For some years organisations have been able to sign up to the Home or Lead Authority Partnership Scheme. A voluntary scheme where organisations could forge closer ties with Local Authorities (LA’s). This has now evolved to the next level and Enterprise Inns are pleased to be leading the way in the industry by being the first pub company to sign up to the new Primary Authority Scheme.
Historically it has been very difficult to establish relationships with each individual LA and as a consequence there is little or no understanding of our business, how the leased and tenanted estate works and where the various statutory obligations lie. The creation of the Primary Authority Scheme (PAS) is a positive and important step forward and will enable Enterprise Inns to develop a long term relationship with LA’s through one primary LA Partner, City of Westminster Council. Unlike the Home or Lead Authority Partnership Scheme, the new PAS is contractual and therefore legally binding. The PAS will ensure that a company trading across council boundaries is guaranteed access to robust and reliable advice about its regulatory responsibilities. Enterprise Inns has a positive health and safety strategy and membership of the PAS with the right LA can only assist driving this forward. In partnering with City of Westminster we have recognised their considerable expertise and resource to support us in this area. Importantly, membership of the scheme will protect Enterprise Inns from inconsistent enforcement actions, provide us with a source of reliable advice which has to be recognised by all LA’s in England and Wales, assist in the development of positive relationships with LA’s, develop sector consistency and reduce our admin burden. From the date of joining the scheme, no LA will be able to serve notices on Enterprise Inns without referral to our Primary Authority who will ensure a consistent approach is adopted. City of Westminister will also advise us on important policies which sit around statutory obligations such as gas, electric and asbestos
Whilst the key relationship that exists under the scheme is between Enterprise Inns and City of Westminister Council, there is no doubt that our publicans will also benefit from this relationship through the gradual introduction of a consistent approach to health and safety through the scheme