A verbal update will be provided.
Minutes:
The Environmental Health Manager provided the Committee with a verbal update in respect of the impact of Covid-19 on Licensing Services since the beginning of 2020, and the Senior Licensing Officer gave a brief presentation to cover the following issues:
· A monthly breakdown of the number of licensing applications received from October 2018 to October 2020;
· A breakdown of the various types and numbers of processed applications;
· Pavement licenses; and
· Impact of Covid-19.
The Environmental Health Manager referred to the impact of Covid-19 and confirmed that this had significantly affected not just Licensing but Environmental Health Services as a whole. Since the pandemic began, 268 new regulations had come into force and that was continuing on a weekly basis as the situation changed. The impact on the service had been considerable and officers from all agencies were working hard to support businesses as best they could. The approach was always to consider enforcement action as a last resort and to engage, educate and encourage people to comply with regulations in the first instance. However, it had been necessary to take enforcement action for some instances of ASB over the summer, and by working with partner organisations the situation had been handled very effectively. A business premises in West Bridgford had also been closed, due to its failure to comply. Officers would work with that business to support it and to ensure that in the future, it could open again safely. Given the change in status today for the county to Tier 2, it was likely that this would have further ramifications for businesses. The Council was continuing to provide regular updates on its website with information and FAQs to support local residents and businesses.
A member of the Committee questioned how a new taxi company could apply to work in the city or county and the Senior Licensing Officer confirmed that anyone could approach the Council and a rigorous process was always undertaken to ensure the suitability of anyone applying to work in the taxi trade.
A member of the Committee questioned why it had taken so long to take enforcement action against the premises in West Bridgford before it was closed. The Environmental Health Manager advised that the process for closing a business was extremely complex and delegated authority for closure directions rested with the County Council. The Borough Council provided the evidence; however, it did not have the power to close a business that responsibility lay with the Director of Public Health and the Chief Executive at the County Council. A business would only be closed if it was considered that the non-compliance represented a serious and imminent risk to public health; if it did not, then other means would be used to deal with the breach.
A member of the Committee thanked officers for their hard work over the past months and sought reassurance that everything was being done to reassure residents that all due diligence was taking place and communities were safe. The Environmental Health Manager referred to the significant work being undertaken by all officers and sought to reassure the Committee that everything possible was being done to cover Covid-19 related matters. The Committee was advised that it was a concern that during this difficult time, the day-to-day work of the team was being affected, and it was a significant challenge to ensure that everything was being covered.
A member of the Committee asked if officers could seek help from other local authorities if that was required and the Environmental Health Manager advised that if a major outbreak related to one premises occurred, then additional resources would be made available.
The Chairman asked if there had been any significant increase in complaints related to noise for HMO properties and the Environmental Health Manager advised that although there was no data available to suggest any increase in complaints regarding HMOs, the number of complaints regarding noise in general had risen significantly since the spring, with more people staying at home for longer period of time.