Agenda item

Jane Rodgers, Alun Thomas, Kristian Williams, Huw Owen and Gareth Walters introduced the report and answered the members’ questions:

• Can you give more information on high-risk premises inspections? Are some food outlets more high-risk than others?

High-risk food premises are categorised based on the nature of the food they produce, the risk of cross-contamination, and the level of compliance. High-risk categories include manufacturers, butcher shops, and takeaways, with inspection frequencies varying from every six months to 18 months depending on the risk level.

• Why has there been a fall in FOI requests this year?

The fall in FOI requests is partly due to a particularly difficult case the previous year that generated significant social media interest. While the number of FOI requests has decreased, it remains higher than in previous years.

• What is the threshold for an event needing to be referred to the Event Safety Advisory Group (ESAG)?

There is no specific threshold for referring an event to ESAG. The process is voluntary, and larger or riskier events are encouraged to notify ESAG. The group responds based on the risk and works closely with fire and police services to ensure safety.

• Can you discuss the impact of the unfilled head of public protection post on strategic oversight?

The vacancy of the head of public protection post is acknowledged and is under review by the senior leadership team, with potential options being considered to address the gap.

• There seems to be a decline in performance in some key areas like fly-tipping and noise complaints. What actions are being taken to improve response times and resolution?

The decline in performance is due to an increasing workload and the need to prioritise certain tasks. The team is focusing on outcomes and risk assessment to manage the workload effectively.

• Are you being proactive in addressing concerns about housing above takeaways, particularly regarding overcrowding and fire safety?

While officers did not fully deliver on housing above takeaways inspections last year, it is a priority for the current year.

• Have you seen an increase in animal welfare concerns?

There has been an increase in animal welfare issues, particularly in farm-based animals, due to the cost-of-living crisis. There are challenges in dealing with these cases, including the need for resources and the importance of working with government to address the issues.

• 344 notifiable diseases are listed – do we have individual figures for E.Coli, in particular? What level of investigation goes into identifying the sources of these incidents?

Yes, figures can be broken down by individual diseases like E. coli, Salmonella, and Campylobacter. Each case is investigated thoroughly, with a history taken based on the specific pathogen’s incubation period. For example, Campylobacter investigations may look back 11 days to assess food history, animal contact, swimming in rivers, and other exposures. Investigations are logged in a shared database called Taran, which allows tagging of potential sources. This helps identify patterns across cases—such as multiple people visiting the same location—triggering further investigation if a common source is suspected.

• Do you have enough resources to handle the enforcement issue of single-use vapes?

The significant enforcement issue of single-use vapes is a challenge, and Welsh Government has been proactive in providing information and support. There are also challenges relating to the circumvention of legislation and the need for additional resources.

• How will you address the challenge of online purchasing of single-use vapes?

The online purchasing of single-use vapes is a significant challenge, and efforts are being made to address it through regional approaches and collaboration with HMRC and other authorities.

• With reactive service demand continuing to rise, what actions are being taken to protect and prioritise proactive work, especially in areas like private housing standards?

The team is constantly balancing reactive and proactive work, with a focus on maximizing public health outcomes. The team prioritises based on risk assessment and service plans, ensuring that important proactive work, like housing above takeaways, is addressed.

• Are there any other areas where proactive work has been reduced or postponed due to service pressures, and what are the risk implications of that?

Some proactive work, such as housing above takeaways, was postponed due to reactive work demands. The team is aware of the risks and is focusing on delivering these important areas in the current year.

• What mechanisms are in place to regularly review and rebalance priorities through the year as demand fluctuates?

The team regularly reviews and rebalances priorities based on daily risk assessments and service plans, ensuring that both reactive and proactive work are managed effectively.

• How are staff kept safe with enforcement at premises and at what stage are the Police involved?

Staff are protected through risk assessments and, when necessary, the involvement of the police. They also have measures such as sending two officers for corroboration and backup in contentious visits. There is an upcoming visit where the police will be involved.

Chair’s Summary:

This is very important work for our residents, for which the committee is very grateful – please pass that on to every member of staff. Thank you to the officers for the report and their responses today. The report was moved.