Westminster takes lead in pub retail sector health and safety scheme
Westminster Council is taking a lead in health and safety in the pub retail sector in an agreement with Solihull-based Enterprise Inns, which provides support to thousands of pub retailers.
The council has signed up to a Primary Authority agreement in which Westminster will be single point of contact - the Primary Authority - for health and safety issues affecting Enterprise Inns pub retailers all over the UK.
Steve Harrison, Westminster City Council's Operational Director, Premises Management, said: "Our regulatory services have successfully been working with John Lewis and Marks & Spencer for many years acting as their 'home authority' for consumer complaints across the country, and this agreement will take that further to cover the plethora of legislation which businesses need to comply with.
"We feel this much more efficient way of working is beneficial to consumers, business and the local authorities alike, and will help save millions of pounds in the process."
For Enterprise Inns, which owns around 7,500 pubs in England and Wales, it will result in huge benefits in terms of better relations with regulators - and less paperwork. Russell Burton, Head of Property at Enterprise Inns, said: "Enterprise Inns is committed to developing positive health and safety policies and strategies and sees membership in Primary Authority as an important step forward.
"The key benefits of joining the scheme and partnering with City of Westminster are the development of positive relationships with regulators; access to reliable, expert advice from an authority with significant experience; protection from inconsistent enforcement; better co-ordination of local authorities; and a consistent approach to Enterprise Inns retailer health and safety inspections.
"Enterprise Inns are pleased to be playing a leading role in the sector by taking this step and believe membership in the Primary Authority scheme will enable local authorities to develop a greater understanding of the pub sector as a whole."
Primary Authority, run by the public body for better local regulation LBRO, provides reliable and consistent regulatory advice from a single source on key aspects of environmental health, trading standards and licensing services. Government estimates the scheme could save UK business up to £50m a year.
For businesses a primary authority partnership will mean consistency of local inspection and enforcement activity. Currently businesses can run the risk of prosecution even if they follow official advice if local inspectors disagree about how to interpret regulations. This lack of consistency can also result in discrepancies in protection for consumers, workers and the environment.
Chair of LBRO, Clive Grace, said: "Enterprise Inns are taking a lead in this in their sector, and their relationship with Westminster City Council will provide clear advantages in terms of consistency and confidence in regulation across their operations.
"There are many other organisations in this sector that could benefit from Primary Authority and I hope they will take notice. Primary Authority is available to all businesses, regardless of size, which operate across two or more council boundaries."
Ends
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The Primary Authority scheme was designed by the Better Regulation Executive and approved by Parliament as part of the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008. Primary Authority came into law on 6 April 2009. Primary Authority partnerships are available to any business that trades across two or more council boundaries, regardless of size. Small businesses that sell from websites, for example, have the same access to consistent advice about trading standards and health and safety rules as big manufacturing or construction companies. The scheme will improve compliance to the benefit of business, consumers and communities.
2.The Local Better Regulation Office (LBRO) helps local authorities improve their environmental health, trading standards, fire safety and licensing services - reducing burdens on businesses that comply with the law while targeting those who flout it. It was incorporated as a government-owned limited company in May 2007. Following the commencement of the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008 on 1 October 2008, it now operates as an executive non-departmental public body, accountable to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills through the Better Regulation Executive. LBRO is governed by an independent Board, has a staff of around 25 and is based in central Birmingham. Our remit covers the whole of the UK and we liaise closely with the devolved administrations to ensure our work in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is appropriate. For further information please visit http://www.lbro.org.uk/
Media enquiries to Jo Barker or Roland Curtis.
Tel: 0121 226 4019.Email: jo.barker@lbro.org.uk or roland.curtis@lbro.org.uk