Presentation by Environmental Health Manager (Environmental Protection)
Minutes:
The Environmental Health Manager (Environmental Protection) gave a PowerPoint presentation on the role of the Environmental Health Section within Darlington Borough Council.
Members were advised of the structure and aim of the Environmental Health Department; that they are a regulator for over 30 separate pieces of legislation; the majority of functions are the result of a statutory duty placed on the LA; and the key areas of environmental health work were outlined.
Details were provided on the air quality in Darlington, which was generally good; the Council no longer operated fixed air quality monitoring stations but instead carried out diffusion tube monitoring of NO2 emissions from traffic across the borough; and that the Annual Air Quality Status Report was available on the Councils website.
Members were advised of the work undertaken in respect of food safety; that a wide range of premises were inspected; detailed the types of complaints received and investigated; 97% of businesses in Darlington were broadly compliant with the food hygiene rating scheme and were rated 3 or above; and that these ratings could be obtained via the Food Standards Agency website.
Members were provided with details of a recent example of food safety enforcement in Darlington whereby a Chinese restaurant was prosecuted following an outbreak of salmonella food poisoning.
Reference was made to other areas of environmental health including noise complaints which covered domestic, commercial, industrial and recreational; nuisance complaints which included state of premises, smoke and refuse accumulations; and that in carrying outs its duties, the Environmental Health department worked closely with a number of multi-agencies.
Discussion ensued in respect of food hygiene ratings which were not legally required to be displayed in England. It was confirmed that the ratings were automatically given as part of the inspection process and every food business was subject to inspection; and generally establishments with good ratings would have their rating on display.
Following a question in relation to the location of air quality monitoring equipment, Scrutiny were advised that there were 15 diffusion tubes placed across the borough for 12 month periods and that the location of the equipment could be reviewed at the end of the monitoring period.
In respect of the two stations in the town centre, Cockerton Bridge and St Cuthbert’s, due to disrepair these were closed in 2012 and 2014 respectively and it was not economically viable to fix the equipment.
Concern was raised in respect of a diffusion tube on Haughton Road which had been damaged numerous times and it was confirmed that this could be placed in a different position to ensure it was more secure.
Members also sought assurance in relation to the proliferation of online food establishments and delivery services and requested further information as to how this was being addressed by the Local Authority.
A Member in attendance at the meeting highlighted the use of wood burning stoves and queried the requirements and standards in place in respect of fitting and operating the stoves. It was confirmed that the majority of Darlington was a smoke control area; that residents should be using smokeless fuel or exempt appliances; installation should be in accordance with building regulations via local authority or private inspectors or installed by a Heating Equipment Testing and Approvals Scheme (HETAS) engineer; and any complaints of smoke from chimneys would be investigated by environmental health.
RESOLVED – That the thanks of this Scrutiny Committee be extended to Environmental Health Manager (Environmental Protection) for her presentation.