BII defends itself against accusations over pubs advisory service
In a statement the organisation said that the BBPA stalled the development preferring to concentrate on setting up the PICA-Service and the Pubs Independent Rent Review Service (PIRRS).
These were all part of the self-regulation agreement made between the BBPA and the Government at the end of 2011 which included the strengthening of the Industry Framework Code.
However, in May 2012, a team of trade experts launched its own Pubs Advisory Service (PAS) claiming to be part of the official agreement between the Government and the industry to manage to the pubco tenant relationship.
In a statement the BII said: “BII submitted a paper for PIAMS – Pub Industry Advisory & Mediation Service – to the BBPA, Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations and Guild of Master Victuallers to consider last year, as a basis to move forward with the creation of a pubs advisory service. The BBPA blocked the development of PIAMS, preferring to wait whilst PIRRS and PICAS were implemented. Any assertion by government or other industry stakeholders that BII is responsible for the delay in the creation of a pubs advisory service is completely wrong.”
Bernard Brindley, chairman of the BII, told the PMA: “It is the same with the overarching body and that is in my view the reason the Government introduced a statutory code.”
BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds: “To date, there hasn’t been agreement with industry partners on a model for taking this forward.
“We have always felt that given that this should be an independent advisory service for licensees, it makes sense that licensee bodies should lead its development.
“We are still very much open to discussions with other industry bodies, on how this could be taken forward by the industry. The new Governance Board, to be established under Version six of the Industry framework code, will be able to discuss advice for licensees when it is set up this year, and I am sure BII will be party to these discussions and continue to help their members with advice, as they currently do.”
