Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Interim Joint Director – Environment, Waste and Operations (SL).

Agreed:

RESOLVED that the Food Law and Health and Safety Service Plan 2024-25 be supported by the Executive.

RECOMMENDED that Council:-

(1) approve the Food Law and Health and Safety Service Plan 2024/25; and

(2) grant authority to the Head of Environment and Waste to change the plan in the light of national guidance and/or to meet operational needs.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

Councillor Wright was absent from the room for duration of this item.

The Executive received the report which sought approval to adopt the statutory Food Law and Health and Safety Service Plan 2024-25, which set out the Council’s regulatory function in respect of food safety and health and safety over the forthcoming year.

Particular reference was made to:-

·         99% of food businesses were broadly compliant with the food hygiene law and Exeter now had more food businesses in the city than in it’s history;

·         when food sampling, the team was specifically looking for issues, and having a 90% satisfactory rating for food samples was a positive reflection of the high standard of food businesses; and

·         an excellent amount of work was undertaken by officers as detailed in the report, to address health and safety priorities.

Cllr Mitchell as opposition group leaders spoke on the item and enquired on the home delivery service and whether there was any relating to food prepared on-site and for when it was delivered to a home?

In response to the question raised, the Interim Director – Environment, Waste and Operations (SL) advised that businesses had a responsibility to ensure that they were providing food at a suitable temperature and critical control points were measured. Supermarkets had specialised delivery vans for refrigeration and had responsibility, but the Council did investigate issues as required.

The Leader moved the recommendations, which was seconded by Councillor Williams, voted upon, and CARRIED.

RESOLVED that the Food Law and Health and Safety Service Plan 2024-25 be supported by the Executive.

RECOMMENDED that Council:-

(1) approve the Food Law and Health and Safety Service Plan 2024/25; and

(2) grant authority to the Head of Environment and Waste to change the plan in the light of national guidance and/or to meet operational needs.