Blog Posts: October 2009

Along with their New Year celebrations the trade can at last raise a glass to the fact that they will be able to submit most licensing applications and notifications on-line from 28 December. This should have been possible from 2005 when the new licensing regime was introduced, as it would have saved a lot of hassle and a lot of money. Only now has the government been forced into the changes by Brussells through a European Directive which must be complied with by 28 December. Yes Brussels does .... (read more...)

It’s heartening to read in the Independent that small and medium sized firms are ‘poised to lead the country out of recession.’ Our experience of SMEs – our clients – is that they are indeed innovative and determined to succeed as the Independent’s research suggests. But it’s more than that; with many being owner managed, we see a real spirit of enterprise coupled with grit and determination. Many of our clients have spent a lifetime working in or on the.... (read more...)

Unfortunately business owners are often so keen to secure a sale or start working on a big project that they fail to get all the paperwork in place. Disputes in business can happen for many reasons, but so often they blow up because those involved have a different opinion on what was agreed. You know the situation – you’ve had some work done or purchased a piece of equipment and you’re not happy with what you’ve received. You scrabble around for the paperwork but there i.... (read more...)

The new Companies Act has made some changes as to who directors are and registration requirements. Most of these new rules came into effect on 1st October 2009 but it seems many Directors know nothing about them.Who is a director?A director is anyone who has either been formally appointed as a director (by the shareholders or board as set out in the company’s Articles), occupies the position of director (even if they are called something else) or someone whose directions or instructio.... (read more...)

So now we know. Alcohol licensing is to be a political football in the run up to the election, with possible irretrievable damage to the trade to follow. I knew at the time that handing over responsibility for licensing from the magistrates to locally elected politicians was a huge mistake on a Trojan Horse scale. Once empowered the shackles are about to be loosened, and the power surge seen in Oldham will be just the beginning. Both Labour and the Tories are both committing themselves to stren.... (read more...)

Following a change to planning rules which took effect on 30 September, developers can now extend their existing planning permissions to give them more time to weather the economic downturn. Developers with planning permissions granted up until 30 September 2009 where the time limit for implementation has yet to expire may apply to extend their permissions. The move has been made to boost the industry and to save costs for developers badly hit by the recession. Many developers have put pr.... (read more...)