Primary Authority Partnership Fees (2025-26)
Primary Authority is a statutory scheme established by the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2009. It allows an eligible business to form a legally recognised partnership with a single local authority in relation to the provision of tailored advice, guidance, and assistance relating to regulatory compliance.
Partnerships are available to any type of business, whether starting out or established, as well as other types of organisations such as charities and trade associations.
The scheme offers the chance to remove the perceived divide between local authority regulators and business. No longer do you need to struggle with regulation and enforcement. We can offer a variety of advice and services under the umbrella of Primary Authority, giving you the peace of mind it is legal and compliant.
Warwick District Council covers a wide range of regulatory disciplines from Health & Safety, Food Safety, Environmental Protection, Pollution Control, Public Health & Safety and General Licensing. We have a team of widely experienced specialist officers who can provide advice and assistance in regard to regulatory matters.
Let us, the regulator helps your business thrive by offering:
- A dedicated case officer to oversee the partnership
- Named contacts to ensure consistency
- Agreed response times for regulatory enquiries and support
- Site visits, comprehensive reports
- A service level to suit your needs and budget
- Specialist officers with current knowledge and a wealth of experience in regulation
- Assured advice that you can rely on - this is expert opinion which is applicable across England, and which other local authorities must take account of when carrying out inspections or dealing with non-compliance
- Primary Authority is charged on a cost recovery basis, and is non-profit making
A Primary Authority agreement with Warwick District Council will be for a fixed number of hours of chargeable advice per year with a minimum of two hours per contract. On set up an additional charge of three hours will be payable to cover the time taken for initial contract set up and thereafter the time taken for an annual contract review. These hours will be pre-allocated and are non-refundable if not used.
How much does it cost?
Primary Authority partnerships are offered on a pre-paid package basis and all new Primary Authority partnerships will be subject to the below fees. All existing partnerships will be reviewed and offered a new package. Fees will be reviewed on a yearly basis in line with inflation.
| Annual package | What’s included | Prices, paid in advance. No VAT applicable. |
|---|---|---|
| One-off set-up fee | Three (3) hours of officer time, to include preliminary scoping and set up meetings | £366 |
| Minimum Package | Two (2) hours of business advice and support | £244 |
| Small Package | Three (3) hours of business advice and support | £348 (Includes 5% discount) |
| Medium Package | Twelve (12) hours of business advice and support | £1,318 (Includes 10% discount) |
| Large Package | Twenty-four (24) hours of business advice and support | £2,488) (Includes 15% discount) |
| Super Package | Thirty-five (35) hours of business advice and support | £3,416) (Includes 20% discount) |
| Bespoke (as agreed) | For bespoke packages of more than 35 hours we can offer discounts. The amount of discount will depend on the quantity of hours purchased. | Discount negotiable on our standard £122 per hour fee. |
| Hours over contract and none Primary Authority bespoke business advice | Primary Authority business support/advice outside of the time remaining | £122 per hour fee. |
Invoices are issued before 30 April for the respective financial year. New partnerships joining part-way through the financial year will be charged pro rata (full months only)
Other expenses
There is no charge for travelling time within the Warwick District. Travel to premises outside of the district will be charged from the border at the current HMRC rate (45 pence per mile). If more convenient and cost-effective modes of transport are applicable, this can be agreed as part of the Primary Authority partnership agreement.
Where travel involves an officer having to stay away from home overnight charges will be agreed on a case-by-case basis.
Chargeable time for advice and support more than the prepaid package
Time will be charged when a visit commences or as part of delivering Primary Authority business support/advice outside of the time remaining (the business will be notified from the outset if this is likely). Standard fees are calculated on a cost recovery basis at £122 per hour (2025-26), which is VAT exempt.
Dealing with complaints or unplanned events
If business advice and support is necessary as part of dealing with unforeseen circumstances such as a product safety recall, food safety alert or other serious issue, the business will be notified that the work undertaken will be recorded against the time remaining. For matters where there is a serious public health risk and where the time to deal with the matter takes you over your contracted hours, costs will be charges at the standard hourly rate.
Primary Authority businesses will be notified when nearing the end of their packaged time and an agreement as to how the business wants to proceed will be finalised and reviewed where necessary.
Packages
The package will be reviewed annually, and additional packages can be purchased including a bespoke option as agreed.
Unused time
By arranging the number of hours in advance, you will be securing the time of your Primary Authority officer for the coming year, as well as securing the other benefits of being in a Primary Authority Partnership. These hours are pre-allocated and non-refundable and will not rollover to the following year.