HSL facilities available to support proactive LA programmes or campaigns

Background

The Panel overseeing the Local Authorities S&T Initiative met in March 2006. It agreed to a new initiative for 2006-07. This is that individual LA, or small groups of LA working together, can obtain S&T support from HSL only, if needed, to support a proactive programme or campaign of targeted visits. The procedure for doing this should be simple.

Whilst a need for such support had been considered when the Initiative was established, the intention at that time had been for Partnership Managers (PM) to access for campaigns at regional level using the ‘Planned Project’ approach, rather than for individual LA or smaller groups of LA. The ‘Planned Project’ approach is still available.

As a consequence, the Panel nominally allocated £200,000 (i.e. approx. £30,000 per region) for such support in 2006-07.

The following outlines the support that is available and the procedures for access.

What support is available?

The support is only available from HSL. They can provide support in any areas of their expertise.

For what sorts of proactive programme/campaign will this support be available?

An LA/group of LA may plan into their Workplan a programme of work – e.g. a series of visits targeting a specific industry, type of premises or H&S problem. During these visits problems might be encountered where HSL’s support would be helpful. It will not be known in advance exactly when or where this support is needed. However, by securing prior agreement to a certain amount of HSL’s support in a particular area, this support can then be called on when required.

Where support is not available using this approach

Support is not available:

• For work that HSL are not able to undertake.
• For proposals that will cost more than £5,000. This is equivalent to approximately 5 days’ of support from HSL. However, PM may be able to authorise work costing up to £15,000 as a ‘special case’.
• For activities that involve awareness training or guidance materials. These are planned projects.
• For support work that would normally be obtained from HSE’s Regional Specialist Groups.
• For incident investigations. These should continue to use support available via other routes (i.e. accessed via the ELO or the Reactive Support Call-off contract).

Procedure for obtaining support

1. LA identifies inspection campaign and timetable. This should include an estimate of the resource needed from HSL (both type of support and duration).
2. LA discusses this with their PM and obtains their support.
3. PM contacts HSL.
4. HSL and LA work together to agree the work needed. This can be by phone, electronically or meeting.
5. HSL completes of the job specification form and sends it to the LA for their agreement to the work.
6. LA signs the form and sends it to the PM for authorisation.
7. PM signs the form and returns it to the HSL project leader, copied to the Secretariat.

Final note

The S&T Panel nominally allocated £30,000 per region for PM’s to use as appropriate. If there are a significant number of requests for such support, then it may be that the S&T Panel or PM’s will have to develop criteria that have to be applied to further proposals. The possible need for this will be closely monitored during summer/autumn 2006.

Contacts

• Mark White at HSL, mark.white@hsl.gov.uk
• Graham Bell at HSE/LAU, graham.bell@hse.gsi.gov.uk
• Your local Partnership Manager