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Category: Resources

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

Legislation for Licensing Scheme withdrawn from Scottish Parliament

Posted on by Melanie Allen

The following announcement has today (18th February 2021) been made by Scottish Government

Legislation for a short-term lets licensing scheme has been withdrawn from the Scottish Parliament to allow for draft guidance to be developed.

A stakeholder working group has been established to help develop the guidance and meets today for the first time. The guidance will help to provide reassurance on the operation of the scheme to operators and hosts in the sector.

Subject to the outcome of the election, the Scottish Government intends to re-lay the legislation before Parliament in June, accompanied by the draft guidance, to ensure that the timetable on introducing licensing remains the same.

The Government will continue with legislation allowing councils to establish short-term let control areas. This legislation will empower local authorities to implement short-term let control areas, if they wish to do so, to address pressures created by whole property short-term lets, ensuring that homes are used to best effect in their areas.

Letter from Kevin Stewart MSP

SHORT-TERM LETS: LICENSING ORDER

I am writing to advise you that I have decided to withdraw the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) Order 2021. This Government’s intention, subject to the outcome of the election, is to re-lay the Order in June and keep to the timetable we have set out.

This will allow us to address the concerns raised by Members who are not content to pass this Order presently by ensuring we can also provide the draft guidance on the licensing scheme with the new Order. This will also provide further time to address the points raised by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee and make any other adjustments needed to the Order following further stakeholder engagement.

As you know, we have established a stakeholder working group to develop guidance on the licensing scheme and control areas that is clear, comprehensive and easy to understand. The first meeting of the working group is taking place today. The work of that group will continue as planned and it will actively explore solutions to issues raised by operators, with a view to identifying any changes to the legislation that may be needed.

This revised approach will facilitate Members in understanding how the concerns of operators and hosts have been addressed and in seeing, through the draft guidance, how the licensing scheme will operate in practice.

I remain firmly of the view that legislation is needed and I want to reassure affected residents and communities across Scotland of our commitment to deliver this, subject to the outcome of the election.

Our proposals to licence short term lets were developed in response to many concerns raised by residents in communities across Scotland and also by Members in all parties. Our proposals provide local authorities with the powers they need to balance community needs and concerns with wider economic and tourism interests that best suit their communities. Safety of those using short term lets is vital and our proposals will ensure that all short-term lets across Scotland adhere to a common set of safety standards as well as allowing local authorities to tackle issues such as antisocial behaviour. I want to emphasise that our proposals and timetable remains the same, giving councils time to tailor their scheme to local needs and we know they want to take action to protect visitors and residents.

Therefore, this government remains committed to the following dates which are set out in the Order:

  • 1 April 2022 – for local authorities to open a licensing scheme;
  • 1 April 2023 – for all existing hosts to have made an application for a licence; and
  • 1 April 2024 – for all hosts providing short-term let accommodation in Scotland to be

    licensed.

    We will also use this additional time to work with hosts and operators and local authorities to make sure the licensing scheme is as efficient and effective as it can be.

    We are continuing with the Town and Country Planning (Short-term Let Control Areas) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 and I hope that the Scottish Parliament will approve this instrument.

    I would also like to place on record my thanks to the Committee for their work in consideration of both the Licensing Order and Control Area Regulations.

    I hope the Committee finds this information helpful and I am copying this to Business Managers.

    Kind regards

    KEVIN STEWART