Agenda item

The Committee gave consideration to the report and appendices (at pages 9 - 19) as delivered and summarised by the Interim Environmental Health Team Leader which should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

The Chair enquired as to how the Food Safety and Health and Safety Service Plan (“the Plan”) compared to other local Regulatory Authorities in Leicester/shire.

The Interim Environmental Health Team Leader advised that was no significant difference in terms of the Plan’s substantive content: however, the number of premises administered under the Plan was said to be comparatively lower due to the relative size of the Borough.

With reference to the services’ diagram (at page 12), the Chair enquired as to whether the Environmental Health Officer, Mr Robert Watson, was assigned to ‘Commercial’ or ‘Environment’ and whether the Technical Officer and Pest Control Assistant were in-post.

The Interim Environmental Health Team Leader advised that Mr Watson was assigned to ‘Environment ‘and that the Technical Officer and Pest Control Assistant were in-post.

With reference to Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) (at page 15), the Chair enquired as to how often the 13 premises rated ‘1’ or ‘2’ were to be inspected.

The Interim Environmental Health Team Leader stated that premises were ordinarily inspected on a six-monthly or annual basis as per the interventions chart (at page 15). He advised that those 13 premises in question were to be revisited on a more frequent basis with a view to offer guidance and support. He noted that a number of enforcement actions were available where necessary to ensure safety compliance.

The Chair enquired as to whether premises holders were under a legal obligation to publically-display their FHRS rating.

The Interim Environmental Health Team Leader advised that no such obligation was incumbent upon premises holders in England at the present time.

The Chair sought further clarification as to what was meant by ‘formal action will be taken where possible’ (emphasis added) (at page 16).

The Interim Environmental Health Team Leader advised that a breach in law must first be established to instigate formal action vis-a-vis a negligible fall below the requisite standards.

The Chair enquired as why the exact number of health and safety premises for which the Council were responsible could not be ascertained.

The Interim Environmental Health Team Leader stated that there was no registration scheme for premises, and that the estimate of approximately 700 premises was based on historical data.

The Chair enquired as to whether Leicester Racecourse, Oadby categorised as a “large event” under the Plan’s remit (at page 16).

The Interim Environmental Health Team Leader advised that the Racecourse did not categorise as such due to its regularity of meetings.

Councillor G A Boulter stated that there were a number of events in the Borough which exceeded 1,500 attendees and therefore required individual consideration.

The Interim Environmental Health Team Leader advised that this County-aspect of concern pertained to large concerts/festivals and not events generally attended by the public at large. He stated that individual consideration would be given to concerned events in the Borough in consultation with the Licensing Department.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The Borough of Oadby and Wigston Food Safety and Health and Safety Service Plan 2016/2017 (as set out at Appendix 1) be approved.