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