Issue - meetings

Recommendations on page 16

RESOLVED – That

1)    Executive notes the content of the Food Safety Service Plan and the Health and Safety Law Enforcement Service Plan.

2)    Executive approves the charges set out in this report for re-inspections and re-scoring under the Food Hygiene Rating System and in relation to the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.

3)    the proposed fees and charges be kept under review and any proposed changes considered during annual budget processes.

Executive considered the report of the Portfolio Holder – Street Scene & Environmental Health which presented the 2019/20 Service Plans for Food Safety and Health and Safety Law Enforcement. The report also advised on the need to ensure appropriate charges were in place for re-scoring of food hygiene and animal licensing inspections, and recommended introducing charging for inspection re-scores available through the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme and the Animal Activity Licensing inspection regime

The income from the charges for re-scoring activity were to be used to cover the cost of providing the services, as well as introduction of the mobile service inspection software.

Members queried the Council’s risk rating system for categorising food premises. A response was to be provided after the meeting.

It was agreed that Executive pass its thanks to the Environmental Health service staff for their hard work and improvements already achieved in their service as part of the on-going review.

Moved by Councillor Deborah Watson and seconded by Councillor Liz Smyth

RESOLVED – That

1)    Executive notes the content of the Food Safety Service Plan and the Health and Safety Law Enforcement Service Plan.

2)    Executive approves the charges set out in this report for re-inspections and re-scoring under the Food Hygiene Rating System and in relation to the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.

3)    the proposed fees and charges be kept under review and any proposed changes considered during annual budget processes.

REASON FOR DECISION:

The food and safety service plans were documents required to be produced by the Council’s regulating bodies for food safety and health and safety law enforcement.  These plans were required to be presented to Members to ensure oversight of the work programmes and to ensure awareness of the Council’s responsibilities at a senior decision making level. It also enabled the Council to effectively prioritise resources to these statutory and essential public health and safety functions whilst maximising efficiency.  

Charging for all re-assessment services was also preferred. The additional requirements to provide a re-assessment for businesses placed a previously unrealised burden on the Council and revenue budgets were focussed on providing statutory services. 

Charging may assist in managing demand whilst supporting businesses who wish to improve standards.  The charges were to cover the cost of providing these services, which could be invested in additional support staff and services.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED:

If the Council did not charge for re-assessment services, statutory intervention and licensing programmes would have been put at increased risk of future failure due to the potential for essential resources to be diverted.

Strategic Director – Place