Trade bodies and campaigners unite to form new licensee lobby group
Trade associations and campaign groups have united to form a new lobbying body, representing licensees, small brewers and consumers, as a result of the industry mediation process.
After months of negotiation, the Independent Pub Confederation (IPC) has been formed to give a "unified voice" for licensees.
The group promises to offer "a common voice in lobbying MPs, landlords and other stakeholders on a wide range of legal, political and legislative issues affecting the pub trade".
The members are: The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR), BII, CAMRA, Fair Pint, Federation of Small Businesses, Guild of Master Victuallers, Justice for Licensees, Unite the Union and the Society of Independent Brewers.
However the British Beer & Pub Association, which represents Enterprise Inns and Punch Taverns, is not part of the new body.
Instead the BBPA has reached a separate agreement with the BII and Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations to agree reforms of the pubco model.
Nick Bish, the ALMR's chief executive said: "We were very disappointed that the recent mediation talks broke up without reaching full agreement, but the creation of this strong and unified voice for publicans and consumers is an extremely positive step forward and should address the democratic deficit in the current political debate.
"The concerns of ordinary licensees are seldom heard loudly and clearly enough because we have multiple messages and multiple messengers. The creation of the IPC gives us one single, unified voice which cannot be ignored".
The new group has already submitted a collective response, as part of a manifesto, to the Business and Enterprise Select Committee (BEC), whose hard-hitting report on the pubco model prompted the mediation process.
This has also been sent to Peter Mandelson's office and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).
The group said it has set out a "recommended route" map on each of the issues raised in the BEC report to resolve concerns. These are:
- the rental valuation model
- the method by which rents are set and reviewed
- the process of issuing and managing leases
- the beer tie
- the AWP tie
The IPC said it will be "actively promoting" these issues with "key stakeholders" including RICS, the BBPA and pubcos.
Meanwhile the OFT is due to report back next week on CAMRA's super-complaint on the beer tie.
