AA Teccie (Paul)

Morning Peter, thanks for taking the time here, much appreciated. It was a lot of hard work in the preparation and it was interesting to be on the receiving end of an audit/assessment, but very worthwhile, more particularly as we passed I look forward to the day SSiP recognise those organisations who assess Stage 2 on site stuff, which includes us and very few others, and of course when everyone on ARBTALK is ARB APPROVED...where should I send the application form? Cheers.. Paul

Hi all, just a quick 'heads up' to let you know the ARB Approved Contractor (ArbAC) Scheme has achieved 'Registered Member' status of SSiP (Safety Schemes in Procurement, see SSIP - Safety Schemes In Procurement), a 'forum' supported by HSE and offering national recognition for H&S pre-qualification. This gives the ArbAC scheme equal recognition with CHAS and SAFEcontractor etc. meaning that in future tree surgery contractors accredited with us shouldn't need to hold these other accreditations separately. The SSiP auditor was particularly impressed by the fact we follow through the Stage 1 'desk-top' H&S assessment with the Stage 2 'on-site' assessment, unlike most of the other schemes, and the H&S etc. information freely available on the AA website (see Help becoming an ARB Approved Contractor) to assist contractors with compliance. If you are interested in becoming ARB Approved please contact me and/or look at the website at Become an ARB Approved Contractor Thanks all.. Paul

Hi there, Whilst we do acknowledge some AA Branches 'out-reach' more effectively, and more frequently, than others, in all honesty this comes down to people / members on the ground and their available time and enthusiasm. Hence why not get involved and make your branch work better for you, and others of course. Many get great satisfaction, along with good networking, by getting involved. See Membership overview - Arboricultural Association and scroll down on right hand-side to find your local branch and contacts. Cheers.. Paul

Hi Craig, hope you're well. The AA isn't the FC which is where the 'duty', and more importantly funding, lies and, to be fair, they have been pretty active doing seminars up, down and across the country (inc. 2 joint hosted with the AA in London and Preston and I understand from Paul Hanson they've also done stuff in Scotland.) The AA Seminar, whilst triggered by the increasing P&D problems we're encountering, isn't an update as such in the way the FC ones are. The seminar aims to improve the understanding and implications of P&D at the contractor level and what you need to consider / have in place to manage this. At £60 and £70 respectively for AA members and none members, inc. a copy of the AA P&D booklet which will retail at £15 AND attendees will receive before it goes on general sale in mid-June, I think the seminar represents good value for money. FREE AA seminars is an aspirational thing but will require the membership to quadruple first...fingers crossed! ;-) Regards.. Paul

David, thank you. I will feed your comments back for the next review / reprint, very useful. Kind regards...and very close to being as good as the Fungi Guide

Oops, secret out of the bag So, Ed, where is that thread? Hope you're well. Paul

Haha, very well put Iain n good to hear. Cheers, n have good weekend. Paul

Without a doubt David, I too have learned much on ARBTALK thanks to people like yourself and others who make invaluable contributions. I promote this forum, and thank Steve 'n co.' for it's development, at most training events I deliver...because it has helped me, n I'm supposed to know a thing or two

Fair comment, nicely put. I'm merely echoing a previous conversation with someone from CAS who suggested such as they accredit for individual subject areas whereas the AARC has to be the general practitioner, in effect covering all subject areas. As you quite rightly say, look at all three and decide which is the most apppropriate for you and may bring benefits to your practice. Cheers.. Paul

Tut, tut...mine's always completely up-to-date...for the last decade! Glad to be of service Sir! Cheers David, n have good weekend. Paul

...if I don't get back to you on 'none' AA threads as: 1. I'm pretty 'pants' at finding my way back to the same threads I've posted on 2. I'm somewhat overwhelmed at the moment with lost of stuff going on with the ArbACC scheme n, sadly, less time to spend here Hence, if you do reply to something I've posted and want a reply please poke me with a 'pm' or in the 'AA Forum'...or enjoy the peace and quiet Thanks all n have great weekend.. Paul

Hi there, CPD (continuing professinal development) is essentially any form of learning / advancing that helps to keep you current and up-to-date. Traditionally we all think of attendnace at conferences or seminars or short-courses etc. but it can be other stuff too. This can include pratcial skills advancements, or learning anew skill, reading industry mags, internet research, ARBTALK, observations of demo;s at trade fairs, discussions (of the right knid)...basically anything that moves you forward. The hard part is sometimes identifying it and recording it, or rather remembering to record it (perhaps the atcahed form may help, don;t worry it;s an AA thing!) Formally, some courses etc. will say it qualifies for, for instance, 5hrs CPD and people simply put that on the record. However if only 3 of those 5 hours were new stuff that moved you forward you shold only record that...no-one does tho! Reet, there, 'simples' eh? I hope this helps, at least a litte. Good luck.. Paul CPD-form-v5-180612 (2).doc

Often veiwed, I believe, as a 'stepping stone' towards AA Registered Consultants status (for which I am now responsible since Guy left us) so may be worth looking closer if that figures in your future aspirations at all. Regards.. Paul

SORRY, I'm in a rush here but simplistically (my middle name) IF the waste is generated by YOU and it is stored on your land, or land for whihc you are responsible, i.e. you rent it, then no transfer has taken place and you do NOT need a licence. Under the ArbAC scheme, for this activity, we require contractors to register an exemption using the form below and the EA, generally, altho there are sometimes regional variations , seem happy and accept this. Hope this helps. Paul T6_exemption.pdf

Yup, very happy thanks, n not least as I've just received positive information regarding our recent SSiP audit...more to follow. Hope to catch up soon.. Cheers. Paul

Bob, simplistically (as I am ) I can only see two obvious ways forward, assuming 'tying back/up' the offedning branches is not an option: 1. Await the 3 weeks the TO has indicated (it could be 6 weeks.) 2. Proceed and risk prosecution...or a warning. Good luck.. Paul

Hi there, as an option you could consider ARB Approved Contractor whihc covers all the above and more, albeit it would cost you around about the amount you spend with them each year, i.e. £500 (+VAT:sneaky2:) as a 'small business' BUT I believe it is good value for money AND it may bring other opportunities. Failing that, as a small business, I would advise to go through the CHAS/SSiP route (see CHAS - The Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme) to Construction line which will cost you £155 as a small business...+the COnstructionline fee of course. Good luck. Paul

...or look here Help becoming an ARB Approved Contractor (scrolling down the page AND remeber the policy template is only really suitable for a small business.):thumbup: Hope you're well Ian:thumbup1: Paul

If the tree and the pub are on the same land, then 'actionable nuisance' doesn't apply (I don't believe) and unless you can get the go-ahead from the TO beforehand you have to go through the 6 week notifictaion period...so 3 weeks doesn;t sound too bad. Madness I know, but there's no way of tying back / up the offending branches til you get go ahead to prune so repair works can proceed is there? Sorry Bob...all out of (stupid) ideas now. W'yam. Paul PS Councils can only 'fast-track' a sect. 211 notice IF there's a will to do so AND if the TO has delegated powers...I think.

Hi Richard, Hmmm, nothing rings a bell from your description nor anything I've heard of recently...other than 'more' squirrel damage of course! I'm intrigued and watch with interest. Cheers.. Paul

'Riggerbear' Thank you for this, and for taking the time to post it. I'm really glad you found it useful. I attended the High Wycombe event and similarly found it very useful. Thanks again.. Paul

Be very wary of the anchor points, partic if they were done some time ago as appears to be the case. BS3998, for lapsed pollards, recommends leaving stubs 3-5 times there basal diameter. A start point maybe. Hope this helps. Paul

BUMP...hope I didn't wake anybody:biggrin: C'mon guys you know you wnat to Cheers.. Paul

In theory, the ISA CA is an interationally recognised qualifictaion, at least in those countries that have an ISA Chapter. In Europe, many countries of which do have an ISA Chapter, the Euro Tree WOrker qual is also gathering momentum I believe and there is mutual recognition between the two organisations. Not sure what the score is 'down under' tho. My understanding is that the NPTC qual(s) has international recognition and acceptance even though it is of UK origin. Other obstacles, those nasty little 'red-backs' down under ENjoy.. Paul

Very well put, the first bit...and the second bit of course . I guess you have a choice, if you wanna do commercial stuff you have to play by the(ir) rules if not stick to domestic. Cheers.. Paul