West Devon Borough Council

Overall, the Service's data recording, reporting and validation systems were reliable.

The Authority had installed new computer software in April 2003 and had a planned approach to the gradual inclusion of all food safety related enforcement activities onto the electronic database administration system. At the time of audit, the system's development was at an interim stage with only premises inspections fully transferred to the new database. Paper based records were still being used for collating some areas of information required by the monitoring returns to the Agency.

Audit checks on the database indicated that the Service had effective arrangements for ensuring that the food premises database was up to date and that information entered on the system relating to inspections was accurate. This data was also accurately reflected in the Authority's official monitoring returns.

A few minor discrepancies were identified in the returns relating to enforcement actions and food sampling, but in general, levels of activities currently collated from paper based records were accurately recorded and reported.

The Service had implemented effective arrangements for ensuring that accurate activity records were properly maintained. This was based on effective and efficient administrative back-up, which included dedicated and trained administration staff responsible for data input. The Service also carried out routine internal monitoring checks for anomalies both before and after information provided by enforcement officers was entered onto the system.