Seven Days to help Save British Pubs

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CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) – Europe’s biggest consumer group with over 150,000 members – is calling on the Government to stick to its promise to introduce a Pubs Watchdog to prevent valued pubs from being placed at risk of closure due to unfair practices in the pub sector.

The Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council backed this call in the consultation carried out by the department of Business Secretary Dr. Vince Cable MP last year and 96% of those responding also did so. We continue to support this call today.

We need a Pubs Watchdog urgently to govern the behaviour of the large companies which own around a third of UK pubs and ensure publicans are treated fairly.

The Pubs Watchdog would ensure rents and wholesale prices are reasonable.

In a 2013 survey, 57% of publicans renting pubs from the large pub companies reported earning less than £10,000 a year.

Typically these publicans have to buy all their beer from their pub company at around 50p a pint more than if they were allowed to buy on the open market.

Publicans with the large pub companies should be given the option to buy one real ale on the open market – known as a guest beer right. They should also be given the option to choose a market rent only contract that would allow a publican to buy all of their beer on the open market from any brewer they choose.

In 2013 the Government recognised that a change in the law is needed. CAMRA is calling on the Government to stick to its clear promise by introducing a Parliamentary Bill in this year’s Queen’s Speech. A petition will be submitted to the Business Secretary on 14th May – 7 days from now.

Readers can go online to support the petition at http://www.pubscandal.org.uk/

LOCAL LIB DEMS WELCOME TOUGHER POWERS TO ADDRESS BETTING SHOP CLUSTERING

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Communities will get greater protection from the blight of bookies after tougher powers were announced to act on betting shop clustering and ensure vibrant local high streets.

The Coalition Government has listened to repeated calls by Lib Dems and is consulting on plans to place betting shops in their own planning class to stop them taking over empty shops without the need for planning permission. In future, betting shops will have to seek permission to open new premises.

Government is also proposing that betting firms make clear to councils how new premises will meet social responsibility requirements in relation to local circumstances. Anyone wishing to spend more than £50 on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) will need authorisation from betting shop managers.

The Local Government Association, which represents more than 370 councils in England and Wales, said the proposals will help areas desperate to protect high streets at risk of being over-run by betting shops. It will also help councils protect residents at particular risk of harm from problem gambling and FOBTs.

Cllr Howard Sykes, Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, said:

“The Liberal Democrat opposition group has called on Government to grant Oldham Council tougher powers to address problems caused by the proliferation of betting shops and FOBTs so we are pleased ministers have listened to our concerns and the Government is taking action. This will be a significant step in the right direction. I urge the Government to implement these changes as quickly as possible.

“Liberal Democrat Councillors are not against bookmakers. We understand that betting shops can be an important part of local communities that create jobs for local people. However, we know how concerned people are by clusters of betting shops taking over their local high street, and we also fear that people losing money through Fixed Odds Betting Terminals often turn to payday lenders and loan sharks to pay off debts or fund their gambling habit.

Betting industry firms like William Hill and BetFred have come out in support of tougher powers for councils. The Local Government Association will use its new Betting Commission to work with the betting shops to ensure that these new proposals are workable.

The betting industry needs to respect government’s intentions and the concerns of local leaders, and respond favourably.”

Liberal Democrat Communities Minister Stephen Williams said:

“Across the country many people are concerned about the explosion in the number of betting shops in some high streets. We are determined to build a stronger economy and a fairer society with healthy and diverse high streets that aren’t dominated by betting shops, this is why the government is now giving councils tough new powers to prevent the proliferation of betting shops in their area.

In the current system, a betting shop is in the same category as a bank or estate agent and can open without the need for a planning application where a premises becomes vacant. The changes to the use means that local authorities will have the power to scrutinise applications and refuse them where there are grounds to do so”.

NOTES

1. The LGA has established a Betting Commission with the ‘Big Five’ firms – BetFred, Coral, Ladbrokes, William Hill and Paddy Power – to explore what can and should be done. It is the first time the industry has met with councils to discuss the issues faced by communities and will meet for the second time in June –
http://www.local.gov.uk/media-releases/-/journal_content/56/10180/6066526/NEWS

2. A YouGov survey published last week found that 62 per cent people think there should be tighter restrictions for the gambling industry – http://yougov.co.uk/news/2014/04/23/gambling-industry-needs-tighter-regulation/

3. Research released by Deloitte last month into the future of high streets found 52 per cent of people wanted to see fewer betting shops on their high street.

Milnrow Road near junction of Oswald Street – temporary traffic signals from the 12 May

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Temporary two way traffic signals are to be placed on Milnrow Road near to its junction with Oswald Street from 12-18 May to carry out work on a gas main.

The contractor has been instructed to manually operate the signals between 7.30am – 9.30am and 3.30pm – 6.00pm to manage queue lengths.

Emergency Contact & Telephone Number in the Event of Traffic Signal Failure: Balfour Beatty Out of Hours – 0800 121 4444

Rochdale Road resurfacing

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The works being carried out are to rectify defective areas within the original resurfacing programme. These are being addressed at no cost to the council tax payer.

The contractor has confirmed the plan is to undertake the lining work next week and the following week. The work of course is weather dependant. There are works to be undertaken across the borough and at present the contractor is developing the schedule of works.

Once this is has been supplied to me I will be in a position to further update people on this matter.

Greenfield Lane – entrance to ASDA

Shaw, Store, Exterior,

Greenfield Lane – entrance to ASDA

Your Lib Dem Team has reported that the road surface on Greenfield Lane between the junction of Eastway and the entrance to Asda car park and that highways carry out improvement works.

The response we have had is: ‘Highways say that Greenfield Lane is part of the Shaw Town Centre monthly inspection and as such, any actionable defects will be picked up’.

We have responded it has been like this for some time now so your monthly inspections clearly are not working or you need trip to the opticians. It is now dangerous and needs rectifying.

We will continue to pursue.

Liberal Democrats get Buzzing in Support of Bee Action Plan

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Liberal Democrats get Buzzing in Support of Bee Action Plan

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Bees play a crucial role in our farms, gardens and countryside, and they’re essential to our food supply too.

Yet bees are facing an unprecedented crisis in the UK. Intensive farming, increased pesticide use, and continual habitat loss (they’ve lost 97% of their wildflower meadows in the past 60 years) all threaten their survival.

The Coalition Government has launched a consultation on how bees can be protected. Bees Minister Lord de Mauley urgently wants the views of the public on his plans.

Friends of the Earth has called upon the Government to institute a Bee Action Plan, which will include practical measures to support farmers to restore bee habitat to the countryside and cut back on using harmful pesticides.

To quote a leading Bee scientist, Professor Dave Goulson:

“The Bee Action Plan must include concrete action to support farmers to restore bee habitat to the countryside and cut back on using harmful pesticides – not just talk and good intentions. We need thousands of voices calling for a strong Bee Action Plan that will give nature a real boost.”

I have written on behalf of the Oldham Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council to the Minister supporting Friends of the Earth in their call for action, and readers can support the cause by signing their online petition at:

SIGN THE PETITION

The time for action is now before Britain’s bees face terminal decline. Let’s be a nation that saves the bee.

Copy of the Letter to Lord de Mauley and FOE Bees report attached

The Rt. Hon. Lord de Mauley,
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
for the Natural Environment and Science,
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,
Nobel House,
17, Smith Square,
London
SW1P 3JR

Dear Minister,

Your Consultation on Addressing the Decline in Britain’s Bees

Bees play a crucial role in our farms, gardens and countryside, and they’re essential to our food supply too.

Yet bees are facing an unprecedented crisis in the UK. Intensive farming, increased pesticide use, and continual habitat loss (they’ve lost 97% of their wildflower meadows in the past 60 years) all threaten their survival.

Minister, in response to your call for consultation as to how the Government can best protect Britain’s bees, I am writing to you as Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council to urge you to give serious and active consideration to the proposal by leading environmental charity, Friends of the Earth, to adopt a Bee Action Plan.

Friends of the Earth have helpfully published such a plan which I attach to this letter and I happily endorse it as a document that includes practical measures to support farmers to restore bee habitat to the countryside and cut back on using harmful pesticides.

In due course, I shall look forward to hearing more of the Coalition Government proposals to save the bee and, as a senior elected member in local government, am happy to advocate any part that local Councils can play in assisting their survival and propagation.

Minister, without action Britain’s bees face the prospect of terminal decline. I would urge both you and your ministerial aides to look to publish and implement a Bee Action Plan at the earliest opportunity as the time for action is now.

Yours sincerely

Howard Sykes

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