Contribution by: Richard Stott

Comment by: Richard Stott

Focus area: Fire safety regulation

Regulator concerned: Fire safety (Fire Authority)

Comment:
Fire Authorities in my experience are committed to helping people and organisations that are interested in complying with the law, and generally do so (clearly there will be exceptions) with a view to minimising the burden on business. My Authority (i am the Prevention and Protection Manager for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and sit on the National CFOA Business Support Group) works hard to target those individuals and companies who are prepared to compromise on safety, and to apply a light touch to those who are low risk and are doing their best to comply. We recognise that there are tough times for all of us and our officers are guided to ensure that the risk is balanced in terms of the cost and wherever possible costs are minimised and spread over time. We have , in Lancashire, carried out a lot of ‘enforcement’ since the introduction of the regulations however that is due to our well defined targeting processes identifying (and reducing) risk, and the fact that we have in the area (Blackpool and Fylde Coast) a large risk profile in terms of hotels and guesthouses and HMO’s. We operate to the Principles of the Enforcement Concordat and the Regulators Compliance Code.