Publications
We produce a variety of publications, including information relating to our sphere of operations, background on LBRO and its activities, and research commissioned from independent organizations. In addition to the documents listed below, our website contains many practice examples and leaflets giving details on individual projects.
Age Restricted Products and Services Framework
Date: 30/11/11 Format: PDF - 2.1 MB / 14 pages
This document sets out an agreed set of shared responsibilities and reasonable expectations for young people, parents, businesses, employees and regulators with regard to the supply of age restricted products and services. These principles have been developed following extensive consultation and are endorsed by a range of organisations. They also form the agreed foundation for the development of a code of practice on test purchasing for regulators and enforcers for consultation in early 2012.
Priority Regulatory Outcomes Report
Date: 31/10/11 Format: PDF - 649 KB / 33 pages
The purpose of this report is to publish a refreshed set of priorities for local authority regulatory services in accordance with LBRO’s duties regarding national enforcement priorities. LBRO has worked with an expert user group of local authorities and professional and representative bodies, and a policy group comprising central government departments and national regulators, to develop a new approach. This signals a move away from national enforcement priorities towards priority regulatory outcomes.
Common Approach to Competency for Regulators
Date: 31/10/11 Format: PDF - 600 KB / 8 pages
Common regulatory competence standards - underpinned by a robust development process and comprehensive learning materials - are currently being introduced. The work is being led by LBRO in partnership with the World Class Coalition, established by LBRO in 2008 to simplify the complex regulatory system. The aim is to ensure that the needs of regulators in local authorities and elsewhere are identified and addressed through self-assessment; via simple, flexible and user friendly web-based tools that can be used in conjunction with existing approaches; with access to innovative and cost-effective solutions for meeting development needs; and as an integral part of continuous professional development. An overview of the progress to date is provided in this leaflet.
Date: 30/09/11 Format: PDF - 773 KB / 28 pages
Produced on behalf of the Welsh Regulators' Forum, this examines ways to reduce the administrative burden of data reporting in local authorities, foster effective data sharing across the regulatory system, and make better use of data collections in order to evidence the contribution to the national enforcement priorities for Wales. Supporting annex
Date: 12/09/2011 Format: PDF - 812 KB / 47 pages
Produced by the Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research, this examines the existing evidence on the concepts of citizen involvement, co-production and co-regulation with a view to understanding the extent to which the citizen can be brought into the process of regulation, especially at local level, and how such participation can be achieved.
Date: 15/07/2011 Format: PDF - 2.1 MB / 60 pages
Across 2010-11, our second full year of operation as a non-departmental public body, we have achieved significant and tangible results. Our Primary Authority scheme has become firmly established and is fast becoming the norm, especially on the High Street. Our broader work to engage business was another key strand. It broke new ground in bringing a business perspective to bear on regulatory reform.
Better Regulation of 'Use By' Date Labelled Foods: A Business View
Date: 05/07/2011 Format: PDF - 1.5 MB / 32 pages
This was prepared by business representatives in response to a request from LBRO for an independent and evidence based review of the regulation and enforcement of 'use by' date labelling.
Date: 05/07/2011 Format: PDF - 790 KB / 65 pages
This was commissioned from IFF Research to build a stronger understanding of the issues surrounding 'use by' date labelling regulations.
Lightening the Load: The Regulatory Impact on the UK's Smallest Businesses
Date: 05/11/2010 Format: PDF - 1 MB / 24 pages
This report from the Better Regulation Executive summarises the experiences the UK's smallest businesses reported in dealing with the overall regulatory burden.
From the Business End of the Telescope
Date: 19/10/2010 Format: PDF - 1.2 MB / 34 pages
This document brings together current business perspectives on local regulation. It explores the ways in which a better understanding of the needs of business could improve outcomes and efficiency both for the regulators and those who are regulated, as well as consumers and communities. It provides a resource for policy makers when considering the future shape of local regulation and enforcement.
Better Regulation of Age-Restricted Products: A Retail View
Date: 08/10/2010 Format: PDF - 780 KB / 22 pages
This was prepared by business representatives in response to a call from LBRO for an independent and evidence-based review of the regulation and enforcement of age-restricted products. Supporting annexes
Simplifying the Local Regulatory System
Date: 04/10/2010 Format: PDF - 2.3 MB / 8 pages
This outlines our work with the World Class Coalition of professional and representative bodies - including national regulators - to enhance the regulatory system.
Date: 27/09/2010 Format: PDF - 200 KB / 22 pages
This was commissioned from Beaufort Research to build a stronger understanding of the issues faced by consumers in Wales regarding local regulation.
Survey of Business Perceptions 2010
Date: 15/07/2010 Format: PDF - 1.4 MB / 92 pages
This representative survey of businesses in England and Wales was conducted on behalf of LBRO and the National Audit Office by FDS International.
National Enforcement Priorities for Wales
Date: 28/07/2010 Format: PDF - 730 KB / 25 pages
LBRO worked with the Welsh Assembly Government and key partners to prepare this first set of four national enforcement priorities for Welsh local authorities. They reflect the fundamental principles of One Wales - accountable, citizen-centred public services. This followed a formal consultation process undertaken by the Welsh Assembly Government. Welsh translation and supporting annexes
Date: 14/07/2010 Format: PDF - 1.6 MB / 60 pages
With 2009-10 being our first full year of operation as a non-departmental public body, our major initiatives produced substantial results. Of most significance was the success of Primary Authority. Two other major milestones were the launch of the Excellence Framework and the publication of our outcomes and impacts toolkit.
Primary Authority: The Gateway to Better Local Regulation
Date: 23/06/2010 Format: PDF - 700 KB / 8 pages
Primary Authority gives companies the right to form a statutory partnership with a single local authority, which then provides robust and reliable advice for other councils to take into account when carrying out inspections or dealing with non-compliance. It is the gateway to simpler, more successful local regulation.
Outcomes and Impacts Toolkit Summary
Date: 18/05/2010 Format: PDF - 1 MB / 20 pages
This is a concise version of LBRO's step by step guide to the development of meaningful indicators to assess the outcomes and impacts of the operations of regulatory services, drawing on visual representations called pathways. The 13 key tools it lists are closely linked, and should be applied in sequence to gain their full value, as the elements of a comprehensive evaluation framework. Outcomes and impacts pathway tool
Lessons Learned: Retail Enforcement Pilot
Date: 24/03/2010 Format: PDF - 1.9 MB / 60 pages
Produced by the Centre for Decision Analysis and Risk Management at Middlesex University, this draws on the experiences of the geographic clusters of local authorities that tested risk-based, collaborative approaches to the inspection of businesses during the retail enforcement pilot, highlighting the challenges, successes and lessons learned.
Local Authority Regulatory Services Excellence Framework
Date: 15/02/2010 Format: PDF - 720 KB / 16 pages
Consensus about the core aspects of effective regulatory services is provided by the Excellence Framework developed with LGR and local authorities. Its value derives from the fact that it is the product of agreement, both nationally and locally. Rigorous, thorough and practical, it covers service delivery in its entirety, reflects the views and experiences of practitioners, and is based on recognized standards. Peer challenge toolkit
Mapping the Local Authority Regulatory Services Landscape
Date: 15/12/2009 Format: PDF - 1.3 MB / 59 pages
In 2008 we published the first comprehensive map of the UK local regulatory landscape, showing for the first time the scale of its complexity. It comprises 433 councils, 58 fire and rescue authorities, 152 port health authorities, 11 national regulators and 12 central government departments, their equivalents in some cases in the devolved nations, and various other representative bodies. This system needs to be simplified so that it can function more effectively. Our second map reflected comments received and brought key facts and figures up to date. Individual sections
Data Collections from Local Authority Regulatory Services
Date: 07/12/2009 Format: PDF - 332 KB / 35 pages
On behalf of the world class coalition, LBRO commissioned the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy to identify data collections from local authority regulatory services and produce an initial estimate of the cost. This report begins to establish the scale of the issue and the task of building an evidence base.
Addressing National Threats Through Local Service Delivery
Date: 04/12/2009 Format PDF - 320 KB / 11 pages
Local regulation tackles problems that extend well beyond council boundaries, for example animal diseases, mobile scams and illegal imports. The national threats project undertaken by LBRO assessed the restrictions on targeting resources on such areas, even when clearly in the economic interests of businesses and consumers. The research findings are presented in this summary report. Associated Matrix Insight reports
Trading Places: Business Insight for Local Authorities
Date: 17/11/2009 Format PDF - 1.2 MB / 8 pages
Officers now have the opportunity to step into their customers' commercial shoes via Trading Places. Study visits arranged at UK companies of all sizes offer great practical learning experiences, plus valuable insight into how businesses are run and the challenges they can face.
Better Local Regulation - New Approaches to Securing Compliance
Date: 09/11/2009 Format: PDF - 650 KB / 64 pages
The critical importance of effective regulation to both economic prosperity and community protection has never been clearer. This collection of essays was commissioned by LBRO to prompt discussion and debate about this important policy issue, drawing on the personal and professional perspectives of both those who regulate and those who are regulated.
Assessment of Methodology: Retail Enforcement Pilot
Date: 22/10/2009 Format: PDF - 372 KB / 49 pages
Produced by the Centre for Regional Economic Development at the University of Cumbria, this reviews and assesses the methodology of the retail enforcement pilot in a business environment. It includes case studies that highlight the experiences of six companies varying in size, sector and geographical location. LBRO report summary
Date: 21/10/2009 Format: PDF - 1.6 MB / 72 pages
This is a step by step guide to how local authority regulatory services can select and develop meaningful indicators to assess the impacts and outcomes of their operations, and gather and display the resulting information.
Date: 21/10/2009 Format: PDF - 2.4 MB / 172 pages
This assists in the evaluation of local authority regulatory services and addresses a perceived lack of knowledge among policy makers of the added value they provide.
Corporate Plan 2009-12 Summary
Date: 01/09/2009 Format: PDF - 688 KB / 16 pages
This summary of our second corporate plan describes our achievements over the last 12 months and our planned activity for the next three years, focusing on delivery programmes, engagement and ideas about better local regulation.
Date: 01/09/2009 Format: PDF - 361 KB / 31 pages
This explains what we do and hope to achieve.
Protecting Young People From Alcohol-related HarmDate: 17/07/2009 Format PDF - 543 KB / 116 pages
Successful initiatives to reduce underage sales of alcohol and prevent it getting into the hands of the under 18s are detailed in this study. LBRO urges others to adopt the best practice undertaken by local authorities and police forces across the UK.
Date: 14/07/2009 Format: PDF - 377 KB / 60 pages
This comprehensive summary of our work in 2008-09 includes seven ‘spotlights' illuminating specific aspects of what we have achieved.
Better Local Regulation: Supporting Businesses Towards Recovery
Date: 30/06/2009 Format: PDF - 723 KB / 28 pages
Getting full value from regulatory services by maximizing their contribution to local economic prosperity is the central theme of this advice and guidance. It advocates greater innovation and collaboration, and is intended for local authority leaders, elected members, chief executives and service directors in England and Wales. It proposes practical ways in which councils can harness the potential of their regulatory services.
National Enforcement Priorities in England
Date: 05/05/2009 Format: PDF - 170 KB / 26 pages
The individual approaches of seven councils to meeting both local and national priorities were assessed in research work undertaken by the Institute of Local Government Studies at the University of Birmingham during 2008-09. This highlighted key findings and some examples of good practice. Interim reportDate: 06/04/2009 Format PDF - 290 KB / 32 pages
This is our statutory guidance to local authorities shaping the operation of the scheme.
Survey of Consumer Perceptions 2008
Date: 20/11/2008 Format: PDF - 230 KB / 40 pages
This survey commissioned from Ipsos MORI explores consumers' views about local regulation.
Date: 21/10/2008 Format: PDF - 600 KB / 16 pages
This sets out our vision for success, summarises the challenges we face, describes how we will achieve change to meet our objectives, and states how we will measure progress.
Date: 21/10/2008 Format: PDF - 560 KB / 71 pages
This report shows the range of legislation that local authority regulators are responsible for enforcing.
Survey of Business Perceptions 2008
Date: 01/10/2008 Format: PDF - 400 KB / 72 pages
This representative survey of businesses in England and Wales commissioned from Ipsos MORI explores their views about local regulation - the burdens, benefits and challenges.
Date: 08/07/2008 Format: PDF - 1 MB / 64 pages
Our first annual report covers our creation as a government-owned limited company in May 2007 and our progress over the next 11 months.
Applying the Regulators' Compliance Code
Date: 30/05/2008 Format: PDF - 1.47 MB / 20 pages
This is a guide to what local authority regulatory services need to do to comply with the Code, which came into force in April 2008.Date: 17/04/2008 Format: PDF - 1 MB / 21 pages
Date: 17/04/2008 Format: PDF - 1 MB / 19 pages
