Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Environmental Health and Licensing Manager.

Place Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 12 June 2017 and its comments will be reported.

The Interim Director Public Realm presented the report seeking approval for the adoption of the Environmental Health and Licensing Statutory Service Plan 2017/18. The Statutory Service Plan sets out the Council’s regulatory function in respect of food safety, health and safety, licensing, environmental permitting and other statutory functions over the forthcoming year. 

The Leader and Members expressed their thanks to the Environmental Health and Licensing Manager and his team for their hard work which made a difference to the residents of and visitors to Exeter.

Place Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 12 June 2017 and its comments were reported.

RECOMMENDED that Council approve:-

(1)          the Statutory Service Plan; and

(2)          authorise the Environmental Health and Licensing Manager to change the Statutory Service Plan in the light of any centrally issued guidance and/or to meet operational needs.

To consider the report of the Environmental Health and Licensing Manager.

The Environmental Health and Licensing Manager presented a report which sought approval for the adoption of the Environmental Health and Licensing Statutory Service Plan 2017/18. The Statutory Service Plan sets out the Council’s regulatory function in respect of food safety, health and safety, licensing, environmental permitting and other statutory functions over the forthcoming year. The Food Standards Agency Framework Agreement required the Council to produce a Food Law Enforcement Plan (referred to as the Enforcement Plan). The key aim of the plan was to demonstrate how the Council will fulfil its regulatory obligations in respect of its food safety service. A draft copy of the plan was available on the Council’s website, in the Members’ Room, or available on request.

The Environmental Health and Licensing Manager highlighted some of the challenges his team had face during 2016/17:-

·         The several large fires across the city, and the out of office support provided;

·         Service inspections of 618 food businesses representing 99.5% of the total;

·         There had been 4,465 Service requests received for food safety, health and safety regulation, infectious disease control, air quality and other service requests. There had been 450 anti-social behaviour cases dealt with;

·         The inclusion of CCTV in taxis and the prosecution of four drivers operating Hackney Carriages without a licence;

·         The Best Bar None Scheme had won an award for the most innovative scheme;

·         Improvements to public communication using new media outlets.

The Environmental Health and Licensing Manager discussed how his team had been raising awareness of child exploitation to increase understanding of this modern day slavery and identify where it could happen.

He discussed several of the priorities for 2017/18, which included the development of a strong community safety partnership, developing a sustainable city, to maintain a high standard in food safety, promoting safer workplaces, enhancing safety of the night time economy, Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing, development of a strong Exeter Business Against Crime (EBAC) Partnership and the implementation of the Public Spaces Protection Order for Exeter City Centre.

In response to Members’ questions, the Environmental Health and Licensing Manager:-

·         Discussed the future of the help zone, which he was hoping that partners would be able to get up and running from September;

·         Discussed the work around modern slavery and child sexual exploitation;

·         The new media outlets used for public communications would be the use of social media, raising awareness of education sessions and schemes being delivered by the service.

The Chair and Members expressed their thanks to the Environmental Health and Licensing Manager and his team for their hard work during 2016/17.

The Place Scrutiny Committee supported and requested Executive to recommend approval by Council of the Statutory Service Plan, and the Environmental Health and Licensing Manager be authorised to change the Statutory Service Plan in the light of centrally issued guidance and/or to meet operational needs.