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Category: Guidance

STL Consultation: How to Respond

Posted on by Melanie Allen

How do I respond to the Scottish Government Consultation?

We understand that you will have lots of demands on your time but this is a critical issue for you, your business and our industry.

We therefore strongly encourage you to participate in the consultation and contact your local representatives so we can try and influence this for the betterment of Scottish tourism.

Read the Background to the Consultation HERE

Read the ASSC Briefing Document HERE

Watch the ASSC Webinar Recording HERE

If you have questions about the consultation, or how to respond, join us on 10th August at 11am.

There are 3 easy steps on how you can respond…

  1. Respond to the Scottish Government’s consultation

Consultation Questions – Use the following link:

https://consult.gov.scot/housing-and-social-justice/short-term-lets-draft-licensing-order-and-bria/consultation/subpage.2016-07-07.1474135251/

 

For Paper 2: Draft Licensing order – please state your issues and how to resolve them:

Please provide any comments and any suggestions you have to resolve this

[Here you might wish to add information about the impact to your business, (see the key areas of contention) and add in why you might prefer ASSC’s registration scheme as a suggestion]

State you are a professional operator and if you are a member of the ASSC or any other industry organisation.

For Paper 3: Draft Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) – please state your issues and how to resolve them:

Please provide any comments and any suggestions you have to resolve this

[Here you might wish to add information about the impact to your business, (see the key areas of contention) and add in why you might prefer ASSC’s registration scheme as a suggestion]

Respond by Friday 13th August 2021 

 

  1. Contact your regional and constituency MSPs in the first instance and then local authority councillors

  1. Email a copy of your correspondence above to:communications@assc.co.uk

Thank you!

 

ASSC New Updated Cleaning Protocols: Self-Caterers Welcome Clarity on COVID-19 Restrictions

Posted on by Melanie Allen

ASSC New Updated Cleaning Protocols

Self-Caterers Welcome Clarity on COVID-19 Restrictions

The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers has welcomed updated Scottish Government guidance on keeping guests safe during COVID-19.

By working proactively with policy-makers, the ASSC has clarified the self-catering sector’s approach to its cleaning protocols and specifically what operators should do if a guest tests positive while staying with them.

Included in the revamped safeguards will be compliance with new Public Health Scotland guidance for non-health and care settings, with updated guidance on physical distancing and face coverings, whether properties should be left fallow between guests and laundry and utensil care.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, ASSC members have behaved in an exemplary way; adhering to all restrictions, often encountering heavy and lasting personal costs while doing so.

In welcoming these new, updated, measures it is the ASSC’s hope that they will provide the necessary room to manoeuvre for businesses across the sector and will allow for more guests to enjoy a safe break in some of the most beautiful parts of the country.

As the trade body representing Scotland’s vital self-catering sector, the ASSC will continue to work constructively with government, and all other stakeholders, to help the sector recover and to secure a positive future for the thousands of people who make their living by creating memory-making holidays, both for Scots and those who visit our country.

Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers Chief Executive, Fiona Campbell, said:

“All of us at the ASSC are delighted to have worked with the Scottish Government, Public Health Scotland, and Infection Prevention and Control to create these more streamlined, common sense, and flexible rules as we prepare to get back to business.

“It is our hope that this will be the start of a continued loosening of restrictions and provision of support that will help save our sector from the real danger it has faced throughout the pandemic.

“Our partners can be assured that the ASSC stands ready, willing, and able to help strike the right balance between the valued safety of our customers and the freedom to operate that our businesses need.”

2021 Cleaning Protocols V5

ICO (Information Commissioners Office) REGISTRATION UPDATE

Posted on by Melanie Allen

We were contacted by the ICO this week, to let us know that they are now actively chasing up on previous letters to businesses in the accommodation and food sector.
This is the letter they are sending out, and the tone has changed. You now have to either Register and pay or fill in the exemption form.

 

Links for the ICO Website:

ico.org.uk/afd

ico.org.uk/fee-checker

This is what they asked us to send to you…..

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the UK regulator for data protection and information rights. In June 2021 they will be writing to the accommodation and food sector to remind you that you may have a legal responsibility to register with the ICO and pay the data protection fee. For most companies, this is £40 or £60 per year.

If you receive a letter, you should check if you need to pay and, if you believe you are exempt, you should let the ICO know by 9 July 2021. If you are not exempt, you will need to register through their website and pay the fee. Please note, if you use CCTV for crime prevention purposes it is likely that you will need to register.

There is more information for the activities of households sector on the ICO’s website: Paying a data protection fee – accommodation and food sector: https://ico.org.uk/afd

They also have a web hub specifically designed for small and medium enterprises which has lots of tips and simple guides that you will find useful: SME web hub – advice for all small organisations | ICO: https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/sme-web-hub/

Thanks to PASC UK for this information:

PASC UK commissioned our solicitors Stephens Scown to write up notes on whether you need to pay, and we have added more FAQ’s to this to. These are available on the website at: https://www.pascuk.co.uk/publications