Better Regulation Executive Making regulation work for everyone Karen Hill Better Regulation Executive 01 March 2007 From Enforcement to Compliance: Delivering Regulatory Services

BRE Aim To reduce the burden of regulation on:  Business  Voluntary sector  Charities  Public Sector “Making regulation work for everyone”

What the BRE is doing  Working with business to identify & remove unnecessary burdens  Working with regulators/LAs to identify & promote good practice  New Impact Assessment process to assess proposed regulation  25% net reduction target for admin burdens of regulation by 2010  Legislative & Regulatory Reform Act - easier to amend existing legislation and remove red tape where identified  Davidson and Macrory reviews – over-implementation of EU legislation and regulatory penalties regimes

The Hampton vision – what does it mean?  Regulators and enforcers taking a risk-based approach - reducing number of inspections & greater focus on support & guidance  Local enforcers working together - co-ordinated inspection activity and approaches to risk, sharing information & avoiding duplication  Greater consistency across LA boundaries, including home/lead authority scheme for multi-site businesses  Prioritisation of national policy areas that regulatory services are expected to deliver, with flexibility to focus on greatest local risks  Performance assessment framework being developed with NAO and rolled out in 2007, including identifying & sharing good practice, to support Compliance Code when implemented in 2008

Partnership working  Inspectors working together across disciplines: Retail Enforcement Pilot: –joining up inspection regimes –effective sharing of information –unifying risk models –educating business about compliance  Focus on advice and guidance to support businesses  Targeted approach to rogue businesses  Sharing ideas and good practice  Contributing to local economic development

Local Better Regulation Office  80% of inspections are at a local level  Objective to reduce burdens on business without compromising public protections  Government-owned company initially, then statutory footing  Powers to issue statutory guidance to achieve good practice and consistency  Trading standards, environmental health and business licensing

2008 – What will success look like?  Business recognising a real difference  Stock: Simplification plans: –demonstrate convincing progress on 2006 commitments –further concrete measures towards 25% reduction target –strong evidence of reducing stock of policy costs.  Flow: New policies consistently founded on good regulation principles (risk-based; targeted; benefits justify costs; non- regulatory approaches considered and used wherever possible; effective consultation and business given time to prepare).  Transparency: Step change in: –quality of Impact Assessments - greater clarity on costs & benefits –more simplification suggestions from business taken up  Hampton: –Strongly evidenced progress in delivering more risk-based approach to inspection and form- filling; greater focus on advice –Increased consistency in enforcement among LAs  Europe: Continued momentum for simplification including European Council signing up to admin burdens reduction target.  Public Sector: clear strategy for tackling red tape on front-line