Day 204 - 15 Jan 96 - Page 32
1 A. Yes. What we have actually got there is the crew
2 numbers as of the 1/4 in the middle column. That is what
3 -- they are probably standing out at that time. In the
4 righthand column is a target to hit 1st July, which is just
5 before the summer months which, again, is a busy period.
6 So just because they are not at that target on the 1/4, it
7 does not necessarily mean that they are drastically short.
8 That is a target to aim for for the summer, so that is
9 something to go for, rather than demonstrating any lack of
10 crew at the time. I think it is.
11
12 Q. So, a lack of crew numbers there, you are saying, could not
13 be held as a criticism of Ray Coton?
14 A. It says: "Clearly, the turnover at 141 is your major
15 priority" in the next line. "Investigation and action are
16 needed immediately". So, from that point of view, it could
17 be held as a criticism of Ray Coton, yes.
18
19 Q. It says here, the next sentence is: "Crew numbers in all
20 your stores need improvement quickly for the summer".
21 A. They need increasing for the summer, yes.
22
23 Q. The crew is the total people that are on the books, are
24 they not?
25 A. Hourly paid.
26
27 Q. Crew targets, yes, or crew numbers, total people who are on
28 the books?
29 A. It may have been, it may not have been; it depends on
30 the person doing it. Some people take it as just the crew
31 as in -----
32
33 MR. JUSTICE BELL: When we look at those figures there, which is
34 when you are Area Supervisor -- the ones on page 9 I am
35 talking about -- can you help me as to whether the figures
36 there were for hourly paid or everyone?
37 A. It would have -- it would definitely have been only
38 hourly paid people. It would not include salaried members,
39 but it may not have included Floor Managers or Admin
40 Assistants, and that type of thing. Some people use it as
41 just pure crew as in none of the ancillary staff, and
42 others use it as just hourly, but it certainly would not
43 have included any salaried people.
44
45 MS. STEEL: I have got a feeling we may have had this before,
46 but I cannot remember what top line sales are.
47
48 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Ask, at any rate.
49
50 MS. STEEL: Can you explain what top line sales are?
51 A. It is your net sales for a month or a given period.
52
53 MR. JUSTICE BELL: What, the total amount of money which is
54 brought in from sales?
55 A. Yes, but with the VAT or tax taken off.
56
57 MS. STEEL: Just about paragraph (6) of your statement, you
58 say: "Controllable costs are expressed" -- this is the
59 last part of the paragraph -- "as a percentage of top line
60 sales, so it is not surprising that Ray Coton was not
