The Voice of the Isle of Wight

LBRO NEEDS REVAMPING, NOT SCRAPPING, SAYS FSB

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) welcomes the review into the performance of the Local Better Regulation Office (LBRO) but is concerned this vital regulatory burden busting body will be scrapped.

FSB research shows that a third of small businesses state regulation as the biggest obstacle their business faces. The FSB has welcomed the Coalition Government’s proposals to tackle the burden of red tape; LBRO must not be scrapped but overhauled if small firms are to truly see a reduction in regulation.

The FSB believes there is a role for a body whose purpose is to support and represent small firm’s views on red tape within local authorities and drive through change. So it is urging the Government to revamp the LBRO by giving it the power to cover all areas of local authority regulation and the power to:

• Enforce a regime of compulsory booked inspections.
• Guarantee all small firms are proactively directed to a single point of contact within their local authority for all regulatory matters.
• Cease routine inspections during times of national emergency areas, where possible.
• Undertake an annual Regulatory Rating Review of local government regulatory services.

Chairman of the FSB’s Wessex Region, Ken Moon, said: “Red tape is a real bugbear of small businesses owners, who prefer to receive information from a local, single source, so this power should be provided locally. LBRO could do this but has never been given the true powers it needs to fulfil the role. Rather than disband it an overhaul is needed then it can truly represent the needs and views of small businesses on red tape to local authorities to drive best practice. This would create a robust relationship between small firms and regulatory services locally and should be a high priority for the Coalition Government if they are to truly deliver on their pledge to cut red tape.”

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