Government decision ‘weakens efforts to reduce red tape for businesses’
Opportunities to reduce burdensome regulation on businesses may be missed as a result of the abolition of the current Local Better Regulation Office (LBRO).
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is warning that the replacement of the LBRO with a new, as yet undefined, organisation risks undermining improvements to local government enforcement. The new organisation will no longer have a role in promoting improved regulation at a local government level and, as part of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, is likely to be less independent.
Director General of the British Retail Consortium, Stephen Robertson, said: “The Government has made clear its ambition of reducing regulation but sadly its words have not yet been matched by actions. This development is a step in the wrong direction.
“In its short life LBRO has made great improvements to local regulation which have benefitted both business and local government. Its independent status has played an important part in this.
“Taking away its local government responsibilities is a major blow. Reducing the burden of unnecessary red tape on business is an important part of supporting a successful private sector. Opportunities to do this may now be missed.
“It’s important we continue to have an organisation committed to improving regulation but to be effective it must be independent. It’s hard to see how this will be achieved when it’s part of a Government department, despite the promises being made. We will be monitoring this arrangement closely.”
