{$inpagemarkup}

Search News

Results: 21-30 of 650


Bira cautiously welcomes new crime and policing bill to tackle retail crime across high street businesses

26 Feb 2025

ACT parent company Bira has cautiously welcomed Labour's Crime and Policing Bill but is calling for urgent action and immediate funding to address the surge in retail crime affecting independent... Read more…

Bira warns of 'troubled times ahead' despite interest rate cut

7 Feb 2025

ACT parent company Bira has warned that retailers across Britain face troubled times ahead despite today's Bank of England interest rate cut to 4.5%, as the Bank halves its growth forecast for... Read more…

Free webinar exclusive to ACT members on employment law compliance

4 Feb 2025

The ACT and legal partner WorkNest are hosting an exclusive webinar on how to remain compliant with employment law while making necessary business changes.
Read more…

ACT parent company Bira urges Government action as December sales disappoint

23 Jan 2025

ACT parent company Bira is calling for urgent government intervention following disappointing December retail figures, which show sales volumes fell by 0.3% following a modest 0.1% rise in... Read more…

ACT announces new partnership with legal specialists WorkNest

17 Jan 2025

The ACT has teamed up with employment law, HR, and health and safety experts WorkNest as the association's new legal partner.
Read more…

Bira comments after BRC release Sensormatic IQ Footfall Monitor Report for December

9 Jan 2025

ACT parent company Bira has warned that disappointing footfall figures for December show mounting pressures on independent retailers, with concerning implications for 2025 as business costs... Read more…

2024 year in review: A message from ACT Director Jonathan Harrison

18 Dec 2024

Director of the ACT Jonathan Harrison has praised the "resilience and adaptability" of the ACT and its members in an end of year message.
Read more…

Practical steps to prevent credit card and payment fraud as an independent cycling retailer

4 Dec 2024

As credit card fraud becomes increasingly sophisticated, taking these steps could help you stay ahead of the fraudsters…
Read more…

Scottish retailers call for urgent business rates support as gap widens with rest of UK

29 Nov 2024

Scottish independent retailers, including those in the cycling sector, are urging the Scottish Government to provide crucial business rates relief in its upcoming budget, as the disparity in... Read more…

Bira and ACT welcome new House of Lords report on high street regeneration

28 Nov 2024

Independent retailers back call for local leadership and simplified funding.
Read more…

Back to news menu

Business and Planning Bill published in the House of Commons

Posted on in Business News, Cycles News

The Government has published the Business and Planning Bill in the House of Commons designed to make provision relating to the promotion of economic recovery and growth.

So far there is no mention of relaxing Sunday trading laws in the Bill, although the Government continues to state that it is keeping Sunday trading under review.

The first reading took place on 30 June 2020. This stage is a formality that signals the start of the Bill's journey through the Lords. The second reading - the general debate on all aspects of the Bill - takes place on 6 July.

IRC partner ACS will be monitoring the Bill's progress, which is scheduled to be fast-tracked through Parliament on a two week timetable, in case MPs attempt to table unfavourable amendments. ACS will also continue to co-ordinate the Keep Sunday Special campaign and maintain regular contact with the 50 Conservative backbench MPs that oppose Sunday trading reform to ensure that the government do not attempt to re-introduce the measures later in the year.

We are grateful to all members that have contacted their MPs raising their concerns about scrapping Sunday trading laws - this has been pivotal in making the government back down.

Looking more widely at the Business and Planning Bill it will:

  • Make it easier for premises in England serving food and drink such as bars, restaurants and pubs to seat and serve customers outdoors through temporary changes to planning procedures and alcohol licensing.
  • Change alcohol licensing to allow operators to serve alcohol for consumption off the premises and will also apply in Wales.
  • Make temporary changes to the law relating to planning in England, as well as new, permanent provision for certain planning proceedings in England to be considered by means of more than one procedure.

 

Back to news menu

Useful links

If you have any other queries please contact us.