Press Releases
Over 100 Local Authorities Still Yet to Distribute Discretionary Relief to Businesses
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has called on the Government to take further action to ensure that local authorities distribute rate relief properly after it was revealed that over 100 authorities were yet to issue amended bills to businesses.
The list, published this week by the Department of Communities and Local Government, shows that as of 13 November, 110 local authorities have not rebilled businesses to reflect the £300m discretionary relief scheme announced in the Spring Budget earlier this year.
Read MoreGovernment Rejects Tobacco Licensing for Retailers
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed the government’s decision not to progress with plans to introduce a tobacco licensing scheme for retailers, following a consultation last year. However, the Government has warned that EU regulations to track tobacco product through supply chains could require some additional requirements for companies producing, moving, or selling tobacco.
Read MoreONS: Sharp Decline in Percentage of Young People Buying Cigarettes from Shops
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed figures released today by the Office of National Statistics which show a decline in the percentage of young people that get cigarettes from retailers.
The report published by ONS and the NHS, looks at the prevalence of smoking, drinking and drug use among young people (school pupils aged 11 to 15).
Read MoreACS: Interchange Fees Cut Could Threaten Free to Use ATM Network
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to a consultation from cash machine network operator LINK, raising concerns about the impact that the proposals could have on local shops and their customers if the number of free to use ATMs were reduced.
Read MoreACS Welcomes Clarification of Rural Rate Relief Allocation
ACS Gives Evidence to Environmental Audit Committee on Issues with Deposit Return Scheme
ACS has given evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee, raising concerns about the practicality, cost and effectiveness of a deposit return scheme in the UK.
The Committee are considering ways to reduce littering and increase plastic bottle recycling rates from the current rate of 74%. The hearing included looking at the way that products are manufactured, the current recycling infrastructure, and Deposit Return Schemes that have been implemented in other countries with mixed results.
Read MoreACS: Urgent Action Needed in Budget to Mitigate Impact of 2018 Rates Increase
ACS has reiterated its calls to the Chancellor to make the business rates system fairer in his first Autumn Budget on November 22nd.
The call comes as the Retail Prices Index for September 2017, which determines the level of the business rates increase for the following year, has reached 3.9%, which is the highest September rate since 2011.
Read MoreHigh Streets Minister Outlines Support for Local Shops at Heart of the Community Conference
High Streets Minister Jake Berry will set out the Government’s plans to support local shops in an address to the annual ACS Heart of the Community Conference in London today (Tuesday).
The conference, held at Church House in Westminster on October 17th, features a range of speakers who shared their experiences of engaging in their communities, both with customers and local decision makers, and the benefit that local engagement has had on their businesses.
Read MoreACS: Forecourt Stores Investing to Transform Food Offer
New research from the Association of Convenience Stores has shown the essential contribution that the UK's petrol forecourts make to the economy, to working people, and to communities.
The 2017 Forecourt Report highlights the continuing evolution of forecourts as both retailers and service providers, with stores often leading the rest of the convenience sector in key growth areas like food to go, coffee and technology in-store.
Key findings from the report include:
Read MoreNew Track and Trace Proposals Could Impose Significant Burden on Convenience Sector
ACS has raised concerns about the costs and administrative burdens that new ‘Track and Trace’ proposals on tobacco could have on the convenience sector.
The EU Revised Tobacco Products Directive aims to introduce a method of tracking the sale of legitimate tobacco products through the supply chain. Up to this point, the Directive has stated that they would only affect the ‘last economic operator before the first retail outlet’ but the latest draft of the regulations includes a number of demands on retailers purchasing tobacco from a wholesaler.
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