Retail enforcement pilot
This was set up in 2004 to encourage councils to find new ways of reducing the regulatory burdens on law-abiding businesses, with resulting spin-off benefits for consumers and workers. It basically entails clusters of environmental health, fire safety, licensing and trading standards services cooperating more closely over a 12 month period, to better coordinate inspection and enforcement activities and focus resources on higher risk companies.
Responsibility for managing the pilot was transferred to LBRO from the Better Regulation Executive in September 2008. As well as providing support and guidance to the participating councils, we are currently conducting a large number of interviews with them. This is to capture the lessons learned in relation to four key themes:
• Working in partnership
• Sharing information
• Using technology and other tools
• Focusing resources and influencing culture
The next phase of the project will involve analysing and evaluating the information gathered, and producing case studies featuring the councils involved. On the basis of this work, a series of briefings will then be produced, to help local authorities reduce business burdens, improve consumer protection, and run their regulatory services more efficiently.
CRED Report Overview (22/10/2009 PDF - 73 KB / 4 pages)
This is our summary of the key themes of the CRED Report. We welcome the findings and will work with business, government and the local regulatory community to take forward the recommendations made.
CRED Report (22/10/2009 PDF - 372 KB / 49 pages)
This details the research undertaken to review and assess the methodology of REP in a business environment by the Centre for Regional Economic Development (CRED) at the University of Cumbria. It includes case studies that highlight the experiences of six companies varying in size, sector and geographical location.
Stakeholder Briefing 2 (01/04/2009 PDF - 50 KB / 3 pages)
This identifies the progress made, the approach taken in gathering the lessons learned, and the plans for the upcoming months.
Stakeholder Briefing 1 (01/10/2008 PDF - 353 KB / 3 pages)
This identifies the basic principles of REP and how this innovative approach to regulation is bringing together businesses, central government policy owners and local authority officers to work collectively to reduce the burden of administration for businesses and local authorities.
