Tonbridge and Malling
Wednesday 25 September 2002
25-28 March 2002
The Authority was achieving a high level of performance across most areas of food enforcement activity.
In preparation for this audit, the Food Service carried out a rigorous review and had been thorough in addressing the areas for improvement identified. It was evident that the officers had responded and that the resulting changes to procedural practices were being implemented.
These improvements were built on a good level of performance that had been achieved prior to the internal review. Consequently, no key areas for improvement were identified during this audit.
The Authority was providing a balanced service, appropriate to the Borough’s food premises profile, that was particularly strong in assisting local food businesses and promoting food safety, and which was also prepared to take formal enforcement action when necessary. The Service’s records for general premises inspections showed that officers were undertaking thorough assessments.
The Authority's Strengths
Advice to Business and Food Safety Promotion
The Authority was carrying out a range of proactive initiatives, some in partnership with other local bodies, aimed at assisting food businesses to comply with the law and to promote food standards and safety. Follow-up letters to proprietors gave helpful guidance in a clearly worded and easy to understand format.
Records of General Premises Inspections
New inspection record forms had been developed and implemented by the Service, which provided comprehensive records of the scope of general premises inspections. These ensured that sufficiently detailed histories of compliance were being maintained to enable appropriate enforcement decisions to be made and to provide a basis for effective monitoring.
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