Businesses find local regulations a burden

A major new business survey has set out the challenges facing the Local Better Regulation Office (LBRO), which was launched on 1 October. The independent survey, commissioned by LBRO from Ipsos MORI, showed that 71% of businesses felt council-enforced regulations could be at least as big a burden as tax and employment laws.

Clive Grace, LBRO Chair said, ‘The survey is the most comprehensive picture yet of the impact of local regulation on business.

‘It reveals how important local regulation is to UK plc and underlines the need to ensure that regulatory services work not just to protect consumers, workers and the environment, but also to support businesses in complying with regulations.

‘There is a clear message here from business that robust and reliable advice from local authorities is important, and that the regulated are looking for the regulators to provide more support.’

The survey consulted 1,000 companies in England and Wales from sole traders to those with hundreds of employees. Sectors included farming, construction, retail, property, the motor trade and tourism.

• Of those firms trading across three or more council boundaries, one-third said that they had received inconsistent compliance advice from different local authorities.
• Three out of four businesses agreed that it is important for local authorities to provide an advisory service on trading standards, environmental health, licensing and fire safety regulations.
• Nine out of ten businesses said they had never been consulted by local authorities about the enforcement of trading laws covering key areas like consumer protection and health and safety.
• One in ten firms voiced the view that local regulators who contacted them did not know enough about their companies.
• Almost two-thirds said they were generally satisfied with the regulatory services provided by local councils.

LBRO has been set up to help local authorities improve their regulatory services - reducing regulatory burdens on law-abiding businesses and improving protection for consumers, workers and the environment.

It has now been given statutory powers to drive reform of local regulation. It will advise ministers on better local regulation and will be able to issue statutory guidance to local authorities on enforcing trading standards, environmental health, licensing and fire safety regulations.

Clive Grace added, ‘Our job is to lead the drive for better regulation at a local level. We have significant statutory powers and will work closely with local authorities, national regulators and central government to make sure that local regulation is proportionate, targeted, accountable, consistent and transparent.’

For further information about the Local Better Regulation Office visit the LBRO website www.lbro.org.uk.