BRFR Cake Stop 'breaking news' miscellany

[briantrumpet]

I think it depends on the requirements to get a "Street Trading License" - which I have no idea about.

These days politicians and businesses seem keen to denigrate regulation presenting it as nothing more than a hindrance. But a lot of the regulation is actually protecting us and society from those with other interests as well as protecting them from themselves when they pursue short term interests with long term damage.

UK environment is one of the most nature-depleted in Europe. Once destroyed it will not be restored. Toxic chemicals spread on our food and environment might be good for profits but people suffer (eg health), addressing air pollution might cost business profits but impact of child development, health, NHS costs, productivity loss mean controls (regulation) are necessary not "a hindrance". Build houses on flood plains and ... they get flooded (who could have thought of that) - so we need regulation to stop developers taking profits from building in such places.

People tend to be against regulation until something goes wrong that affects them, then they complain about the lack of regulation.

 

[briantrumpet]

It seems that Farage's framing of 'two tier policing' against white people has had the desired effect of obfuscating facts, which are easily checked and referenced, and should be, if you're a journalist.

 

[secretsqirrel]

It seems that Farage's framing of 'two tier policing' against white people has had the desired effect of obfuscating facts, which are easily checked and referenced, and should be, if you're a journalist.

View attachment 15643

This is the problem, as has been highlighted, Nowak was not murdered by the police, but many commentators from the right are cynically trying to equate this tragedy with the George Floyd murder to illustrate their ‘two tier policing’ accusation.

 

[BoldonLad]

Any views? 'Rules is rules', or 'FFS, it's only a bit of cake!'?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crlpwd2prd0o

I have no idea what a "street trading licence" involves, but, shouldn't the sale of foodstuffs at least have regulations on hygiene and ingredients?

 

[briantrumpet]

I have no idea what a "street trading licence" involves, but, shouldn't the sale of foodstuffs at lease have regulations on hygiene and ingredients?

You'd have thought so. Obviously there are grey areas when it come to fetes and one-offs, but if you're making £1000 a week from selling foodstuffs to the public, it doesn't seem unreasonable that the same legislation about hygiene etc apply. And, TBH, if they are using their home premises as business premises, in effect, they are already getting a freebie compared with those who are paying business rates etc, plus there's a small matter of change of use of premises as far as planning is concerned, I'd have thought.

 

[Pblakeney]

You'd have thought so. Obviously there are grey areas when it come to fetes and one-offs, but if you're making £1000 a week from selling foodstuffs to the public, it doesn't seem unreasonable that the same legislation about hygiene etc apply. And, TBH, if they are using their home premises as business premises, in effect, they are already getting a freebie compared with those who are paying business rates etc, plus there's a small matter of change of use of premises as far as planning is concerned, I'd have thought.

I imagine a lot of this story is HMRC wanting their cut.

 

[Psamathe]

I imagine a lot of this story is HMRC wanting their cut.

You need to het to £90k before you need to register for VAT.

 

[Pblakeney]

You need to het to £90k before you need to register for VAT.

Less so for income tax.

 

[briantrumpet]

Less so for income tax.

Well, I assume they'd be declaring that already, at least!

 

[Ian H]

Regulations will vary according to whether the food is in sealed packaging, sold pre-prepared but loose, or cooked on site.

 

[briantrumpet]

Regulations will vary according to whether the food is in sealed packaging, sold pre-prepared but loose, or cooked on site.

...or made out of mostly skin and fat (like 1960s pop groups are now).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy736xme2vvo

 

[Ian H]

...or made out of mostly skin and fat (like 1960s pop groups are now).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy736xme2vvo

Or most sausages. I'm fairly certain that I have never purchased or eaten a kebab.

 

[icowden]

I have no idea what a "street trading licence" involves, but, shouldn't the sale of foodstuffs at least have regulations on hygiene and ingredients?

It mostly involves ££££. That's what the issue is.

There seems to be a whole gamut of cake sheds. Some are raking in a full time income so £1000 to £3000 a year isn't a big outlay. Some are literally just people selling cakes from their house 3 or 4 times a month - but they still have to pay £1000 to £3000 a year depending on area for a street trading license - which is where the outrage is coming from.

It doesn't matter whether you are baking a few cakes on the weekend to make a bit of money for shopping or running a full time business - you now have to pay for a street food licence. This is on top of a health and hygiene certificate, or insurance. One person pointed out she could still sell cakes online and let people collect from her front door, but to let people buy the cakes 4 feet away from her shed, she needs to pay £1k to the council.

The sensible solution here would be to introduce a trading threshold above which a license is required.

In this article:https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crlpwd2prd0o, the Lavender Cake Shed is raking in between £26k and £52k per year, so that would seem a no-brainer to license, whereas the second example just opens 2 days per week and sells a few cakes - it wouldn't be financially viable to pay a £1000 license fee.

 

[briantrumpet]

The sensible solution here would be to introduce a trading threshold above which a license is required.

That was my immediate thought. Though the bolded word might be the sticking point.

 

[Pblakeney]

Well, I assume they'd be declaring that already, at least!

Just like all the other people working cash in hand.
Bless.