'Here to help, not prosecute'

WE RE here to help, not to prosecute, Huntingdonshire District Council assured local businesses last week. Although the council has court action as a final sanction as a regulatory authority, it preferred to work with businesses to achieve compliance, sai

WE'RE here to help, not to prosecute, Huntingdonshire District Council assured local businesses last week.

Although the council has court action as a final sanction as a regulatory authority, it preferred to work with businesses to achieve compliance, said Malcolm Sharp, director of environment and community services.

"How can we work together to make Huntingdonshire a better place for us all and for future generations," he asked at a seminar on business regulation. "But to do that we have to put in place endless strategies, for example our core planning strategy, the Huntingdonshire local investment framework, local economic strategy, environment strategy and cultural strategy.

"And we need to do a lot more work on what investment is needed to accompany the growth." The investment framework, to be published in the autumn, "will be a real practical document," he promised.

He said that between 10,000 and 20,000 new jobs would be needed in the district by 2021. "If anybody doubts the determination of the district council to support local business, they have only to look at the Creative Exchange set up in St Neots to support the growth of creative industries."

He sympathised with companies that felt overwhelmed by regulation, but stressed that historically it had been introduced because it was needed.

"Regulation is about sitting alongside local businesses and helping. It's not just about prosecuting firms. We are genuinely here to help you through the complex maze of regulatory services.