Agenda and minutes
PDF 391 KBVenue: Woodhatch Place, 11 Cockshot Hill, Reigate, Surrey ,RH2 8EF
Contact: Angela Guest
Media
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
To receive any apologies for absence and substitutions. Additional documents: Minutes: An apology was received from Beville Stanier.
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MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING - 22 SEPTEMBER 2021
To agree the minutes of the previous meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting held on 22September 2021 were agreed as a correct record.
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
All Members present are required to declare, at this point in the meeting or as soon as possible thereafter (i) Any disclosable pecuniary interests and / or (ii) Other interests arising under the Code of Conduct in respect of any item(s) of business being considered at this meeting NOTES: · Members are reminded that they must not participate in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest · As well as an interest of the Member, this includes any interest, of which the Member is aware, that relates to the Member’s spouse or civil partner (or any person with whom the Member is living as a spouse or civil partner) · Members with a significant personal interest may participate in the discussion and vote on that matter unless that interest could be reasonably regarded as prejudicial.
Additional documents: Minutes: There were none. |
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Members' Questions
The deadline for Member’s questions is 12pm four working days before the meeting (29/03/2022). Additional documents: Minutes: There were none. |
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Public Questions
The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting (28/03/2022). Additional documents: Minutes: There were none. |
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Petitions
The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: There were none. |
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ACTION TRACKER AND FORWARD PLAN
The Committee is asked to monitor responses, actions and outcomes against actions and recommendations from previous meetings and to review and agree the Forward Work Programme.
Additional documents: Minutes: RESOLVED:
The Joint Committee noted the Action Tracker and Forward Plan. There were no outstanding actions to be considered.
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PERFORMANCE AND JOINT SERVICE BUDGET
The Trading Standards Joint Committee are asked to note the Service’s performance and the joint service budget for 2022/23.
Additional documents: Minutes: Key points from the discussion:
1. The Officers introduced the report, and the following key points were noted on service budget:
2. The Officers introduced the report, and the following key points were noted on service performance:
Actions/ further information to be provided:
That the Head of Trading Standards look at using social media to advertise the outcome of projects with the aim of encouraging more residents to use methods such as door cameras.
RESOLVED:
That the Service’s performance, the joint service budget for 2022/23 and the pressures be noted.
Mark Winn arrived during the officer presentation of this report.
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TRADING STANDARDS ENFORCEMENT POLICY
The Trading Standards Joint Committee is asked to review and endorse an updated Enforcement Policy and agrees the Financial Penalty Guidance as required under the Tenant Fees Act and the Fixed Monetary Penalty Guidance for various food legislation.
Additional documents: Minutes: Key points from the discussion:
1. Officers introduced a report that set out proposed changes to the Trading Standard Enforcement Policy. The Enforcement Policy was regularly reviewed to ensure it remained appropriate and relevant to the regulatory and local authority landscape. The updates include amendments to: · Ensure a growing range of financial penalties (as available in legislation) are acknowledged as potential outcomes, including fixed monetary penalties. · Add, via a link, Financial Penalty Guidance for the Service as required under the Tenant Fees Act 2019. · Add, via a link, Fixed Monetary Penalty Guidance for the Service as required in relation to various food legislation. 2. A Member queried about whether there should be a recommendation on the timescale for review, say every year, but because the review could happen sooner, say as a reaction to legislation change, he discounted this idea.
Actions/ further information to be provided:
None.
RESOLVED:
1. That the following be agreed: · the amended Enforcement Policy attached as Annex A to the submitted report · the Financial Penalty Guidance as required under the Tenant Fees Act - Annex B to the submitted report, and · the Fixed Monetary Penalty Guidance for various food legislation - Annex C to the submitted report.
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TRADING STANDARDS TOBACCO WORK
The Trading Standards Joint Committee are asked to note the report. Additional documents: Minutes: Key points from the discussion: 1. Officers presented a report that showed how strategies were linked between Buckinghamshire and Surrey. The following points were highlighted from the report:-
· Intelligence gathering, enforcement work and test purchasing were used to guide further action, for example the use of dogs. Hiding places were more difficult to find and that some funding from the HMRC for use of dogs had been helpful. · Tobacco was being kept off-premises and restocked as needed which showed the constant challenge to keep up with methods used. · There had been one prosecution this year for tobacco and nitrous oxide. · There was a challenge around vape liquids that were unsafe and non-compliant. There had been an increase in complaints of underage sale of vape liquids. · Illicit alcohol was also found alongside tobacco and the team sought license reviews.
2. One Member expressed their support for test purchasing and asked that news of outcomes of court cases be emailed to Members. 3. There was some discussion around the funding and use of dogs. 4. In response to a Member query about warrants the officers explained the need for search warrants for residential properties but not for businesses.
Actions/ further information to be provided: That officers investigate the viability of using dogs for tobacco detection from the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service who had their own dog team.
RESOLVED:
That the submitted report be noted as a reflection of activity over the financial year 2021 – 2022 and the continued enforcement activities which will be undertaken in 2022– 2023 be endorsed.
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TRADING STANDARDS CURRENT AND EMERGING ISSUES
The Trading Standards Joint Committee are asked to note the current and emerging issues. Additional documents: Minutes: Key points from the discussion: 1. Officer described in detail the current and emerging issues paper that included the following items:
2. The Committee discussed the food legislation and how whether that would affect schools and the work that Trading Standards already do around this area. 3. The Committee thanked the Trading Standards Team for their professionalism and work during the pandemic, that they had had excellent results and were recognised nationally and were an example to others.
Actions/ further information to be provided: None.
RESOLVED:
1. That the current and emerging issues be noted.
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DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Buckinghamshire Council and Surrey County Council Joint Trading Standards Service Committee will be held on 22 September 2022. Additional documents: Minutes: The date of the next meeting was Thursday 22 September 2022 and would be hosted by Buckinghamshire Council.
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