Briefings and responses

Key messages  

This response is focused solely on the key strategic challenge facing trading standards as a local government service.

This briefing aims to provide useful advice for any councils becoming unitary authorities and shares an overview of lessons learnt from a number of councils who have brought regulatory services together during this process.

We are calling for the Government to deliver on its commitment to hold a triennial review of machine stakes.

Many councils have concerns about the impact of clustering of betting shops on their areas, as well as the associated numbers of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs).

We have long-called for the existing outdated taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) licensing laws to be updated and strengthened.

The LGA welcomed the appointment of a House of Lords Select Committee to investigate the effectiveness of the Licensing Act 2003 and the insight that the Committee’s work has provided in a number of areas.

It is crucial that these regulations come into effect ahead of summer parliamentary recess, which will provide councils with additional time to consider applications for licences extending beyond September 2021.