BISC: Pubcos have embraced codes of practice
The BII's chief executive Neil Robertson agreed that pubcos have embraced the new codes of practice, although he said some smaller companies "found it difficult to respond" to the requests.
Speaking at the first hearing for the Business, Innovation & Skills Committee, he said many major pubcos were going beyond the minimum requirements of the code, but said: "There's scope for them to go far further."
He criticised the "overly muscular" approach of some pubcos and cited examples of "premature" use of debt collection and an "overly rigorous" monitoring of tie compliance. He said he would be making recommendations around these areas for the review of the codes by BIIBAS. Robertson, pictured, also queried whether there could be "stronger provision for mediation", and said having scope to be more pro-active on policing codes "would undoubtedly strengthen the scheme".
As for business development managers (BDMs), Robertson said: "There are very good ones, and some that perhaps need to move on, and some that have to be trained."
Consultant Phil Dixon hopes to have Trust Inns involved in the process but said Wellington, a free-of-tie leased operator, had told its property managers not to speak to the BII.
He also admitted some family brewers were simply "going through the motions".
However, he would like to encourage pubcos to work within the spirit, as well as the letter, of the code. "You may not have breached any code but has your BDM acted in a courteous, professional manner? That's where we need to go," said Dixon.
anctions over breaking the code
MPs aired concerns about whether the sanctions available under the code — being stripped of BIIBAS (British Institute of Innkeeping's Benchmarking and Accreditation Services) or being thrown out of the British Beer & Pub Association — were suitable deterrents.
The BII's Neil Robertson said: "We would be recommending people not to work with that landlord. I think there would be a commercial disadvantage."
He rejected the idea that the BII should be able to issue fines for code breaches, saying that it was not appropriate as part of a self-regulatory system.
Simon Kirby MP raised the idea of a statutory ombudsman, but Robertson said the action taken had been "good self-regulation".
He pointed out that the BII wasn't independent of the industry, but he promised "energy" and "impartiality" in its investigation of complaints.
The next hearing starts tommorrow and will feature British Beer & Pub Association chief executive Brigid Simmonds, Enterprise Inns chief executive Ted Tuppen, Punch Taverns managing director Roger Whiteside, Marston's Pub Company managing director Alistair Darby as well as representatives from the Independent Pubs Confederation.
