Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council

It was clear that the Authority actively supported the Home Authority Principle (HAP), having 17 informal arrangements for food standards. There were no home authority arrangements in place for food safety, but it was evident that the Service actively followed the HAP in relation to local food businesses that operated outside the Borough. Where records were available, it was evident officers were considering the HAP when carrying out food safety and food standards enforcement work. In general, appropriate referrals had been made to other local authorities in respect of unsatisfactory food samples and complaints. Where referrals had been received from other local authorities, these were properly followed up and investigated.

The Authority�s Service Plan and relevant operational policies and procedures included appropriate references to home authority activity. Specific procedures had also been produced and implemented in relation to home authority relationships and referrals.

The Authority was able to demonstrate that it was working with food businesses to help them comply with food safety and standards legislation and it was evident that advice was provided during enforcement activity. However, the records maintained in relation to food standards enforcement activity generally lacked sufficient information to fully ascertain what follow-up action had been taken and the extent of business advice provided following inspections, sampling and other visits.

It was evident that the Authority was involved in a number of initiatives to provide advice to business and to promote food safety and standards. Relevant links with other enforcement agencies and relevant organisations had been developed to facilitate this work, which included supporting current central government initiatives. It was evident that the advisory and promotional work that had been undertaken was an integral part of the Service planning process and had been achieved despite identified resource constraints.