Issue - meetings

The report was written by Joanne Stowell and presented by Karen Ryan. The Chairman praised the report for being good and comprehensive. A Member expressed concern at the lack of resourcing in the Food Safety Team. She asked what the position was with respect to recruiting permanent staff, or possibly using a graduate trainee, or even to train up a school leaver. She also asked if some of the work could be undertaken by someone who did not have the relevant qualifications.

Ms Stowell explained that some local authorities had nurtured their own staff and then they went on to leave. This was because they could earn more money doing agency work. The matter of ‘golden handcuffs’ was mentioned. A discussion took place around inspections relating to market stalls.

Ms Ryan elaborated on the matter of food poisoning as mentioned in the report. It was explained that these were single isolated outbreaks where the source of the potential food poisoning was difficult to determine, and so no prosecutions had taken place. 

RESOLVED that

1) The Portfolio Holder approves the Service Plan for the Food Safety Team.

2) The PDS Committee and the Portfolio Holder note the progress that had been made against the resubmitted Action Plan which had been agreed with the FSA. 

3) The PDS Committee and the Portfolio Holder note that the targets to reduce the backlog of inspections remained dependent on being able to recruit to the additional food safety posts.