Agenda item

Context

To receive and comment on the performance report for Public Protection services. The Public Protection division comprises of Environmental Health, Trading Standards & Animal Health and Licensing.

Key Issues

Cabinet approved a report in March 2014 recommending budget reductions to Public Protection services for 2014/15 and subsequent years. In January 2015 Cabinet asked for Public Protection performance to be reviewed regularly to assess any negative impacts.

As a consequence six monthly reports have been provided to Strong Communities Select committee, together with annual reports to Licensing & Regulatory committee.

The attached report summarises performance over the first nine months of 2017/18, and highlights the following –

 The four service teams, for the vast majority of the services they deliver, meet the Authority’s legal obligations in relation to Public Protection services.

 As detailed in Appendix A, most proactive and reactive work is being carried out professionally, within prescribed response times. There are only a few exceptions, due to increased demand, eg. some slippage in housing, private water inspections and animal health visits.

 Annual reports will continue to be made to this Committee to assess performance over time, and help inform future priorities noting the competing demands.

·    Services may struggle to take on any new statutory duties that protect the public and the environment, and therefore funding must be sought to support any new work.

·    Future strategies for sustaining Public Protection services will be developed, (to include further income generation and collaboration), locally, regionally and nationally.

·    Services will improve linkages to the Authority’s Corporate Business Plan 2017/22 – approved by Council last month – and other key drivers, eg. the priorities of the Chief Medical Officer for Wales.

Members at Strong Communities Select on 15th February 2018 were pleased with the levels of performance across Public Protection, particularly in light of new legislative burdens. The contribution to protecting vulnerable people, protecting the environment and reducing anti-social behaviour was recognised.

Members Comments

A Member of the committee praised officers for the report and highlighted the work as being critical for keeping the residents of Monmouthshire safe.

It was asked if a major incident took place, such as the 2001 foot and mouth epidemic, would we as a Council have the capacity to deal with it and would we have the money to cover the problem as speedily as needed.

A Member asked if the department had contact details of farmers in the event of escaped animals.

In regard to private water supplies, the reference to them not being adequately monitored was raised and it was asked what strategies will be put in place to ensure monitoring takes place in future.

In terms of the department’s responsibilities monitoring private landlords it was asked how often the department is involved in non-compliant landlords.

A Member of the committee asked what impact technological changes will have on the department.

Members agreed to the recommendation;

 To consider and comment on the contents of the attached report – Appendix A – entitled ‘Public Protection Performance report 2017/18, first 9 months’.