WCPGSS
To ensure Senedd policy makers consider the impact of public policy development on small shops, the places they trade, and customers they serve.
The Welsh Cross Party Group on Small Shops (WCPGSS) has been established by the Independent Retailers Confederation (IRC) to raise awareness in the Welsh Parliament of a broad range of issues of concern to small shopkeepers, such as business rates, planning reform and retail crime. The group also looks at the vital social and economic role played by small shops in the community.
The Cross Party Group on Small Shops provides opportunities for Welsh Parliament members to register their interest in small shop issues and learn more about the work that small shops do and the public policy challenges they face.
The CPGSS is chaired by Vikki Howells, MS for Cynon Valley. Vikki is responsible for overseeing the direction and topics that the group covers and was appointed Chair of the group in 2021.
The current officers of the group are:
Chair: Vikki Howels MS (Labour, Cynon Valley)
Vice Chair: Russell George MS (Conservative, Monmouth)
Member: Sioned Williams MS (Plaid Cymru, South Wales West)
Member: Janet Finch-Saunders MS (Conservative, Aberconwy)
Member: Mark Isherwood MS (Conservative, North Wales)
Member: Tom Giffard MS (Conservative, South Wales West)
Member: Llyr Gruffydd MS (Plaid Cymru, North Wales)
Member: Samuel Kurtz MS (Conservative, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire)
Member: James Evans MS (Conservative, Brecon and Radnorshire)
The CPGSS is registered with the Welsh Parliament. The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) provide the secretariat services for the CPGSS on behalf of the IRC. The IRC is an umbrella group of trade associations with common interests in the independent retail sector.
Contact: Steve Dowling, ACS Public Affairs Assistant via email steve.dowling@acs.org.uk.
Supporting Entrepreneurship Inquiry
The Cross-Party Group on Small Shops has published the final report of its Supporting Entrepreneurship Inquiry. For more information click here.
