National Enforcement Priorities

INNOVATIVE COUNCILS MATCH NATIONAL AND LOCAL PRIORITIES

Focusing local weights and measures activity on the national priority of healthy workplaces by targeting related activity such as drug preparations, is one of the innovative approaches to tackling national priorities at a local level and within limited budgets, recently published by the Local Better Regulation Office.

Other successful models highlighted as part of a report for local councils by the Local Better Regulation Office (LBRO), include a ‘whole farm' approach to animal health inspection, a ‘watchdog' scheme that sees more than 600 community based volunteers supporting local trading standards officers and a ‘scores on the doors' scheme that encourages businesses to meet at least the minimum standards required. 

The report on integrating the new National Enforcement Priorities (NEPs) - fair trading, air quality, alcohol licensing, hygiene of food businesses, improving health in the workplace and animal and public health - features case studies from councils all unique to each other in terms of their socio-economic make-up, political leadership and regulatory issues. Although there are strong similarities in their approaches to enforcement, important differences of emphasis and perspective are clearly evident. 

LBRO Chair Clive Grace said:

"The seven diverse local authorities that participated in the research proved that it is possible to effectively combine both national and local priorities to deliver the best possible outcomes for the communities and businesses they serve. This will provide a valuable insight for all local authorities." 

Whilst the councils involved in the project did not report significant changes in their activity due to the National Enforcement Priorities, differences between the expectations of national regulators were sometimes seen as a complicating factor and NEPs were seen to build reassurance about the importance of regulatory services and protect them from cuts.  

With 92% of local authorities already reflecting the national enforcement priorities in their service plans, LBRO commissioned the Institute of Local Government studies (INLOGOV) at the University of Birmingham, to examine the approaches local authorities use to deliver trading standards, environmental health and licensing activities aimed at safer neighbourhoods, clean and green streets, and supporting the most vulnerable in society within a local and national context. 

As well as promoting best practice, LBRO will use the research to update the priorities for the future and include the learning in its work with the Welsh Assembly Government to compile a first set for the Welsh regulatory services. 

The councils all demonstrated ways they tackled the challenge of providing prosperity and protection with apparently competing needs and finite resources. Many focused on cultural change that saw real engagement with elected members, shared services, public consultation on services, robust performance management and targeting resources at the source of problems rather than the symptoms.

Notes to editors

  1. The study: Action Reseach on the National Enforcement Priorities, carried out by the Institute of Local Government Studies at the University of Birmingham, is available at www.lbro.org.uk. 
  1. The national enforcement priorities for English local authorities were first published in March 2007 following the Roger's Review. The priorities were chosen on the basis of their national importance and the severity of the risk they sought to control. 
  1. LBRO is responsible for updating the national enforcement priorities to ensure they continue to reflect the Government's agenda for regulatory services. 
  1. The local authorities which took part in the research are:
  1. The Local Better Regulation Office (LBRO) helps local authorities improve their environmental health, trading standards, fire safety and licensing services - reducing burdens on businesses that comply with the law while targeting those who flout it. It was incorporated as a government-owned limited company in May 2007. Following the commencement of the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008 on 1 October 2008, it now operates as an executive non-departmental public body, accountable to the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform through the Better Regulation Executive. LBRO is governed by an independent Board, has a staff of around 25 and is based in central Birmingham. It has a remit that covers the whole of the UK, and works closely with the devolved administrations to ensure our work in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. For further information about LBRO please visit www.lbro.org.uk 

Media enquiries to Nicky Sammons on 0121 226 4019, email: Nicola.sammons@lbro.org.uk .
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