I shall be brief. The clause defines the core role of the primary authority as giving “advice and guidance” to the business for which it is the primary authority and to other local authorities regarding how they should regulate the business. Therefore, it is a three-way relationship between the business and what we are calling enforcing authorities in the Bill. This clause allows the primary authority to be the business’s first port of call for advice on enforcement issues with national implications and allows the primary authority to make recommendations about the handling of particular issues that arise in its work to other local authorities.

Under subsection (2), a business and its primary authority may make arrangements to manage their partnership. The Bill does not prescribe what should be included in such an arrangement, but it may include, for example, a memorandum of understanding setting out the rights and obligations of each party. When a business and a primary authority choose to make arrangements, the primary authority must have regard to guidance issued by LBRO. The clause sets out the advice and guidance function of primary authorities, which will be an important part of their work.