Part 2: The Regulator and its functions Staffing etc Section 13: Local authorities and fire and rescue authorities: assistance etc to regulator; Section 14: FSO authorised persons: assistance etc to regulator; and Section 15: Provision of assistance etc: supplementary Background
Section 13, section 14 and section 15 are new provisions.
	The Independent Review found that major regulatory decisions on higher-risk buildings could be improved by bringing together Health and Safety Executive expertise, local authority building control expertise (and where appropriate, expertise from the private sector) and fire safety expertise from fire and rescue authorities. Section 13 and section 14 are intended to enable the Building Safety Regulator to secure the involvement of local authorities and fire and rescue authorities in decision-making, to secure the objectives of the Independent Review.
	For Crown premises, FSO authorised persons (otherwise known as Crown Premises Fire Safety Inspectors) act as the enforcement authority under the Fire Safety Order (see article 25(1)(e)). Therefore, it is appropriate that for Crown premises within scope of the regime, the Building Safety Regulator works closely with FSO authorised persons in decision-making on those buildings.
Example
When the Building Safety Regulator acts as the building control authority for higher-risk buildings, the Building Safety Regulator can use these provisions to put in place a "multi-disciplinary team" including a fire safety expert from the relevant Fire and Rescue Service (or a FSO authorised person for Crown premises) and a building control specialist from the relevant local authority. Before taking key regulatory decisions such as agreeing that construction can start after reviewing full plans at Gateway two, the Building Safety Regulator would be able to take expert advice from the fire and rescue authority and local authority.
Under its general powers (notably new section 11A Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974), the Building Safety Regulator could also secure expertise from the private sector (where appropriate) to support the work of the multi-disciplinary team.
The power to direct would be used in exceptional circumstances. Local authorities and fire and rescue authorities will be under duties to cooperate with the Building Safety Regulator (and it with them) under Schedule 3 in respect of the Building Safety Regulator’s building functions for higher-risk buildings and any relevant function of the authorities.
It is expected that the Building Safety Regulator will work cooperatively with fire and rescue authorities and local authorities to secure support from them. If the local authority or fire and rescue authority in the area where the higher-risk building is located is unable to provide support, the Building Safety Regulator could seek support from other fire and rescue authorities and local authorities whose capability is less stretched, or from the private sector.
If there were a consistent problem with a fire and rescue authority or local authority not being able to provide support (for instance an unwillingness to employ any staff with the requisite competence), the Building Safety Regulator might consider that direction was necessary to secure its ability to effectively regulate higher-risk buildings in that area.