To consider a monitoring report against approved service plans. (TO FOLLOW).
Contact:K Lawson 388291
Minutes:
With the assistance of a report by the Commercial Team Leader (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Committee received a performance update on progress made against the Council’s Food Safety and Health and Safety Service Plans during the period 1st April to 31st March 2016. Members were reminded that the two plans collectively describe how the Council discharges its duty as a ‘Food Authority’ and a health and safety ‘Enforcing Authority’.
By way of introduction, the Commercial Team Leader drew attention to the significant reduction in the number of scheduled inspections of food businesses in 2015/16, compared to the target within the Food Safety Plan. The Committee were advised that this was a result of an increase of the number of new food businesses within the district and a greater than expected number of food related service requests and complaints. This had included a fatal accident investigation, a ‘food recall’ relating to a Huntingdon food business and a higher than anticipated level of formal enforcement actions being undertaken. In addition there had been a loss of resource as a result of an unexpected long-term sickness absence within the team.
In reviewing the monitoring information that had been provided, Members commented upon the significant reduction in the target for planned food hygiene inspections for category A-D businesses from 450 in 2015/16 to 300 in 2016/17. Having sought clarification as to the reasons and rationale for this change, the Committee were advised that there was an expectation that the number of new businesses within the District would continue at a high level and given that the Team had increased their commitment to other activities it was important to avoid raising expectations. Officers reiterated that routine inspections were only one small part of the service which the Commercial Team delivers and that the team had significantly increased its commitment to Food, Water and Environmental sampling, as a legitimate alternative to routine inspections.
The Commercial Team Leader explained that if the demand continues to increase, radical changes in service delivery may be required. Members noted that for 2016/17 a system had already been introduced whereby a number of Category D premises would not receive a routine full scoring inspection.
With regard to Food sampling, comment was made regarding the recent press coverage concerning E-coli in mixed salad leaves and the Commercial Team Leader indicated that he would expect the team to focus on food sampling in this area in the next month to respond to public interest. The Head of Community drew Members attention to a recent BBC programme, which had demonstrated findings that may not have been made during a routine inspection. In response to a question by a Member, the Committee went onto discuss the co-ordinated approach which was required when food sampling for a nationwide provider and the ways in which the Authority make decisions on whether to target larger providers or those who utilise very local resources.
In response to a question concerning the National Food Hygiene Rating System, the Committee were advised that the Food Standards Agency were currently considering the potential to levy a charge on those businesses who required re-inspection. It was intended that any fees would be retained by the local Authority. Having noted that the Authority had been selected to take part in a three-month pilot project, it was agreed that an update should be presented to their next meeting in November 2016.
Whereupon and having noted that the monitoring report for the first quarter of 2016/17 was expected shortly, it was
RESOLVED
that the monitoring report against the 2015-16 Food Safety and Health and Safety Services Plans be received and noted.
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