Thanks to the Minister
True to his word Nick Raynsford, MP, Secretary of State for Local Government, has listened to the National Parliamentary Commit-tee and the Guild of Master Victuallers following a letter to him asking that the 50% exemption on licensees' homes should stay, following extra powers given to local authorities. In our submission we pointed out that when the current Stan-dard Community Charge was first introduced, licensees were obliged to pay the full council tax for their homes in addition to the uniform business rates for licensed premises and the dom-estic rates for the accommo-dation that licensees occupied. Representations were made to David Hunt, Minister of the day, making the case that the licensee's home was only occupied when licensees took a break from the licensed premises for the odd number of days or for holiday during the course of the year. Licensees, therefore, should be exempt from paying council tax on their homes. The Minister accepted the case made out but declined to exempt licensees from the full council tax. Instead he agreed that licensees would be eligible for a 50% discount on the basis that they have limited use of services provided by local authorities. Licensees are, after all, obliged to live in the accommodation for their premises under the conditions of their Brewery Agreement and to satisfy the Local Licensing Authority and Police that the licensed premises are safe and secure outside of licensing hours. The Minister has decided that he will allow English local authorities to reduce council tax discounts on second homes from 50% to a minimum 10%. But he recognises the special position of those who are required to live in tied accommodation provided by their employer or because of a legal requirement, such as a condition of a licence. A discount of 50% will continue to apply in these cases. John Madden Executive Officer The Guild of Master Victuallers 19 Warren Drive Elm Park Hornchurch Essex Jowell speech is bullying' If the MA's summary of Tessa Jowell's speech to the Business in Sport and Leisure conference was a true reflection of her sentiments, then the industry has every reason to be worried by her thinly-veiled threats. I take her to be saying, "either you drop your opposition to local authority licensing or I'll let Frank Dobson and his assembled forces of ignorance ruin all the positive aspects of the Bill". Personally I don't take kindly to crude bullying, but on one issue Jowell has a point: Government likes one point of contact with an industry and that contact has to speak with a clear voice. This industry has neither. Perhaps then some thought should be given to the suggestion of Coor's boss, Peter Kendall, for an umbrella organisation: but then, what to call it? I think the Brewers' Society has a certain ring to it. Peter Haydon Former Secretary Society of Independent Brewers Council action is gutting' I have recently agreed with Triaid to have a clothing recyle bin situated in my car park in an effort to offer charitable help to nations that are at the moment enduring hardship, either through severe weather conditions or major natural disasters. These units will be seen in literally hundreds of pub car parks around the country. Unfortunately, I have been instructed to remove mine by the planning enforcement office of Wokingham District Council, on the grounds that I need planning permission for a change of use of my car park to accommodate this charitable facility. The reason being that a resident has complained that the bin is an eyesore. Under that criteria the council must instruct the bin to be removed, albeit, if the complaint had not been made, they would have turned a blind eye. In my opinion this could open up a serious amount of repercussions for any local pub just trying to do their bit to help the unfortunate. Maybe your legal team could look at the whys and wherefores. My customers are absolutely gutted. HA Cook Maiden Over Reading Not a FAB but fabulous I not only enjoyed Clive Smith's article (Morning Advertiser, 31 October) entitled "Bitter taste of success", I also found it quite informative at least I did until I noticed that Agwa had not passed the criteria for FAB success in your illustration's caption. The boys at Agwa are a misunderstood lot. Bad enough to be gagged by the dark powers and not allowed to reveal the brand story behind the Bolivian Coca leaves and de-cocainised distillate from Amsterdam, but then to be followed into the market by the phonetically similar Aqua. More than a brand can stand. You can't group Agwa, a 30% abv 700 ml presentation, fully paid up on it's spirit taxes, with fly-by-night FABs 5.5% abv and 275ml. If the four FABs that were consigned to obscurity are also alive and well then I am sure they will make their own case. Agwa continues to overcome the challenges of being a highly controversial psycho-active premium spirit and has no intention of competing with FABs or paying their taxes. John Davies Agwa Babco Europe Eglinton House Bray Eire Head goes here It is a wet, windy and very quiet mid-week night in this typical small town and in the absence of my "designated supervisor" (and any customers) my mind drifts to the bright new future world of de-regulation and freedom to develop my "relevant licensable activities" now planned thanks to our enlightened trade leaders and a Government that understands business Should I request a 2.00am or 3.00am closing time? (Maybe I can use the flexibility that I was promised and select 3.00am but only if it's not raining?) Should I employ extra staff at premium rates or should I just take another five or six hours a week out of my own free time? (I wonder if Betty doesn't object to starting work at 10.30pm?) Should I employ one door-man or two? (Mind you, at a training cost of £180 per person maybe I should dust off my old dinner suit.) I wonder if my very own "interested party" (the lady next door) will appreciate this brave new world and accept that some music on a saturday night is not too ungodly. (maybe I should ask her and her councillor friends round for a conciliatory drink?) Enough of these negative thoughts! I must think of the new business opportunities that will arise from these changes as the British people with their new-found freedom and maturity drink more because now "it's more like the continent". Anyway, there is the reduc-tion in red tape to be pleased about. (At last! the freedom of doing away with that awful A4 sized form that I had to submit to the Justices every three years at the shocking cost of £30!) Still, the loss of that truly British custom of binge drinking will be a great benefit as will the elimination of all anti-social behaviour. (Mind you, people made a lot of money out of that.) Of course I am sure that once the district council has taken on dozens of extra staff, one of those nice kind people will be available to help me complete my operating plan, so that's no problem. Well, it's still raining and I wonder if old Ted is coming in for his pint at 10.01pm like he has for the past 30 years. (Must tell him to get up to date and be more flexible.) One thing to be grateful for, however, is that Tim Martin hasn't discovered this town yet. (on the other hand, if I could sell him my site I could retire to that bar in Spain where the adults don't drink pints of premium of lager and double shots like it's going out of fashion-whatever the closing time.) JP Spong Traders Bar Petersfield
