Stratford on Avon
Tuesday 24 September 2002
16-18 April 2002
The Authority was providing a balanced Food Service that was utilising the local theatrical tradition to promote food safety in addition to carrying out its routine enforcement programme.
The Authority's investigative work in response to food and food poisoning complaints was thorough, and effective action was being taken on unsatisfactory food sampling results.
Three key areas for improvement were identified.
The Authority must ensure that its officers are properly authorised to carry out their duties.
Effective monitoring arrangements need to be put in place to enable the Authority to check its own performance and take appropriate corrective actions when necessary.
More detailed records of inspection assessments will improve the information available to subsequent inspecting officers and form the basis for effective monitoring.
The Authority’s Strengths:
Investigative Work
The Authority was carrying out appropriate and thorough investigations of food complaints and notifications of food related infectious disease.
Food Sampling
The Authority was implementing a food sampling programme that was in accordance with local and regional policies. All unsatisfactory sample results were followed up with revisits to the premises to resample when necessary and to provide written and verbal advice.
Food Safety Promotion
The Authority had appointed an officer with specialist responsibility for Environmental Health promotional work. A range of activities had been carried out, which included partnership with Warwickshire Food for Health Group and a local performing arts college to promote food safety through theatrical performances and a related video.
Key Areas for Improvement:
Officer Authorisations
The Authority’s scheme of delegated authority and arrangements for the authorisation of enforcement officers was not coherent. It could not be confirmed that officers were properly authorised to carry out their duties. The Authority will remain vulnerable to effective legal challenge until this issue is addressed.
Internal Monitoring
The Authority did not have any procedural arrangements in place that set out a comprehensive and systematic approach to monitoring the activities of the Food Service. Although some monitoring was being carried out, this was not recorded. An effective monitoring system will enable the Authority to ensure that it is acting in accordance with official guidance and its own policies and procedures.
Record keeping
The Authority did not have a systematic approach to recording information about food businesses and inspection assessments. Adequate and retrievable records are important so that subsequent officers can be aware of premises’ histories of compliance; to enable appropriate enforcement decisions to be made in a staged approach and to permit effective monitoring.
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