Agenda item

This report is ‘To Follow’.

ES17041

The Committee looked at the Food Standards Agency—Audit of Food Hygiene Service Delivery report for April 2017.

The report had been drafted by Mr Paul Lehane, Head of Food Safety, Occupational Safety and Licensing. The purpose of the report was to update Members of the findings of the Food Standards Agency audit of the food safety team that had taken place on 27^th April 2017.

The Chairman commented that the Food Safety Team had done an excellent job given the fact that they were understaffed. Mr Lehane informed the Committee that the Food Safety Service needed to recruit 2 full time staff and 3 full time temporary staff to deal with the backlog of inspections.

It was noted that the FSA audit had been prompted by high numbers of overdue and unrated premises. The FSA sent the draft audit report to the Council on 5^th June 2017. The Portfolio Holder explained that previously the FSA had adopted a relatively lenient stance regarding having a backlog-as long as Councils had been managing risk, but this had now changed.

Councillor Benington asked for an explanation of what was classed as high and low risk. Ms Karen Ryan (Lead Practitioner--Food Safety Officer) explained that it would depend on what activities were being undertaken, how these activities were being managed, and what process the company was using for handling food. An example of a low risk business would be a home cake making business. Consideration would also be given concerning the recipients of the food. Schools and Care Homes would normally be regarded as high risk.

Councillor Dunn suggested that it should have been easy to predict that there was going to be a backlog of inspections. Mr Lehane responded that the backlog was caused by a combination of losing existing staff, and lack of funding for new staff.  The Annual Service Plan set out the staff resource required against the actual resource. 

It was noted that there was a shortage of qualified staff and that the employment of agency personnel was very expensive. The last agency person employed cost LBB £1200 per week.  Councillor Hannah Gray asked if festivals and events would be classed as high risk. Ms Ryan stated that the Food Safety Service Team would attend as many events as they could, and would check as many traders as possible. Event organisers would normally try and use compliant businesses.

Councillor Botting asked if anyone in Bromley had ever died of food poisoning, and the answer to this was no. It was also asked if the Food Safety Service ever closed premises. Ms Ryan answered that this was rare, but LBB had closed one about a week ago.

The Committee was informed that the Secretary of State did possess interventionary powers and could issue formal directions. It was also the case that they could send someone in to run the service, with consequent reputational damage to the Council. If a death occurred there could be a public inquest.

RESOLVED that

(1) The Portfolio Holder note the findings of the Food Standards Agency Audit

(2) The Portfolio Holder agree the Action Plan to be submitted to the Food Standards Agency

(3) The Portfolio Holder submit a bid for additional resources to the Executive.