PAPER C

FIRE & PUBLIC SAFETY SELECT COMMITTEE – 10 FEBRUARY 2003

SERVICE PLAN 2003/2004 – CONSUMER PROTECTION

REPORT OF THE HEAD OF CONSUMER PROTECTION

REASON FOR SELECT COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

The draft Consumer Protection Service Plan for 2003/2004 is attached. The plan can be updated to reflect budget decisions, Member recommendations and management considerations in the event of unforeseen circumstances. The first page of the plan identifies aspects of the plan that Members may wish to focus scrutiny towards with a view towards offering comment and guidance on future Consumer Protection service delivery.

ACTION REQUIRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE

This Service Plan is consistent with the Council’s new Service Plan template. Views are sought on any aspect of the plan, but in particular the relevance of performance indicator data, proposed service developments and past performance. Discrete areas of service delivery could be identified for in depth scrutiny at a later date.

BACKGROUND

Consumer Protection was brought together under a single service head in April 2002. In the current Council structure the service sits in the Directorate of Finance and Information. The Service will be one part of the new Directorate of Environment Services from the beginning of April. Most staff are currently located in the property known as St Nicholas, at 58 St Johns Road, Newport. Bereavement Services staff are all based at the Isle of Wight crematorium.

RELEVANT PLANS, POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Key documents:

Environmental Health Best Value Review and subsequent action plan

Bereavement Services Best Value Review (pilot) and subsequent action plan

Food Standards Agency Audit and draft action plan

Food Law Enforcement Service Plan

Inter authority enforcement audits and action plans

Performance Indicators as listed

Consumer Protection enforcement policy

Contaminated Land Strategy

CONSULTATION PROCESS

The Service Plan has been drafted in consultation with the Strategic Director for Finance and Information and Service Managers. It has been circulated to staff generally in Consumer Protection and will feature at an internal training/development day later this month.

FINANCIAL, LEGAL, CRIME AND DISORDER IMPLICATIONS

See the Service Plan. Almost all activity undertaken by staff working in Consumer Protection is driven by statutory requirement. In Environmental Health and Trading Standards particularly, those statutory requirements are more appropriately described as statutory duties resting with the Council to fulfil law enforcement obligations. Those obligations are designed to protect the health, safety, pocket and environment of all Island consumers.

Contact Point: Rob Owen, Head of Consumer Protection

F 823388 and e-mail [email protected]

ROB OWEN

Head of Consumer Protection