National Retailers And Leading Local Authorities Sign Up To Primary Authority Scheme Launch
06/04/09
Retailers B&Q, Iceland and Moto Hospitality Ltd today signed up to the launch of the new Primary Authority scheme designed to ensure that key trading laws are applied consistently across the UK. Lord Carter, Minister for Regulatory Reform, welcomed the official signing of the partnership agreements between some of Britain's biggest businesses and most innovative councils.
The new Primary Authority scheme, run by the Local Better Regulation Office (LBRO), partners these businesses with council regulators in Eastleigh, Flintshire and Bedfordshire. The scheme provides companies with reliable and robust regulatory advice from a single source - the Primary Authority - when dealing with key aspects of environmental health, trading standards and fire safety services.
LBRO has been working closely with 13 major businesses and 17 individual local authorities during the last six months and further primary authority partnerships are nearing completion.
Primary Authority is now available to all businesses, regardless of size, which operate across two or more council boundaries. This could include small and medium-sized enterprises which trade over the internet. Government estimates suggest the scheme could eventually save business up to £50 million a year.
Lord Carter, Minister for Regulatory Reform, said:
"Getting major businesses on board for the launch of the Primary Authority Scheme is a vital boost that will help transform the way business works across the country.
"The partnership scheme enables businesses and local authorities to work together to cut through bureaucracy, create stronger and more consistent working relationships and save valuable time and money."
Clive Grace, the LBRO Chair, said:
"Major businesses and major local authorities coming together to create consistent regulation and authoritative advice - that's the promise of Primary Authority. Three national retailers representing a significant slice of British retailing have already agreed Primary Authority partnerships and more are near completion. This is just the beginning as it is now open to all businesses large or small operating across council boundaries.
"We know that 30% of all businesses operating across multiple local authority boundaries perceive inconsistency in the regulation which is applied to them - a huge number. Both those perceptions and the underlying realities will be tackled through Primary Authority.
"Primary Authority will also stimulate positive changes in culture and approach by council regulators, as they appreciate better the impact of their work on local businesses, and the kind of help business needs to get on with the job of creating prosperity."
The new partnerships will improve compliance from businesses and reduce red tape. Inconsistent advice from different councils can damage prosperity, cause frustration and add to business costs.
Primary Authority benefits local authorities by providing a platform for assisting businesses in generating economic prosperity without compromising consumer protection. The scheme will provide the opportunity to influence compliance nationally via the primary authority giving advice to its partner business as well as giving advice to the regulatory community at large about their business, to help focus inspection activity to where it's most needed.
There will be opportunities for professional development within the primary authority itself, through providing expert technical advice on specialist areas either in terms of a particular sector or a specific regulatory discipline. Inspectors will also be able to gain more in-depth commercial knowledge and awareness.
Currently businesses can run the risk of prosecution even if they follow official advice if local inspectors disagree about how to interpret regulations. A lack of consistency in local regulation can also result in discrepancies in protection for consumers, workers and the environment.
The partnerships will mean better co-ordination of local inspection and enforcement activity. Before local regulators start proceedings against a participating company, they will need to agree with its primary authority a course of enforcement action that is consistent with previously given advice. LBRO will help resolve any differences of opinion.
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