Local shops have welcomed the government's acceptance of recommendations from the Small Business Taskforce to cut red tape and save money in administrative costs.
Taskforce Recommendations
The Small Business Taskforce, which includes the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), the Federation of Small Businesses, Small Business Britain and others, has been working through the summer to put together 15 recommendations that would make running a business more straightforward and less burdensome, especially when reporting into government.
Key recommendations in the report include the digitisation and standardisation of licensing applications. The government should work towards standardising licence applications for alcohol, entertainment, temporary events notices, late-night refreshment and taxis administered by local authorities in England so that businesses only need to provide information once, and introduce guaranteed decision timelines where feasible.
Reducing Administrative Burdens
HMRC should commit to cutting the burden on small businesses when providing the Valuation Office information regarding business rates. Information requests can place a significant burden on small businesses, particularly where the information being requested is unnecessary or duplicates information already held by a public body. Therefore, as part of the valuation process, the Valuation Office should, by default, provide pre-populated forms containing all information currently held for a given property.
Support for small and medium-sized businesses in complying with Natasha's Law is also recommended. While the consumer protection objectives of Natasha's Law are strongly supported, small food businesses can face disproportionately high compliance costs compared with larger operators. The government should convene a working group to agree practical solutions that make it easier for small food and drink businesses to comply with Natasha's Law, including the feasibility of a free, customisable FSA labelling template.
Industry and Government Response
ACS chief executive Ed Woodall said: "Over two thirds of the UK's 50,000-plus convenience stores are run by small business owners, working long hours to serve their communities."
"We are pleased that the government has accepted the recommendations put forward in the taskforce's report, which will together make a positive difference to retailers who will be able to spend more time serving customers and less time doing paperwork."
"Convenience store retailers are especially keen for the government to make progress on the standardisation and modernisation of licence applications. This change alone would save a huge amount of time and future-proof the system for the implementation of additional licensing regimes in the coming years."
Prime minister Andy Burnham said: "If you run a business, you want to spend your time serving your customers, creating jobs and growing your firm, not filling in unnecessary forms. It's not right that pointless bureaucracy gets in the way of people working hard to build something that matters to their high street."
Chancellor John Healey said: "British firms are fed up with form-filling and pointless paperwork that eats into valuable time and money when they simply want to get on with running their businesses. That is why we are cutting unnecessary bureaucracy and giving businesses the breathing space they need to invest, innovate and create good jobs."
