Local Better Regulation Office established and board members appointed
15/05/07
Hilary Armstrong, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, today announced the appointment of seven Board Members and Graham Russell, as Chief Executive of the newly established Local Better Regulation Office (LBRO), effective from 1 September 2007. The appointees will work with recently appointed Chairman Clive Grace.
LBRO is a key plank in the Government's efforts to make regulation simpler and more effective because local authorities are the largest enforcers of regulation in the United Kingdom - inspecting more premises and enforcing more areas of law than any other.
The LBRO will help drive up the performance in this area by working to deliver significant reductions in the burdens of regulation on compliant businesses and helping local authorities focus on the rogue businesses most likely to be breaking regulations. Its remit will initially cover local authority trading standards and environmental health services.
Hilary Armstrong said:
"I am very pleased to announce the appointment of the Board Members and the Chief Executive to the Local Better Regulation Office. The success of this new organisation will depend on the drive, dynamism and creativity of these senior staff and I am confident they can do it. They have the wealth of experience and skill between them that can deliver substantial benefits for business, local authorities, consumers and the economy."
Chair of LBRO, Clive Grace said:
"I am delighted that Graham Russell has agreed to join us to shape and lead the organisation as its founding Chief Executive. He brings huge experience and ability in local authority regulation. But much more than that, he brings flair, passion, and imagination, and a determination to make LBRO succeed. I am looking forward to working with the Board Members and Graham enormously, and to forging a key partnership to underpin real achievement in driving better and less regulation for business, for consumers, and for prosperity."
As a result of LBRO's work compliant businesses will benefit from a regulatory regime that is less burdensome, more consistent, more coordinated and better targeted. Local authorities will benefit from clarity on central government priorities alongside the freedom to pursue local priorities and target their resources more effectively, and will firmly embed the principles of Hampton and better regulation within their behaviour. As a result of the lighter touch regulatory approaches for compliant businesses, consumers will benefit from safer and fairer markets. This will also enable the more effective targeting of local authority resources to deal with rogue businesses.
The Board Member appointments were made in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments'. 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. No Board Members have declared any political activity. The Board Member appointments are remunerated at £25,000 for up to 40 days per year and will run from September 2007 to September 2009 and 2010.
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