Consultation will begin in September on the development of a binding code of practice for local authorities, as part of HSE plans to bring greater consistency to council inspection and enforcement activities.
The intention is outlined in the Executive’s three-year Business Plan, which the regulator’s chair, Judith Hackitt, described as “a mix of continuing ‘business as usual’ activities in many front-line areas, while also delivering significant reform”.
By 2015, the HSE wants to have:
The planned Code of Practice for local authorities forms part of the HSE’s aim to target and conduct inspections in those sectors and activities that generate the most serious risks, or where risks are least well controlled. In addition to launching the Code of Practice in April next year, the HSE will also be working with the Better Regulation Delivery Organisation (BRDO) to assist the development of the Primary Authority Scheme.
The Business Plan also shows that the total number of proactive inspections fell by more than 10,000 between 2010/11 and 2011/12; the number is expected to remain flat for the next three years. The numbers of enforcement notices and prosecutions are not yet known for 2011/12, so the effect of the reduction in inspections is hard to judge; however, the HSE investigated more RIDDOR incidents over the last year – 3957 provisionally, compared with 3812 in 2010/11.
Details about how the Executive will use its resources and generate funding over the next three years are also included in the Plan. It currently recovers around 40 per cent of its costs through income mainly in the major-hazard sector, while the remainder will be funded via government grants and fee for intervention (FFI).
The extension of FFI, due to come into force in October, forms a major part of the HSE’s financial strategy, but other savings plans include reducing accommodation costs by moving to smaller premises, or closing offices, and reducing staff numbers.
The Business Plan 2012/15 is available on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/strategiesandplans/businessplans/plan1215.pdf
