East Lothian (Core Audit) (Closed)

East Lothian Council is a Scottish Unitary Local Authority and therefore has responsibility for enforcing food hygiene, food standards and feeding stuffs law in the district of East Lothian.

Approximately 900 businesses in the Authority�s area are subject to food law enforcement. There are also 87 registered intermediaries and establishments subject to feeding stuffs legislation in the Authority�s area.

The Authority has a 2006-2007 Environmental and Consumer Services Departmental Work Plan, an Environment Group Strategic Plan, and a Corporate Strategic Plan, although these do not fully meet the requirements of the Service Planning Guidance in the Framework Agreement.

The Authority has appointed suitably qualified Authorised Officers and inspectors to enforce food and feeding stuffs law, and training records demonstrate that Officers are receiving continuing development training in accordance with the Code of Practice.

The Authority�s performance review of the 2005-2006 Work Plan noted that there were difficulties with staff shortages and increasing workload.

Inspections of some food businesses are not being conducted at the required frequencies, having regard to the risk rating schemes in the Code of Practice.

With the exception of inspections of food businesses subject to Regulation 853/2004, records of inspections and other food and feeding stuffs enforcement activities are generally well documented and sufficiently detailed to demonstrate that inspections have assessed compliance with all aspects of relevant legislation in accordance with the Code of Practice and/or centrally issued guidance.

Sampling programmes for food and feeding stuffs have been developed and are being implemented, and sample results are being followed-up appropriately.

Officers use a range of informal and formal enforcement options to secure compliance, including letters, voluntary surrenders of food for destruction, and hygiene improvement notices.

The Authority�s electronic database had been upgraded to a new version a few days prior to the audit. This upgrade, together with insufficient training of the system administrator in the use of the new version, resulted in the Authority not being able to provide some information that was requested during the audit.

Service performance is being monitored, generally in accordance with the Code of Practice, centrally issued guidance, and the Authority�s own documented procedures.