Agenda item

CABINET MEMBER: Councillor Gareth W Griffith.

To consider the report.

To accept the contents of the report and to note the observations.

The report of the Head of the Environment Department was presented, highlighting the different aspects that the public protection service had been dealing with over the past period.

It was reiterated that the service's profile had been highlighted as they had been working recently on the front-line by contact tracing and in relation to COVID-19 regulation compliance.

One concern for the service in moving forward was explained, namely the provision of normal service, i.e. food hygiene inspections as places reopened, as well as the current requirements relating to the pandemic.

It was added that three additional officers had been appointed to share the burden of work as the demands on the service grew. It was reiterated that the new officers would be developed and trained for the purpose of retaining them as Environmental Health Officers in the future, to strengthen the service.

During the discussion, the following observations were made by Members:-

- Members gave thanks for the report and thanked the whole department for their very important work during the COVID-19 period.

- It was reiterated that cases of COVID-19 had increased in the Bala area for example, and that tracing officers had worked tirelessly in order to contact everyone involved.

- It was asked how the department dealt with residents that had started food businesses from their homes during the pandemic.

- The news that three new members had been appointed to the department was welcomed and it was noted that this was a good move for the future.

- Members gave thanks for all e-mail updates provided on the public protection situation and it was reiterated that this report outlined the additional work that was being done.

- It was asked whether the service was confident that it would be able to cope with its workload when normal duties returned.

In response to the above observations, the following was noted:-

- It was explained that the department was supporting the residents who had established food businesses from their homes during lockdown. However, everyone did not contact the department to register and it was noted that this was essential so that the department could ensure health and safety standards.

- It was reiterated that the department's purpose was to support and engage, and not to punish and enforce.

- It was noted that the service would be under pressure should inspections recommence at the usual scale, on top of the COVID-19 duties.

- It was acknowledged that the department's officers worked long hours and that this was now a long-term situation, and not a temporary one as initially anticipated.

- It was noted that support from the Council and Welsh Government to appoint additional staff was to be welcomed as this reduced pressure on officers.

- In relation to the COVID-19 situation, it was noted that the numbers were a bit stubborn within the County, and that clusters had emerged recently.

In addition to the responses, the Head of Environment Department noted that risks had been highlighted over the past twelve months, and that high-risk elements of work had continued. He reiterated that officers had had to continue dealing with serious health and welfare matters, e.g. matters relating to animal welfare. In addition, a reminder was given that Brexit-related issues had continued, including supporting businesses with exports, in particular food supply companies.

On the whole, a challenging period was anticipated in coping with the phased reopening of the economy.

RESOLVED

To accept the contents of the report and to note the observations.