The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has put together a “retailers’ action plan for Government” based on the results of its unprecedented industry-wide consultation of the trade.
The ACS Heart of the Community Vote 2009, which was supported with a series of articles in Independent Retail News, asked retailers to name the policy areas that matter most to them.
It ran over a six-month period at trade shows, through focus groups and an online poll.
The resulting list of priorities will be presented to politicians and policy makers over the coming months in a bid to highlight the key actions the next UK Government must take to support local shops.
The political priorities are:
• End inflation-busting minimum wage increases
• Rethink the tobacco display ban
• Reduce the burden of business rates
• Increased enforcement and tougher sanctions for proxy purchasers and illegal sellers of tobacco and alcohol
• Review of existing regulation, removing and streamlining administrative burdens
• Increased action by police and tougher sanctions and other interventions to deter shop thieves.
• Action to protect business from unreasonable and mis-sold energy contracts
• Strong and effective town centre first planning policy
• Implement Competition Commission recommendation for a grocery ombudsman and a planning competition test
• Pursue sustainable local parking policies.
