Just not cricket

Sport England, the publicly funded body responsible for distributing cash to grassroots sport, seems to be scoring a few own goals. Having been forced last month to launch an inquiry into the disappearance of £20 million from a mystery bank account, it now faces allegations that it is spending millions commisioning a sporting participation survey that gives a distorted and highly inaccurate picture. As this survey, Active People, is used — at least partly — in the allocation of funds, there are concerns that the process is flawed. David Collier, chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board, told Food for Thought: “ECB has expressed concerns regarding the Active People survey to both the Department for Culture Media and Sport and Sport England for some time. We do not believe it represents a valid portrayal for team sports in particular.” Sport England insists that the survey is a vital tool for local authorities but that it is “just one of many measures” used to determine allocation of funds.

Rooms for manoeuvre

Tony Troy, chief executive of Principal Hayley, the hotel and conference venue operator, said several months ago that he saw the recession as an opportunity to start picking up more realistically priced assets. Last week, he put his (or at least Permira’s) money where his mouth is by snapping up the Central Hotel in Glasgow and the New Connaught Rooms in Central London. He has not finished: he says that he is in advanced discussions over a non-residential conference centre in Paris, which would be the group’s second property in France, and is running a slide rule over a residential venue outside the French capital. “We want to establish a base to roll out across France,” he says.

Jones boys make their Mark

Mark Jones, the former executive chairman of Premium Bars & Restaurants, starts his new job at Rank Group today as managing director of Mecca Bingo. Yet only seven months ago Rank appointed another Mark Jones, the founder of Online Travel Corporation and former managing director of lastminute.com, as managing director of its internet gaming division. Mind you, this is nothing new for the Mark Jones who runs the internet division. At school in Wales he was one of three Mark Joneses in his class.

businessfeatures@thetimes.co.uk

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