Agenda item

The Committee considered the Worcestershire Regulatory Services Annual Report for the period 1st April 2012 to 31st March 2013.

The Head of Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) informed the Committee that under the Worcestershire Shared Services Partner Agreement the Joint Committee was required to receive the annual report at its annual meeting.  The report covered the performance of the service for the period 1st April 2012 to 31st March 2013, however individual Councils captured and reported on different performance measures; therefore it had proved difficult to make comparisons across the service.

The Head of WRS informed Members that the report covered the performance of the service.  2012/2013 had been very much one of embedding the results from earlier work on transforming the service and continuing to explore options to reduce future financial pressures on the budget.  The savings indicated in the original business case, of 17.5%, had been exceeded with 23% savings achieved.  WRS had continued to redesign services to drive out waste from the system.  The application of the ‘Systems Thinking’ approach to service redesign had been an on-going theme during the year.  Focus would remain on contributing to the three strategic priorities, developed from partners own priorities:

·         Supporting the local economy

·         Improving Health and Well Being

·         Tackling and Preventing Crime and Disorder

The Head of WRS drew Members attention to ‘Performance’, as detailed on pages 38 and 39 of the Annual Report and provided Members with the previous year’s figures for comparison.  He then responded to a number of questions from Members with regard to:-

·         Staff sickness

·         Noise complaints

·         % of vehicles found to be defective whilst in service

·         % of food premises visited and the number of times visited before enforcement powers were used. 

The Head of WRS also drew Members attention to ‘Other Highlights’ as detailed on pages 42 to 47 of the Annual Report.  Specifically the Horsemeat Scandal and that as a result of work carried out WRS was invited to appear before the Parliamentary Select Committee to provide evidence on the Local Authorities response to the scandal.

The Head of WRS responded to Members’ questions with regard to public burials as detailed on page 65 of the report.  Members were informed that, The Public Health (Control of Diseases) Act 1984 placed a statutory duty on District Councils for registering the death and arranging the funeral of any person who had died within their District in cases where there were no known relatives or friends able to make the necessary arrangements.  Councils only dealt with those that died at home, or on the street, where it appeared that no other agency or persons were making suitable arrangements for the disposal of the body.  A person, who died in hospital, or in an ambulance on the way to hospital, became the responsibility of the health authority.

RESOLVED:

(a)          that the Worcestershire Regulatory Services Annual Report 2012/2013 be agreed; and

(b)               that a copy of the Worcestershire Shared Services Annual Report 2012/2013 be forwarded to the Chief Executive / Managing Director of each member authority.