Agenda item

Report of the Director of Markets & Consumer Protection (copy attached).

This report advised Members of the Enforcement Activity carried out during the four month period form 1 February 2012 to 31 May 2012. 

As mentioned in previous reports, problems had been identified in 2010 with the supply of condensed water to some meat traders’ stalls.  Members noted that the repair and improvement works to the refrigeration equipment had been completed to the satisfaction of the City Surveyor, who had supervised the project. 

The Principal Mechanical Engineer provided the following update:

·         There had recently been a number of fridge trips; nearly all as a result of  blockages in strainers and valves restricting the water flow.  However, a reduction had been seen in June and a regular strainer clean is being carried out every 3 weeks.

·         The two hot weather spells on 24-25 May and 27-28 June may have caused a couple of extra fridge trips, although the vast majority (94%) of fridges had been unaffected by hot conditions.

·         Around 3 or 4 fridges appeared to be particularly sensitive.  Two of these had been rated ‘red’ in the independent Refrigeration Expert’s Report; i.e. potentially undersized for the cooling load.  Therefore, they need to work harder than others and a reduced water flow, caused by strainer blockage, and would have had a more rapid effect.  Members noted that fridge selection/sizing was the responsibility of the tenants.

·         Further measures would include; installing fine mesh on the cooling tower air inlets to trap as much airborne contamination as possible;  changing certain valves to reduce their susceptibility to blockage; transposing 2 connections to help one problem freezer on the NW deck and adjusting flows to benefit those fridges which appear to need more water.  Members noted that this work would probably take 3 weeks.

·         Further works were planned to permanently address the contamination problem.  This would be presented in the next report to the Committee, along with a cost summary of the works to date.

Members were pleased to note the considerable reduction in enforcement activity and felt that the report was very helpful.  It was suggested that future reports be presented as bullet points, with detail kept to the appendix.  There was a further request for the next report to cover the City’s legal position in the event of a breach of lease conditions resulting from refrigeration failure.

RESOLVED

That the contents of the report be noted.