Planning and Nutrition for Dummies, who also has diabetes:
Breakfast: Frittata made with 1 cup liquid egg whites, ⅛ cup shredded cheese and veggies; plus Greek vanilla yogurt (5 oz)
cheche22/Getty Images
Tuna nicoise salad (using 4 oz tuna) with a low-calorie Italian dressing; 10 whole grain crackers; 1 cup fresh berries topped with frozen whipped topping
Snack: Peanut butter and banana sushi (spread 2 Tbsp peanut butter on a low-carb tortilla and lay a small banana on top, roll tortilla and slice into bite-size pieces)
Dinner: 4 oz grilled chicken with a squeeze of lemon, ¾ cup rice pilaf with currants, steamed green beans with roasted red pepper, 1 small whole grain roll, 1 tsp butter or buttery spread
Snack: 25 pistachio nuts
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Japan's National Daily Since 1922
Insurance firm to replace human workers with AI system
December 30, 2016 (Mainichi Japan)
Japanese version
Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance Co. is planning to slash nearly 30 percent of its payment assessment department's human staff after it introduces an artificial intelligence (AI) system in January 2017 to improve operating efficiency.
【Related】Researchers to employ AI to determine optimal cancer treatments
【Related】AI system beats national average score on university entrance exam
【Related】Artificial intelligence developed to aid companies in choosing job applicants
【Related】Yoroku: For good or bad, AI the way of the future
While concrete examples of AI systems making human workers redundant are currently rare, observers have pointed out that such cases are likely to increase.
The insurance firm will introduce an AI system based on IBM Japan Ltd.'s Watson, which according to IBM is a "cognitive technology that can think like a human," and "can analyze and interpret all of your data, including unstructured text, images, audio and video." The Watson-based system will be tasked with reading medical certificates written by doctors and other documents to collect information necessary for making payouts, such as medical histories, length of hospital stays, and surgical procedure names.
In addition to determining payment amounts, the system will also be able to check customers' cases against their insurance contracts to find any special coverage clauses -- a measure expected to prevent payment oversights. The type of payments the AI is expected to oversee at Fukoku Mutual totaled some 132,000 cases in fiscal 2015.
The company's payment assessment-related department had 131 employees as of March 2015. Final payout decisions will continue to be dealt with by a dedicated staff, but the introduction of the AI system will make reading medical certificates and other procedures more efficient.
Fukoku Mutual has already begun staff reductions in preparation for the system's installation. In total, 34 people are expected to be made redundant by the end of March 2017, primarily from a pool of 47 workers on about five-year contracts. The company is planning to let a number of the contracts run out their term and will not renew them or seek replacements.
The insurance firm will spend about 200 million yen to install the AI system, and maintenance is expected to cost about 15 million yen annually. Meanwhile, it's expected that Fukoku Mutual will save about 140 million yen per year by cutting the 34 staff.
Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co. is already using a Watson system to process payment assessments, but alongside human checks, and it appears there have been no major staff cuts or reshuffling at the firm due to the AI's introduction. Japan Post Insurance Co. is also looking to install a Watson AI for the same duties, and is set to start a trial run in March 2017.
Meanwhile, Nippon Life Insurance Co. began this month to use an AI system to analyze the best coverage plans for individual customers, based on the some 40 million insurance contracts held by its various salespeople. The system's results are then used as a reference by the sales offices.
While AI systems are expected to find applications in developing new products and insurance underwriting, there are worries the technology could put pressure on the employment market, as the machines trigger staff reshuffling or reductions. The future of AI may be bright in the business community, but it also has a shadowy side.
Go to The Mainichi Home Page
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