Safer Reading Bars Awards Scheme  Associated with Best  Bar None

Aims:
To award bars and venues that operate their business in a responsible manner and create a safe environment

Objectives:

• To raise operating standards
• To reduce crime and disorder
• To create a safer environment
• To recognise professionally run bars with a prestigious award

• Public and Peer recognition of your professionalism in running your business
• Increased customer confidence in your bar
• Reduce crime and disorder, thereby attracting more customers leading to increased sales
• Consistent and proportionate enforcement visits

• More guidance provided by the relevant bodies

  The ability to assess threats to the business

The Categories

Three categories:
                                                                                Pub-Bar-Club

Five Award levels in each category:
                                                                                Basic Award
                                                                                Two Star
                                                                                Three Star
                                                                                Four Star
                                                                                Five Star

Application Process

• Expression of interest from the operator
• Application form sent to applicants
• Completed application forms returned to the scheme operators with the fee of £70
• A pre-booked visit will take place with the scheme management who will conduct the audit with a licensing officer

Assessors

• Silver Fox (Licensing) Consultants Ltd are the nominated assessor/auditors for the scheme
• Each audit will be conducted by a representative from SFLC Ltd together with an officer from the licensing department of RBC or TVP

The Process

• Award will be awarded to those premises who meet the criteria
• Evidence will be required from the operators to support that endorsement
• That evidence will need to be of the standard, and available at the time of the audit, that satisfies the assessors who manage the scheme

New Criteria

• Emphasis on Fire safety precautions
• Food Hygiene-Safer Food Better Business
• Policies and Procedures on the prevention of Terrorism
• NB Some questions from 2006 scheme removed

Door Supervisor Teams

• Expectation that a representative from the Venue Security team will be at the audit
• Security company Policies and procedures will be inspected
• New award of a Commendation in respect of that specific Venue to the Security Company

Training

• There may be a training session available to provide guidance on the application form and the promotion of Best Practice
• Representatives from RBC licensing, EHO and trading standards, Fire and Rescue, NHS, Police and Silver Fox will attend

Judging Panel

The auditors report and recommendations, together with the application form will be sent to a judging panel
The judging panel will consist of:

Director of Social Services
Town Centre Manager
TVP LPA Commander

Judging Panel

The panel will examine the application, and seek to endorse, review or reject the auditors recommendations in full or in part
The decision of the judging panel will then be passed to the scheme management team who will communicate the result to the applicant

There will be an appeals and a grievance procedure in place at each stage

Audits

• Essential-legal requirements
• Desirable-bordering on a legal requirement
• Bonus-best practice

All the above earn points

Timing

August 2nd

-Licensees briefings
-Expressions of interest
-Application forms sent to Licensees

September 14^th
-Application forms returned

September 15^th
-Audits commence

November 30^th
-Audits completed

January
-Judging panel

February 27th
-Awards Dinner

Summary

• Safer Reading Bars Awards scheme is designed to reward responsible management
• To encourage an open and honest culture to promote ‘best practice’
• Scheme provides guidance
• Makes Reading a safer place to work and drink for all

Next step