01/04/2014 BBC Oxford News

Good evening. Workers at Mini in That's all from us.

Good evening. Workers at Mini in Oxford are to get a pay risd of 4%,

more than twice the rate of inflation. The rise doesn't apply to

staff at the pressing plant in Swindon. Mini sales reached record

highs last year, with 300,000 cars sold worldwide. Victoria Cook

reports. They're one of the biggest dmployers

in Oxfordshire. And now, thdy believe, their pay deal is `mongst

the best in the sector too. The unions say there has been tough

negotiations since last October but they're pleased with the outcome. It

also shows that the company are again invested in them and showing

them for everything they have done, the hard work they have put in. More

than 4,000 employees will now receive the 4% rise. It means

workers will be taking home around ?1,000 more a year. It takes the

average salary at Mini in Oxford to just under ?27,000. It is good. It

is the equivalent to about 05p and are or something, but it is a

start. The pay deal comes as good news at a time when other

manufacturers within the sector are struggling. Honda in Swindon has

announced that 500 jobs are to go there. It blames continuing poor

sales in Europe for its dechsion. Mini has said it is pleased the

workers have accepted this ` deal. It's as it comes with the

introduction of a new, thred shift pattern, where employees will work

shorter shifts. It says it hopes all this will lead to the successful

production of the new Mini hatchback. The increase will come

into effect in May and will be backdated to January.

Earlier I spoke to Professor Kevin Morley, the former Managing Dirctor

of Rover. I asked him what the secret of Mini's success is. ``

managing director. They produce a car for all over the world. The

problem with Honda in Swindon is the fact that they produce a car just

for Europe. Europe is suffering In any part of the world, therd will be

its doing well and it's doing less well. For Mini, they are dohng very

well in America and Russia, in India, the Middle East, so they have

a widespread `` wide spread over the world. What about the decishon to

award this page increase for the plug in Oxford? `` the plant. I

understand there are conversations going on at the moment becatse the

policy of BMW is to do it plant by plant. So what will happen hn

Swindon, we don't know, but that in itself is odd. I would have thought

to do it for all of the factories under the BMW banner would lake more

sense. It seems a big rise. It is starting off at 2.8%. As English and

came down to 1.7%, this into have gone up, they have increased over

inflation. The shift pattern has changed as well. It has gond to

three 7.5 hour shifts. The result is then to be some compensation for the

workforce, for that change. Probation officers have been

protesting in Oxford as part a national walk`out over changes to

the justice system. They're claiming privatisation plans would affect

public safety. The proposals include outsourcing 70% of the servhce,

which probation staff say is a "dangerous social experiment". The

Government says the changes are designed to cut costs and rdduce

reoffending rates. People whose homes have been flooded

could be awarded to ?5,000 to protect their properties. From

today, anyone who's been directly affected by flooding can apply for

the Government grant. The money is to pay for equipment like driveway

barriers and water resilient doors and windows. Residents who've

already bought flood defencds can also apply to be reimbursed. It is

something we have been asking for, for a long time. Some kind of help

for people to make their holes more flood resistant. And more flood

resilient as well, that is, once the water has got in, it does ldss

damage. We have been pushing for this for a long time. The insurers

tend to put things back as they work, which is the last thing you

want if you are going to be flooded again.

Technology that could help xou cut energy bills by allowing yot to

switch your heating and lighting on and off with your smartphond is

being tested by families in Milton Keynes. Installing the smart

radiators, lights and electric sockets costs hundreds of pounds. So

can they save money in the long run? Louise Hubball has been

investigating. Many of us have become reli`nt on

one of these, a smartphone. Could the next thing be a smart home? You

can operate most of the electrical devices in this home when you're not

even here, to save time and money. This radiator is controlled and can

be set from your mobile when you're out, costing over ?300. All the

prices are based on a three`bedroom house. Like Bob that can be switched

on and off, again, from your mobile, for ?100. And smart plugs, which

show you how much energy each appliance is using, ?144. The home

is part of a trial between Lilton Keynes Council and an energx

company. The experiment has been extended. Jason is testing which

gadgets work best. He finds this app and even switching off lights when

his daughter forgets. Do yot think this has saved the money? Yds, I

have been saving quite a bit. I have the resources now to look at it

easily, instead of waiting for a bill to come through. Do yot have

any idea how much it may have saved? On average, about ten to 15%

a month. But the acid test to whether a smart home could become as

common as a smartphone depends on whether you would be willing to

spend up to ?600 on new technology to try and bring your bills down.

That's it from us for now. @lexis is coming up with the weather forecast.

We're back tomorrow morning in BBC Breakfast. Goodnight.

A bit of a mixture tonight. And East`West divide. Clear spells the

further East you are. Showers further West. Mild temperattres to

around ten to 11 sources. Some areas may start off on a dry note with

some mist and fog. Once agahn, the risk of a few showers. Showdrs more

likely for western areas. There will be a good deal of dry weathdr, with

sunny spells align temperattres to reach a high of 16 or 17. Looking

ahead, we are expecting showers a band of rain affecting us on

Thursday, wet start on Frid`y, and the afternoon. The outlook, rather

cloudy with some rain on Thursday. Good evening. Before we get to the

weather details, little bit about the pollution which we have been

talking about in the weather reports over the last couple of days. The

pollution levels actually during the