Cannock Chase District Council

The council had implemented a food safety service plan for 2008/2009 that had received member approval on 17 July 2008. The relevant portfolio holder contributed the 'Foreword' section to the plan, which demonstrated elected members' support for the service. The format and content of the service plan was fully in line with the Agency's service planning guidance in the Framework Agreement, and provided detailed and comprehensive information on all aspects of the food and safety team's activities for the year.

Audit checks on the database confirmed that the service had effective arrangements for ensuring that the food premises database was up-to-date and that information entered onto the system relating to food businesses, inspections and other food law enforcement activities were accurate. There were adequate arrangements for database back-up and to manage access. These and the arrangements for routine internal monitoring of database accuracy should be more clearly reflected in the database management procedures.

File and database record checks confirmed that the authority had implemented effective risk-based food hygiene inspections of premises in risk categories A, B and C. All due inspections in high risk category A, and all but one high risk Category B premises inspection had been carried out at the minimum frequencies and within the time frames specified in the Food Law Code of Practice. Whereas the focus of the audit file and database checks was on inspections of food premises in high risk categories, it was observed that 158 food premises in medium and low risk categories were overdue an inspection. The authority should implement appropriate interventions to address the backlog and to ensure that future intervention programmes are in full compliance with requirements in the Food Law Code of Practice.

The authority had enforcement responsibility for a number of product specific establishments requiring approval. These had been inspected at the minimum frequencies specified in the Food Law Code of Practice. Where necessary, approved establishments had been correctly assessed and re-approved in accordance with current EU hygiene regulations. There was evidence that officers were proactive in providing advice and support to assist food businesses in complying with current legislation and relevant guidance.

The authority had a procedure for officer authorisation based upon an assessment of individual officer’s qualifications, experience and competency. A competency matrix was developed to clearly set out the levels of officer authorisation in accordance with the qualification, experience and competency requirements in the Food Law Code of Practice. The authority should ensure that individual officer authorisations specify the provisions of food law legislation that each officer is authorised to exercise.

In all cases it was evident that officers had received appropriate and adequate training. Individual and team learning and development needs were routinely identified as part of an effective performance review process.

The authority had developed and implemented policies and procedures covering a range of food law enforcement activities. Some of the policies and procedures required review and the auditors explored ways in which these could be improved and further developed to cover all aspects of the authority's food law enforcement service, taking account of current legislation and guidance.

There was evidence that the authority was carrying out qualitative and quantitative monitoring of aspects of the service, including inspections, hygiene improvement notices and food premises complaints. These arrangements need to be expanded, and the internal monitoring procedures further developed, to cover all areas of the authority's food law enforcement responsibilities.