Sue Robb of 4Children talks to Julie Laughton and Alison Britton from the Department for Education about the role of childminders in delivering the 30 hours free entitlement.
DCLG announces consultation on Sunday trading laws
Currently, large shops, classified as having a relevant floor area of over 280 square metres, have restricted opening hours on a Sunday, while smaller shops are free to open all day. The DCLG says that the aim of the consultation is to obtain views on whether government should devolve Sunday trading rules as part of its localism agenda, as they claim this would give local areas greater control of their economy.
The move to give local authorities control over trading hours is an attempt to revive Britain’s high streets and give them the opportunity to compete with large out of town super markets. The new powers would mean local authorities could decide which zones should benefit from longer opening hours, allowing high street shops to open for longer while restricting the opening of larger super markets, if they wished to.
The foreword to the consultation document reads: “The government wants to support local high streets, which need to adapt and change in order to thrive in this internet age. Of course there are many factors to consider in deciding whether to extend Sunday trading hours and in some places communities may prefer to retain the current limited Sunday trading hours. No two places are the same and the people who live, work and do business locally know best what their area needs to prosper and grow. That is why this government believes that such decisions are best made at the local level.”
The plans have faced opposition from the Church of England, who claim that Sundays should be preserved for the sake of “family stability and community life”.
Cllr Gary Porter, Chairman of the Local Government Association released a statement in favour of the proposed new powers. He said: "It is right that councils, in consultation with their residents and local businesses, should be given the flexibility to decide how to drive growth and best attract business to their local high street, this includes the relaxation of Sunday trading laws. However, it's vital that any changes are a 'can do' choice rather than a 'must do' duty imposed by central government.
"It's now vital that government ensures any proposals allow councils to meet the needs of their communities without undue restriction or unnecessary bureaucracy.”
Latest News
26/04/2024 - 12:12
New planning powers come into effect today giving local councils more tools to hold rogue developers to account as part of the government’s Levelling-up and Regeneration Act.
26/04/2024 - 11:13
Sport England has published a report which reveals a long-term increase in activity levels among adults, but also highlights further action is need
25/04/2024 - 12:28
The Welsh government will work with councils to set out a three-phase plan to implement a 20mph limit.
25/04/2024 - 11:56
£11 million of grant funding has been confirmed for public sector bodies in Scotland.
25/04/2024 - 10:32
The Labour Party has announced that it would renationalise most passenger rail services within five years.
Company Focus
Located in Bromley, Japanese Knotweed Eradication Ltd has been providing solutions in the treatment and removal of Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia Japonica) for over a decade. During this time we have mastered a repertoire of methods, from herbicidal treatments to landscaping solutions, tailored to address the unique challenges our clients face with this pervasive weed.
Event Diary
UKREiiF has quickly become a must-attend in the industry calendar for Government departments and local authorities.
The multi-award-winning UK Construction Week (UKCW), is the UK’s biggest trade event for the built environment that connects the whole supply chain to be the catalyst for growth and positive change in the industry.
Supplier Profiles
At GeoEnergy Design, we're on a mission to disrupt the traditional way heating and cooling ha
Latest Features
Professor Harith Alani, director of the Knowledge Management Institute at the Open University explains how AI can be used for good and bad.
Alex Lawrence, head of health & social care, techUK sets out techUK’s Five Point Plan for CareTech.
