Protection and Prosperity Graham Russell and Ffiona Kyte, Local Better Regulation Office 21 st May 2010 Entrepreneurial Region Conference, Sweden

BETTER LOCAL REGULATION Our presentation will cover:  Prosperity and protection  LBRO’s role  Improving the system of local regulation

BETTER LOCAL REGULATION Driving growth means creating the right conditions for private enterprise and maintaining the UK’s reputation as one of the best places in the world to start and grow a business. Government shapes the environment for business when it defines the regulatory environment for companies and acts to maintain open and competitive markets. Source – Going for Growth: Our Future Prosperity

BETTER LOCAL REGULATION Prosperity and Protection

Protects Provides Equity Reduces Costs Consumers Workers Environmen t Reducing uncertainty Reducing inconsistency Reducing unfair competition Policy Costs Administration costs Builds Confidence Confident consumers Why regulate

BETTER LOCAL REGULATION Confidence in business decisions Economic support for new start ups One stop shop for business Economic development and enterprise The value of local regulation… …driving prosperity

BETTER LOCAL REGULATION - LBRO LBRO in a nutshell …“ to secure the effective delivery of local authority regulatory services in accordance with the principles of better regulation”

BETTER LOCAL REGULATION - Policy Context

OPERATE THE PRIMARY AUTHORITY SCHEME STATUTORY FUNCTIONS ADVISE MINISTERS ON LOCAL REGULATION DEVELOP FORMAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH NATIONAL REGULATORS ENCOURAGE INNOVATION AND BEST PRACTICE PREPARE NATIONAL ENFORCEMENT PRORITIES FOR ENGLAND AND WALES ISSUE GUIDANCE TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES SUPPORT SERVICE IMPROVEMENT OBJECTIVES DELIVER CONSISTENCY DELIVER CONSISTENCY DELIVER CONSISTENCY DELIVER CONSISTENCY ENHANCE THE SYSTEM TO SECURE THE EFFECTIVE DELIVERY OF LOCAL AUTHORITY REGULATORY SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF BETTER REGULATION MISSION OUTCOMES THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF OUR STRATEGY REDUCED RED TAPE FOR LAW ABIDING BUSINESSES ECONOMIC PROSPERITY PROTECTION FOR CONSUMERS, WORKERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT BETTER LOCAL REGULATION

BETTER LOCAL REGULATION Staff group of around 25 Significant powers Programme budget Deliberate independence Policy capacity Outcomes focussed Not a regulator but a new regulatory instrument

BETTER LOCAL REGULATION Strategic Objective 1 Actively support sustainable, sector led service improvement in local authority regulatory services.

BETTER LOCAL REGULATION Strategic Objective 2 Deliver Primary Authority and other risk-based solutions to ensure greater consistency.

BETTER LOCAL REGULATION Strategic Objective 3 Enhance the regulatory environment by simplifying the system and providing evidence-based advice to Government.

BETTER LOCAL REGULATION Relationships Across the Landscape

BETTER LOCAL REGULATION - Consistency Regulating at source – Consumer safety at ports of entry – Internet trading Protective shield – Animal health – Rogue traders Efficient and effective delivery – Aligning benefits and costs – Primary Authority

Empowering Localism - The Solution Creating a cohesive system – World Class Coalition

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Better Regulation Executive Communities and Local Government Welsh Assembly Government Environment Agency Office Fair Trading Health and Safety Executive Food Standards Agency National Measurement Office Animal Health Gambling Commission Local Authority Coordinators of Regulatory Services Audit Commission Chartered Institute Environmental Health Trading Standards Institute Institute of Licensing Chief Fire Officers Association Government Departments National Regulators Local Authority Sector Professional Bodies World Class Coalition

BETTER LOCAL REGULATION - System A single statement of excellence

BETTER LOCAL REGULATION - System ‘Modules’ leading to common approaches to: –Competency –Risk assessment –Data sharing –National Enforcement Priorities –Civil sanctions –Outcomes and impacts

BETTER LOCAL REGULATION - System Moving upstream – Better Regulations by inputting business and enforcement “wisdom” earlier

BETTER LOCAL REGULATION – Culture, competency and risk

BETTER LOCAL REGULATION – Achieving outcomes Better Regulation The purposeful use of regulatory tools to move from risks to outcomes

Hazard x Frequency Risk Relationships Outcomes

BETTER LOCAL REGULATION – Empowering the market A word about tools

BETTER LOCAL REGULATION – Culture change

BETTER LOCAL REGULATION Prosperity and Protection Better for business Better for consumers, workers and the environment

BETTER LOCAL REGULATION Contact: +44 (0)