Business finds love for local councils
A research project has found that far from what is perceived as a tense stand-off, many small businesses actively seek positive partnerships with regulators from their local authorities.
In fact, a visit from heath and safety, trading standards or environmental health officers is actually welcomed by some businesses as an opportunity to get first hand information and guidance from people they trust, and the reassurance that they are complying with the law.
These are the findings from the Retail Enforcement Pilot (REP), which was set up to make life simpler for retailers, and overseen by the public body for better local regulation, LBRO. It involved 31 local authorities in its second phase, which tested different ways of working over 12 months.
Chair of LBRO, Clive Grace, said: "Small and medium businesses place a great deal of value on the professionalism and expertise of regulatory officers who are the visible face of local authorities in the business community."
"Businesses see the real cost of regulation in the paperwork - the time and resource involved in complying with existing and new legislation - and this is an area which we are working on with business, government and local authorities."
Businesses reported a marked difference between dealing with officers who appeared ‘business savvy' and understood the impact of their decisions, and those who lacked business awareness - an issue being addressed by LBRO's Trading Places initiative which places officers with local companies.
Paperwork and lack of consistency between local regulators were also significant concerns for business, with different attitudes and approaches across authorities.
The REP brought together business, central government and local authority officers to identify and test new ways of working to achieve better regulation for all. The aim was to reduce the burden of inspection, by increasing the value of each visit.
The review of the impact of REP was led by the Centre for Economic Development at the University of Cumbria. A separate research study by the University of Middlesex is to be published in November.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
1. According to a survey commissioned earlier this year by LBRO, 56 per cent of businesses that have had face to face contact with their local authority in the preceding 12 months had done so through a regulatory services officer.
2. 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 for Business, Innovation and Skills through the Better Regulation Executive. LBRO is governed by an independent Board, has a staff of around 25 and is based in central Birmingham. Our remit covers the whole of the UK and we liaise closely with the devolved administrations to ensure our work in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is appropriate. For further information please visit http://www.lbro.org.uk/
3. The LBRO Conference - ‘Working together for better local regulation' will take place on the 19 November 2009 at the Hilton, London Metropole Hotel. This essential conference will explore national government's vision for the future of better regulation policy. Delegates will hear from high level speakers including: Karren Brady, Managing Director, Birmingham City Football Club, Ben Page, Chief Executive, Ipsos MORI UK and Ireland and Geoffrey Podger, Chief Executive, Health and Safety Executive. To book your place at this event please visit: http://www.neilstewartassociates.com/sa257/
Media enquiries to Jo Barker or Roland Curtis. Tel: 0121 226 4019.