Agenda item

-        Strategic Director of Neighbourhoods and Adult Services to report.

Councillor Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Safe and Attractive Neighbourhoods, introduced a report by the Strategic Director of Neighbourhoods and Adult Services, which detailed how the Government was holding a consultation on creating the conditions for a simpler regulatory system which would allow services to maximise local outcomes by reducing the regulatory burdens on business and ensuring the protection of the public.  The key thrust of this was to introduce for the first time a set of regulatory priority outcomes.

The document was published by the Local Better Regulation Office on Monday, 7th February, 2011 and the consultation period would end on 6th May, 2011.

This consultation identified proposals to replace the existing national enforcement priorities for England with broader priority regulatory outcomes.  The report sought to reflect issues of concern to local citizens and businesses, including the quality and safety of the local environment, quality of life issues such as housing, noise and anti-social behaviour and the hygiene and safety of local retail outlets.  To this end the report proposed five Enforcement Priorities with identified outcomes, which were summarised as follows:-

·              Priority 1: Protect the environment for future generations by tackling the threats and impacts of climate change.

What is Important: Climate Change, Impact on Health and Wellbeing managing the risks and impacts of Flooding and Water Quality, measures to influence energy efficiency, co-ordinating emergency responses.

·              Priority 2: Improve quality of life and wellbeing by ensuring clean and safe public spaces

What is Important: Fly-Tipping, litter and illegal waste, Contaminated Land, Air Quality, Nuisance and anti-social behaviour, including disorder associated with underage consumption of alcohol and other age restricted products, Private Rented Housing Conditions.

·              Priority 3: Help people to live healthier lives by preventing ill health and harm and promoting public health

What is Important: Alcohol and Tobacco, Health and safety and wellbeing at work, Fire Safety, Pest Control, Allergy Awareness.

·              Priority 4: Ensure a safe, healthy and sustainable food chain for the benefits of consumers and the rural economy

What is Important: Diet and nutrition, Food Borne Disease, Food Safety,  Animal health and welfare and disease control.

·              Priority 5: Support enterprise and economic growth by ensuring a fair, responsible and competitive trading environment

What is Important: Supporting enterprise, particularly small businesses, proportionate enforcement, Fair Trading, Intellectual Property crime, Debt and Credit issues, Counterfeiting and Piracy, Product Safety.

In line with new corporate reporting protocols on Government consultations this consultation was assessed as being “strategic” and, therefore, required scrutiny and Cabinet consideration.  Due to the time restraints of the consultation period the report was required, instead of Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee, was considered at the Sustainable Communities Scrutiny Panel meeting on the 21st April, 2011.  The Cabinet Member for Safe and Attractive Neighbourhoods had been briefed on the consultation and would, therefore, make direct contribution within the reporting process.

The emphasis of the priorities was clearly linked to the issues that affect the public, with delivery mechanisms firmly emphasising partnership working between enforcement agencies and other partners together with community groups.  A common thread running through each of the priorities was a recognition that the views of local citizens and businesses were important. 

It was not anticipated that the proposed enforcement/regulatory outcome priorities would fundamentally alter the direction of Rotherham’s delivery of enforcement function given that the Authority was already well positioned to introduce the priorities and the delivery mechanisms necessary to provide the outcomes.  

Current strategic alignments of the Business Regulation and Safer Neighbourhoods services were focused on ensuring compliance with standards via enforcement and regulation in a range of quality of life and health impact scenarios which directly affected local residents and commercial activity.

An alignment of the services’ functions and outcome in comparison to the consultation’s priority areas and the response to the consultation was set out as part of the report.

Delivery of the regulatory enforcement functions was provided from the Council’s General Revenue Fund and the proposed prioritisation of regulatory outcomes would be managed within existing resources.

With the proposed new enforcement priorities being already substantiating existing corporate policy and strategic direction it was viewed there was little to no risk in the introduction of the new priorities.  The thrust of the proposal provided evidence to partners, the public and business that the Council was focused on delivering on what was not only seen as important locally, but also fulfilling national policy drivers too.

Failure to effectively address enforcement priorities may lead to a negative perception from local stakeholders and Central Government.

Resolved:-  That the detail of the report be noted and the corporate response to the Government consultation be approved.