Agenda item
Trading Standards Work Plan 2018/19
This report provides Members with information concerning Brent & Harrow Trading Standards proposed work plan during 2018/19.
Minutes:
Members considered a report that provided information concerning Brent & Harrow Trading Standards proposed work plan for 2018/19. The Work Plan aimed to set out some of the priority areas for the coming year and provided a guide to the expected levels of performance by each of the Borough’s teams. The plan also offered flexibility to assist meeting unexpected demands and to adapt Service delivery as required, to meet emerging threats or respond to major investigations.
Mr. Simon Legg (Senior Regulatory Service Manager) drew members’ attention to how the priority areas were determined on a national, regional and local basis. He continued that local boroughs were not bound by the priority areas set by National Trading Standards Board (NTSB) or the London Trading Standards (LTS) who represent the 33 local authority Trading Standards Services across London but we would support these themes insofar as possible. The priority areas were as follows:
Doorstep Crime and Mass Marketing Fraud
Fair Trading – focusing on sales of second-hand cars
Intellectual Property Crime (counterfeiting)
Product Safety
Illicit tobacco
Underage Sales
Letting agents
He continued that intelligence suggested that illicit tobacco and the focus on letting agents were becoming a larger problem across London. He explained that the rise in the number of businesses supplying illicit tobacco had resulted from the introduction of plain packaging rules for cigarettes and the ban on selling packets of 10 cigarettes. In relation to letting agents, the spotlight remained on this market particularly in London where competitive demand for housing had resulted in some businesses trading unfairly and exploiting clients who were desperate to find housing and accommodation in the capital.
Mr Simon Legg clarified that on a local basis, each Borough had a documented corporate plan setting out what it aimed to accomplish in the future and how this would be achieved. Brent has a ‘Borough Plan 2015-2019’ and Harrow an ‘Ambition Plan 2020’. These plans highlighted the broad subject areas listed as priority areas for each Council which included the following; Better Lives, Better Place, Better Locally, Build a Better Harrow, Be More Business-like and Business Friendly and Protect the Most Vulnerable and Support Families. Each area of work had each been given consideration including an assessment of the intelligence available and from that, officers were able to focus where resources should be best deployed to achieve the biggest impact. This approach was in line with the IOM (National Trading Standards Intelligence Operating Model) as well as contributing to the relevant Borough objectives. In reference to the assumptions set out within the report, he drew attention to the areas of work identified as high, medium and low priorities. These included advice on credit card charges, consumer credit and illegal lending and misleading description for vehicles which were not roadworthy.
He indicated that work volumes would be kept under continuous review and reported quarterly, to ensure that they were being implemented effectively and progress was being made. He highlighted the lack of resources in both Boroughs (3.5 and 4.25 Enforcement Officers in Harrow and Brent respectively) which made the service more reactive instead of proactive.
In welcoming the Annual report, members asked questions about staffing levels, the link between tobacco and alcohol licensing and control of sisha places in both boroughs. Mr Legg explained that a review was required of the Trading Standards restructure and it was necessary to appoint staff to posts where the position was currently filled by somebody on a temporary basis. In respect of the link between illicit tobacco and licensing, he stated that specific guidance existed that provided for robust review of premises licence. He added that as shisha bars were a threat to both boroughs, officers had placed it on their radar and in Brent, officers had maintained intense focus on shisha bars. In conclusion, members were united in expressing the strengthening of efforts to curb the emergence of shisha bars.
RESOLVED:
That the proposed priority areas as set out within the work plan 2018-2019 report be noted.
Supporting documents: