Agenda item

This report details the work of the Trading Standards Consortium for 2016/2017.

SimonLegg,Service Manager, introducedtheAnnual Report, whichsummarisedtheworkand outcomesachievedby Brentand HarrowTrading StandardsService(TheTradingStandardsConsortium)for thefinancial year2016/17.

TheofficerupdatedtheBoardonworkundertakenin thepastyearand particular attention was drawn to thefollowing:

·                     three membersofstaffhadleft theserviceand afourth wason maternityleave.Theseposts hadbeenleft vacantin orderto achievefinancial savingsfor bothboroughswhich hadaffected theperformance of the Service in some areasof work;

·                     the budget of £313,170for 2016/17mentioned in the report was the netcost oftheservicetoBrentafterreceiptofincomeandnot theoperationalbudget;

·                     the servicehad recruiteda nationalproducer ofbeersand spiritsto thePrimaryAuthorityschemewhichprovidedassuredadviceto businesseswhopaid theCouncilfor thisservice.A totalof248hoursofPrimaryAuthorityadvicehad beenprovidedtobusinessesduringthe year;

·                     the TradingStandardswebpageshadbeenupdatedandnowhad alinkfrom BrentCouncil’sbusiness sectionmakingthe pageseasiertofindandincludedelectroniccontactpagesallowingenquiriesto besubmittedfromthe webpage;

·                     a triagesystemwasin placewherebythe nationalCitizensAdviceConsumer Servicesectionfilteredcomplaintsaboutbusinessesand referredthosewithcriminal aspectsto TradingStandardswhoapplied ariskassessmentmatrixto determinewhichones itcouldassist with.704 complaintshad been dealt with during the year;

·                     the implementationofa bankingprotocolhostedbetweenthe banks,TradingStandardsandPolicehadresultedina decreasein roguecold callersto theServiceas someofthesewerenow beingrespondedto directlyby the Police;

·                     there hadbeena Brentborough-widecrackdownon illegalshisha venues.Therehadbeena focusonillegaltobacco sales goingthroughthelegalprocess whichhad beenresourcedby publichealthfundingduringthe previousfinancial year.

Membersaskedquestionsaboutthecontentofthereportandtheofficerrespondedas follows:

·                     he undertookto ascertainwhethertherehadbeena responsefromthe HomeSecretaryto therequestby theBrentCouncilLeaderfor theintroductionofnew legislationto providelocalauthoritieswithbetterpowers to regulate andenforce problemshisha businesses effectively;

·                     if itwasconsideredbeneficial,TradingStandardscouldhost furtherLoanShark AwarenessEventsas theissue wasstill prevalent.In additionto NeighbourhoodWatch andothercommunitygroups, CrimeReductioneventshadbeenarrangedin conjunctionwithAgeConcern, branchesofbanksandWeeks ofActionin Harrow.In responsetosuggestionsby Members,considerationwould begivento hostingeventsforfaith areas,including intemples,whenthe programmefor thenext twelve months was compiled;

·                     workhad takenplaceby theCityof LondonPoliceregardingcyber-crimeandtheNationalTradingStandardsBoardeCrimeteam.Locally,internet basedinvestigations werecommonas somanybusinesses now had an onlinemarket place;

·                     whenthe newwebpageswereup andrunninga requestwouldbe made to link Harrow trading standardsqueries to the Brent website.

RESOLVED:  That thereport benoted.