Agenda item

There were three questions from Members in relation to the work of the Committee, as follows:

In response to a Member’s question regarding a policy for the importation of alien species, the Director of Port Health and Public Protection advised that staff at the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre worked closely with the UK Border Force to seize illegal imports in line with Defra and EU policies. For instance, staff were currently working alongside the Border Force on an investigation into the illegal importation of puppies. The Member added that the importation of legal alien species for entertainment purposes should be discouraged.

In response to a Member’s question regarding air quality, the Director of Port Health and Public Protection advised that the final City of London Air Quality Strategy 2015-2020 would be submitted and considered at the next Committee meeting.

In response to a Member’s question regarding street trading, the Comptroller and City Solicitor advised that the City of London (Various Powers) Act 2013 enabled Officers to on-the-spot Fixed Penalty Notices and allowed the seizure of goods sold illegally. The Director of Port Health and Public Protection added that occasional street trading licences can be issued for a period of up to 21 days. These were usually issued during specific events within the City of London and Officers carried out regular checks during such events to prevent un-licensed street trading.