News

The Association of Convenience Stores has outlined the damage that devolution of Sunday trading laws will have on jobs and the economy.

In evidence submitted to Government last month, ACS cites research conducted by Oxford Economics, who have calculated that if implemented by councils across England and Wales, extended Sunday trading hours would cost small shops in excess of £870m whilst generating no extra revenue for the economy overall, leading to a net loss of 3,270 jobs across the retail industry.

ACS has welcomed a letter from campaign group Keep Sunday Special and Conservative MPs, outlining their support for the existing Sunday trading regulations.

The letter, published in the Telegraph today (11 November), details a list of 20 MPs who have called on the Government to drop the controversial plans to devolve Sunday trading powers to local authorities.

Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers has outlined his support for retaining the existing Sunday trading regulations in a visit to a SPAR store in Humberston operated by Blakemore Retail.

Reserve your free place now at this November’s ACS Responsible Retailing Forum, providing you with the tools and knowledge to ensure your convenience store is fully compliant with upcoming regulations.

The Forum, taking place in Westminster, London, will guarantee you are up-to-date with all of the fast-changing retail legislation and enable you to update your store’s policies and procedures.

ACS has called on the chancellor to take action on business rates, employment costs and drop proposals to devolve Sunday trading rules in its submission to the Treasury ahead of the Autumn Statement on 25th November.

ACS has warned the Low Pay Commission that the upcoming introduction of the Living Wage will force retailers to scale back their business plans.

In an oral evidence session, ACS Head of Policy and Public Affairs Edward Woodall outlined the issues that retailers will face when having to fund a £7.20 wage rate for over 25s in their business.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed proposals from the Department of Communities and Local Government which aim to make the appeals system for business rates more efficient.

The consultation was launched this week by High Streets Minister Marcus Jones, who claims that the plans will ensure businesses can be confident that their valuations are fair whilst attempting to curb the number of speculative appeals going through the system.

Under the proposed reforms, businesses would go through a 3-stage process:

Around 9 in 10 small retailers are fully compliant with the tobacco display ban, according to a report released today by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI).

The CTSI’s Rapid Review on Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Regulations Compliance by Small Businesses shows that 89% of convenience stores, 83% of off licences, 92% of newsagents and 97% of petrol forecourts are fully compliant with the tobacco display provisions to cover up tobacco gantries, which was introduced for small businesses on 6^th April 2015.

ACS chief executive James Lowman has given evidence to a House of Lords Select Committee, highlighting the important role that the convenience sector plays in accommodating the needs of disabled customers.

Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies has outlined his support for retaining the existing Sunday trading regulations in a visit to a SPAR store in his constituency.

The store owners, Matthew and Huw Jones, raised concerns about the impact that longer opening hours for larger stores on Sundays would have on their business.

The current, popular Sunday trading regulations are at risk of being removed by central Government, who want to devolve the power to set trading hours to local authorities.