Rogers Review to bring focus to local regulatory inspection and enforcement
The Government today announced the appointment of Peter Rogers, Chief Executive of Westminster City Council, to lead an independent review of legislation enforced by local authorities to identify 5 key priorities. The review will include over 60 policy areas with the aim to produce a more joined up approach to regulatory inspection and enforcement.
Peter Rogers said:
'I have agreed to head this review because I believe it will lead to real improvements for both those who are regulated and those who rely on regulation for protection. We in Local Government are the ones who make so many of the decisions that affect people's daily lives and it is down to us to make sure that those decisions are fair, consistent and properly enforced. By working together to focus on 5 priorities local authority achievements will be better recognised, regional variations will be diminished and we can use resources more efficiently. This is good news for business, citizens and local authorities.'
Commenting on the proposal to establish the independent review, Derek Allen Executive Director of LACORS said:
'We welcome the independent review of legislation enforced by local authority regulatory services to be chaired by Peter Rogers. LACORS has been calling for a reduction in the number of national priorities that central government requires to be delivered by council's across the country. If this is achieved, it will not only enable a better focus on those policy areas considered to be of the highest importance to government, but significantly will allow councils to develop their own set of local priorities for their regulatory services, that support good businesses and provide effective protection to the communities they serve.'
The review will aim to report by Budget 2007. It will work with local authorities, central government, independent regulators and businesses.
The Terms of reference are to:
- Define the policy areas (and their enforcement mechanisms) that come under the remit of local authority regulatory services,
- Collect and collate the evidence on the relative priority of these policy areas for central government, local citizens and business, and
- Make recommendations on around five policy areas that are central government priorities for local authorities, based on their level of risk, political priority and the perceptions of citizens and business.
Cabinet Office Press Office, Press Officer: Stephen Coomber
Cabinet Office
Press Office
70 Whitehall
LONDON SW1A 2AS
Tel: 020 7276 0317
Fax: 020 7276 0618
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Notes to Editors
-
Peter Rogers is Chief Executive of Westminster City Council and a Board Member of the Housing Corporation. Before Westminster, Peter carried out several roles at West Midlands Travel Group, culminating in his position as Commercial Director. Peter is also a member of the Central London Partnership Executive, which is the focus for public private partnership in central London. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, Institute of Personnel and Development, and the judging panel for the LGC awards for local government.
-
The review will be supported by the Better Regulation Executive in the Cabinet Office. Further information is available at: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/regulation
-
LACORS: The local authorities coordinators of regulatory services is the local government central body for overseeing and supporting improvement in local authority regulatory and related services http://www.lacors.gov.uk
-
The 60 policy areas under review are:
Agriculture
- Animal welfare of pets in shops
- Animal welfare of farm livestock)
- Animal feedstuffs/ feedstuffs/fertiliser labelling and constitution
- Grading/marking agricultural produce
Antisocial Behaviour
- Underage sales
- Removal of unauthorised campers
- Other anti-social behaviour (graffiti; local nuisance behaviour etc)
Consumer Credit
- Protection of consumer credit (advertising/agreements)
- Tenancy (advertising/payment offences)
Environment
- Air Quality
- Local air pollution control
- Air quality monitoring
- Radiation monitoring
- Refuse
- Nuisance
- Noise nuisances; prevention and control
- Statutory nuisance
- Local environment
Fair Trading
- Trade description/trade marking/ mis-description
- Sunday trading Hours
- Business Names Use and Display (using prohibited Business Name)
- Publication of car fuel consumption
- Unfair contract terms & cancellation and call off periods
- Consumer Transactions Restrictions of statements (protection of statutory rights on customers)
Food Safety
- Food Hygiene
- Hygiene of premises selling and manufacturing food
- Approval of manufacturing premises
- Safety and wholesomeness of food stuffs
-
Food Standards
- Food Standards (labelling)
- Imported Foods
Health and safety at work
- General health and safety at work
-
Chemicals
-
Ergonomics
-
Petroleum (storage/safety)
Licensing
- Business Licensing (including Animal welfare/breeding/safety licensing)
-
Street trading licensing
-
Liquor Licensing
-
Entertainment Licensing
Prices
- Price Marking
-
Misleading Prices
Private Sector Housing Standards
- Houses in Multiple Occupancy
- Licensing of HMOs for fire safety/ standards and management
- Control orders
-
Housing standards in single occupancy
- Heath and safety of private rented housing
- Overcrowding
- Area renewal areas
- Selective licensing
- Empty property
Product Safety
- Product Safety (subject to specific safety regulations i.e. Fireworks)
-
Product Safety (not subject to specific safety regulations)
-
Vehicle safety (sale of un-roadworthy vehicles)
-
Public Protection (for example receiving malicious communications)
-
Overloaded vehicles
-
Control over the sale of poisons
Weights and Measures
- Weights and Measures (short measures/fraudulent use of equipment)
-
Labelling of equipment
