Agenda item

The Chair, Councillor Mrs L M Broadley, commended the exceptional work undertaken by the former Chair of the Committee, Councillor Mrs H E Loydall, and expressed her gratitude to the Member’s longstanding chairmanship.

The Committee gave consideration to the report and appendices (at pages 7 - 11) as delivered and summarised by the Community Safety and Environment Manager which should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

The Chair enquired as to: whether the charge of £150.00 (+ VAT) at paragraph 3.3. (page 8) was inclusive of all five visits to treat cockroach infestation; the comparable practice(s) of other local authorities in respect of dog control; and if dog owners were additionally liable to pay kennelling fees. The Member opined that the fees in respect of dog control may serve to deter dog owners from re-claiming their dogs.

The Community Safety and Environment Manager advised that stray dog control was a statutory duty incumbent upon all local authorities who operate identical, if not similar, practices. He confirmed that the charge of £150.00 (+ VAT) was fully inclusive and that additional knelling fees were payable if the need to kennel a dog arose. He noted that the existing Scale of Fees and Charges (“the Scale”) did not meet the present costs of delivering the services mentioned and otherwise served to further promote responsible dog ownership.

Councillor M H Charlesworth enquired as to the action taken in respect of squirrels. He further sought clarification as to ‘Copies of Register of Food Business’ (at page 10) and requested information upon: total income; the number of Environmental Health Officers (EHO’s); and the cost of the service vis-a-vis cost recovery.

The Community Safety and Environment Manager advised that squirrels, once captured, were humanely dispatched of. He further stated that the point of clarification and information sought by the Member were not immediately available at the meeting and would be circulated to Members in due course.

Councillor J Kaufman enquired as to: how the proposed Scale compared to other local regulatory authorities in Leicester/shire and the private-sector; the action taken in respect of non-microchipped dogs; and the impact upon food export certificates in view of the recent referendum upon the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union.

The Community Safety and Environment Manager advised that the Scale was in range and benchmarked, accordingly. He stated that the services offered were provided on policy grounds and were, in some areas, marginally cheaper than that of the private-sector. He confirmed that Environmental Health was actively enforcing new legislation regarding stray dogs and that a microchip-scanner had since been acquired and that a review of all pest control services was to be reported to the next meeting of the Committee on Thursday 29 September 2016. He advised that there had been a substantial amount of deregulation in respect of food export certificates.

Councillor Miss A R Bond commended the recent work of EHO’s in respect of several matters raised by the Member.

Councillor G A Boulter stated the Scale represented fees and charges for prescribed services only and those previous quotes obtained from another authority to provide the same has been comparatively higher.

Councillor G A Boulter moved the recommendation as set out at paragraph 2 of the report (at page 7).

Councillor M L Darr seconded the recommendation.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The revised Scale of Environmental Heath Fees and Charges (as set out at Appendix 1) be approved.