Agenda item

(To receive a report from Mark Keal, Head of Trading Standards, which provides the Committee with an update on the work undertaken by Lincolnshire County Council Trading Standards service in respect of Food Safety Standards Enforcement in the financial year 2022-2023. Paul Dolby, Senior Trading Standards Officer and Chad Saratoon, Principal Trading Standards Officer will also be in attendance for this item)

Consideration was given to a report from the Head of Trading Standards, which provided the Committee with an update on the work undertaken by the Council’s Trading Standards service in respect of Food Safety Standards enforcement in the financial year 2022/23.

The Senior Trading Standards Officer and the Principal Trading Standards Officer were also present for this item.

The Head of Trading Standards advised the Committee that following last year’s update, and the challenge from the Committee regarding the low number of inspections carried out, the team had looked at ways to improve their efficiency.  Part of the improvements had been to bring food officers together in one specialist team, to give the team more opportunity to focus on areas of work.  It was felt that inspections would be closer to 300 for 2024.  Thanks were extended in particular to Councillor Key for his earlier comments and for challenging the team.

During consideration of the report, the Committee raised the following comments:

·       There was recognition that the service would fall short of the number of interventions required under the Food Law Code of Practice.  The Committee was advised that getting additional qualified officers into the service was a challenge.  It was reported that there were a limited number of frontline officers who were fully food qualified; as a result the service was doing its best to train officers, as the service struggled to recruit officers with a food qualification.  The Committee noted that this was not just a challenge for Lincolnshire, as nationally there was a shortage of food qualified officers. One member expressed concern as to whether the service was being given the priority it needed as a statutory service. Reassurance was given that the situation was improving;

·       The Committee was advised that the service had established working arrangements with the District Councils and other regional trading standards services, as these partnerships were an effective means of sharing intelligence and best practice.  The Committee was advised further that six of the seven District Councils had signed up to the FSA electronic registration system which enabled the service to get notifications earlier regarding new businesses. It was noted also that regular meetings were held with District Council Environmental Health colleagues, and that work was ongoing with regard to an information sharing agreement, which was currently being drafted;

·       The Committee was advised that the service had a slightly different approach to apprenticeships in that the service recruited entry level trading standards officers to come into the service and attain a qualification.  The apprenticeship enabled individuals to attain a formally recognised trading standards qualification;

·       That all food complaints received by trading standards were reviewed on receipt by the service’s intelligence team and assessed in line with service objectives and documented Duty Officer guidance.  The Committee noted that searches could be made on individuals making repeated complaints/malicious comments, but confirmation was given that this did not happen very often;

·       Some concern was raised regarding the level of hygiene in some businesses.  The Committee was advised that this would be a matter for Environmental Health;

·       The Committee noted that as part of trading standards investigations, processes would be looked at to make sure that they were being followed.  Records were checked to make sure that people had signed off what they said they were going to sign off, and if a problem was then found, further action could then be taken.  The Committee noted further that some of the larger businesses invested in good quality systems, and as a result had robust policies and procedures in place;

·       Clarification was provided that the service covered the whole of the county, with officers based in the North and South of the county;

·       It was highlighted that the food allergy aspect of food safety was a shared responsibility with the Council and Environmental Health colleagues, each sharing information when problems were identified;

·       Officers were aware of the impact the cost of living was having on individuals, but there had been no evidence that businesses were being set up to get rid of old food. Officers agreed to looking into the issue with environmental health colleagues;

·       It was reported that there was lots of information for businesses to get advice regarding food allergies.  The Head of Trading Standards advised that it would be useful if individuals reported any issues they encountered i.e. when visiting a restaurant and they ordered food, and they were not asked whether they had an allergy. The Committee noted that from individuals reporting incidents follow up work can then be instigated.  The Committee noted further that trading standards had a variety of resources available for businesses, which provided comprehensive advice of what was required;

·       In relation to paragraph 8.1, clarification was sought as to the category of other food premises found to be non-compliant.  Officers agreed to look at the breakdown of the category;

·       A request was made for future reports to identify how may interventions the service should be making, and how many interventions were actually taking place, broken down into headings such as inspections, monitoring, surveillance and also information as to what sort of backlog had built up.  Officers agreed to look at how figures were presented going forward.  It was however highlighted that a new food risk assessment was due to be implemented during the summer that might have an impact on the categories.  It was suggested that as the service already had a backlog that a further report should be received in six months’ time rather than waiting for the annual report; and

·       One member highlighted that there was a need to raise the profile of Trading Standards within the authority as the service was an important statutory service.

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

RESOLVED

That the report on Trading Standards Food Activity 2022/23 be reviewed and that it be recorded that the Committee is satisfied with the delivery of food safety standards work undertaken by the Trading Standards Service, and that a further report be received at a frequency to be agreed.