Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision

To consider the Business Regulation Plan 2016/17

Decision of Executive Councillor for Environment and Waste

     i.        Approved the Executive Summary of the Business Regulation Plan 2016-17, and by implication the full report.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Environmental Health Manager.

The report outlined Cambridge City Council’s responsibilities for enforcing food hygiene and health and safety enforcement in its area, and was required to produce an annual plan clarifying how this would be achieved. The Business Regulation Plan needed to clearly define the objectives permitting the Council to fulfil its responsibilities for the year, and confirm that it had committed sufficient resources to facilitate this work.

As the Plan was a large document an executive summary had been produced as Appendix A which identified all of the key aspects of the full report, which was available to view in full, and if approved by committee would imply approval of the full Plan.

In response to Members’ questions the Environmental Health Manager said the following:

     i.        Regulations outlined who were the enforcing authorities responsible for the investigation of an accident, whether it was the Health and Safety Executive or the City Council.

    ii.        The City Council were responsible to investigate all accidents and complaints concerning Officers, shops, railway, small factories, small manufactures and building merchants.

   iii.        Confirmed there was only one category A premises for food (restaurant) which meant the premises were inspected every six months due to poor standard. Those premises in category B were inspected every twelve months, category C premises were inspected every eighteen months. These standards had been set by the Officers inspecting the properties based on the high risk food served, hygiene and management.  

  iv.        The City Council was currently promoting a healthy eating campaign working with public health colleagues. Officers had attended seven community events to promote this scheme; in conjunction with the public health reference group making a contribution to a weight management initiative.

   v.        Guidance and mentoring to all food business was available if requested.

  vi.        Housing Officers would inspect kitchens in student accommodation as the kitchen was part of the living quarters.

 vii.        Invited members of the committee to join Officers when undertaking inspections. 

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendation.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.