Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Head of Environmental Health Services.

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at its meeting on 7 June 2011 and comments will be reported.

(Report circulated)

The report of the Head of Environmental Health Services was submitted, informing Members of the Council’s performance against the previous year’s Food Law Enforcement Plan, and seeking approval for the adoption of the Food Law Enforcement Plan 2011/12, which sets out the Council’s regulatory function in respect of food safety over the forthcoming year.

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at their meeting of 7 June 2011 and their comments and support were noted.

Executive recommended that Council:-

(1)        approves the Food Law Enforcement Plan 2011/12, which includes the revised Food Safety Enforcement Policy; and

(2)        authorises the Head of Environmental Health Services to change the Food Law Enforcement Plan in the light of centrally issued guidance and/or to meet operational needs.

The report of the Head of Environmental Health Services was submitted, informing Members of the Council’s performance against the previous year’s Food Law Enforcement Plan, and seeking approval for the adoption of the Food Law Enforcement Plan 2011/12, which sets out the Council’s regulatory function in respect of food safety over the forthcoming year.

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at their meeting of 7 June 2011 and their comments and support were noted.

RECOMMENDED that Council:-

(1)        approves the Food Law Enforcement Plan 2011/12, which includes the revised Food Safety Enforcement Policy; and

(2)        authorises the Head of Environmental Health Services to change the Food Law Enforcement Plan in the light of centrally issued guidance and/or to meet operational needs.

(Report circulated)

To consider the report of the Head of Environmental Health Services – report circulated

The Head of Environmental Health Services presented the report informing Members of the Council’s performance against the previous year’s Food Law Enforcement Plan and seeking approval for the adoption of the Food Law Enforcement Plan 2011/12 which set out the Council’s regulatory function in respect of food safety over the forthcoming year.

He responded as follows to Members’ queries:-

·         establishments which posed an immediate threat to food safety could be and had been closed by visiting Environmental Health Officers. During an inspection, where a number of issues had been identified, those with the greatest priority were identified for early action;

·         although there was a structured risk-based programme for visits by officers, all inspections were undertaken without prior notice. Exeter compared well with other areas and compliance rates were above 97%;

·         in respect of the food hygiene rating system (FHRS), establishments could ask for a further inspection after two months. They could also post their own comments on the FHRS web-site;

·         recent inspections of food stalls, etc., had been undertaken at both Exeter City FC and Exeter Chiefs; and

·         food safety courses were an important intervention tool and a recent course for child minders had proved very successful, reducing the need for inspection of low risk premises.

Scrutiny Committee - Community supported the report and requested Executive to recommend to Council:-

(1)        approval of the Food Law Enforcement Plan 2011/12, which included the revised Food Safety Enforcement Policy; and

(2)        authorisation of the Head of Environmental Health Services to change the Enforcement Plan, as necessary, in the light of centrally issued guidance and/or to meet operational needs.

(Report circulated)