Road clear to cut red tape in Lichfield
15 June 2010
Lichfield District Council is pioneering a new scheme to cut red tape for business - and it has started with a partnership with Midlands Expressway, who operate the M6 Toll.
The partnership, known as Primary Authority, cuts duplicated effort when it comes to local regulations saving business time and money and freeing up valuable council resources to deal with other issues. For companies operating under two or more local councils, Primary Authority provides reliable and consistent advice from a single source when dealing with environmental health, trading standards, health and safety, and licensing services.
Currently, businesses run the risk of prosecution, even if they follow official advice, if local inspectors disagree about how to interpret regulations. This can also result in discrepancies in protection for consumers, workers and the environment.
Eighty-six businesses covering more than 20,000 premises currently have a primary authority partnership with a local authority, as a gateway to simpler, more successful local regulation, based on new relationships.
Councillor Ian Pritchard, Lichfield District Council's Cabinet Member for Housing Health and Environmental Protection, said: "Through the partnership our team is now helping Midlands Expressway to comply with essential legislation, by providing a single reliable source of information and support for enquiries about environmental health, trading standards, health and safety, licensing services and more.
"It also means that the team at Midlands Expressway doesn't have to deal with various councils on the same issues, so it cuts time and effort, while making sure quality information is provided."
Stephen Dowling from Midland Expressway Limited said: "Midland Expressway Limited believes that best industry practice in the management of health and safety is an essential element within its overall business plan.
"People are the most important asset to the company and therefore we are totally committed to their health, safety and welfare at all times. From a legal perspective, the company is committed to ensuring it complies with all relevant health and safety legislation.
"To this end we are delighted to be part of the primary authority partnership scheme with Lichfield District Council scheme being run by the LBRO and it is seen as an enhancement to our management structure by providing a single point of contact in health and safety compliance."
The Primary Authority scheme is administered by LBRO, the technical expert on better local regulation. Chairman Clive Grace said: "The Primary Authority scheme is a common sense approach that reduces red tape for business and gives them confidence in the system, while enabling councils such as Lichfield to better direct their resources. The result, in the end, is enhanced consumer protection and public money saved."
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