February 2012
Wind Farms – cost effective additions to our electricity generation fleet
The Telegraph reported at the weekend that 101 Conservative MPs had written to David Cameron urging a re-think on policy towards onshore wind farms since, to summarise their apparent argument, they were inefficient and intermittent (and hence unreliable); they also urged changes to proposed planning legislation to help “locals” defeat proposed windfarms.
Read moreSolar PV – astonishing cost falls point to a future boom for South West businesses and farmers
At the tail end of last year, just as the solar PV industry was reeling from the announcement of controversial proposed cuts in FIT tariffs, we hosted some seminars with a local law firm highlighting what a bright future the industry had in the South West.
Read moreComprehensive FIT review: Solar PV
Yesterday the government announced a further consultation on PV tariffs, in an attempt to bring transparency and certainty to the industry. Some issues have been clarified, but other remains highly uncertain. Our current understanding is:
What tariff will I get at different installation times?
Now to 3rd March 2012: uncertain, the government’s intended tariff is:
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FIT consultation: Tariffs for non-PV technologies and scheme administration issues
This consultation has been launched at the same time as the fresh PV consultation but on a slower timetable, running to April 26th rather than April 3rd2012.
Immediate Tariff Proposals
Modifications to tariffs are proposed to become effective in October 2012. Tariffs have been capped at the new proposed solar PV rate (21p/KWh) which affects some of the small wind tariffs, while Micro-CHP has attracted additional support.
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John Endacott’s Pre – Budget Thoughts
It looks like it is going to be a pretty noisy run in to the budget given the amount of press comment in the last few days. There is still over a month to go to a Budget which has been expected to be relatively uneventful by most tax commentators. The reason for this is that there is simply not much money for the government to play with and therefore it is difficult to see that there will be dramatic changes.  
Read moreEquity is... about being prepared
The most emotive of the ‘funding arsenal’ available to business is equity. In a way that is what makes “Dragons Den” such good TV; remembering however that participants are playing to the cameras. Factually and at the most simplistic level, equity investment involves the current shareholder(s) of Company A selling a percentage of Company A for injection of fresh capital to Investor(s).
Read moreSome pre-budget thoughts on marriage, child benefit and the tax system
Budget 2012 is exactly a month away but it has already been leaked that George Osborne will not be introducing transferable allowances for married couples and civil partners. It was a Conservative manifesto pledge to introduce this in the current Parliament and the coalition agreement provides for Lib Dem MPs to abstain on the issue. However it looks like it won’t get that far in this budget round.
Proposals for a transferrable personal allowance for married couples
Read moreChinese Chicken Curry
This last weekend was a little raucous. Mrs Rogers and I opened our doors to my friends from university. We drank and dined (I excelled with my Chinese chicken curry), and as usual the ‘intellectual’ group assembled discussed a wide range of topics.
Read moreAudio - An update on the FHL Rule changes
Having recently presented at a series of seminars around the South West, I talk about the current situation of the furnished holiday letting rules:
Tax Guide to Furnished Holiday Lettings - part 1 (mp3)
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