Agenda item

The Committee considered a report on Environmental Health Performance and Enforcement. The report listed the key issues and activities undertaken by the service in 2020 – 21. 

The Environmental Health service comprised four teams – Food & Safety; Environmental Protection; Environmental Services; and Licensing Administration.  The report compared key activities over the past two or three years and outlined some of the main projects or investigations:

Food & Safety – key projects had included participation and promotion of the National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.  A large part of work undertaken by this service was in relation to Covid including investigations; track and trace; promoting Covid safe measures; this had included carrying out investigations into 305 outbreaks.

Environmental Protection – the main projects carried out by this service had included air quality work but the majority of the focus had been on Walley’s Quarry landfill odour investigations.

Licensing Administration Team – main projects had included a review of Licensing Act Policy and review of Taxi Licensing Policy as well as ensuring vehicles licensed during Covid had been inspected for safety.

Environmental Services – some of the main projects included using Anti-Social Behaviour powers to resolve dog-related nuisance, through the issue of Community Protection Notices and Fixed Penalties; and taking enforcement action where residents were not taking appropriate action to control infestations. 

The priorities for the current year included Walley’s Quarry, Air Quality to deliver compliance with the Ministerial Direction and Covid work.  The department would also continue with planned work, undertake reactive work as well as manage the backlog of work. 

Members raised queries and issues including:

·         What were ‘pavement licences’?  This was explained as an initiative to support businesses by enabling the serving of food and beverages on the pavement and had now been extended to September 2022

·         What were high risk food premises?  These were where vulnerable people were being served or were high risk such as meat production.  There were not a high number of premises affected and this workload had been reduced during the pandemic as a number of premises had been closed

·         Was there a hotspot for flytipping?  There were no specific hotspots but it was an issue across the borough

·         One priority was noted as taxi enforcement operations with partner agencies.  What was the situation with licensed vehicles from outside the borough operating within the borough and what was the partnership working?  It was confirmed that the council could only take enforcement action against its own drivers.   However, one piece of enforcement work would involve linking with other councils or police to do vehicle safety checks or work looking at ‘plying for hire’.  Any issues not related to borough licences could be referred to the relevant council if necessary.  The number of vehicles licensed from other councils that were operating within the borough was not known.   If trends were identified then the possibility of joint initiatives with other local authorities could be explored.   

·         The number of RIDDOR accident notifications appeared high.  The committee was advised that this category covered accidents that resulted in 7+ day’s absence from work and often was a result of slips, trips or falls. 

·         Was there additional support from Government to address the additional work arising due to Covid?  There had been additional funding which was being coordinated by the County Council and this had been used to obtain additional support including recruiting environmental health officers. 

·         Did the service have enough resource particularly with the pressures of additional workload arising from Covid and Walley’s Quarry?  There had been an ongoing need to prioritise and as shown in the report, there had been some backlog in various workloads.  There had been issues with resource and also difficulties in recruitment of qualified staff, this was a national issue.  Some agency staff had been appointed to help with some workstreams.  Management Team were aware of the pressures on the environmental services section and supportive. 

RESOLVED: that:

(a)  The report be received; and

(b)  The priorities in the Work Plan 2021 – 2022 be supported.