Members of Ashfield District Council voted in favour of the cross-party Protecting Ashfield’s Pubs motion, which will now see the authority explore the creation of an Ashfield Pub Protection Plan.
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The motion was proposed by Hucknall North councillor Gordon Mann and seconded by Hucknall Central councillor Lee Waters, with every councillor present voting in favour.
The proposed plan would make it easier for publicans to find out about grants, access licensing advice and get support available through the council.
It could also see pubs promoted through local events, tourism activity, town centre initiatives and council communications, helping venues attract more customers and remain at the heart of their communities.
Councillor Mann said the vote showed protecting pubs, local jobs and community life was an issue that went beyond party politics.
“A good pub brings the community together through quiz nights, live music, celebrations, weddings and many other events,” he continued.
“When a pub closes, it is not just the bar staff who lose their jobs. There are delivery drivers, food suppliers, entertainers, tradespeople and many other local businesses that depend on the pub trade.”
Wider role
Councillor Mann further highlighted the wider economic role played by pubs and their links with local suppliers.
“There are 56 microbreweries within 22 miles of Ashfield District’s boundaries,” he added.
“That shows the scale of the local brewing industry and how many jobs, suppliers and small businesses rely on pubs continuing to thrive.”
Mann explained many Ashfield pubs also source locally produced food, meaning money spent in venues could support farmers, food producers, breweries, delivery drivers and other nearby businesses.
Under the plans, the council will also look at how residents can be better informed about what they can do when a valued pub is at risk of closure or sale.
This could include helping communities understand how they can apply for a pub to be listed as an Asset of Community Value, which can give local people more time to consider options for protecting it.
Councillor Waters described the outcome as a “positive, common-sense motion”.
“It was excellent to see every party support [the proposal],” he continued.
“Our landlords work hard, create jobs and bring people together. We will now look at what more we can do locally, while pressing the Government to give pubs a fairer deal nationally.”
Next steps
He added the council wanted its proposed Pub Protection Plan to deliver practical support for licensees.
“We want a simple Pub Protection Plan, not a glossy document that sits on a shelf,” he said.
The council will now consider the next steps for developing the plan, including speaking with publicans, residents and groups such as the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).
Councillors said the aim was to help Ashfield’s pubs attract customers, grow their businesses and remain at the heart of local communities for years to come.
The motion also called for national changes to support pubs and hospitality businesses, including reforms to VAT, beer duty and business rates.
Following the vote, the council said it had planed to write to the Government and local MPs calling for long-term changes to the tax pressures affecting pubs and the wider hospitality sector.
Councillor Waters stressed the planned 20% reduction in business rates from next April was welcome, but warned many pubs were still facing significant pressures.
He said: “You cannot push somebody’s bill up by roughly 50%, hand part of it back and then pretend the problem has disappeared. It is a step in the right direction, but pubs are still being hit hard.”
