100 councils use impact assessment tool

More than 100 councils are now using a new tool designed to show the benefits of local regulation to business, consumers and communities.

Research commissioned by LBRO, the independent expert in better regulation, has led to the first ever tool for identifying, measuring and managing quality of life impacts from local regulatory services, including anti-social behaviour, crime and violence.

Historically there has been very little research around the wider impacts and outcomes of local regulatory activity - previously only 55 per cent of services were able to make any measurements of impacts in any area.

Heads of regulatory services have long known the benefits their services bring but have found it difficult to quantify and communicate their value to their local authorities, their communities and local businesses. This has contributed to problems in setting budgets and priorities.

Now there is a solution. The LBRO report, entitled Impacts and Outcomes of Local Authority Regulatory Services, and delivered by RAND Europe, identifies 48 cross-cutting outcomes showing demonstrable results for the quality of life in communities from regulatory activities.

And a tool has been created showing how councils can consider the specific outcomes and impacts of their own services.

Since its launch at the end of last year, the Outcomes and Impacts Tool has been picked up by councils across England and Wales, from Cornwall to Lincolnshire, to help them in planning budgets and priorities, and raising their profile.

Kathryn Preece, Head of Environmental Health Services, North West Leicestershire, said:
"The membership of the North West Leicestershire Business Engagement Partnership comprises of both regulators and business support organisations. The LBRO attended our meeting and delivered a session using the Impacts and Outcomes toolkit. This proved extremely useful and has enabled us to focus on common outcomes and develop an action plan which all members of the partnership are happy to own."

Chair of LBRO, Clive Grace, said:

"It is our role to create the right conditions for change. Regulatory services that can show the impact they are having on their local communities are in a much better position to support businesses and consumers through these challenging economic times."