Wigan Council

The authority had produced a Food Service Plan for 2008/2009 which was broadly in accordance that the Service Planning Guidance in the Framework Agreement. However it would be beneficial to the authority if future service plans included additional information regarding the risk profiles of food businesses in the area, and a reasoned estimate of staffing resources required to deliver the food law enforcement service. Auditors noted the significant demands placed upon the service’s resources made by the relatively large numbers and scale of some approved establishments in the district.

There was evidence of an effective document control system for the authority’s food law enforcement policies and procedures. Certain policies and procedures were due for review at the time of the audit, to reflect recent changes to legislation and centrally issued guidance. Auditors were advised that the service planned to adopt a regionally developed quality management system, in collaboration with other members of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA). It was acknowledged that the initiative would influence the content and nature of future policies and procedures.

The authority had developed an undocumented system for the authorisation of officers. It was not possible to establish the approach used to determine the level of individual officer authorisation based on their qualification, experience and competency. It was also noted that officers’ authorisations did not include specific legal provisions for all formal enforcement options. The authority should develop and implement a documented procedure for the authorisation of all its officers and ensure that current officer authorisations are further reviewed and assessed in consultation with the authority’s legal department.

Officer training and qualification records were, in most cases held centrally by the authority. It was confirmed that officers involved in approval and other food law interventions at approved establishments, had received adequate training and were appropriately qualified.

There was no documented procedure in place for ensuring that the food premises database was accurate and up to date, although audit checks, specific to approved establishments, confirmed that the database contained accurate records of these establishments.

All approved establishments examined as part of the audit had been approved or re-approved under current legislation issued after January 2006, and file records contained relevant approval documentation and copies of correspondence with food business operators.

It was confirmed that officers had carried out comprehensive inspections of approved establishments, generally at the minimum frequencies set out in the Food Law Code of Practice. Detailed records of inspection findings were maintained and reports of inspection or letters were provided to food business operators in all cases.

The authority had developed a procedure for the investigation of food complaints. Records examined revealed that in all the cases examined, appropriate investigations had taken place, and appropriate details had been recorded on file.

The authority outlined its approach to food sampling within the Food Service Plan for 2008/2009, and had developed and implemented food sampling procedures. While no specific documented sampling programme had been developed for 2008/2009, quarterly sampling management reports provided evidence of ongoing sampling activity. These reports indicated that there had been only limited food sampling at approved premises in 2008. Records of sample results reviewed by auditors indicated that in all cases, sample results had been assessed, and where necessary, investigated, in accordance with the authority’s procedures.

The authority had developed a detailed documented enforcement policy in accordance with official guidance. However, the authority should ensure that documented guidance is available for all formal enforcement options relating to approved establishments.

Although the authority did not have a fully documented internal monitoring procedure to clearly verify its conformance with legislation and centrally issued guidance, it did undertake several internal monitoring activities to assess the quality of the service delivered. Evidence was provided of a detailed programme of internal audits and past accompanied inspections. The authority needed to further review and expand these activities to include monitoring for all food law enforcement activities relating to approved establishments. It was clear that quantitative performance monitoring against inspection targets was undertaken both within the team and at senior management level and that discussions were undertaken between officers and at team meetings to promote consistent enforcement.