Part 2: The Regulator and its functions Plans and reports Section 17: Strategic plan; and Section 18: Revised strategic plans Background
Section 11(5)(a)-(b) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1984 requires the Health and Safety Executive to submit particulars of what it proposes to do for the purposes of performing its functions, which must be approved by the Secretary of State and followed by the Health and Safety Executive. Under section 12(1) the Secretary of State may approve the Health and Safety Executive’s proposals with or without modifications.
	Schedule 1, paragraph 2 excludes building functions from the requirement under section 11(5)(a)-(b) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to ensure that this provision (section 17) applies exclusively to the Building Safety Regulator’s building functions. The rationale for creating a new requirement for a plan specifically relating to the Building Safety Regulator’s building functions is to reflect the importance and distinctiveness of the Health and Safety Executive’s new building functions, and to allow for the provision of consultation requirements (notably with the residents’ panel) appropriate to the building functions.
Example
The only specific requirement for the content of the strategic plan is that it must set out how the Building Safety Regulator proposes to carry out its building functions in the relevant period. The detail of the plan will be a matter for the Building Safety Regulator and Secretary of State to determine. The strategic plan will likely include information such as the Building Safety Regulator’s priorities for the period, its key performance and success criteria, and the key risks to delivery.
For its health and safety functions, the Health and Safety Executive publishes a more detailed business plan for each year to support delivery of the plan agreed by Ministers. While not a statutory requirement, it is expected that the strategic plan may be supported by a more detailed annual business plan for the building functions.