Cross-Party Group on Small Shops: ACS Welsh Local Shop Report Launch
Posted on
Wednesday 7th February 2018, 17:00 - 18:30: Oriel Room, Ty Hywel
MINUTES
PRESENT:
Paul Davies AM for Preseli Pembrokeshire
Janet Finch-Saunders AM for Aberconwy
Mandy Jones AM for North Wales
David Melding AM for South Wales Central
Darren Millar AM for Clwyd West
Ken Skates Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport
Simon Thomas AM for Mid and West Wales
Steve Dowling Association of Convenience Stores
James Lowman Association of Convenience Stores
Edward Woodall Association of Convenience Stores
Neil Moss British Independent Retailers Association
Joanne Arthur British Independent Retailers Association
Freya Bletsoe Ella Riley Ltd
Steven Bletsoe Ella Riley Ltd
Amy Bainton Federation of Small Business Wales
Rob Basini Federation of Small Business Wales
Matthew Hunt Filco
Mick Whitworth Guild of Fine Food
Dave Oatley Motor Fuel Group
Julie Murphy Motor Fuel Group
Paul Jones Motor Fuel Group - Regional Manager
Mark Coray National Hairdressers' Federation
Lloyd Griffiths National Hairdressers' Federation
Pam McCarthy National Hairdressers' Federation
Mark Dudden National Federation of Retail Newsagents
Dee Goberdhan National Federation of Retail Newsagents
Adrian Roper National Federation of Retail Newsagents
Vyas Sharma National Federation of Retail Newsagents
Angela Harris Nisa
Andrew Watkins Nisa
Hayley Watkins Nisa
Rhys Morris Welsh Government
Nathan Cook Welsh Government
1. Janet Finch-Saunders AM, Cross-Party Group for Small Shops, Chair
Janet Finch-Saunders AM opened the meeting by welcoming delegates and speaking about the need for Welsh Assembly policy making to support local shops. She explained how local shops support local high streets and communities as isolated stores.
She then explained the work of the Cross-Party Group on Small Shops and Supporting Entrepreneurship Inquiry and highlighted changes to the services provided in local shops in response to changing consumer demands.
2. James Lowman, Association of Convenience Stores, Chief Executive
James introduced the key findings of the Welsh Local Shop Report 2018, including the community activity of shops in Wales, their investments and employment opportunities, goods and service offer and contribution to the wider Welsh economy.
James also detailed ACS' policy recommendations for the National Assembly on; the use of devolved business rates powers, deposit return schemes and carrier bag charging, responsible retailing and digital connectivity.
3. Ken Skates AM, Welsh Government, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport
Ken Skates emphasised the increasing role of the Cross-Party Group on Small Shops and welcomed the 2018 edition of the Welsh Local Shop Report.
He highlighted the Welsh Government's support for local shops through High Streets Relief and outlined how the Welsh Government is working through Superfast Cymru to deliver new broadband connections to rural Wales.
The Cabinet Secretary also confirmed that retail had been identified as a priority sector through the Welsh Government's Economic Action Plan. He highlighted retail as strategically important for the Welsh economy, as the biggest employer in Wales, providing employment opportunities in all Welsh communities.
4. Close
James Lowman thanked delegates. He invited all delegates to enjoy the rest of the reception and said that AMs were welcome to sign the #mylocalshop
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