Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor F W Birkett and Councillor K A Barton.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Health and Public Protection Policy Development and Review Panel held on 25 July 2017.

It was AGREED that the minutes of the meeting of the Health and Public Protection Policy Development and Review Panel held on 25 July 2017 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

To receive any declarations of interest from members in accordance with Standing Orders and the Council’s Code of Conduct and disclosures of advice or directions received from Group Leaders or Political Groups, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

There were no declarations of interest or disclosures of advice or directions made at this meeting.

To receive any deputations of which notice has been lodged.

There were no deputations made at this meeting.

To receive a verbal update by the Executive Member for Health and Public Protection on Local Strategic Health issues.

The Panel received a verbal update on Local Strategic Health issues from Councillor T M Cartwright, MBE, the Executive Member for Health and Public Protection.

Councillor Cartwright was pleased to report that following a recent meeting to discuss and agree how partner authorities can work together in meeting the growing demand for health care services in the Borough, the Fareham and Gosport Clinical Commissioning Group has now confirmed that provision will be made for a health and wellbeing hub in the new Welborne Garden Village.

Councillor Cartwright announced that he has been appointed as a co-opted member of the Hampshire Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee and will report on this further to the Panel once he has attended his first meeting on the 21 September 2017.  In addition, Councillor Cartwright advised the Panel that he has made a request that he be invited to a future meeting of the Fareham Community Hospital Task Force that is run by Suella Fernandez, MP.  He will report back to Members on this in due course. 

Members raised concerns regarding the potential travelling difficulties that some residents will encounter in using the new GP same-day service scheme that has been set up at Fareham Community Hospital. It was noted that the scheme is being run on a trial basis and will be reviewed to assess whether it has been successful.  Patients will still be able to see their own GP for routine appointments if they wish to do so and with those patients making use of the scheme who are more able to do so, appointments should be freed up to offer to patients who are less able to travel. 

It was AGREED that Councillor Cartwright be thanked for providing his verbal update.

To receive a verbal update by the Executive Member for Health and Public Protection on the Police Crime Panel.

The Panel received a verbal update on the Police Crime Panel from Councillor T M Cartwright, MBE, the Executive Member for Health and Public Protection.

Councillor Cartwright reported that the Police Crime Panel met on the 07 July 2017. In addition to appointing the Chair and Vice Chair of the Panel and welcoming newly elected Members, the meeting received announcements by the Police Crime Commissioner, heard feedback from the Chief Constable on the Six Areas of Focus, discussed progress being made in the PEEL inspection assessment, reviewed the Estates Strategy and received an update on the Police and Crime Delivery Plan.  Councillor Cartwright advised that the Police Crime Panel continues to be frustrated with format of the plan which makes it difficult to identify how progress is being made. The Panel has asked that the plan provides greater clarity on actions to be taken and the end dates for achievement. 

It was AGREED that Councillor Cartwright be thanked for providing his presentation.

To receive a presentation by the Community Safety Manager on the Fareham Town Centre Public Spaces Protection Order.

The Panel received a presentation by the Community Safety Manager on the Fareham Town Centre Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO).

The presentation highlighted:-

·         the training undertaken by the Neighbourhood Police teams, Enforcement Officers, Community Safety staff and Environmental Health Officers;

·         the clear signage that has been provided to advise residents of the PSPO;

·         the communication of the PSPO through the Neighbourhood Watch Newsletter and Fareham Today Magazine;

·         the work done with Partnership Agencies such as Licensing colleagues and the Department for Work and Pensions in dealing with vulnerable people;

·         the significant reduction in crime figures over a comparable period of time; and

·         the work done by the Partnership Action Group to share information and support the PSPO.

Moving forward, work will continue with the Partnership Action Group, reviews and risk assessments on Council owned land and buildings will take place and more work will be done with the Pharmacies Network and Public Health England.  Regular reviews of the PSPO will also continue to take place.

It was AGREED that the Community Safety Manager be thanked for her very informative presentation.

To receive a presentation from the Head of Parking and Enforcement on proposals for virtual Parking Permits.

With the agreement of the Chairman, this item was brought forward on the agenda.

The Panel received a presentation from the Head of Parking and Enforcement on proposals to introduce virtual parking permits.

The presentation provided an overview of how a virtual parking permit system would work and highlighted the advantages it would produce against the current system.  Taking into account officer time, postage charges and the cost of materials the Head of Parking and Enforcement explained that the current cost of producing the Borough’s various 2,400 parking permits is around £10 per permit.  This compares to a cost of 98p per permit through a virtual parking permits system.   The entire process of purchasing and recording permits would be handled by an outside company who would download details of valid permits to the hand-held devices that Enforcement Officers use. 

The Head of Parking and Enforcement advised that once discussions have taken place with the Council’s Data Protection Manager to ensure that any system taken up is data protection compliant, a report will be prepared for the Executive Member for Health and Public Protection to make a decision on whether to implement a virtual parking permit system.

It was AGREED that the Head of Parking and Enforcement be thanked for his presentation.

To receive a presentation from the Head of Environmental Health on the Food Standards Agency’s plans for the future Regulation of Food.

The Panel received a presentation by the Head of Environmental Health on the Food Standards Agency’s draft plans for the future regulation of food.

The presentation outlined that the draft plans will change the way in which Food Safety is regulated from 2019 onwards.  This will involve businesses being responsible for producing food that is safe and a requirement that they can demonstrate that they do so. Businesses that are doing the right thing for consumers will be recognised; action will be taken against those that are not.  Businesses will be expected to meet the costs of this new regulation.

A centralised database of all food businesses will be created and a digitally enabled approach will make it easier for businesses to get information. Evidence of compliance will be required before trading commences and in the longer term there will be a requirement for businesses to secure a permit before trading.

Those businesses that are able to demonstrate sustained compliance will be recognised by a reduction in the regulatory burden on them. For some businesses, the risk will be so low that they do not merit inspection. For others, inspection could be more intrusive and rigorous.  

A wider range of information sources will be used to base judgements on Food Safety and Standards, including Private Assurance Schemes, Primary Authority arrangements and Certified Regulatory Audits.

The Local Authority Role in future regulation will involve approval of registration/issuing permits to trade, the issue of mandatory food hygiene ratings, desk top assessment of exempted businesses and enforcement when things go wrong.

It was AGREED that the Head of Environmental Health be thanked for providing his presentation.

To consider a report by the Director of Planning and Regulation, which reviews the Panel’s Work Programme for 2017-18

The Panel considered a report by the Director of Planning and Regulation which reviews the Panel’s Work Programme for 2017/18.

Members were invited to note the proposed revisions to the current Work Programme for 2017/18 as detailed in paragraph 3 of the report.

It was AGREED that the Panel:

(a)  approves the programme of items for 2017/18, as set out in Appendix A to the report; and

(b)  notes the progress on actions since the last meeting, as set out in Appendix B to the report.