Agenda item

This report provides Members with information concerning the proposed 2022/23 work plan for Brent & Harrow Trading Standards.

The Board received a report, presented by Anu Prashar (Senior Regulatory Service Manager, Brent Council) outlining the proposed Annual Work Plan for Brent & Harrow Trading Standards in 2022/23.

In considering the report, the Board were advised that the Work Plan had been developed to reflect the impact of the pandemic and Trading Standards budgets for 2022/23.  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 local priorities identified with the Corporate Plans agreed by Brent and Harrow.

The proposed priorities identified for the Brent & Harrow service had been detailed within the Work Plan attached as Appendix A 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 2022-23, although it was noted these would remain subject to change given the variable nature of the work undertaken by the service.

In reviewing the priorities identified, the Board noted:

·                The inclusion of priorities identified through the National Trading Standards Board in relation to doorstep crime and scams, estate agency and lettings, illicit and counterfeit tobacco products (including vapes and underage sales), energy related fraud;

·                The inclusion of priorities identified through London Trading Standards in relation to illicit tobacco products, doorstep crime, product safety, fair trading and scams;

·                The fluid and flexible nature of the work programme, which had also included (as a low priority) single use carrier bag recharges

The following issues were then raised by members of the Board in response to the report:

·                Further details were sought on the monitoring of single use carrier bag charges and whether it would be possible for voluntary groups and organisations such as Friends of the Earth to support the process.  In response members were advised that whilst it would be possible to engage with different organisations it had been the Town Centre Managers who had taken the initial lead in terms of promoting and monitoring the impact of plastic free initiatives within high streets.

·                Whilst supportive of the inclusion of energy related fraud and energy certification for letting of properties, members were keen to explore how this activity could be linked to the wider objectives in tackling the climate emergency.  Members were advised of the type of activities covered under each priority area, which included inspecting energy rating certificates when visiting premises and in relation to energy fraud including sales of solar panels.  Enforcement and inspection activity in relation to rental properties in the private sector was more difficult and would need to be undertaken as part of the work focussed around Estate and Letting Agents. Members were also advised on the arrangements being established to monitor and issue energy certificates for public buildings.

·                Support was expressed for the focus on doorstep crime and proceeds of crime as a high priority with further details sought as to how these would be monitored and enforced.  In terms of tackling doorstep crime, members were advised of the arrangement in place with Citizens Advice to respond and investigate where specific cases were reported, although cases involving cash payments were more difficult to track.  The Council had also partnered with the ‘Scam Hub’ initiative and also participated in national days of action throughout the year designed to engage and educate residents on ways to identify and avoid doorstep crime and scams.  In terms of proceeds of crime, members were advised of the proactive work being undertaken in seeking to recover funds relating to the proceeds of crime.

Having considered and commented on the report the Board RESOLVED to note and endorse the Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Annual Work Plan for 2022/23. and priority areas identified as detailed within Appendix 1 of the report.