New PICA-Service cases resolved before hearings

However, the cases were resolved prior to being presented to the panel.

PICA-Service was due to deal with two separate complaints at hearings schedule for the 11 February. In the event both complaints were withdrawn by the respective tenants as a result of their grievances being settled by the pub companies involved prior to the hearing date.

The next PICA-Service hearings are due to take place on Tuesday 9 April. Once again there are two complaints that were intended to be heard on this date, which have been withdrawn as a result of the parties involved settling their differences as part of internal grievance procedures.

However, there remains three further separate complaints, which are currently proceeding to hearings.  One of the cases is coming towards the end of the period allowed for the internal grievance procedure, one awaits a revised complaint statement from the tenant involved, and the third awaits confirmation from the tenant that he intends to proceed.

Bernard Brindley, chair of the PIRRS board, which is responsible for administering PICA-Service, said:  “We have always recognised that there will be cases where the knowledge that PICA-Service is empowered to hear and deal with complaints in respect of alleged breaches of a code of practice – or contrary to the spirit of such codes – can act as a powerful incentive for issues to be settled by the parties ahead of any scheduled hearing.

“Whilst we are not privy to any details of the settlements achieved in respect of the withdrawn complaints, we take it that the tenants involved are satisfied that the procedures have resulted in a satisfactory conclusion as far as they are concerned. Otherwise they would not have asked PICA-Service not to progress to the intended hearing.  Unless a complaint progresses to a PICA-Service hearing the identities of the parties involved remain entirely confidential.

“We would however like to make clear, without betraying any confidences, that a cross section of pub companies and breweries, each with different sized pub estates, have already been involved in these PICA-Service procedures. We are happy that this demonstrates that the system is working in order to protect tenants and to achieve equitable results.”