On Tuesday 6th March, Community Pubs Minister, Bob Neill MP, spoke at the annual CAMRA Parliamentary Reception, which brings together politicians and representatives from the beer and pubs industry.
At the event, Bob said:
- Check against delivery -
""Congratulations to CAMRA on reaching a milestone of 135,000 members, which I understand is an increase of more than 10% from this time last year. You provide a very important voice in the campaign to support the traditional British Pub.
""Community pubs are important local assets. Along with other institutions such as village shops and community centres, pubs can play an important role in strengthening community relationships and encouraging wider social action.
""As part of our determination to shift power to local neighbourhoods we aim to ensure, through the Localism Act, that community organisations have a fair chance to bid to take over assets and facilities that are important to them, including local pubs. This new provision will require local authorities to maintain a list of assets of community value, based on proposals from their local communities within a definition set down in regulations. Where the owner of a pub listed in this way wishes to sell, any local groups that are interested in buying it will have 6 months to prepare a bid to buy it before the asset can be sold.
""I know that CAMRA campaigned for, and has welcomed, our decision to cut duty on low strength beers. In fact, I note that Wolf Breweries’ Moonlight beer, with an alcohol by volume of 2.8%, is available at this reception.
""We are also looking to protect community pubs through the draft National Planning Policy Framework, which I know has also been warmly welcomed by CAMRA. It is only right that valued community facilities, such as pubs, should be offered protection through the NPPF. The Government will be publishing it’s response to the recent consultation at the end of March.
""Pubs may already be eligible for a number of reliefs including small business rate relief – which we have doubled until 30 September 2012 – and rural rate relief. We are also, through the Localism Act, giving local authorities wide powers to grant discounts to bills as they see fit. Councils may wish to use those powers to provide discounts to community pubs.
""And we are, through the Red Tape Challenge, determined to free the public and businesses from over-burdensome or unnecessary rules. Among the red tape that we are proposing to strip away to enable hard working people more time to get on with their jobs are:
? a redesign of the alcohol licensing forms, so that typical applicants will only have to complete the bare minimum of form-filling; and
? decentralising Temporary Event Notice forms and processes to give licensing authorities the power to accept TENs according to a locally-determined form of processes.
""And the Government is also cutting red tape around live music events. We have supported Lord Clement Jones’ Live Music Bill, which has now passed successfully through both Houses and, subject to Royal Ascent, will make it easier for pubs to host certain events, including live music.""