Cluster Updates June - September 2011.

NORTH
Both Barnet and ReStore have been very busy and are ahead of targets and busy setting up workshops (WEEE and wood). A new hub is planned to go forward for funding at the next investment committee.
A new member has joined the cluster - Obay ICT, based in Enfield.

EAST
The East Cluster Group visited The North Cluster depot - Restore - an opportunity to see a working model with the view to replicating this at First Fruit Warehousing ias the depot for the East London Cluster. The group also had the opportunity to discuss the business operation involved in running a void clearance contract with a Housing Association. Additonally LB of Redbridge have shown interest in working more closely with LRL and the East Cluster Members to increase their re-use rates.

SOUTH EAST
Cluster members interested in setting up a recycling and reuse centre in the SE, and seeking suitable premises. The group visited First Fruit warehousing in East London with a view to this being used as the SE depot. Although inspired by the business operation the Cluster group did not think that it hit its social and community targets, and will develop a plan whereby the depot or large hub will be SE based.

SOUTH
Stakeholder meeting with Groundwork, Vine, Kingston, Wimbledon Guild and Amicus Horizon (Croydon's largest social housing provider). New WEEE reuse facility match funding turned down.

WEST
The west cluster had worked well on a proposal for a re-use focussed bulky collection service for LB Richmond but regretably this has been put on hold until further notice. Support from the WLWA to the re-use sector will in future be enhanced by two successful funding bids, one to set up a WEEE collection service and a second to introduce a re-use incentive scheme. Cluster agree on the need for a depot facility to feed hubs and outlets. site availability being checked by Furnish, with strong backing from the Shepherds Bush Housing Group.

CENTRAL
The focus in the Central Cluster during the quarter has been to plan for the introduction of services following investment report previously. Considerable effort has gone into the operational documentation required in addition to the investment agreements, such as the service specifications and SLAs with the local authorities. The capital works at the workshops at Smugglers Way have met with delays in the last month. The completion date is now due at the end of November at which the reuse hotline goes live and the collections service will begin.

PAN LONDON PROJECTS
Wood - Still some keen interest around in wood recycling but for new start ups.
Interest also being shown outside of the M25 to engage on the Pan London agenda.
Bikes - aiming to have investment plan go forward to November investment committee. Objectives - tonnages 3-400 R&R pa, investment of £4-500k. 14 projects/organisations overall.

MARKETING
Forsters – Market Research
Forsters were commissioned to conduct a piece of qualitative research to look at the public’s opinions to re-use, and the barriers and motivations to donating and buying re-use goods. The outcomes of this research helps us to set the foundation for the marketing strategy and identify the channels to communicate to the different audiences' the reserch has identified.

RE-USE HOTLINE
Plans for the Re-use Hotline are progressing very well with the implementation of the call system technology, procurement of a card payment system and the recruitment of a call centre staff. The operation will start in the four boroughs of the Western Riverside Waste Authority namely Hammersmith & Fulham, Lambeth, Wandsworth and Kensington and Chelsea, when the workshops are opened at Smuggler's Way.

QUALITY MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
A Quality Management Service is to be introducted across the London Re-use Network. It will cover four areas of the business operation and measure the robustness of the following elements -:- Organisational Standards, Operational and Product Standards, Customer Services, and Branding: image and experience. The first stage of its implementation has been agreed, and will be the adoption of the 1st stage audit provided by FRN (Furniture Reuse Network).
The aim of this audit and award is to show members of the public, and potential business and non for profit partners that the Project upholds a set of values and operatioinal procedures and has acheived a seal of approval (Quality Mark ) from London Re-use Limited

April 2011. The Investment Committee had updates from previously approved projects and approved the development plan for the Central Cluster as well as the project proposal from Furnish. As well, the first Pan London proposal was successful, lead by Forest Recycling Project for the Re-Paint service.

March 2011. We had a well attended Practitioner Meeting, covering details of the LRN Business Plan, the Investment process and represenation on the LCRN Reuse Sub Committee. As well, each cluster shared an update on their progress and next steps.

February 2011. The Investment Committee approved the proposal from Groundwork to manage the reuse centre at the WRWA site at Smuggler’s Way.

January 2011. The Investment Committee approved the cluster development plan for the North Cluster. Along side it, the project proposals from Barnet Homes and ReStore Community Projects were also approved which means that the funding then began to flow.

2011. The new year started out positively, with the final signature needed for the contract with LWaRB, confirming the first traunche of funding. As well, the interim manager of LRL, Charles Craft, began his endeavours to lead the team forward. Read more about him and the other staff involved here.

December 2010. LCRN continued the contract negotiations with LWaRB and all practitioners of the Network participated the Quarterly Reuse Network Practitioners Meeting where we discussed the Mayor's Waste Strategy and LRN plans for the new year.

October 2010: The newly established London Reuse Limited (LRL) Investment Committee met to establish the development aims of the subsidiary company.

September 22, 2010: Alongside LCRN's AGM, the London Reuse Network officially launched, including guest speakers Wayne Hemingway (of Vintage at Goodwood and Red or Dead fame) as well as Dr Adam Read, responsible resource expert extraordinaire.

August 23, 2010: The operating company "London Reuse Limited (LRL)" launched with its first board meeting taking place on September 10th.

June 22, 2010: LWaRB approved the bid and confirmed success of the proposal to develop the network, with the consequential official announcement on July 12, 2010.

Throughout this process, the delivery partner practitioners of the network continued to meet, progressing the logistics and delivery plan. This process now includes monthly meetings of each cluster as well as expert commissioning groups. If you would like to be involved, see these details, and get in touch with Richard (richard@lcrn.org.uk).

March 25, 2010: LCRN submitted the proposal to LWaRB and eagerly awaited feedback from the Investment Committee, with a follow up presentation to the panel in June.

November 2009: LCRN got the green light from the London Waste and Recycling Board (LWaRB) to progress the outline proposal for a £7.3million investment to develop the existing network of reuse facilities working together in a coordinated system.

In parallel with this development, several other projects progressed, including the launch of 'Bright Sparks' in Islington and a partnership proposal from Western Riverside Waste Authority.

September 2009: LCRN established a new project, The ‘London Reuse Framework.’ The team, led by Richard Featherstone, developed an ambitious partnership of LCRN members, local authorities and waste authorities capable of delivering on these recommendations.

July 2008: LCRN worked with London Remade Solutions, GLA, NLWA, LCRN members and others to produce the most authoritative statement yet on the state of reuse in London. This study made twelve bold recommendations, and was endorsed by many of London’s Local Authorities as well as by the Mayor’s office.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LCRN is grateful to REalliance CIC, London Councils and CapacityBuilders Modernisation Fund for their financial support for this development work which has otherwise been funded from LCRN reserves.