Self sector regulation consultation: an analysis of local authority responses

The LGA published its "Sector-self regulation and improvement: a consultation paper" in September 2010, which outlined an approach to sector-self regulation and the potential role of the LGA. The proposals were sent to consultation with the aim of developing a broad consensus about the nature of any arrangements to be put in place by April 2011.

The consultation was carried out between 16 September 2010 and 1 November 2010, and was open to all interested parties in local government affairs. The consultation document was circulated widely within local government and to relevant national organisations and published on the LGA website.

An analysis of 123 local authority responses received by the end of the consultation period was conducted by Local Government Association Analysis and Research in November 2010.

The key findings of the analysis were:

• A large majority of councils supported the principles on which the proposed approach was based.
• The only area where councils generally did not want to see significant change to the current system was in the area of adult and child safeguarding
• The majority of councils felt the key aim should be sector-self regulation in its purist form with localism at is heart. A small number wanted to maintain the current external regulatory system.
• Generally councils are happy for the approach plans to be developed, as long as they are developed in consultation with the sector, and consultation responses were considered in full.

For both the summary findings and a fuller analysis of responses, please use the link below:

Sector self-regulation and improvement: analysis of consultation (PDF, 42 pages, 544KB)

Contact: research@local.gov.uk

February 2010