HS2 in the press

[The Ham]

Shock news "HS2 Ltd have spent money on office equipment!"

£2,241 on USB memory sticks for staff

Depending on how many staff that is for then it could be good or bad value for money. For 30 staff (£75 each) then that is very poor value for money, for 750 staff (£3 each) then it could be fairly good value for money (depending on the capacity).

Yes, there needs to be careful controls on what money in a company is spent, however all the figures quoted will be fairly insignificant compared to staff costs.

 

[deltic]

Shock news "HS2 Ltd have spent money on office equipment!"



Depending on how many staff that is for then it could be good or bad value for money. For 30 staff (£75 each) then that is very poor value for money, for 750 staff (£3 each) then it could be fairly good value for money (depending on the capacity).

Yes, there needs to be careful controls on what money in a company is spent, however all the figures quoted will be fairly insignificant compared to staff costs.

Presumably they will be encrypted and more expensive than normal memory sticks anyway

 

[HilversumNS]

Article in the Daily Mirror attacking HS2 Ltd for wasteful spending on office furniture and equipment.

How scandalous £723 for an office chair. They should sit in a normal chair and suffer from a bad back :roll:

I'd love to know how much the Mirror paid for their office chairs

 

[gordonthemoron]

I'd love to know how much the Mirror paid for their office chairs

nowt, they're down the pub

 

[WatcherZero]

They employed 1,000 last year, I would believe that the number was rising every day as they moved through procurement stages and they would still be doing just as much if not more design work as phase 2 gears up while phase 1 moves into the technical side.

 

[DownSouth]

Presumably they will be encrypted and more expensive than normal memory sticks anyway

Indeed, USB drives are a huge security risk.

Doing it right does require encryption software, but this can be installed on any standard USB drive and does not require special hardware. Most of the cost would therefore be down to rolling out the software rather than purchasing the drives themselves - though spending a little extra to get branded drives from a stationer would be a useful passive security measure.

 

[AM9]

Indeed, USB drives are a huge security risk.

Doing it right does require encryption software, but this can be installed on any standard USB drive and does not require special hardware. Most of the cost would therefore be down to rolling out the software rather than purchasing the drives themselves - though spending a little extra to get branded drives from a stationer would be a useful passive security measure.

Actually there are USB pen drives with hardware provision for read and write keys. I had one when at work. Only company laptops and workstations could read and write to them as they has a protected area key embedded. Other computers would not log them on.
I doubt that they would be cheap as they were quite difficult to buy.

 

[Camden]

£2,241 of USB sticks does sounds rather like a "job lot", but when it's other peoples' money you're spending and you don't have to turn a profit I guess it's easy to click Buy Now... "Encryption" or not, let's hope they keep control of them all and don't lose them, nor introduce viruses into the systems.

As for anyone sticking up for spending over £700 on an office chair, if you want to shell out of your own pocket for luxury then fine, but £700 on an office chair out of the taxpayers' pocket I would regard as an obscene expense, let alone at a time when the government is telling councils running essential services that there is no money in the pot.

Of course I realise that according to some sitting in a "normal chair" will supposedly give you a bad back, but I would ask those peoples to consider that I don't charge for a foot massager, despite walking over the punishing gravel of the company car park each day risking me being hobbled later in life...

 

[Deerfold]

As for anyone sticking up for spending over £700 on an office chair, if you want to shell out of your own pocket for luxury then fine, but £700 on an office chair out of the taxpayers' pocket I would regard as an obscene expense, let alone at a time when the government is telling councils running essential services that there is no money in the pot.

If one of your employees has a bad back does it make sense to minimise this? Or is it better that they're off sick more often?

It does sound like a lot of money but as we have no background information it's impossible for us to tell if it's good value.

 

[Snapper]

New blog. The anti Hs2 mobs 'template petitions' tactic fails.

"On the 26th March the Hs2 Petitioning Bill Committee published its first interim report on the petitioning process. This contained a series of requests & observations generated by the petitioning process. Yesterday Hs2 Ltd published their response.

Both make interesting as they give an insight into the issues raised & the vast amount of detailed work that’s gone into progress so far. One thing in particular caught my eye,which was these comments regarding ‘template’ petitions"

More here...

https://paulbigland.wordpress.com/2...d-to-the-petitioning-committees-first-report/ …

 

[Camden]

If one of your employees has a bad back does it make sense to minimise this? Or is it better that they're off sick more often?

It does sound like a lot of money but as we have no background information it's impossible for us to tell if it's good value.

You may not have background information as to any person's condition (or if indeed they have any condition at all), however I think background information in terms of how much things generally cost is something most people should possess.

I've worked in many companies, with many employees with back issues where special accommodations have had to have been made. I have never heard of that costing anywhere near £700 to furnish them with a suitable chair.

 

[po8crg]

Presumably they will be encrypted and more expensive than normal memory sticks anyway

Not particularly, in that you can put encryption on normal ones.

What would be the case is that you only accept trustworthy brands - there's a known problem where the firmware (the programs built into the USB stick) can have malware or viruses or whatever in it, and can infect machines when you plug the stick in. This is actually possible with any USB device.

If some cheapo unbranded Chinese factory is producing USB sticks with dodgy firmware, then they have no reputation to use. If SANDisk are, then they do, which means that the only thing they're likely to have is spying stuff from the NSA - and you're going to get that anyway.

The real terror is USB charging points. They're cropping up everywhere now, hotel rooms, trains, even some coffee shops. If they're infecting everything plugged into them (which includes some laptops now - the latest MacBook Air has a USB charger) then we're all going to start needing SyncStops (little devices that only allow power through by not having the other pins wired up).

I used to work in information security.

 

[jon0844]

£2,241 of USB sticks does sounds rather like a "job lot", but when it's other peoples' money you're spending and you don't have to turn a profit I guess it's easy to click Buy Now... "Encryption" or not, let's hope they keep control of them all and don't lose them, nor introduce viruses into the systems.

As for anyone sticking up for spending over £700 on an office chair, if you want to shell out of your own pocket for luxury then fine, but £700 on an office chair out of the taxpayers' pocket I would regard as an obscene expense, let alone at a time when the government is telling councils running essential services that there is no money in the pot.

Of course I realise that according to some sitting in a "normal chair" will supposedly give you a bad back, but I would ask those peoples to consider that I don't charge for a foot massager, despite walking over the punishing gravel of the company car park each day risking me being hobbled later in life...

Does it say how many memory sticks were purchased? If not, I can't see how we can tell if it's good value or not. The fact that iPad cases were bought for just £20 suggests someone was actually shopping around.

And as for the chair, I know businesses have a duty of care for staff (so that includes screens, desks, chairs and other 'tools' of the job). It's not quite the same as gravel in a car park, but if you feel that this is a problem then perhaps you bring it up with your employer and they might buy you shoes with a tougher sole that doesn't lead you to feel every stone.

You might think that's stupid, but don't then assume it's stupid that someone can't have a better chair if they've got a need for something to improve their posture or deal with a back condition.

How many chairs did they buy? Was it one? Isn't it quite likely that there was a genuine need for it, or else you'd have seen that they bought loads of them.

 

[RichardN]

How many chairs did they buy? Was it one? Isn't it quite likely that there was a genuine need for it, or else you'd have seen that they bought loads of them.

Herman Miller Aeron chairs. http://officefurniturescene.co.uk/s...VJWTomvffuUByz18Vshk6i6bC_IB3GfuzkRoCaFvw_wcB

These aren't an uncommon choice for offices.

 

[The Ham]

As for anyone sticking up for spending over £700 on an office chair, if you want to shell out of your own pocket for luxury then fine, but £700 on an office chair out of the taxpayers' pocket I would regard as an obscene expense, let alone at a time when the government is telling councils running essential services that there is no money in the pot.

£700 for one person (as there is no reference of other numbers) is hardly obscene expense, especially when compared to other start up costs which can run to the thousands for new members of staff for the first month depending on grade. Large items can include new PC, recruitment costs (even an advert in a local news paper can be of a similar price to "The Chair" and if a recurrent consultant was used can be substantially more), more office space and induction & company procedure training.

That's before personal salaries and associated costs are taken on board which would likely to start from double "The Chair" per month and could quite easily be triple or quadrupedal the amount (bearing in mind the need to include gross salary and Employer NI).

 

[jon0844]

Herman Miller Aeron chairs. http://officefurniturescene.co.uk/s...VJWTomvffuUByz18Vshk6i6bC_IB3GfuzkRoCaFvw_wcB

These aren't an uncommon choice for offices.

That's not a million miles off what I have.

I'd argue that anyone sitting at a desk for most of the day deserves a good seat. I have no doubt I'm far more productive when I'm comfortable!

£700 for one person (as there is no reference of other numbers) is hardly obscene expense...<snip>

It does all seem like a storm in a teacup (or if that's too expensive, a storm in a recycled paper one).

 

[DownSouth]

I have no doubt I'm far more productive when I'm comfortable!

And more importantly, you're more productive when you are not injured!

 

[NotATrainspott]

If someone really wants to find out exactly how many memory sticks were bought, or anything else contained in that report, then you could just send your own FOI request to HS2 Ltd. They're duty-bound to respond.

 

[Snapper]

New blog. Crazy anti Hs2 campaigner of the week No 5

"Well, not so much crazy as an outrageous liar really. Meet ‘Outoftweet123′"

More here...

https://paulbigland.wordpress.com/2015/06/10/crazy-anti-hs2-campaigner-of-the-week-no-5/

 

[nidave]

You may not have background information as to any person's condition (or if indeed they have any condition at all), however I think background information in terms of how much things generally cost is something most people should possess.

I've worked in many companies, with many employees with back issues where special accommodations have had to have been made. I have never heard of that costing anywhere near £700 to furnish them with a suitable chair.

This is the chair we have recently bought for all 150 people in one office http://www.viking-direct.co.uk/a/pb/React2-high-back-office-chair-in-blue/pr=Q26&id=2063458/ That's just the standard chair - we have a few people needing specialist chairs which needed something like the following (not the actual chair but its close) http://www.back2.co.uk/BioSwing-460-iQ-S-Ergonomic-Office-Chair-p1096.html

Our place is known for being cheap when it comes to furniture

Herman Miller Aeron chairs. http://officefurniturescene.co.uk/s...VJWTomvffuUByz18Vshk6i6bC_IB3GfuzkRoCaFvw_wcB

These aren't an uncommon choice for offices.

I would love one of those

 

[josh-j]

Nidave, those chairs look similar to the ones in my office too - ones like the blue one for most people with a few having special more adjustable ones.

I really don't think one 700 quid chair is excessive for an office. Some people really do need expensive chairs to avoid physical problems, pain or whatever that might actually stop them being able to work otherwise. A working day is a long time to be sitting down if you've got certain back trouble or something.

 

[Snapper]

Latest blog.

"Those opposed to hs2 form the usual right wing rag-bag of folks who are opposed to public spending, so it’s no surprise to find both the Taxpayers Alliance and the Institute of Economic Affairs amongst their numbers. "

More here...

https://paulbigland.wordpress.com/2015/06/12/richard-wellings-caught-out-making-it-up-again/

 

[RichmondCommu]

472 posts devoted to what the press think about the planned construction of HS2 and yet it will go ahead whether they like it or not! In which case what the press thinks / chooses to print is irrelevant.

 

[WatcherZero]

Well another massive set of final route bill amendments was tabled today along with language confirming breaking ground in 2017.

 

[snowball]

Well another massive set of final route bill amendments was tabled today along with language confirming breaking ground in 2017.

The press release about that is here but contains no links. Are maps available?

 

[route:oxford]

This is the chair we have recently bought for all 150 people in one office http://www.viking-direct.co.uk/a/pb/React2-high-back-office-chair-in-blue/pr=Q26&id=2063458/

Pretty much the standard office chair. We have similar, but without arms as it is company policy - risk of the obese becoming trapped between the arms.

At a former office in Glasgow, the boss skimped on the quality of the office chairs. One cracked and caused a rather nasty gash to one of the girls butt cheeks when she sat on it.

Turned out the chairs were only good for up to 120Kg, and she was nearly 22 stone (140Kg).

Result was considerable compensation, and sturdier chairs (upholstered in red) were purchased for use by those over 18 stone.

 

[snowball]

The press release about that is here but contains no links. Are maps available?

Answering my own question

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/additional-provision-2-july-2015-explanatory-information

 

[WatcherZero]

Derby Council has also dropped its opposition to the Midlands station at Toton.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Derby Council has also dropped its opposition to the Midlands station at Toton.

Not that there was ever a hope of building the HS2 station in Derby. However HS2 should have thought about running peak time services from Derby and Nottingham with the two units being joined at Toton.

 

[Haydn1971]

Not that there was ever a hope of building the HS2 station in Derby. However HS2 should have thought about running peak time services from Derby and Nottingham with the two units being joined at Toton.

Or agree a Crossrail type arrangement linking up existing rail infrastructure to new chords and local stations that service Toton. Essentially stepping off the local train walking across the platform to the HS2 train.