The Food Standards Agency (FSA) require all food law enforcement authorities to prepare a Food Service Plan to reflect achievements, plan for future challenges and identify resource to meet this need.

That the Food Service Plan 2022-23 attached at Appendix 1 to the report be approved.

(See Record of Decision A)

Given the impact the Covid_19 pandemic has had on the hospitality sector, together with the recruitment difficulties the Council is experiencing, due to a national shortage of competent enforcement officers, the food service plan outlines the challenges that lie ahead for the service and how managers and officers intend to respond.

At this point in time, with the UK position of importing food into the country, the impact of the UK leaving the EU is not anticipated to impact on the service.

The FSA require the Food Service Plan to demonstrate we follow principles of:

·  Good regulation

·  Focus on key delivery issues and outcomes

·  Provide an essential link with corporate and financial planning

·  Set objectives for the future and identify major issues that cross service boundaries

·  Provide a means of managing performance and making performance comparisons; and

·  Provide information on the authority’s service delivery to stakeholders, including businesses and consumers.

The format for the plan is set down by the FSA, and as a shared service we benefit by providing comparison information for all partnership local authorities, Maidstone, Swale and Tunbridge Wells.

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the delivery of food enforcement over the last two years. The effect of numerous lockdowns on the hospitality sector is well documented, but for food enforcement this meant that the inspections that were due during times of lockdown have caused a backlog of inspections, that need to be addressed.

Locally, Kent has seen the creation of a new Border Inspection Post at Ashford and the reinstalment of Dover as one the busiest ports of entry to the country from Europe. This has had an impact on our ability to recruit and retain competent officers for food enforcement by creating even more competition for staff, on top of the competition from London authorities, plus individuals making life changes.

Lockdowns saw a surge in new food business registrations, a trend which is continuing. Some of these businesses are transitory (furloughed individuals) but they impact on officer time as the Council must process their registration, arrange visits for an initial hygiene risk rating, provide guidance and advise them.

The pandemic also required the service to respond to the numerous Covid enforcement measures, diverting resource to projects and activities as the county went through Tiers, Steps and eventually the opening of the economy.

1.  Approve the Mid Kent Food Service Plan 2022-23 (Appendix 1)

2.  Don’t approve the Mid Kent Food Service Plan (Appendix 1) - This would be counter to the requirement of the FSA Framework Agreement and suggest that the authority was not having due regard for their food law enforcement responsibilities.

3.  3. Do nothing – as point 2.