Agenda item

(To receive a report from Mark Keal, Head of Trading Standards, which invites the Committee to consider and comment on the delivery of the Trading Standards Service in 2022-2023)  

The Committee considered a report from Mark Keal, Head of Trading Standards, which provided details of work undertaken by the Trading Standards Service during the financial year 2022/2023, and included data submitted in the Association of Chief Trading Standards Officers annual Impacts and Outcomes return.

The Committee was advised of the background to the report; the strategic priorities for 2022/2023; the outcomes and activity against the strategic priorities in 2022/2023; supporting the local economy; promoting health and wellbeing; officer development; managing intelligence and data; and balancing the budget.

In conclusion, it was noted that the Trading Standards Service had effectively balanced competing demands on its resources to deliver positive outcomes across its strategic priorities.

During consideration of this item, some of the following comments were noted:

·       Thanks were extended to officers for a very detailed report;

·       The Committee was advised that a closure order was a temporary measure, but the order closed the premises and prevented the premises from trading for three months.  It was noted further that if the lease was reassigned during that period, the premises would not automatically reopen, as that would require an application to the court to get the order removed.  It was highlighted that if trading standards felt that the lease was being passed on to someone who was going to carry on in the same line of trade, then further objections could be made at the end of the three-month period. 

·       The Committee was advised that the National Association of Trading Standards Officers had done some work around licensing for vapes and tobacco as it was felt that they should be licensed together;

·       There was recognition that the 30% failure rate pertaining to the purchasing of vapes from 40 individual premises was disappointing.  It was felt that the reason for this was due to lack of education amongst businesses. The Committee noted that over a hundred business advice packs had been sent to potential sellers.  It was noted further that where an underage individual case was identified, the individual business would be targeted;

·       An explanation was provided as to how the optimity calculator worked.  The Committee noted that information was provided from the national trading standards team relating to people who had been victimised by scams.  This information was then passed on to local authorities as part of their monitoring.  The council was then able to take information gathered from victims it visited to add into the calculation, which then worked out an overall calculation;

·       Confirmation was provided that mobile units who were selling fireworks were licensed and that those licenses were provided by local district councils in whose area the seller was operating.  It was noted that the license covered the health and safety aspects associated with this particular product;

·       The importance of partnership working to the trading standards service, and the gathering of data from people experiencing difficulties.  It was highlighted that the Committee would be receiving a report at its 31 October 2023 meeting relating to scams and fraud, which would also be detailing the collective efforts of the trading standards team, Lincolnshire Police and the Community Safety team in this regard; and

·       With regard to scams in Lincolnshire, it was felt that Lincolnshire was probably not too different to other areas.  It was however highlighted that isolation and loneliness did play a part in scams, as sometimes this contact was the only contact older people received.  It was noted that work was being done to educate carers and other organisations who met those who were isolated, so that visits could be made, and some face-to-face advice provided.  The Committee noted further that 30% of the population of Lincolnshire were over the age of 65 and were therefore likely to be scammed.  The Committee was advised that from a public health perspective that older people who had been the victims of scams were 2.4 times more likely to enter residential care as a result.

The Chairman on behalf of the Committee extended his thanks to the presenters.

RESOLVED

1.      That the comments raised in relation to this item be received.

2.      That assurance be received on the performance and delivery of the Trading Standards Service in 2022/23.