Agenda item

Report of the Chief Planning Officer.

The Committee received a report of the Chief Planning Officer on Ventilation and Extraction Requirements for Restaurants/Cafes which set out the statutory context for controlling odours being extracted at ground floor level from restaurants and café premises.  

The Chairman advised that the full report on the Control of Odour and Noise from Commercial Kitchen Exhaust systems had been placed in the Members’ Reading Room.

The Interim Director of Consumer Protection and Market Operations advised that since the report had been produced, officers had sought to include a more robust approach within the Local Plan which would include maintenance and the keeping of records.

Responding to Members’ comments on whether the Environmental Protection Act of 1990 could be updated and noting issues they have experienced with old/existing premises regarding odour and ventilation issues, the Interim Director of Consumer Protection and Market Operations advised that there were no plans to update the act but there was a high level of case law that could be used in those circumstances and when Environmental Health Officers undertook inspections, during their visits they looked at the ventilation in place. The Chairman added that if their ventilation was poor, this could affect their “Score on the Door”.

The Committee was advised that if Members had any concerns regarding local Restaurants/Cafes, they should contact the Department of Markets and Consumer Protection.

RESOLVED - That the Committee note the report.