Chair of the Local Better Regulation Office appointed
Hilary Armstrong, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, today announced the appointment of Clive Grace as Chair of the Local Better Regulation Office (LBRO). This is the first appointment to the LBRO which is being established as part of the Government's drive to make regulation simpler, more effective and better value for money.
Formally taking up his position in June, Clive Grace will set the strategic direction of the LBRO and head a board which will include people from a business background as well as those with central and local government experience. The LBRO will help drive up the performance of local authority regulatory services aiming to deliver significant reductions in the burdens of regulation on compliant businesses while maintaining regulatory outcomes. Its remit will initially cover local authority trading standards and environmental health services. The organisation will be based in Birmingham.
Hilary Armstrong said:
"I'm very pleased to announce Clive Grace as the first Chair of the Local Better Regulation Office and that the organisation will be located in Birmingham. Success will depend on the drive, dynamism and creativity of its Board and senior staff as the challenges will be great but rewarding. This is a real opportunity to improve the regulatory framework and realise the substantial benefits for business, local authorities, consumers and the economy."
Clive Grace said:
"This is a great opportunity, particularly at this formative point for the new organisation. There are many partners in the field of regulation and I look forward to engaging with them, as they will be paramount to the success of implementing better regulation at a local and regional level."
Local authorities are vital partners in the better regulation agenda. Together, they make up the largest enforcer in the United Kingdom, inspecting more premises and enforcing more areas of law than any other. Already, Peter Rogers, Chief Executive of Westminster City council, has published the recommendations of his review setting five priorities for local regulatory services and Professor Richard Macrory has reviewed regulatory penalties to ensure that they are proportionate. The LBRO will lead on implementing these important changes.
This appointment was made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments' (OCPA) Code of Practice. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity to be made public. Clive Grace has no declared political activity. The Chair appointment is remunerated at £50,000 for 80 days per year and will run from June 2007 to June 2012.
Notes to Editors
- Clive Grace is currently Chairman of Supporta plc, a company providing services to the public and private sectors. He has a portfolio of non-executive, pro bono and consultancy based roles, including that of Honorary Research Fellow at the Centre for Local and Regional Governance in Cardiff Business School and Chairman of the Solace Foundation Imprint. Until 2005 Clive was the Director General of the Audit Commission in Wales and Deputy Auditor-General for Wales, and prior to that he was Chief Executive of Torfaen County Borough Council. He is a qualified lawyer, and has a Doctorate from the University of Oxford, a Master's degree from the University of California, a bachelor's degree from the University of Birmingham, and a management qualification from the Open University.
- The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the establishment of the Local Better Regulation Office (LBRO) in the 2005 Pre-Budget Report. In the 2006 Pre Budget Report he set out further detail about LBRO in "Implementing Hampton: from enforcement to compliance" [External website].
- The Rogers Review of the national enforcement priorities is online at: Rogers Review [External website].
- The Macrory Review of sanctions is online at: Macrory Review [External website].
- The appointment was made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments' (OCPA) Code of Practice [External website].