Central committees

LAU has two central committees, each with their own remit.

The HSE/LA Enforcement Liaison Committee (HELA):

ensures that health and safety legislation is enforced in a consistent way among local authorities, and between local authorities and HSE
promotes the achievement of good health and safety standards and practice.

The HSE/Local Government Panel (HSE/LGP):

promotes strategic dialogue on local, central and devolved government issues that impact on health and safety regulatory functions
reviews the effectiveness and performance of the partnership between the enforcing authorities the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities (LAs).

HELA

HELA is the Health and Safety Executive/Local Authority Enforcement Liaison Committee.

HELA was set up in 1975 to provide effective liaison between the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authorities (LAs). It seeks to ensure that health and safety legislation is enforced in a consistent way among LAs, and between LAs and HSE. HELA provides a national forum for discussion and exchange of information on enforcement of legislation. It promotes the achievement of good health and safety standards and practice.

Many of HELA's achievements since 1975 have been the result of co-operation between LAs and HSE. This fruitful partnership continues to grow, as LAs and HSE work more closely together nationally and locally to develop a greater synergy between their health and safety programmes, with common objectives.

HELA is supported and administered by the Local Authority Unit (LAU). For further information please contact LAU at HSE, 7SW Rose Court, 2 Southwark Bridge, London SE1 9HS Tel: 0207 717 6438 Fax: 020 7717 6418

HSE/LGP

The HSE/Local Government Panel (HSE/LGP) promotes strategic dialogue on local, central and devolved government issues that impact on health and safety regulatory functions. It also reviews the effectiveness and performance of the partnership between the enforcing authorities the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities (LAs).

Meetings are held twice a year and are chaired jointly by the Chairman of LACORS and the Chair of HSE. The current Chairs are Councillor Geoffrey Theobald OBE, LACORS and Judith Hackitt CBE, HSE. Meetings are hosted and chaired alternately by HSC and the LGP.

The HSE/LGP membership comprises LA elected members from England, Scotland and Wales. These members represent the: