Last week the LGA Liberal Democrat group held a joint workshop with CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, on how Liberal Democrat Councillors can support local pubs in their wards. Key note speakers included CAMRA’s London Regional Planning Advisor James Watson and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group Greg Mulholland MP. It was chaired by Chris White, Deputy Leader of the Lib Dem Group at the LGA.
The workshop recommended several tools available to Councillors from central government that enable Councillors to positively engage with communities about the issue. Local Councillors play a crucial role in community life and can often be the last line of defence for local community pubs. This document provides a summary of what was discussed in the workshop and recommendations for Councillors to take back to their wards.
Assets of Community Value (ACV)
Assets of Community Value were introduced as part of the 2011 Localism Act to empower local communities and Local Government to protect valued community assets – giving communities greater say over planning and development in their local area. Pubs are currently the most listed asset with around 1000 successfully listed across England.
In April 2015, the Government amended the Town and Country Planning Act to give greater protection to pubs listed as Assets of Community Value. Permitted Development Rights are automatically removed for any pub nominated as an ACV, meaning that planning permission is always required before an ACV listed pub can be demolished or converted.
Why get involved in an ACV campaign in your Ward
Throughout the workshops ideas were mentioned about why councillors should actively get involved in ACV campaigns in their Wards. Greg Mulholland MP urged that ACVs are the only tool available to communities and councillors to prevent valued community pubs from being demolished behind the backs of our communities.
Opportunities
- ACVs give Councillors greater powers over issues that matter to communities
- Can be used as a way to start and maintain conversation with constituents
- You can be the leader of your own community and become a champion of community pubs in your Ward
- Gain positive press coverage for your work in the community
- Connect with other local groups and members of the community
- ACVs can be used as material planning consideration in planning applications – so you could be helping keep pubs at the heart of communities
- Use it to start a joint area wide campaign with the Council. CAMRA would be happy to support.
- ACVs can also stall re-designation of pubs for other uses eg retail; and can also stall the demolition of a free standing pub.
Turning threats into opportunities
As well as raising the opportunities arisen from the Localism Act, Councillors also raised potential threats. Several Councillors raised that in their Wards, community groups were leaving it too late to nominate their local pub as an ACV. CAMRA is aware of a handful of closed pubs and those under threat that have been listed – but the best time to encourage nominations is before a pub comes under threat to ensure it is protected in the future.
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking the nearest pub is only 10 minutes away – some eg elderly and disabled people may have real problems getting there.
Another representative raised concern over pubs being nominated that don’t matter to the community and the potential risk that has on the area’s reputation. Cllr Chris White raised that the Great Northern pub in St Albans was previously run down, but has now revived and is a viable pub which is performing a useful function in the area.
Greg Mulholland MP stated that it’s about giving communities a say – the Bevy in Brighton is an excellent example of a diversified pub saved by the community that could have otherwise been converted into housing. If communities want it, fight to keep it.
Local Plans
Strong local plans are a real opportunity to protect pubs in your Ward. A strong local plan can be the difference in a planning decision on whether to retain a local pub. The majority of Local Plans have been updated since the introduction of the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) however there is still opportunity to seek to influence them in the future. Councils should also take notice of Neighbourhood Plans; ensuring that any emerging plans addresses the issues around protecting community facilities and public houses. Locality have produced a guide to Neighbourhood Plans which may be of use: www.locality.org.uk/urp-content/uploads/Quick-Guide.pdf
Some Councils, including Waltham Forest, have gone a step further and introduced a Supplementary Planning document which outlines exactly how the Local Council will safeguard pubs in the area should they come under threat. These should also be considered.
Key questions to ask when assessing your Local Plan:
- Does the Council have an up to date Local Plan?
- Does your local plan represent that legacy you want to leave behind as a local councillor?
- What are the aspirations of your Ward and what do you want it to look like in the future?
- Is there a strong policy in place to safeguard community facilities and does it specifically mention pubs?
Resources
ALDC materials on saving your local can be found here: https://www.aldc.org/ideas/build-up-blog-save-our-pubs-campaign-pack/ and here: https://www.aldc.org/ideas/build-up-blog-campaigning-to-protect-your-local/
Public House Viability Test (A document increasingly used to test a pubs viability in planning applications)
Toolkit on Local Plans (including CAMRA’s Model Planning Policy)
Guidance on the Community Right to Bid
Protecting community pubs Briefing Paper
All available at: http://www.camra.org.uk/local-councils
Or for direct links, click below:
Toolkit on Local Plans: http://www.camra.org.uk/documents/10180/36197/Local+Plan+Toolkit/4f342462-36e8-41d7-8b69-6afbddbf15a3
Public House Viability Test: http://www.camra.org.uk/documents/10180/36197/PHVT/725c3a01-9c07-4b2b-b263-a1842bef09b7
Example of strong local plans: Cambridge City Council (Available at https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/protection-of-public-houses ), Waltham Forest Council (Available at https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/Pages/Services/Planning-Local-Development-Framework.aspx)
Contacts
ACVs: CAMRA Campaigns Officer, Faye Grima, faye.grima@camra.org.uk
Local Plans: CAMRA Policy and Research Officer, Ellie Hudspith, ellen.hudspith@camra.org.uk
And keep the LGA Lib Dem Group Office in touch with any good practice from your ward or council: rob.banks@local.gov.uk