FLVA looking to broaden its horizons

Growing membership and getting industry messages across to MPs are top of the priority list for the newly-elected president of the Federation of Licensed Victualler's Associations (FLVA).

Licensee Nigel Williams, who was elected FLVA president at the association's annual conference in Blackpool last week, said he hoped membership levels "could be developed to a point where further operations personnel can be appointed and we can move beyond our traditional northern base".

He added that FLVA vice president David Hawksworth would co-ordinate the recruitment drive.

Williams believed gaining access to ministers and MPs to get across the association's points was another vital goal, and he called on all members to contact their own MPs.

The FLVA has already written to MPs David Nuttall and David Binley in support of the pair's proposal that pubs be allowed separate smoking rooms, he said. The Tory MPs were to be "applauded for their common sense approach".

Williams said he had already met with Nick Clegg, in whose Sheffield Hallam constituency his pub, the Ranmoor Inn, is located, while David Hawksworth had had "an equally constructive meeting" with his constituency MP, William Hague.

"Our messages should focus on predatory supermarket pricing; the beer tie and how it can be made to work more fairly; the smoking ban and the promised review, and licensing reform," he added.

He also noted that the FLVA would "help to develop a stronger voice for licensees by supporting the formation of licensee liaison groups with their individual companies".

Former FLVA president Dennis Griffiths will take on the role of trade liaison manager to encourage pubcos to set up their own groups and to offer practical assistance to licensees sitting on them.