To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors BA Durkin, Brig P Jones MBE, PJ McCaull, FM Norman and G Powell.

To receive details any details of Members nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the Committee.

There were no named substitutes present at the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

To consider the Council’s function in relation to Discharge of Guardianship under the Mental Health Act 1983 and whether it should be delegated to the Regulatory Sub-Committee.

A report was presented by the Principal Lawyer about the Council’s function in relation to the Discharge of Guardianship under the Mental Health Act 1983.  He explained the powers and duties of the Council as a Local Social Services Authority (LSSA); and the requirements of the Statutory Code of Practice relating to the Act. He outlined what was involved regarding the discharge a patient from Guardianship and the steps that should be taken to review or renew the arrangements that were in place. 

At present there were no formal arrangements in place to enable the Council to carry out its duties in this regard. A committee or Sub Committee was required to oversee matters under the provisions of the legislation and the proposal was for the Regulatory Committee to fulfil this role under its miscellaneous functions.  It was noted that Sarah Cox, Mental Health Lead, People’s Services commissioning would provide the Committee with further information about the new arrangements in due course.  The Committee decided that the arrangements for dealing with guardianship should be delegated to the Regulatory Sub-Committee.

RESOLVED THAT

            The Committee notes that it will carry out the Council’s functions in relation to Discharge of Guardianship under the Mental Health Act 1983 and delegates this function to the Regulatory Sub Committee.

To note the main activities of the Community Protection Team for the period 1^st October 2011 – 31^st March 2012.

The Committee Manager presented an information report about the main activities of the Community Protection Team during the past year.

RESOLVED THAT

The report of the community Protection Team be received and noted and that the team be thanked for the important enforcement work they were undertaking.

To note the main regulatory activities of the Council’s Environmental Health & Trading Standards (EHTS) service for the full year 2011/12 (period 1^st April 2011 – 31^st March 2012)

The Acting Head of Environmental Protection and Licensing presented a report about the main regulatory activities of Environmental Health & Trading Standards service during the past year.

The Committee expressed their appreciation for the work which was undertaken by the Department.

RESOLVED THAT

The report be received and noted and that the Environmental Health and Trading Standards Team be thanked for the important work they were undertaking.