Scotland takes key step to cut red tape
Renfrewshire Council has become the first local authority in Scotland to pioneer a groundbreaking way of cutting red tape to help business.
It has got together with M&Co, a fashion retailer with nearly 300 stores across the UK, in a legal agreement that will reduce duplication of effort, and save and time and money.
They have formed what is known as a Primary Authority partnership in which the council will take on responsibility for all M&Co's stores around the country when dealing with health and safety regulations.
Councillor Marie McGurk, Convener for Environment and Infrastructure at Renfrewshire Council, explained how everyone - the consumer, the business and the council - benefits:
"By developing this partnership, Renfrewshire Council can work effectively with M&Co in order to reduce unnecessary burdens by being the single point of contact for their occupational health and safety regulatory needs.
"This partnership ensures that advice given to business is recognised nationally and therefore any enforcement action taken is consistent and proportionate. Consumers will benefit as there will be increased confidence that health and safety in premises is being dealt with in a more consistent manner. The partnership will allow M&Co to focus on delivering a successful service thanks to high quality advice from Renfrewshire Council."
For companies operating under two or more local council jurisdictions, Primary Authority provides reliable and consistent regulatory advice from a single source when dealing with key aspects of 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.
Health and Safety/Security Manager at M&Co, Sandra O'Rourke, said: "We have always been given first class advice in our efforts to ensure high standards are maintained for our staff and customers.
We are proud and delighted to be the first Primary authority partnership in Scotland and expect our relationship with Renfrewshire Health & Safety Executive to continue.
With the Primary Authority we are looking forward to maintaining our strong commitment to health and safety within our organisation."
The Primary Authority scheme is administered by LBRO, the public body responsible for better regulation. Chairman Clive Grace said: "There is a real determination to cut red tape, and it is agreements such as this where we see the real impact of better local regulation.
"Renfrewshire Council and M&Co are taking the lead in Scotland with their pioneering new agreement and we believe that many more will follow."
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