Agenda item

This report details the work of the Trading Standards Consortium for 2014/15.

TheBoard receiveda reportwhichdetailedthework ofthe TradingStandards Consortium  for2014/15.It wasnoted that,as previously  requestedby  the Board,  the  report  referenced  datafrom  previous  yearsto  enable benchmarking.

Memberswere advised  thattheservice  wasdeveloping  amore risk  based framework   as  a  result   of  a  reduction   in   powers  arising   from  the  2012

Protection  of  Freedom  Act.  The  number  of  inspections  would  reduce  as officers  could  only  enterand inspect  iftherewere specific  reasonsto do  so such asintelligenceleads,riskassessmentandbusinessestrack record.

In responseto questions,it wasreportedthat:

•          Recordsofwebsite  compliance  checksdid  not  enable  statistics  tobe separatelymaintainedforthe internetcomponentofhighstreet businesses;

•          With   regard  to   overseas   websites,   if   sufficient   information   was submitted  awebsite  could  beforced  to  be  takendown  but  it  was usually  not  possible  for  the  service  to  recover  improper  payments madeby localusers;

•          Specific  powersenabled  spotchecks forsale  ofrestricted  goodsto children,possiblyprosecuted forfirstinstancedependingon circumstances;

•          It  was  difficult  to  determine  the  protective  characteristics,  such  as ethnicity,age, genderetc ofbusinessesotherthan soletraders,as the staff,  managers,owners will  almost  always  havea rangeof differing protectedcharacteristics;

•          Trading   standards   workedwith  a  variety   of  different   enforcement agenciesas regardsshishaestablishmentsanddoorstepcrime;

•          17  Freedom  of  Information  (FOI)  requestshad been  received  and respondedtowithin  thestatutorytimescale  on  suchgeneral  items  as surveillance   and   underage   sales   The   service   provided   primary authorityservicesforten businesses

RESOLVED:Thatthereport benoted.