Agenda item

RESOLVED:

To note the update and the level and scope of work being carried out to meet the requirements of the plan.

6.1   Gerry McCarthy, Head of Community Safety, Enforcement and Business Regulation introduced the report, which provided an update on the performance of the ‘Environmental Health Service against the Plan for the 2022/23 and to the end of Quarter 2’, and the work undertaken to improve the quality of food premises in Hackney to protect the health of the public, to assist businesses to comply with their legal requirements; demonstrated the impact of the Service in managing the services post Covid and the challenges being faced whilst at the same time meeting the needs of the regulators; the greater emphasis placed on driving up compliance through advice, education, inspections of establishments considered to be flouting the law, and the necessary interventions undertaken; and reflected on the service at the end of the 2021/22 financial year.

6.2   The report also outlined the work of Hackney Trading Standards for 2022/23 and to the end of Quarter 2 and the Service’s achievements and identified areas of interest for the future.

6.3   The Head of Community Safety, Enforcement and Business Regulation  responded to members’ questions as follows:

?  Confirmed that they dealt with letting agents in particular the return of people’s deposits and legal fees as well the quantity of estate agent boards. If there were any issues with estate agent boards members were encouraged to email him;

?  The Council licensed all premises to sell fireworks and all licences

were inspected from 15 October to 8 November and Chinese New Year unless there was an all year licence. Testing of the sale of fireworks to minors depended on the availability of cadets and no tests had been undertaken this year as it had coincided with school half term;

? Most of the work relating to scams and their victims were intelligence led and the council worked in partnership with the police and banks to encourage them to report any potential scams to the police and the Adult Safeguarding team to support the victims as many were older people. Officers attended Annual Winter Warmer events to raise awareness of scams including builder scams but there were areas such as Stoke Newington which were particularly vulnerable. The service also used the Council’s Communications Team to publicise and alert people to any increase in scams nationally;

? With regard to encouraging the food hygiene rating of 5, the Hackney Business Network provided support to small businesses and the council had also signed up to the Healthier Catering Commitment for London with a dedicated officer encouraging smaller businesses to offer healthy food. The council was attempting to engage with small businesses in various ways and a further 50 inspections had been undertaken under the waste reduction and food business in London;

? The Hackney Business Network targeted smaller businesses, which sometimes did not prioritise food hygiene and therefore had lower ratings. The service was engaging and encouraging businesses to join the Healthy Food Business Network. Many businesses that wanted to offer deliveries but had a rating lower than 3 had contacted the council to improve their hygiene rating. The borough had very few premises with hygiene ratings of 1 or 2 but to achieve 3 plus ratings those premises were encouraged to improve their Pest Control records, training and food hygiene management system;

? The service worked with the Regeneration team to identify any issues with small businesses and also provided relevant training.

RESOLVED:

This report is for informative purposes and to provide an update to the

Corporate Committee. There are no recommendations set out in this report. The Corporate Committee can note the level and