UK SBS RE140219BIS - Primary Authority Research

The Primary Authority scheme was introduced by the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions (RES) Act 2008. Primary Authority offers businesses the opportunity to form a legally recognised partnership with one local authority, which then provides robust and reliable advice for other councils to take into account when carrying out inspections or dealing with non-compliance. The scheme is a common sense Government initiative to cut red tape and support economic growth through better local regulation. It is one of the most effective ways for local regulators to improve protection and support their business communities. Aim and Objectives This research will look at the how the scheme is operating and the impact of the scheme on both businesses and Local Authorities who are Primary Authorities. The research will look solely at direct partnerships. This is because co-ordinated partnerships have only existed since October 2014 and are at too early a stage for a full evaluation. There will also be separate research looking at the benefits and costs to Enforcing Officers. This research will form part of the Post Implementation Review showing the extent of benefits and costs to businesses and local authorities and identifying areas to improve in the future