The Lead Authority Partnership Scheme (LAPS) provides local authorities (LAs) with the opportunity to work in a strategic way.
The scheme sets out to raise the standard of health and safety management within a partner organisation or business and encourage consistency of enforcement across those LAs that engage with it.
A partnership is formed between a LA (the future lead authority) and a business, organisation or intermediary group with multiple outlets across the country or a national membership. The authority works closely with that organisation to help develop and improve its health and safety arrangements and/or the guidance and advice it promotes through its membership. The lead authority then acts as a focal point of liaison on health and safety issues between other LAs, HSE and that organisation.