Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director of Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Environment providing an update on progress made during Period 1 (April-July) against the High-Level Business Plans 2021/22 for the three service areas.

The Committee were determined to protect front line services which could not be done if they kept on being cut. A reprioritisation of spending was therefore required to maintain and improve services.

With regards to food product, a Member questioned why there was an unhappy face for imported food. Officers advised this was the result of a number of reasons as trade had jumped significantly and paperwork was not being delivered in a timely fashion. It was hoped this would improve quickly.

In response to a question concerning Trading Standards complaint numbers, Members were informed that there were many scams and covid incidents in period 1 and it was hoped this again would improve. Officers agreed to provide exact figures.

Post meeting note: For 1 April 2021 to 30 September 2021, 1,607 complaints were received and for the same period in 2020 there were 1,348, an increase of 19.2%

Members enquired about enforcement activities against repeat offenders and Officers advised that they were considering what further action appropriate including injunctions and criminal behaviour orders when necessary.

RECEIVED.