Agenda item
Half Yearly Report: Six Month Report on the Operation of the Service - April 2009 to September 2009
This report updates Members on the operation of the Service over the first six months of the current financial year.
Minutes:
Bill Bilon (Head of Trading Standards, London Boroughs of Brent and Harrow) introduced the report which updated members on the work which had been carried out by the Trading Standards Service for Brent and Harrow over the last six months. He invited members of the Board to raise any questions that they had regarding the report.
Following a request for an update regarding the progress of the member of staff who had started her training to become an Accredited Financial Investigator, Bill Bilon stated that she had now passed her exams. He added that the next stage was for her to be mentored by a police officer for six months to a year. After completing some investigations, she would then, he stated, be a fully accredited financial investigator. In response to an enquiry as to why financial investigations could take a long time to conclude, Bill Bilon explained that it was because Trading Standards were unable to make a financial case against someone until the primary investigation into the original trading offence had been carried out.
In order to protect residents, especially elderly people, the Board noted that there was a need for a scheme that could recommend trust worthy and reliable tradesman. It was asked how long it would take to implement such a scheme. Ash Shah (Assistant Head of Trading Standards, London Borough of Brent) explained that they were currently looking into the possibility of using the well established ‘TrustMark Scheme’. As part of the scheme, traders were veted, references sought and complaints investigated. He added that relevant complaints would be passed onto Trading Standards. He explained that they were looking at the possibility of using the scheme in conjunction with Building Control services, partners and other Trading Standards services. Following a concern regarding cost, Bill Bilon explained that it was unlikely that they would need to ask for additional money as the initial outlay from Brent and Harrow Council would be small due to the fact that traders had to pay to join the scheme. The Board requested that more information be provided to the Board regarding the ‘TrustMark Scheme’ at the next meeting.
It was noted by the Board that the fraudulent use of International Calling Cards had become a serious problem. Bill Bilon explained that Trading Standards were aware of the problem and had been taking action. However, he added that the number of companies selling these fraudulent phone cards kept increasing. He explained that they were aware of the need to work with the Office of Fair Trading as prosecuting the occasional company was not enough. In response to an enquiry into the use of tablet computers, Ash Shah explained that tablet computers were small notebook type computers which allowed officers to gain access to all their records when they were out in the field. He stated that they were hoping that in the future they would be able to use mobile printers as well.
It was noted that Harrow Council could also run the Ma Kelly event that was successfully held in Brent. The money required from Harrow Council in order to do this, Ash Shah explained, was £1,200. He added that in Brent the money had come from three of the council’s Neighbourhood Working schemes. The Board concluded their discussion by noting that the service had completed some excellent work over the last six months.
RESOLVED:-
i. that the Six Month Report, for the period ending 30 September 2009, be noted;
ii. that more information on the ‘TrustMark Scheme’ be provided to members at the next meeting of the Joint Advisory Board.
Supporting documents:
- 2009-10 Six month report front sheet, item 4. PDF 70 KB
- 2009-10 Six month report 3, item 4. PDF 525 KB