Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Alderman Charles Bowman, Deputy Alistair King, Edward Lord, Adam Richardson and Patrick Streeter.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes of the meeting held on 29 January 2014.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes of the meeting held on 29 January 2014, be approved as a correct record.

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection.

A report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection was received which advised the Committee of Enforcement Activity carried out by the Smithfield Enforcement Team at Smithfield Market during the four month period from 1 October 2013 – 31 January 2014.

A question was raised in respect of the programme to analyse samples of manufactured meats and minced meat products to verify compliance with compositional standards and species authentication as part of a National Co-ordinated Food Sampling Programme.  Port Health and Public Protection Director advised that the samples were mainly to target potential horsemeat or other species contamination problems and other types of failures. 

Members were informed that in the first instance where non-compliance was recognised, the Enforcement Team would provide verbal advice to traders.  Any subsequent offences would be dealt with through a more formal process.

A question was asked regarding the initiative between officers of the Smithfield Enforcement Team and the Food Standards Agency in relation to food delivery vehicles.  The Port Health and Public Protection Director advised that the campaign included all types of delivery vehicles.  The checking process required officers to contact the DVLA to establish where the vehicle was registered and afterwards to check with the Local Authority that it was a registered food business.  Members noted there had been occasions of non-compliance by businesses not based in the City; however, Officers were working with the FSA to ensure the process was carefully monitored.

Further to a question, the Port Health and Public Protection Director agreed to provide season by season comparatives on changes to the health and safety enforcement activities at the market.

The Committee congratulated officers for their work.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

There were no questions.

There were no urgent items.

MOTION - That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

RESOLVED – That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 29 January 2014.

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 29 January 2014 be approved as a correct record.

Joint report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection and the City Surveyor.

The Committee considered and agreed a joint report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection and the City Surveyor regarding the repair of the Poultry Market.

Report of the Superintendent of Smithfield Market.

The Committee considered and agreed a report of the Superintendent of Smithfield Market regarding the concessionary parking during the Easter Period 2014.

Report of the City Surveyor.

The Committee received a report of the City Surveyor which provided an update on the Condenser Water Cooling System at Smithfield Market.

There were no questions.

Being the Chairman’s last meeting having now served his three year term, Deputy Stanley Ginsberg thanked Mr Morris for his Chairmanship over the past three years.  The Chairman responded to the Deputy’s kind words and thanked the Committee for their act of value to the work of the Committee and also thanked officers for their support and continuation.