Primary Authority advice

A primary authority partnership provides access to expert regulatory advice through a single point of contact.

What is Primary Authority?

A primary authority partnership is a legal partnership between a regulator, such as a local authority, and a business or group of businesses (for example a trade association). Partnerships are open to any business regulated by environmental health, trading standards and licensing regulations.

Through a primary authority partnership, you can receive reliable and authoritative advice tailored to the needs of your business on how to meet your legal responsibilities.

Assured advice provided by your primary authority has a legal standing. Other local councils must take it into account and contact the advising authority if there is non-compliance issue or they receive a complaint about your business.

Benefits to your business:

• Specialist scrutiny of your processes and practices in a safe environment, highlighting any deficiencies and focusing on the areas of high risk for your business.

• Have confidence that you are complying with the law – and protecting your customers – because you are receiving advice from the very people who carry out enforcement.

• Reduce the risk of costly mistakes – our experts help you get it right first time.

• Save time - draw on established means of meeting requirements of the law from regulators who know and understand the best ways to do it, giving you more time to work on your core activities.

• Improve your reputation – access to the primary authority partner logo and recognition of robust compliance procedures.

Inspection plans

As part of a primary authority partnership, a national inspection plan can be produced by the primary authority. This is of particular benefit to businesses that have numerous sites throughout the country. An inspection plan can be used by your business to gain unique insight into the effectiveness of the implementation of your policies and practices at your premises throughout the country. It can also be used to avoid local authority officers spending time checking parts of your business that are already covered by Primary Authority advice.

What does it cost?

Advice is provided at a cost recovery hourly rate of £80, which can offer considerable savings on consultancy fees. Businesses are required to sign-up for a minimum of 15-hours per financial year and a payment plan can be implemented to help you spread the cost of the advice throughout the financial year.

How do I access it?

If you have any questions or are interested in a primary authority partnership, please contact Tim Cook by email at timothy.cook@salford.gov.uk or visit the Primary Authority Overview guidance on GOV.UK for more details.

This page was last updated on 14 October 2026