Agenda item

A report to provide an update on the work of Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards Service, particularly within the District of Tandridge in 2015.

(Report attached)

Declarations of Interest: None

Officer attending: Charlotte Keene, Senior Trading Standards Officer

Petition, Public Questions, Statements: None

The Chairman welcomed the Officer to the meeting, asking to highlight key areas in the report. 

The Officer stated that since submitting the report Surrey and Buckinghamshire Trading Standards had received two awards in the IESE Awards 2016 awarded by the National Improvement and Efficiency Social Enterprise.

Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards won two silver awards for the Remodelling Local Services and the Working Together categories.

The judges recognised that, by sharing collective experience and expertise, Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards had successfully redesigned services into a more efficient joint operation, giving consumers access to stronger safeguards and providing businesses with better services at a lower cost to the taxpayer.

The Officer explained her role was to support the Tandridge Members and happy to assist with matters affecting residents in their Divisions.

Members Discussion – Key Points

·         Mr Hodge asked if the Officer could look in 260 Hillbury Road as he and local residents are concerned that business or a number of businesses are being run from the property.  This is against the planning application which was approved that this would be a residential property. The Officer advised she would look into this matter and advise Mr Hodge.

·         Mr Orrick raised concern over a car company on Coulsdon Road, Caterham which rents vans and cars.  Although the vehicles are taxed the business parks the cars on the road which means that residents cannot park outside their own properties.  He asked if anything could be done as causing an issue for residents. The Officer advised she would be happy to discuss with the Member.

·         Mrs Marks commented that she was surprised to see so few Eat out, eat well in Tandridge.

·         Mr Skellett referred to the data for the scams hub in 1.5 of the report, asking who captures this data.  The Officer advised that since the report was submitted the figure for Tandridge is more likely to be around 20 scam victims.  The data is captures by the National Scam Team who provide the information to Surrey. This is intelligence lead where by companies are identified and their post intercepted.

·         Mr Orrick thanked the Officer for the email updates on Trading Standards matters as were very helpful. 

·         The Chairman thanked the Officer for the report and congratulated the team on the two awards.  Mrs Marks echoed this and asked that next year would it be possible to have more outcomes in the report and detail so the committee could see what had happened as a consequence of Trading Standards intervention.

Resolution:

The Local Committee (Tandridge)

NOTED that Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards Service:

(i)      Reacts to any local issues specifically drawn to Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards in respect of Tandridge consumer issues.       

(ii)    Responds to any Trading Standards and consumer issues highlighted by intelligence gathering and reporting.  This routinely includes the Tandridge local area in any project and routine undertakings including test purchasing and sampling as appropriate.

(iii)   Responds to business enquiries and bespoke/chargeable requests from businesses based in Tandridge focusing on Small/Medium Enterprises (SME) and national businesses. Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards actively promotes membership to the Better Regulation Delivery Office Primary Authority Partnership scheme.               

(iv)  The following is for information.