Agenda
PDF 150 KBVenue: Woodhatch Place, 11 Cockshot Hill, Reigate RH2 8EF
Contact: Joss Butler, Committee Manager Email: joss.butler@surreycc.gov.uk
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
To receive any apologies for absence and substitutions. |
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MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING - 4 November 2024
To agree the minutes of the previous meeting. |
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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.
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PROCEDURAL ITEMS
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Members' Questions
The deadline for Member’s questions is 12pm four working days before the meeting (3 June 2025). |
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Public Questions
The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting (2 June 2025). |
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Petitions
The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting. |
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ACTION TRACKER AND FORWARD PLAN
To review the Action Tracker and Forward Plan. Additional documents: |
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JOINT SERVICE BUDGET
The Joint Committee regularly reviews and sets the Service budget.
The information provided shows that the Joint Service outturn was an underspend of 1.9% (£53,319) against the budget for 2024-25 agreed by the Joint Committee in Spring 2024.
The primary reason for this underspend was vacant posts. An attempt was made to recruit a qualified Trading Standards Officer in the late autumn but this was not successful (no appropriately qualified people applied).
The proposed budget for 25/26 is £2,856,162. This includes pressures and savings. Both partner Councils have agreed their Medium-Term Financial Plans which cover 25-26 and these have informed the proposed budget for the Service, which have been considered and informally (through Board meetings) agreed. The budget changes are set out in this paper and in Annex A for formal agreement. Additional documents: |
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OFFICIAL FOOD STANDARDS AND FEED CONTROLS SERVICE PLAN 2025-2026
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) requires Trading Standards services to produce an annual Official Food Standards and Feed Controls Service Plan (known as the ‘FSA Plan’). The Plan is given as Annex A.
The overall structure follows guidance from the FSA and includes the necessary facts and statistics to ensure the document is valid as a statutory plan.
This ‘statutory’ Plan is required to be submitted to the ‘relevant Member Forum for approval’. In approving this Plan, the Committee will be establishing a framework that will meet the expectations of the Food Standards Agency.
Whilst the FSA Plan is a public document and will be made available via the website (and in printed version to anyone on request). Additional documents: |
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TRADING STANDARDS VAPES ENFORCEMENT UPDATE
Vapes are a key tool to stop adults from smoking tobacco. They are much safer than smoking tobacco and can be used to effectively manage nicotine addiction as adult smokers seek to quit smoking tobacco. However, the market for disposable vapes grew very rapidly and the Service continues activity to tackle the significant problems in this market. Of particular concern is nicotine addiction in children who previously did not smoke tobacco, with data showing 7.2% of 11–17-year-olds vaped regularly or occasionally in April 2024, compared to 3.2% in 2021 with 1.9% having never previously smoked tobacco .
The report in Annex A follows up previous reports brought to the Joint Committee in May and November 2024 covering the two key issues from a Trading Standards enforcement perspective: the problems relating to the safety of the vapes themselves, affecting all users; and the sharp rise in under 18’s (who did not previously smoke tobacco) vaping.
The report at Annex A covers some of the latest legislative changes as well as the work the Service has been doing, and is planning, in this area. Additional documents: |
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2024/25 FULL YEAR PERFORMANCE (APRIL TO MARCH)
The Buckinghamshire Council and Surrey County Council Trading Standards Service Joint Committee is asked to note the summary of performance of the service from April 2024 to end March 2025 (Annex A).
The information provided shows that the Service is performing well across the range of indicators where data is available. There are three new indicators where data is now available, and the disruption indicator remains under development. Additional documents: |
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TRADING STANDARDS ENFORCEMENT POLICY
Enforcement is a vital part of Trading Standards role to protect residents and communities from harm and to ensure a fair and level playing field for legitimate and honest businesses.
The Trading Standards Service regularly reviews its Enforcement Policy to ensure it remains appropriate and relevant to the regulatory and local authority landscape. The proposed Enforcement Policy provides an updated framework, responding to the possibilities and requirements of new legislation, to ensure that the Trading Standards Service promotes efficient and effective approaches to regulation without imposing unnecessary regulatory burdens. Additional documents: |
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DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Buckinghamshire County Council and Surry County Council Joint Trading Standards Service Committee will be held on 6 November 2025. |