Agenda item

The Technical Services Manager, Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) presented the Activity and Performance Data for Quarter 1 – 2023/2024; and in doing so highlighted the following key points: -

Activity Data

Of the 370 interventions conducted at businesses included in the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) during Quarter 1, 11 were rated as non-compliant (0, 1 or 2). Over half of these ratings were issued to the hospitality sector (i.e. Pubs, clubs or takeaways).

Stray or lost dogs recorded by WRS during Quarter 1 showed a significant increase compared to the same periods in both 2021-22 and 2022-23 (50%/ 24% respectively). Officers had been suggesting this would happen for some time, with a combination of post-pandemic returns to work combined with the cost-of-living pressures, meant that keeping a dog was much harder for households compared with 2 years ago.

The seasonal increase in applications occurred in Quarter 1, as a significant number of hospitality businesses applied for Temporary Events during the summer months. Figures would suggest that this year’s figures probably represented a balancing position, with businesses looking for fewer events than last year but still more than the year before heading out of the pandemic with an increase of 8% compared to 2021-22, but a reduction of 10% compared to 2022-23. Around 68% of cases logged were applications and registrations; with 30% relating specifically to temporary events, 27% relating to private hire /hackney carriage vehicles, and 14% relating to driver licences.

Performance

WRS reported overall numbers of compliant and non-compliant businesses at this point in the year, without the district breakdown. 98.4% of businesses subject to intervention were graded 3 stars to 5 stars on the hygiene rating scheme.

Compliments outnumbered complaints significantly, with the figure currently 34 to 4.

The Licensing and Support Services Manager responded to questions with regards to the recent WRS licensing enforcement night carried out for BDC with the police and the City of Wolverhampton Council. Board Members were informed that officers were liaising the police and the City of Wolverhampton Council to arrange further licensing enforcement nights for the other partner authorities.

Members commented that it was excellent news about the number of food businesses that had been graded 3 stars to 5 stars and could this be promoted.

Officers responded to further questions with regards to the noise nuisance information; and in doing so highlighted that some of the partner authorities urban centres were small with not a lot of residential properties in these urban centres.  Data varied from year to year taking into account the ratio of complaints to occupation.  Festivals being held could also dramatically increase the number of complaints received.

The Head of WRS further responded and explained that newsletters had been circulated on noise issues and legislation. The current framework did not meet the expectations of the public with domestic noise issues.  However, residents were able to bring their own cases to court.

Members further stated that whilst they found the information, tables and graphs fascinating they did not show the officers workload or pressures being faced by the teams in WRS.

The Head of WRS stated that teams did carry out time recorded activities which provided a reasonable idea of the pressures within a team.  The Environmental

Health & Trading Standards Manager stated that a multi skilled team worked across all areas and responded according to demand, which was reviewed via monthly tasking meetings. The following were current pressures within the team: -

·         Statutory Noise Nuisance – each officer carrying 70+ cases during the summer months. 

·         Health & Safety – 2 fatalities and 3 major investigations.

·         Food recovery programme – with well over 5,000 food premises across the County needing interventions.

The Head of WRS and the Technical Services Manager further responded to questions about sewer baiting, and that WRS carried out intelligence led sewer baiting for Severn Trent Water at locations in the vicinity of commercial businesses / residential streets, where issues were being reported. Also, a number of partner authorities provided subsidised pest control services to residents in their area who were in receipt of certain benefits.

RESOLVED that the Activity and Performance Data Quarter 1 – 2023/2024, be noted and that Members use the contents of the report in their own reporting back to their respective partner authority.