Agenda item

Report ES 15076

This report had been written to advise Members of the activity undertaken by the Public Protection Division during the period commencing 1^st April 2015, to 30th September 2015, relating to the annual Portfolio Plan and enforcement under delegated powers.

The Committee referred to Appendix A of the report, and the section dealing with Improvement Notices that had been served under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It was noted that this figure was high at 14. The Committee heard that this was as a result of targeted action following complaints.

The Committee wondered why the number of Early Intervention Warning Notices served under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 was zero. It was explained to the Committee that this was the result of previous proactive and successful work against ASB where 18 notices had been served. It was still the case that 16 Acceptable Behaviour Commitments had been served under the same statutory powers.

Cllr Tickner asked what the public should do if there were problems with loud noise, and the answer to this was that they should still call the noise team. This was still being funded by MOPAC. It was the case that at least two complaints from the public had to be received. It was noted that the number for the noise team would be circulated. 

The Chairman referred to Outcome 1 of the Portfolio Plan, which was concerned with keeping Bromley Safe. The Committee noted that Operation Crystal was continuing to meet its objectives, and that the Bromley Mentoring Initiative was running well. It was also noted that the targeting of gang nominals had now been added to the remit of Operation Crystal. The Chairman was pleased to note that with respect to this Outcome, all of the RAG statuses were Green.

The Chairman referred the Committee to Outcome 3 which was concerned with supporting and regulating business. The Chairman was concerned that the inspection of high risk food businesses had fallen and that the RAG status was Amber. She was eager to avoid possible outbreaks of food poisoning. It was noted that this was something that Dr Paul Lehane (Head of Food Safety) was working to address. Mr Robert Vale (Head of Trading Standards and Community Safety) agreed with the importance of prevention, and assured the Committee that the Food Safety Team were on target for Q4. Cllr Samaris Huntington Thresher asked if LBB would be liable if food premises were not properly informing customers about food allergens. Mr Nigel Davies (Executive Director of Environmental and Community Services) reminded the Committee that a full report on Food Safety would be presented to the Committee in March 2016. 

Cllr Julian Benington drew attention to section 2.1 of Outcome 2 that was concerned with protecting customers. Mr Vale explained that LBB had being undertaking much work with local banks to make them more aware of rogue traders that were targeting the elderly or vulnerable. It was now the case that if a bank reported a suspected scam and reported this to the rapid response team, then cars would be dispatched to both the bank and the home of the person concerned. This was a serious matter, as people could lose their life savings; in one recent incident, a 70 year old person lost £48k.

RESOLVED that:

(1) the PPS/PDS Committee receive further reports, every six months, on the activity relating to the Portfolio Plan and enforcement under delegated powers 

(2) that the Committee be updated concerning food inspections and allergens

(3) that the Committee be provided with the out of hours number for the Noise Nuisance Team 

( Post meeting note--resolutions 2 and 3 were completed by 13/11/2015)