Agenda item

This report provides Members with information concerning the proposed 2021/22 work plan for Brent & Harrow Trading Standards.

The Board received a report presented by Anu Prashar detailing the proposed 2021/22 work plan for Brent & Harrow Trading Standards.

In considering the report, the Board were advised that the Work Plan had been developed to reflect the impact of the Covid pandemic and roadmap out of lockdown along with the impact of Brexit and the revised Trading Standards budget for 2021/22.  The Plan set out the main priority areas for the service along with expected levels of performance whilst also retaining some flexibility to adapt service delivery to meet any emerging or unexpected demand or respond to major investigations.

In terms of development of the service priorities it was noted that these had also been designed to reflect the priority areas of work identified by the National Trading Standards Board, London Trading Standards, Office of Product Safety and Standards Control Strategy and national priorities identified by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government in terms of regulatory service activities.

The proposed priorities identified for the Brent & Harrow service had been detailed within the Work Plan attached as Appendix 2 of the report, which had been categorised as high, medium and low priority areas.  In addition the work plan included projected work volumes for each team during 2021-22, although it was noted these would remain subject to change given the variable nature of the work undertaken by the service and as work transitioned to a more routine nature exiting the pandemic.

In reviewing the priorities identified, the Board made the following comments:

·                Further details were sought on the work being undertaken with local business in order to support them in encouraging trade moving out of the Covid lockdown arrangements.  In responding, Anu Prashar recognised the unprecedented impact which the pandemic had created on the local business community and need for the service to be able to adapt its approach in terms of supporting the economic recovery process where appropriate.  Significant communication continued to be undertaken with local businesses in order to maintain the positive relationship already developed and signpost them to the relevant advice and guidance.  Inspection visits were also now recommencing, although the Board were advised that as the number of premises starting to open increased these would become more reactive rather than proactive in nature.  It was noted that the approach adopted by Harrow during the pandemic had been different to Brent with an outside agency being used to support as Covid marshals.

·                Support was expressed by the Board for the inclusion of work to tackle underage sales of alcohol, tobacco and knives as an ongoing high priority for the service alongside the work being undertaken to tackle issues regarding the renting of property in the private sector by Estate and Letting Agents.  In terms of the capacity to enforce new regulations affecting the rental sector, Members were advised that the issuing of Electrical Installation Safety certificates would fall outside the remit of the service.

·                Whilst supportive of the work identified to tackle package travel holiday complaints, members queried this being classified as a medium rather than high priority.  In response Anu Prashar advised that this related to the fact a majority of complaints were civil in nature and were currently subject to investigation by the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA).  It was noted, however, that the service had been one of the first to instigate legal proceedings against a travel company.

Having considered the report the Board RESOLVED: To note and endorse the Trading Standards Work Plan for 2021-22 and priority areas identified as detailed within Appendix 2 of the report.