Issue - meetings

The Service Manager (Environmental Health) introduced the report which gave an overview of the work carried out by Environmental Health. He highlighted the key points within the report and reminded Members that in February of 2024 the Council was placed on Stage 1 of the Food Standard Agency’s (FSA) Performance Improvement Process (PIP), which required the production of an action plan to address identified shortfalls. He said that following the approval and monitoring of this action plan he was pleased to report that the FSA had closed their engagement with the Council in December 2025.

The Service Manager (Environmental Health) answered questions regarding food premises, staffing resilience, performance assurance and other licensable activities.

Members were advised that all high-risk category A – C food premises were now being inspected within target times.

Members heard that the ‘deep dive’ review planned for the Environmental Health Department later in the year would include staff capacity and resilience, and that the team was currently being supported by both trainees and contractors (the latter as agreed by the former Chief Executive). 

Members were told that reporting data gave a better understanding of the pressures on the Department, and an early warning of any failures. The Service Manager (Environmental Health) said that, due to capacity, the monitoring was currently focussed upon core operational priorities.

Members heard that with regard to ‘other licensable activities’, such premises were both actively inspected and inspected reactive to complaints.     

The Service Manager (Environmental Health) said that he would provide further information about the next Environmental Health performance update to Members outside of the meeting and gave assurance that potential threats to the service were monitored by Leadership Team within the Corporate Risk Register.  

The Chair thanked the Service Manager (Environmental Health) for his report for his team’s work with the FSA, noting that the Committee had been kept fully informed of progress throughout the process. She welcomed the planned ‘deep dive’ of the Department and the Committee continuing to receive update reports.  

Councillor McAndrew said that he had several recommendations which he wished to be passed on to the Executive Member for Wellbeing.

The Committee Support Officer confirmed that if these recommendations were sent to her, she would forward these onto the Executive Member for Wellbeing.

It was moved by Councillor Cox and seconded by Councillor Marlow that the recommendations, as detailed, be approved. After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that (A) the performance of Environmental Health with regards to regulated and licenced activities pertaining to food premises be considered and scrutinised and any comments passed to the Executive Member for Wellbeing for consideration; and

(B) the performance of other activities regulated and licenced activities by Environmental Health be considered, and any comments passed to the Executive Member for Wellbeing for consideration.