Bureaucracy in local government is about to take a battering, with the launch of a new review. Peter Rogers, chief executive of Westminster City Council, has been signed up by the Cabinet Office to carry out a review of local regulatory inspection and enforcement. His aim is to find five priorities for councils to focus their attentions and energies on from a list of 60 policy areas needing regulation, including health and safety, licensing and the environment. He said: ‘I have agreed to head this review because I believe it will lead to real improvements for both those who are regulated and those who rely on regulation for protection. By working together to focus on five priorities, local authority achievements will be better recognised, regional variations will be diminished and we can use resources more efficiently.' The review was sparked by a report from Philip Hampton in 2005 on regulatory inspection and enforcement, which recommended reducing administrative costs. More recently, Chancellor Gordon Brown promised business the burden of routine inspections and enforcement would be removed. Instead, regulatory work would be targeted at key areas. Derek Allen, executive director of the Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS), said: ‘LACORS has been calling for a reduction in the number of national priorities that central government requires to be delivered by councils across the country.' Mr Rogers' report, together with his recommendations are expected to be published in March. A Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman said the review was separate from the lifting burdens task force which was being led by Nottingham City Council chief executive, Michael Frater. The task force is, instead, concentrating on cutting the red tape between Whitehall departments and local authorities.
