Better for Business
LBRO uses its unique relationships within the regulatory landscape to act as a catalyst for change; creating the right conditions to cut red tape for UK businesses and to provide targeted protection for consumers, workers and the environment.
A key way we approach this task is by listening to business and providing independent, evidence-based advice to the Government on local regulation. This is one of our statutory functions. For example, prior to the return of VAT to the rate of 17.5 per cent on 1 January 2010, businesses saw the 14 day period for changing prices as insufficient. Our subsequent recommendation to BIS that the time available should be extended to 28 days was accepted.
We are the independent experts in better regulation of business by local authority regulatory services: environmental health, fire safety, licensing and trading standards.
We are building a robust evidence base to improve understanding of how local regulation can support economic prosperity. This is informed by the feedback we receive from our business reference panel and the research we commission, including our surveys of English and Welsh companies, with a sample size of 1000.
In June 2009, we issued advice and guidance to 375 local authorities on measures that could be used to support businesses, especially SMEs, drawing on the face-to-face contact that officers in the regulatory services provide.
Our vision is as follows:
- Legislation is simpler to understand.
- Streamlined procedures save time and money.
- Access to expert advice about regulatory issues is readily available.
- Burdens on the law-abiding are reduced.
- Companies have a greater say in local regulation.
- Many businesses benefit from working in close partnership with their local authority.
