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Fitness for Purpose accommodation scheme hailed a success
A report published today by the Local Government Association and supported by the DCMS claims that a pilot scheme promoting better inspection and regulation of tourism accommodation has been an initial success.
The Fitness for Purpose – lessons from local authorities report details the results of the Fitness for Purpose scheme which was piloted by local authorities in Blackpool, Bournemouth, Camden, Canterbury, Greenwich and West Sussex.
The programme was designed to reassure tourists that hotels, guesthouses and bed and breakfast accommodation meet minimum legal and safety standards while also giving them the support they need to raise standards in essential areas.
As well as cracking down on those which fail to meet standards, the scheme also offers a ‘lighter regulatory touch to well-run businesses which already comply with minimum standards’.
Tourism minister, Richard Caborn, said: “In an increasingly competitive tourism market, quality is everything. Both overseas and domestic visitors expect high standards and they are right to do so.
“Today’s report shows that Fitness for Purpose has real promise in helping deliver these standards. It will help ensure the basics, like minimum fire, food, health and safety and trading standards, are in place. I hope it will provide the foundations on which to drive up standards in the future.”
The pilots took place between April 2003 and January 2004. Where serious non-compliance was found, action was taken including serving improvement notices, referrals to the fire and rescue services and voluntary closure.
The five key areas addressed were providing better customer protection, making regulatory standards clear for businesses and consumers, educating businesses better about their obligations, co-ordinating inspections more effectively and allowing more self-assessment for well-run businesses.
Cllr Sir William Lawrence, chair of the Local Government Association’s Tourism Executive, said: “The success of these pilots demonstrates what can be achieved when local government is given the opportunity to be innovative and test out new ways of working.
“It shows a real willingness to bring together council services in a collaborative way in order to support a key business sector while improving the experiences of visitors,” he said. Details: www.lga.gov.uk
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