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EXECUTIVE MEMBER DECISION

COMMUNITY PROTECTION SERVICE PLANS 2009/2010 – FOOD SAFETY AND HEALTH AND SAFETY

EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR COMMUNITY PROTECTION:

COUNCILLOR BARRY COPPINGER

ED CHICKEN, ACTING DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT

DATE: 15 OCTOBER 2009

PURPOSE OF THE REPORT

  1. To present the attached Food Safety and Health and Safety Service Plans for 2009/2010 for approval.

BACKGROUND AND EXTERNAL CONSULTATION

  1. As part of the Framework Agreement on Local Authority Food Law Enforcement (the Framework Agreement), the Food Standards Agency requires that Authorities prepare Food Service Plans. Similarly the Health and Safety Commission have provided guidance, which requires that Authorities prepare Health and Safety Service Plans. Regardless of this requirement and because the annual work programme must link with the work of partner organisations, an annual detailed plan is published.

Food Safety Service Plan

  1. As in previous years the service plan provides information on how food safety and public health services will be delivered, how performance targets will be set and met, and past performance. Points to note for 2009/2010 are:
  • Food Hygiene Award Scheme – The Food and Safety Team launched this Scheme in March 2007 to award star ratings for the hygiene standards found in Middlesbrough food businesses. At the time of the launch 26 businesses were classed as 5 star “excellent” premises. By 31 March 2009, over 170 premises had achieved 5 star rating and by August 2009 we had over 200 5 star premises. The aim of the scheme is to make information accessible to the public to enable them to make an informed choice about where they eat and buy food. It also provides an incentive for businesses to improve their hygiene standards. During 2009/10, officers inspected and worked with businesses to improve their star ratings with the resulting increase in five star premises. Officers also focused their attention on the lower rated premises to enable them to improve their hygiene standards. They provided specific business support for the non compliant premises focusing on cleaning, structural improvements and food safety management, which are the main areas of contraventions found in the poorer food businesses. Where officers found serious contraventions legal action was taken against 13 businesses. Where serious risks to public health were identified 4 Emergency Prohibition Notices were issued to stop businesses trading.
  • Proposed National “Scores on the Doors” Scheme - The Food Standards Agency carried out a consultation on a proposed national scheme for a Food Hygiene Award. They consulted on two schemes: a “Three Star/Fail” scheme or a “Pass/Major Improvements needed”, neither of which matched Middlesbrough’s five star scheme, which is a scheme adopted by 158 other local authorities. Following the consultation exercise the Food Standards Agency propose to develop and launch a national five star scheme in England.
  • Reviewing the implications of the revised Food Law Code of Practice on the delivery of the food enforcement service - The new Code of Practice produced by the Food Standards Agency in June 2008 introduced an “intervention” approach to service delivery. This allows local authorities greater flexibility outside of the normal inspection programme to undertake a wider range of activities. The food intervention plan proposes a combination of formal inspection, auditing, advisory visits, sampling, training and education to ensure businesses are compliant with food law.
  • Improving Health through local food businesses - Food businesses can play a key role in promoting improved nutrition and healthy options. The plan proposes to develop this role. Through joint working with NHS Middlesbrough a joint Health Improvement Delivery Plan has been developed that incorporates public health work with food businesses. We have delivered nutrition training to staff working with nurseries to improve the nutritional quality of food served to children in their care, and sampled food from elderly residential care settings. In 2009/10, we aim to build on this work, extending our training and awareness raising role and the support we can provide to food businesses to improve the nutritional quality of food they provide.

Health and Safety Service Plan

  1. As in previous years the service plan provides information on how the health and safety services will be provided, how performance targets will be set and met and past performance. Points to note for 2009/2010 are:
  • Health Act 2006 – Smokefree England - Smokefree provisions under the Health Act 2006 came into force on 1July2007 and the responsibility for the enforcement of this legislation rests with the Community Protection Service. Officers continue to carry out monitoring visits to ensure full compliance. Maintaining a high profile enforcement role is recognised as one of the most effective ways of protecting health and reducing tobacco use. Overall, the level of compliance in Middlesbrough has been extremely high. However, some sectors have required more targeted enforcement and this will continue.
  • Workplace Health – How Healthy is your Business?

Through joint working with NHS Middlesbrough, officers have been engaging Middlesbrough businesses to encourage employers to promote health to their employees through the workplace. The scheme identifies key health issues for the workforce, publicises services that are available and promotes health activities to bring benefits to the workplace such as reduced sickness, healthier happier workforce and greater motivation.

National Indicators

  1. The Food Service Plan contributes to the National Indicator 184 for

“Food establishments in the area that are broadly compliant with food hygiene law”. Broadly compliant is defined in accordance with risk rating scoring carried out by an officer following a food safety inspection. In 2008/09 we reported 91.1% of premises in Middlesbrough as being broadly compliant

The Food and Health and Safety Plans both contribute to National Indicator 182 for “the satisfaction of business with local authority regulatory services”. A random selection of compliant and non-compliant businesses are contacted and asked to rate “if they think their business was fairly treated” and “if they felt the business contact was helpful”. In 2008/09, we reported that 82 % of businesses were satisfied with regulatory services, which is higher than the regional norm.

OPTION APPRAISAL/RISK ASSESSMENT

6.Not required.

FINANCIAL, LEGAL AND WARD IMPLICATIONS

7.All actions are included within existing service budgets.

RECOMMENDATIONS

8.That the achievements identified are noted and the 2009/10 Food Service and Health and Safety Service Plans are approved.

REASONS

9.The recommendations are supported by the following reasons:

(a)National guidance requires Food Service Plans to be formally endorsed by an Authority’s members to ensure local transparency and accountability.

(b)National Guidance requires Health and Safety Service plans to be agreed by the elected members.

BACKGROUND PAPERS

10. The following background papers were used in the preparation of this report:

  • Framework Agreement on Local Authority Food Law Enforcement, The Food Standards Agency.
  • Section 18 Guidance (Health and Safety Commission)
  • HELA – National Picture 2003, Health and Safety in Local Authority enforced Sectors.

AUTHOR: Judith Hedgley

TEL NO: 728215

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Address:

Website:

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