MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

COMMUNITY, ENVIRONMENT AND HOUSING Overview and Scrutiny Committee

14 APRIL 2015

REPORT OF T         HE HEAD OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES

Report prepared by Tracey Beattie 

Date Issued: April 2015

1.           Mid Kent Environmental Health Service

1.1        Issue for Consideration

1.1.1   To note the progress made in establishing the shared environmental health service since 2 June 2014 and the performance of the service for Maidstone Borough Council and the changes to staff.

1.2        Recommendation of the Head of Housing and Community Services

1.2.1   That the Committee notes the progress made since the establishment of the service.

1.3        Reasons for Recommendation

1.3.1   The shared service is delivering the objectives set out in the business case presented to the Tri-Cabinets of Maidstone, Swale and Tunbridge Wells in June 2013 and the Portfolio holder decision of February 2014.

1.3.2   Service delivery to Maidstone is being achieved through the two site model with Food & Safety being managed at Sittingbourne and Environmental Protection from Tunbridge Wells.

1.3.3   Recruitment to vacant posts has been completed for the Food & Safety team with the last officers starting in February 2015.  The service has continued to meet performance indicators set for the service.

1.3.4   Officers have completed a number of legal cases for health and safety and attended the Coroner’s inquest into the death of Matthew Cranch at the Kent County Show Ground in 2012.

1.3.5   The shared service has provided resilience for Maidstone by delivering the risk assessment and sampling data for the Private Water Supply return to the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) on time and to the level expected.  Planning application consultation responses have been maintained within the target performance indicator for the service.

1.3.6   The in-house delivery of the Environmental Permitting Regime across the shared service has been postponed to March 2016 for Swale and Tunbridge Wells due to staffing issues.  We have extended the contract with the contractor until March 2016 to allow the officers further time to train and establish a programme of inspections for 2016/17.

1.4        Impact on Corporate Objectives

1.4.1   The Mid Kent Environmental Health Service contributes to the delivery of the Strategic Plan priorities; For Maidstone to be a decent place to live and Corporate and Customer Excellence.

1.5        Risk Management

1.5.1   Since the establishment of the service risk management has been undertaken through senior management representation on the Environmental Health Shared Service Board.  The Head of Service, attends the Board meetings quarterly and the Mid Kent Environmental Health Manager reports on progress of the service.  This board reports to the MKIP Management Board.  This is supplemented by monthly meetings between the Mid Kent EH Manager and the Head of Service.

1.6        Other Implications

1.6.1    

1.6.2   Financial – the service will be brought in within budget despite the pressures of supporting a Health and Safety contractor for the Coroner’s inquest.   

1.6.3   Staffing – The appointment of Dr. Stuart Maxwell to the Senior Scientific Officer post for Maidstone in December has meant the draft Air Quality Low Emissions Strategy can now be moved forward. Other vacant posts in the Food & Safety team have been filled with highly qualified and experienced staff.  The service is currently supporting the training and development of two members of the Maidstone environmental health team to achieve professional registration for food inspections and registration under the Chartered Institution of Environmental Health Registration Board.

1.6.4   Legal – Officers have been issued with authorization cards and warrants for Maidstone reflecting delegated powers under the Maidstone Constitution. 

A Collaboration agreement and Service Level Agreement has been produced and agreed by the Shared Service Board which includes the Service Plan for 2015-16 for the Shared Service.

1.6.5   Equality implications – The existing equality impact assessments have not been changed by the establishment of the shared service.  These will be reviewed in the coming year in line with those required for Swale and Tunbridge Wells.

1.7        Conclusion

The Environmental Health Shared Service has settled down.  Vacant Maidstone posts have been filled and teams established, integrated and work well together across boundaries to ensure that service performance indicators are met.  A number of examples have occurred where the service has provided resilience for Maidstone, Swale and Tunbridge Wells within the first six months.

1.8        Relevant Documents

1.8.1   Appendices

Appendix 1: Performance Indicator Information April 2014 – March 2015

IS THIS A KEY DECISION REPORT? x     Yes                                         No     If yes, when did it first appear in the Forward Plan?   ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..     This is a Key Decision because:   …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….     Wards/Parishes affected: …All wards and parishes……………………………………..   ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..