To consider the monitoring report on the delivery of the Food Law Enforcement Plan and the Health and Safety Service Plan for the period 1st April 2019 to 31st January 2020.
Contact:M Bebbington - (01480) 387075
Minutes:
With the assistance of a report by the Acting Operational Manager (Business) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Committee received an update on progress against the delivery of work on the Council’s Food Law Enforcement and Health and Safety Service Plans during the period 1st April 2019 to 31st January 2020.
In general terms, the Committee were advised that continued vacant posts and the loss of the lead food officer had had an impact on targets and service delivery during the year. Attention was then drawn to the appendices within the report which contained the detailed performance information relating to the plans.
In terms of the detailed performance information, the Committee were advised that as a result of the staffing situation, priority had been given to higher risk interventions and complaints whilst providing business support to maintain a quality service. Members conveyed their appreciation to the team for the commitment during this difficult period.
In reviewing programmed activity against the Food Safety Service Plan, the Committee noted that progress against the number of programmed food hygiene inspections was currently at amber, this was a direct consequence of the way that inspections were structured. The Acting Operational Manager (Business) was optimistic that the highest risk inspections would be completed by the end of the financial year. Progress was also being made in business support functions following the recruitment of a new business support manager for the service.
Members commented on the activities within the Food Safety Plan which had been classified as ‘Red’. In response to which, the Acting Operational Manager (Business) reiterated that priority had been given to the highest risk activities / reactive work whereas the Alternative Enforcement Strategy for example dealt with the lowest risk food premises. Other proactive visits had been reduced for the same reason which had resulted in the red rating within the report.
Comment was made with regards to the references within the report to the UK leaving the EU and the potential impact on imported food controls for Local Authorities. Whilst this remained unclear at this stage, there could be a significant impact if there became an expectation that local authorities were required to inspect food export and import companies, as this was not currently required. The District Council was continuing to work with the countywide group to promote the risks to local authorities at a national level.
The Committee discussed the ongoing vacancies within the Environmental Health team and Members were advised that a technical lead food officer had now been appointed. It was intended to re-advertise the other vacant posts shortly. In response to questions from Members, the Committee were provided with the difficulties which had been encountered in appointing suitable qualified environmental health officers and the recent changes in the operation of the organisation which may make employment at the District Council more attractive, together with the use of alternative advertising methods to promote vacancies.
Whereupon, it was
RESOLVED
that progress on the delivery of the Service Plans for the period 1st April to 31st January 2020 be noted.
Supporting documents: