Agenda item

That the Food Safety Statutory Service Plan be approved.

The Lead Member for Planning & Regulation introduced a report that sought agreement to recommend the Food Safety Statutory Service Plan to Council for approval.  The plan was an important part of the process to ensure the authority was meeting its requirements on enforcing food safety law and practice.

The Food & Safety Manager gave an overview of the work undertaken in the past year and the future priorities contained in the plan.  It was noted that 98% of due inspections to high and medium risk premises were completed in 2019/20 and this was on track to have been 100% but for the Covid-19 restrictions impacting on a small number of planned inspections.  The pandemic had impacted on business as usual service provision, with the team engaged in other activity such as contact tracing, however assurance was provided that the statutory services were running effectively.

The Cabinet welcomed the continued high level of performance of the team and also commended the work on the Primary Authority scheme.  Members discussed the investigation and actions taken arising from the 393 complaints and enquiries about food businesses in Slough in the past year.  This figure included concerns and complaints about hygiene and standards, as well as requests for information from new businesses starting up.  At the conclusion of the discussion the Cabinet agreed to recommend approval of the Food Service Statutory Service Plan to Council on 24^th September 2020.

Recommended –  That the Food Safety Statutory Service Plan be approved.