CABINET MEMBER: Councillor Gareth W Griffith.
To consider
the report.
Decision:
To accept the contents of the report and to note the observations.
Minutes:
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.
Supporting documents: