The Green Party have launched their full manifesto ahead of the General Election on 12th December, detailing their plans to tackle ‘the Climate Emergency and deliver social justice’.

The party’s manifesto focuses on their Green New Deal, which outlines the ways that they will fulfil their pledge to reach net zero carbon emissions in the UK by 2030. This includes plans to ban the production of single-use plastics, extend the tax on plastic bags to cover plastic bottles, single-use plastics and microplastics, and extend plastic bottle deposit schemes.

Today (18^th November) Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled a package of measures in his speech to the annual CBI conference which aim to “help business flourish”.

In his speech, Johnson announced plans for a fundamental review of the business rates system to reduce the burden on businesses.

Figures from the ACS 2019 Local Shop Report show that the convenience sector currently pays around £308m in business rates. 

The Prime Minister has announced that business owners significantly affected by the recent flooding will have immediate relief on their business rates.

Businesses that have been affected will be eligible for 100% relief on their business rates for ‘at least’ the next three months, according to a Government release published this morning.

ACS has welcomed a commitment from Prime Minister Boris Johnson to increase the business rates discount for small businesses next year if re-elected.

The commitment, made as part of an announcement of a package of measures to support businesses ‘at the heart of local communities’ would mean that for businesses with a rateable value of less than £51,000, the retail discount will increase from 33 per cent to 50 per cent in 2020/21. The Conservative Party estimate that this would be an effective £280m tax cut across the whole of the small business sector.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed calls from consumer group Which? urging commitment from the next Government to guarantee access to cash after new analysis revealed that hundreds of communities do not have access to a single ATM.

Today (14th November) Which? revealed that there are over 250 communities across the UK that have poor ATM provision or no ATMs at all. A further 129 communities have access to only one ATM and 65% of these are charged cash machines.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has given evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee on the proposed regulations of a deposit return scheme in Scotland.

In the evidence session, ACS called for the Scottish Government to ensure that the regulations consider the impact on local shops, emphasising the operational, cost and time pressures that the draft regulations would have on the colleagues in store.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is supporting USDAW’s Respect for Shopworkers Week, highlighting the need for urgent action to tackle violence and abuse towards shopworkers.

Taking place between 11^th-17^th November, this year’s theme is ‘Keep Your Cool’, reminding the public that there is never an excuse for violent or abusive behaviour.

The Home Office call for evidence on violence and abuse toward shop staff closed in June and received over 800 responses from individual shopworkers, small shopkeepers, unions and business organisations.

ACS has raised retailers’ concerns about the tobacco track and trace system to the European Commission with the support of Independent Retail Europe.

The tobacco track and trace regulations were introduced by the European Union in the Revised Tobacco Products Directive and came into effect on 20^th May 2019.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is supporting the launch of a Charter to help make workplaces safer for employers and employees.

Launched on National Personal Safety Day (7^th November) ‘Suzy’s Charter for Workplace Safety’ was developed to help identify and mitigate personal safety risks in the workplace.

The Suzy Lamplugh Trust has worked with ACS and a wide variety of organisations, over the last year including unions, large and small businesses as well as the police and employees themselves to develop the details of the Charter.

ACS has announced the shortlist of companies who will be present at the 2019 Security Showcase.

Taking place in Manchester on 27^th November, the event provides retailers with an exclusive chance to hear from experts about the latest developments in crime prevention equipment and how it can be used to protect their business and staff.

The event builds on ACS’ Crime Report, “It’s Not Part of the Job” campaign with the Home Office, and ongoing political lobbying to get better support for retailers and their colleagues.