To note the main regulatory activities of the council’s environmental health and trading standards (EHTS) service for the year 2015/16 (period 1^St April 2015 – 31^st March 2016

The committee was invited to note the main regulatory activities of the council’s, environmental health and trading standards (EHTS) services for the year 2015-16 period 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016

The head of environmental health and development management (HEHDM) presented the report.

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

The report provided the committee with performance information about the main activities and regulatory responsibilities with EHTS to enable the committee to fulfil its role in overseeing the discharge of the council’s regulatory functions and exercise of regulatory powers and duties of the council.

In discussion the following principal points were made:

The HEHDM in response to a members comment that smoking was taking place at the livestock market explained that smoking can take place in some areas of the market but that officers will be reminded to be vigilant on future visits to the market.

In reply to question regarding information available on the council’s website the HEHDM acknowledged the importance of providing information in a variety of mediums and the service is continually assessing the quality and availability of information across the service.

A member raised the issue of air quality in Bargates, Leominster commenting that a traffic census had been requested in the area adding that a full report on traffic movements would be welcome. The member was invited to follow up his concerns with the HEHDM.

The service operated a police and crime commissioner funded out-of-hours noise patrols over 10 weekends in the summer of 2015.  The committee were informed that the service would be repeated during this summer and members expressed their interest in accompanying officers on theses patrols and were advised to register their interest with the clerk. 

Members noted reference to the closure of a Ledbury takeaway and thanked officers for their actions. It was also commented that the service does not receive the good publicity it deserves and positive coverage in local newspapers would be welcome.

In response to a members concern regarding commercial refuse being placed outside premises at night and attracting the attention of seagulls before collection.  it was confirmed that an additional officer had recently been recruited in the trade waste department and this additional resource would  be welcome in managing the situation.

The committee congratulated officers on the results of the business satisfaction survey 2015/16.  The survey measured the satisfaction of businesses with local authority regulatory services and had recorded a 100% satisfaction rating.  These figures compared favourably with 2013/14 and 2014/15 with satisfaction ratings of 100% and 96% respectively.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted

The Chairman thanked all officers and the department on behalf of the committee.

Mike Jones the legal adviser to the committee announced that he would be retiring and therefore the meeting would be his last for this committee.  He thanked both the chair and the committee for their support and guidance.

The Chairman thanked him on behalf of the committee for his advice on all matters.