Red tape blunder ‘puts jobs at risk’, says Braco shop owner

Sep 15 2009 by Katy Gordon, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

A BRACO shop owner is losing thousands of pounds a week after a council blunder.

Ian Aitken applied for a personal licence as part of the new licensing laws, introduced recently.

But he was told by Perth and Kinross Council that because he didn’t have a copy of his training certificate they couldn’t process the licence, despite the fact the shop owner insisted they had retained the certificate from when he applied for a licence two years ago.

Mr Aitken was then given two weeks to get another copy of the licence. However days later, police officers visited The Braco Shop and demanded that all alcohol be taken from the shelves.

He explained: “When I spoke to officers they agreed that the circumstances were utterly exceptional and were understanding and agreed to give me a fortnight to get a replacement certificate.

“But about four days later, a different officer came into the shop and demanded that all the shelves be stripped.’’

However, because he is not allowed to sell any alcohol, Mr Aitken estimates he is losing around £2000 a week.

“If this continues I will be out of business in a matter of weeks,” he added. “And it puts five staff jobs at risk."

Gordon Banks, MP for Ochil and South Perthshire met with Mr Aitken last week and afterwards he said: “There is little doubt in my mind that Iain Aitken is the victim of bureaucracy and a failed system.

“I understand that the last organisation to have sight of Mr Aitken’s personal license holder’s certificate was indeed the Perth and Kinross licensing authority.

“Indeed they made completion of this training and sight of the certificate mandatory on the issuing of Mr Aitken's last license.’’

A council spokesperson said: “The board’s archived files have been checked and there is no indication that the board had either a copy of the certificate or the original in its possession as part of the licensee's application under the previous licensing legislation.‘’