Planning magazine
Guiding the way
Cambridgeshire's prototype system will help transport planners in other parts of the UK establish the potential for guided busways in relieving congestion and supporting major development schemes, Mark Smulian predicts

Treading with care
Councillors attempting to give a steer on development proposals without waiving the right to represent the people who vote for them still face a host of difficulties despite relaxed rules and revised guidance, Mark Smulian discovers.

Burning issues
The emergence of coal bed methane as a potential power source has caught policy-makers on the hop and individual authorities are having to react fast in deciding their stance, Mark Smulian reveals

Cities Raise Sights
Developers and councils remain determined to pursue tall building proposals in the teeth of the recession despite uncertainty over their benefits and drawbacks, Mark Smulian discovers.

Downland Dilemmas
Problems are brewing as ministers and a host of local authorities consider the shape of planning powers and staffing arrangements in the South Downs as it becomes England's tenth national park, Mark Smulian discovers.

Creative Potential
Scarborough is reaping the rewards of developing its cultural community as a key element in its programme to create a year-round economy for the resort, reports Mark Smulian

Business Methods Cut Cost
Planning departments are adopting business methods to identify activities that add real value to their service and sifting out those that are not essential in the quest to make financial savings, Mark Smulian discovers

Borders closed on skills
London boroughs are looking closely at the scope for developing existing staff skills amid signals that changes to work permit rules could be about to cut off the supply from overseas, Mark Smulian reports

A Ten Year Standstill
A decade since its launch, the government's bold vision to improve the nation's transport system has hit the buffers. Mark Smulian asks what went wrong.

Dealing with the downturn
Latest signals in the housing market pose some serious dilemmas for planning authorities about land supply, affordable home targets and revenue streams for infrastructure provision, Mark Smulian discovers

Town derailed
The switching of Eurostar's Kent hub to Ebbsfleet faces claims that it will fail growth in Ashford and lead to a rise in road traffic congestion. Mark Smulian investigates

Partners branch out
Community rail partnerships are now proving their worth in promoting sustainable travel, economic opportunities and regeneration in countryside areas, contends Mark Smulian

Tide goes out for resorts
Coastal towns all around the UK face a multitude of unique pressures and may need a wide range of special measures to help them get back on their feet, maintains Mark Smulian

Consultation hit by legislative update
Consultation techniques are under scrutiny again amid moves to recast the role of local government, reports Mark Smulian

Kent aims to reuse housing
Planners in east Kent are employing various means of tackling the problems posed by vacant housing, reports Mark Smulian

Sustainability drive hurts rural housing
South West councils are up in arms over policies that restrict the supply of housing for rural people, reports Mark Smulian

Ports expand without guide
Approval of three major ports on the east coast highlights the lack of a clear national strategy, reports Mark Smulian

Battered economy in need of recovery
The Channel Tunnel put a huge hole in the Kent ports' ferry business and the local authorities are still struggling to revive their economic health

Will Crossrail make the end of the line?
The long-delayed Crossrail project may have been given the green light, but many issues still need to be clarified and it does not mean it will be built

Flat proposals put focus on guidance
Gradual replacement of older houses with flats is a source of concern for councils and residents, reports Mark Smulian

Housing time bomb threatens rural life
Affordable housing is a key issue on the Norfolk coastline but solutions seem as far away as ever, reports Mark Smulian

Developers aim for riverside recovery
A dormant section of one of London's least packed boroughs at at the centre of an uncommon renewal drive, says Mark Smulian

Kent aims to reuse housing
Planners in east Kent are employing various means of tackling the problems posed by vacant housing, reports Mark Smulian

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Regeneration and Renewal
The future of funding
Last month, the Homes & Communities Agency published its first corporate plan. Mark Smulian investigates what it means for future regeneration funding.

Eclectric electric
Open 24 hours a day and with office space that can be expanded or shrunk at a month's notice, Sheffield's new creative business incubator offers firms maximum flexibility - and a helter-skelter. Mark Smulian takes a tumble with economic development expert Karl Dalgleish.

Public Inconvenience
The tortuous history of the Public arts centre in West Bromwich makes for painful reading. But, as Mark Smulian reports, something of value may be saved from the wreckage

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Axis – Journal of Housing Planning and Regeneration
Construction: Skill shortage threat to new home supply
Skilled builders were hard to find in the 1980s and it seems that very little has changed since then. But is prefabrication a cure-all solution or is it time to get a grip on training? asks Mark Smulian

Urban regeneration: Holland on track for high-speed system
The Netherlands has taken sustainable transport strategies one step further by putting them at the heart of inner city regeneration. Mark Smulian looks at the potential benefits to the community

Urban development corporations: Gameplan for growth
West Northamptonshire Urban Development Corporation is the first of its kind to bring some sort of pecking order to growth. But how much of an example will it be to other areas? asks Mark Smulian

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LGC (Local Government Chronicle)
Declarations of independence
Independents and small parties have prospered from public disillusionment over Westminster politics. But can people elected on different, even conflicting, platforms form effective administrations asks Mark Smulian?

Scrutiny - a budding profession?
With the scope of council scrutiny set to expand, Mark Smulian charts the progress of this rapidly developing local government discipline

The middle man
Alastair Robertson is retiring as head of the chief executives' trade union. He tells Mark Smulian why its members should be alert for the knife in the back

Claws out for a chief executive
Disputes besetting Somerset County Council involve an MP, a chief executive, a councillor, the chief constable, a 1930s singer and a talking cat. Mark Smulian unravels the tale of an extraordinary clash of personalities.

Sink or swim for budgets
Free swimming has started, a year after free bus travel began. Both concessions command wide support but some councils face ruinous bills, says Mark Smulian

Nobody home
As the recession bites, an increase in empty homes is blighting areas. Mark Smulian reports on how they can be turned into affordable housing

Debt advice, priceless
As the economic downturn continues, indebted residents plagued by financial crises are relying on their council for help. Mark Smulian reports

Turning over a new leaf
The next chapter to be written for libraries could see them transformed from quiet, bookish places to multi-purpose facilities, says Mark Smulian

Signed, sealed, delivered
The first council-run post office has opened in Essex, proving that standing up for the rights of communities can make a difference. Mark Smulian dons his postman's hat

Suffolk no more
The Boundary Commission's plans to eradicate Lowestoft from its county of Suffolk have riled locals. Mark Smulian heads east to find out that you can't change where you come from

Trouble in paradise
The government's surprise proposal for direct elections to national parks has shocked their authorities and local government alike. Mark Smulian joins the debate

Hidden treasures
From bananas to piranhas, local authorities' inventories contain all sorts of weird and wonderful possessions alongside more conventional assets like buildings and land. Mark Smulian reports

Just the Ticket
Parking and enforcement are high on residents' hate list with a perception of over-zealous councils making millions from controls, Mark Smulian reports

Section 106 squeeze
Affordable housing relies on s106 deals. Now, as the credit crunch bites, local government is feeling the pain, says Mark Smulian

Regenerating seaside economies
The credit crunch and environmental pressures could boost seaside towns - with proper marketing and investment, says Mark Smulian

A new beginning
Once the initial shock has passed, those who have lost their seats can console themselves with the fact there is life after political death, Mark Smulian discovers

Stamped out
The Post Office's programme of branch closures has sparked fury across the country. Mark Smulian investigates how councils are battling to reverse the tide

Controlled explosion
Building control work can vary from household jobs to large regeneration projects, says Mark Smulian

Flying south for the jobs
Graduates boost economies, but many university towns and cities lose them to London and the south-east, Mark Smulian reports

Protecting the public
Trading standards is no longer a department on the periphery of local government that nails rogue traders - its remit extends from tackling under-age drinking to loan sharks, says Mark Smulian

All change please
It has been a long and controversial journey, but London's St Pancras station has finally arrived at its destination of international status. But what effect has the development had on local communities? Mark Smulian finds out

Who will benefit from the London Olympics?
The 2012 Olympics are meant to leave a legacy of regeneration, not just for London, but the whole of the UK. Mark Smulian asks what local authorities should be doing

A design for life
Before forging ahead with Brown's vision for eco towns, planners must learn from the successes and failures of the new towns built after the Second World War, says Mark Smulian

Counting the cost of high-rise living
Communities in the suburbs are under threat by the demand to replace family homes with flats, says Mark Smulian

The rise of the airport
Councils are faced with a major dilemma surrounding airport expansion. Do the economic benefits of expansion outweigh environmental concerns and local misery? Mark Smulian finds out

The young ones
What spends £750m a year and vomits on doorsteps? The answer is 'students', says Mark Smulian

Grave concerns
As available land comes under pressure, is recycling cemetery space the only option? Mark Smulian looks at the alternatives

Buying overseas
Foreign property isn't the sole preserve of rich couples on reality TV... pension funds should also be looking further afield, says Mark Smulian

School of thought
The Education & Inspections Bill was written with an eye on inner cities, but will it work in practice? Mark Smulian reports

21st century Tufty Club
The road safety message has come a long way since Tufty the squirrel. Mark Smulian reports on councils that are leading the way

Home sweet home
With ALMOs and the new profession of housing strategy coming to the fore, Mark Smulian investigates what is next for council housing

Mud, music and money
Rock festivals are no longer events to be feared. With a bit of planning councils can turn them to their advantage. Mark Smulian tunes in

Hedge your bets
They might have a reputation for being riskier than betting on the dogs but hedge funds can make sense, says Mark Smulian

Burning a hole in your budget Fuel costs are going up and emissions must be cut in order to control global warming. Mark Smulian looks for answers to one of the toughest challenges today

Cities lead the way
They are new here, but city regions abroad have been driving regeneration for years says Mark Smulian

Regeneration games
Moves to spruce up and revive cities gained momentum in the '80s - but their origins date from the start of the 20th century. Mark Smulian looks back

Crossing continents
Forging links with authorities in far-flung places isn't just an excuse for suntans and sangria. Mark Smulian explains

When the clerk ruled
The role of council chief executive in some form or other goes back 800 years. But a lot has changed since the days of town clerks. Mark Smulian looks back

How housing fell down
What used to be a foundation of local government power is now in ruins - but do ALMOs provide a future? Mark Smulian reports

Regeneration screen break
When Channel 4 announced it would lead - and record - the regeneration of an entire town, the former pit community of Castleford was the perfect project. One year on, those grand designs are reaching fruition. Mark Smulian reports

Almost dressed up and nowhere to go
Transport chiefs are eyeing Ken Livingstone's sweeping powers over the London bus system with envy. What can they do to catch up? Mark Smulian reports

May the North be with you
For the Northern Way to be a success, it needs more than good intentions, says Mark Smulian

Grip and grill
Slow, Stalinist and ineffective. Mark Smulian asks what it's like to be on the receiving end of the Standards Board

Winner stakes all
Blackpool sees the licensing of super-casinos as a return to more prosperous times. But is it a gamble too far, asks Mark Smulian

Flood, sweat and tears
It is not every day one of your villages is washed away. North Cornwall DC's David Brown tells Mark Smulian about the clean-up - and the underwear shortage

Brighton rocked
Brighton & Hove specialises in contrasts. A merger of Labour and Tory strongholds, with extremes of wealth and education. And a slipping CPA to boot, says Mark Smulian

Country strife
A rural move might appeal to affluent city dwellers, but it doesn't make life easier for those already there, says Mark Smulian

Demolishing the arguments
Local listing cannot always prevent historic landmarks from being redeveloped, but it is still worthwhile. Mark Smulian reports

Local government in a different hemisphere
Chris Simpkins left Lincolnshire for the Falkland Islands. He talks to Mark Smulian about penguins

Whatever happened to the West End?
The Newcastle of old is on the way out, but what is coming next, asks Mark Smulian?

Money to burn
School fires cost £96m in 2002, leaving insurers Zurich Municipal keen to stop the latest rash of attacks, says Mark Smulian

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Law Society Gazette
Transport of delight
Reforms to the Local Transport Act 2008 will create more work for lawyers, says Mark Smulian

Power in numbers: making sense of the numbers behind commercial litigation
By Mark Smulian

Insolvency specialists - high demand, short supply
The UK has nosedived into recession - but for some this financial cloud has a silver lining. After a relatively lean decade, the downturn is potentially lucrative for insolvency specialists. By Mark Smulian

How oil prices and the credit crunch affect aviation law
Airlines have gone to the wall as the price of oil rockets. How can lawyers help the industry weather the turbulence? By Mark Smulian

Council law teams get commercial
Local authority legal departments are increasingly competing with private firms for public sector work. By Mark Smulian

Trouble shooters
Law firms called in by local authorities can expect to encounter an eclectic mix of work, explains Mark Smulian

In the public interest
As the work-load for solicitors in charities increases, Mark Smulian looks at the rewards of operating in a sector that can rarely match the financial incentives offered elsewhere.

The luck of the draw
While many lawyers are willing to work pro bono, and the not-for-profit sector is growing, funding legal projects is not easy. Mark Smulian reports

Opening doors
With the advent of home information packs, solicitors fear competition from estate agents. Could solicitors acting as estate agents themselves be the answer? Mark Smulian investigates

Seal of approval
Notaries claim that their counterparts in France and Spain are flouting EU rules on open competition. plus, they face upheavals in the legal services white paper, reports Mark Smulian

Fighting form
Solicitors claim they are plagued by problems with the stamp duty land tax forms. So are these glitches the result of computer or human error? Mark Smulian investigates

Come fly with me
Superjumbos, 'Dreamliners' and a post-9/11 recovery mean that aviation law is on the up. Following a recent high-profile law firm merger, Mark Smulian takes to the air

In the hot seat
Lawyers who act for controversial clients face everything from death threats to unwanted pizza deliveries. Mark Smulian asks some of the people in the firing line how they cope with it

A nice little earner
Law firms are reportedly wasting millions on misdirected marketing. So what are they doing wrong? They need to convince partners of the value of a clear strategy, says Mark Smulian

Judgement call
Patent agents and trade mark attorneys want the right to become judges in specialist courts. But are they equipped with the necessary legal skills? Mark Smulian investigates

For the public good
The role of public inquiries is under close government scrutiny. How effective are they in ensuring that their welter of recommendations are implemented? Mark Smulian investigates

A friend in need
There is increasingly more to professional negligence actions than just conveyancing claims. Mark Smulian talks to the lawyers who sue other solicitors and defend them

Lateral shift
A partner cloaks his move to another firm in secrecy. But culture clashes may sour the experience. Mark Smulian examines how due diligence can prevent such problems

On good authority
The furore surrounding Professor Sir Roy Meadow in the Sally Clark case showed shortcomings in the expert witness system. Mark Smulian reports on a crisis in public confidence

Building blocks
The construction industry is buoyant. Yet despite the plethora of projects, fewer cases are going to court. Mark Smulian explains why more and more firms are trying out adjudication

A boost for diversity
As the Law Society backs the Black Solicitors Network, other groups are battling to end discrimination against ethnic minority solicitors in law firms, reports Mark Smulian

City feels the heat
The reason London is losing international arbitration business to cities such as Paris and Geneva is not solely down to cost. Deep cultural divisions also exist, argues Mark Smulian

Detecting duplicity
Mark Smulian talks to solicitors about the four main scams currently being targeted at the profession, and urges firms to stay alert to any early indications of fraud

Doing the dirty deed
Becoming a partner at a law firm may include unexpected difficulties. Mark Smulian looks at the systems here and abroad and warns that dangers can lie in the small print

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Public Finance
Laml ruling sends councils back to the drawing board on co-operation
By Mark Smulian

Are unitary councils the shape of things to come?
By Mark Smulian

The tourist trap
As if foot and mouth, September 11, the Gulf War, Sars and terrorist threats were not enough, British tourism also has to cope with a muddled mix of funding bodies. Mark Smulian reports

Training its sights on costs
Running costs are spiralling out of control on the UK railways, yet the industry does not even know what it owns. Mark Smulian investigates the role of the Strategic Rail Authority in pulling it all together

Keep taking the supplements?
Labour's plans for more housing depend on developers paying for the accompanying infrastructure with a new planning gain supplement. But there is opposition to this tax on building, as Mark Smulian explains

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Moneywise
Are you at risk from 21st-century crime?
A new century has revealed a new breed of criminals with hi-tech methods. Mark Smulian explains what you can do to protect yourself

How to keep rogue traders from your door
Unsolicited callers, from cowboy builders to loan sharks, are on a mission to raid your bank account. Mark Smulian explains how your local council's trading standards department can help.

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Supply Management
Salt at a pinch
It takes a lot of grit to keep the roads free of snow and ice. Mark Smulian looks at how some councils managed

A lot on their plates
Improving the quality of school dinners has given procurement a problem to sink its teeth into, as Mark Smulian discovers

The great classroom experiment
The government has launched a radical procurement model to rebuild and renovate all of England's secondary schools. Mark Smulian reports

A force for good purchasing
The procurement team behind London's police force is making big changes. Mark Smulian examines its record so far

London's growing pains
The British government's plans to redevelop a massive parcel of land to the east of London will stretch the purchasing activities and capacity of many industries, as Mark Smulian reports

Trams get a fare deal
Escalating costs threatened to derail three systems in England. But inventive procurement has put two back on track, says Mark Smulian

Councils taxed by web buying
Local authorities in England have made only 'patchy' progress on e-procurement, as they struggle with the demands of the government, councillors, the Gershon review and suppliers. Mark Smulian reports

Get in lane
A call for collaborative procurement for road maintenance seems like a U-turn by the Highways Agency. Mark Smulian examines whether councils will be able to tackle bumps in the road - and make savings

Closing the gap
Uniting Transport for London's fractured purchasing teams was difficult. Faiza Rasheed, head of TfL's policy, strategy and best practice unit, tells Mark Smulian how she did it, increased efficiencies and saved money

Practice makes perfect
Councils are coming under increased pressure to deliver ever-greater savings over the next spending period. Mark Smulian looks at their progess

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New Start
Breaking down barriers
Five years on, is the Social Exclusion Unit still at the cutting edge – or has it begun to drift? Chief executive Claire Tyler talks to Mark Smulian

Carving out a community
At the heart of the Thames Gateway, the biggest regeneration scheme in Britain, lie plans to turn disused quarries into new communities. Mark Smulian reports

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Housebuilder
Rental adjustment
Is it time for housebuilders to take a serious look at getting involved in the private rented sector? With initiatives under way to boost new build for rent and to shake off the Rachman and Rigsby reputation, Mark Smulian looks at the opportunities

Terms of association
Can housing associations save the industry in this recession, asks Mark Smulian

Blast from the past
People in the industry today who survived and thrived in the last housing market downturn have some important insights to impart. Mark Smulian looks back to the early 1990s

Lifetime homes hit home
At a time when developers are struggling to gte to grips with the latest sustainability standards and challenging market conditions, government decided to drop a new regulatory requirement onto their laps - lifetime homes standards for all new homes. Mark Smulian seeks the views of an increasingly disaffected industry

Partnerships push
Mark Smulian looks at the potential of local housing companies

Cross purposes
Cross subsidy deals done to fund on-site affordable housing and estate regeneration are eroding traditional boundaries between housebuilders, housing associations and ALMOs, reports Mark Smulian

On track
Inspirational development plans held back by a lack of transport infrastructure? Mark Smulian discovers Kilbride Community Rail's solution: it plans to bring disused railway lines back into use and option the surrounding land for housing.

The tide turns
Mark Smulian looks at the impact on the industry of the Code for Sustainable Homes

Gateway to a promised land?
The government sees the Thames Gateway as the answer to the south east's housing shortage. But is it all it's cracked up to be? Mark Smulian looks at the opportunities for housebuilders east of the meridian and some of the challenges still to be overcome

Space premium
Mark Smulian hears three perspctives on English Partnerships' new space standards

Sustainable communities: Landscape views
As you arrive back to your desks after the Sustainable Communities Summit, you will no doubt be struggling to absorb the content of numerous workshops on the likes of creating partnerships, renewing housing markets and, of course, building sustainably. Mark Smulian considers the purpose of the summit, and where the government's ambitious plans are headed

Sustainable communities: Housekeeping
What is a sustainable community? "Sustainable Communities" is the catchphrase of the moment. But what does it actually mean? Does building them increase property values? Mark Smulian grapples with the concept, and finds out how the development industry is doing the same

Red tape rules
Housebuilders are faced with burgeoning regulatory red tape - a major cause of frustration and delay. Mark Smulian talks to the industry about why, when much of it is designed to help, good intentions are often subverted through poor implementation

Thames Gateway pioneers: home and dry
The Thames Gateway lies beyond the protection of the Thames Barrier and there is no denying it is largely a floodplain. Mark Smulian considers the implications for stakeholders involved with the government's housing growth plans, and how they plan to tackle the risk

Power conductor
Centralised procurement and management structures offer cost efficiencies for large housebuilders - but devolving power to regional operations also has its advantages. Mark Smulian considers the issues

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Contract Journal
Social housing swallows infrastructure spend
As the government prioritises its spending, across the country infrastructure schemes are being put on hold as the dwindling pot is shifted into social housing in market renewal areas. Mark Smulian identifies the schemes at risk and those poised to benefit

Ideas invited to kick start social housing
With little private development underway to subsidise social housing starts, the Homes and Communities Agency is inviting contractors to come up with alternative ideas to kick-start the sector. Mark Smulian looks at the funding options available

How to speed up regeneration projects during the downturn
A new way of using surplus public sector land and buildings could be the key to keeping regeneration work flowing for contractors during the economic downturn. Mark Smulian explains

Managing roads maintenance
The way that roads are run has changed. Road maintenance is now being managed in the same manner as buildings, by valuing it and then planning the maintenance spend. Mark Smulian explains how the highways budget is now being spent

Social housing gets into bed with the private market
It's a long time since anyone in the industry thought about Norman Lamont's housing market package but with chill economic winds blowing through housebuilding, memories have stirred of the emergency measures 15 years ago. By Mark Smulian

Why landfill tax hikes could encourage fly-tipping
It's a safe bet that if income tax rose by 25% in one go there would be demonstrations in the streets. Yet that is the increase that demolition contractors face in the landfill tax, and with the promise of a similar rise next year, by Mark Smulian

Housing Corporation and English Partnerships: Regeneration revolution?
The long-expected merger between the Housing Corporation and English Partnerships seem imminent, and could transform the way regeneration is delivered. Mark Smulian goes behind the scenes to assess the likely impact.

Indecent exposure
Councils have a 2010 deadline to meet the Decent Homes Standard, but a few are dragging their feet - which could end up costing them much more in the long run. Mark Smulian explains

Defending the gateway
Developers can heave a sigh of relief – the government has dropped plans to levy a flood defence tax on new housing in the Thames Gateway. Instead, they will be expected to incorporate sustainable, `soft' drainage solutions into new developments. Mark Smulian explains

What's in it for us?
Housebuilders and developers rounded on John Prescott last month after the deputy prime minister used the Urban Summit to criticise them for the slow progress of regeneration in this country. But did he have a point? Mark Smulian reviews the incentives and obstacles to developers of brownfield sites

Gateway to the Games
Plans for the regenertaion of the Thames Gateway were well established when the news broke that London was to get the 2012 Olympics. Will this accelerate the much-needed change in the region, or will efforts be refocussed on the Olympic sites at the expense of further-flung projects? Mark Smulian investigates.

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Construction News
Teaching trades to all-comers
Kensington and Chelsea College has plenty of takers for its construction courses. By Mark Smulian

Travel Weekly
Brazil: Plain old animal attraction
It was my first time on horseback, and the doubts crowded in, despite the presence of two lifelong cowboys to lead our party.

Coach and Bus Week
Winning combination
A successful partnership between the council and operator has seen passenger numbers grow in a city where walking and cycling are real alternatives. Mark Smulian reports from Cambridge

The cost of regulation
The coming years may see ever greater amounts of public money allocated to bus transport but it's unlikely to come without strings attached. Mark Smulian taks a look

Subsidies: the balancing act
The chances are that bus operators do not much concern themselves with the costs of care for discharged hospital patients, the conduct of the 2001 census or the intricacies of the council tax system. Maybe they should, says Mark Smulian

A peerless partnership
As rumours of re-regulation grow in strength, the industry can point to GoAhead's Brighton & Hove Buses an as example of a partnership between a bus company and a council that works a treat. Mark Smulian investigates

Around the web
In just a few years the internet has transformed the way we live and shop. But have the bus companies got to grips with websites? Mark Smulian plans some virtual journeys

Inclusion
The word on the street
Mark Smulian, a freelance journalist, goes out and about with a group of neighbourhood wardens in Sheffield to discover more about what they do.

Business Travel World
Gaining ground
Environmental concerns, economic prudence, higher air fares and now infrastructure improvements may all be tipping the balance towards the train. Mark Smulian examines the development of high-speed rail

Frameworking practices
The public sector spends a great deal on hotels, but this spend is fragmented and lacks coherence. Mark Smulian examines the prospects for a consolidation strategy implemented by the Office of Government Commerce

A healthy operation
The Department of Health's travel budget is a tiny part of the Treasury's health spend, but that doesn't mean no one's watching, says Mark Smulian

Time & Motion
The inspectors who check standards all over the country travel a great deal. Mark Smulian uncovers the different agencies' methods for meeting those needs

Coming clean
Carbon counting is the new zeitgeist. Mark Smulian examines key arguments in the growing surface versus air emissions debate

Non-profit motives
Travel for charities can mean conflicting pressures, finds Mark Smulian

The blame game
New corporate manslaughter legislation means travel managers will have to put pressure on TMCs to provide correct information, says Mark Smulian

Party political journeys
A new prime minister, conference fever and a phantom election have forced the major political parties to show their hand on a number of policies, Mark Smulian looks at what they have in mind for business travel

Fares fair?
As business travellers using the railways endured a torrid time in the New Year, it emerged that not only were ticket prices rising but TMC commissions were being cut. Mark Smulian looks at the consequences for rail buyers

Meridian
The airport of the future
Mark Smulian reports on the expansion of London City Airport

Brave New World
Woolwich is becoming a very different place,as Mark Smulian discovers

Our town
Will it be all change for Greenwich? Mark Smulian finds out

Retail Newsagent
The retail hustle
Conmen are targeting small retailers with a wide variety of scams, but forewarned is forearmed, says Mark Smulian

To each his own brand
Own-brand ranges offer higher profit margins and give customers more choice over price, making them an opportunity not to be missed for retailers, says Mark Smulian

C'llr (Councillor)
My patch - Lea Bridge
Mark Smulian meets Elisabeth Davies

My patch - Solihull
Mark Smulian meets Solihull leader Ken Meeson