The Excellence Framework was launched by the Kevin Brennan, the Minister for Further Education, Skills, Apprenticeships and Consumer Affairs, at the Year Ahead Conference.


The framework is the result of long and close co-operation between LBRO, the public body for better regulation, local authorities and LACoRS, with contributions from national regulators, central government and professional bodies.


LACoRS and LBRO say the framework is: rigorous, being based on research into a number of recognised standards; thorough, covering service delivery in its entirety; and practical, reflecting the views and experiences of practitioners.


LBRO Chairman Clive Grace said:
"The value of this framework is that it is the product of local and national agreement of what high quality services look like. This is hugely important given the many different performance schemes in place and the need to change regulatory culture across the system to deliver outcomes rather than outputs.

"We're confident the framework will be the keystone for delivery of local regulatory services, particularly with increasing emphasis on delivering high quality services and value for money."

As well as providing a basis for assessing service delivery, the Excellence Framework is intended to provide a benchmark for national bodies, business and consumers to be reassured the quality of services.


How the Excellence Framework can be practically and cost-effectively self-assessed is the subject of the Regulatory Services Peer Challenge project, which is currently piloting the initiative with 50 local authority regulatory services. It is due to be completed in March.


Once the pilot has been evaluated, a detailed Excellence Framework toolkit will be produced, highlighting the links to all the relevant evidence sources for other frameworks. Options to sustain peer challenge across local authority regulatory services will be explored. Local regulators will be expected to take ownership for identifying issues and taking action to improve, in line with the approaches encouraged by the Improvement and Development Agency for Local Government.