Issue - meetings

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

Place Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 14 June 2018 and its comments will be reported.

The Environmental Health and Licensing Manager presented the report seeking approval for the adoption of the Environmental Health and Licensing Statutory Service Plan 2018/19 which set 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 Environmental Health and Licensing Manager highlighted some of the challenges and achievements of the service during 2017/18:-

·         Food business inspections - a target of 96% achieved.

·         4,465 requests for the service including food safety, health and safety regulation, infectious disease control, air quality, environmental permitting, contaminated land, licensing and antisocial behaviours, statutory nuisance as well as staff supporting health promotion and training activities. 

·         342 antisocial behaviour cases, with a further 59 more complex cases which were all very time consuming for the service.

·         good levels of compliance with regards to CCTV coverage which became mandatory in all Exeter Hackney Carriage vehicles.

The Leader welcomed the work that the Council was undertaking in this area in particular the CCTV installation in Exeter Hackney Carriage vehicles.

In response to Member’s questions, the Environmental Health and Licensing Manager commented that the working relationships with partner agencies such as the Police and Fire Authorities and the voluntary sector had improved considerably over the past three years. The food business premises were inspected anything between six months and three years depending on their rating and if there were any reports to the Council.

Place Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 14 June 2018 and its comments were reported.

RECOMMENDED that Council approves:-

(1)          the Statutory Service Plan 2018/19; and

(2)          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.

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

The Environmental Health and Licensing Manager presented a report and sought approval for the adoption of the Environmental Health and Licensing Statutory Service Plan 2018/19, which 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 Environmental Health and Licensing Manager highlighted some of the challenges his team had faced during 2017/18:-

·         534 food inspections with 96% targeted for inspection 96% achieved despite the corporate restrictions and changes of personnel within the team.

·         a high number of sampling was undertaken with 52% of the 147 food samples taken being found to be unsatisfactory or borderline.

·         4,465 requests for the service including food safety, health and safety regulation, infectious disease control, air quality, environmental permitting, contaminated land, licensing and antisocial behaviours, statutory nuisance as well as staff supporting health promotion and training activities. 

·         342 antisocial behaviour cases, with a further 59 more complex cases which were all very time consuming for the service.

·         good levels of compliance of CCTV coverage which became mandatory in all Exeter Hackney Carriage vehicles.

He also highlighted several of the priorities for 2018/19.

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

·         the government has changed the requirements for mandatory licensing for properties in Multiple Occupation (HMO) from 1 October 2018. The change removes the three floors requirement which means that all properties that are rented have five or more occupants from two or more households will be licensable.

·        the recent Air Quality consultation exercise had been one of the most successful engagement exercises in terms of responses received. Once the responses had been assimilated it was also anticipated that the results of the consultation on the Air Quality Action Plan would come back to this Scrutiny Committee in November 2018.

·        a report presenting the annual monitoring report on air quality with data covering a number of years will be presented to the Scrutiny Committee meeting in September. This report (as in previous years) details the monitoring locations and additional monitoring locations that have been added.

Place Scrutiny Committee supported and requested Executive to recommend approval by Council of the Statutory Service Plan 2018/19, 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.