Agenda and minutes

            There were no Chair’s announcements.

            The Minutes of the meeting held on 11^th February 2020 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

            It was reported that no questions had been received.

            The Board received an update report on the work of the Trading Standards service between March and June 2020. The Government gave responsibility for the regulation and enforcement of business closures to Environmental Health and Trading Standards. Given the resource issues for Trading Standards and some capacity in the Environmental Health Team resulting from business closures, the decision was taken that Environmental health would lead on the issue in Halton and Trading Standards would provide support if formal enforcement action was necessary.

            The report provided information on the work of the Trading Standards Team around dealing with scams, iCAN and awareness training, price gouging, dealing with non-compliant personal protective equipment for sale and working with the national illegal Money Lending Team to raise awareness of the dangers of loan sharks.

            RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

            The Board received a report of the Director of Public Health which provided an update on the work of the Environmental Health service since March 2020. The report set out the routine services that had been maintained or adapted and the activities carried out directly in response to Covid 19. In direct response to Covid 19 the team assumed responsibility for business closures, Covid safe workplaces, outbreak management and supporting the Covid 19 HUB. With regarding to routine environmental health work the team had:

·         ensured business continuity plans were implemented;

·         saw a 400% increase in noise complaints;

·         adapted pest control services; and

·         supported urgent food safety inspections and developed a revised risk assessment and safe system of work to ensure the safety of staff.

            RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which set out the range of services that Halton Community Safety Partnership had put in place during the COVID 19 pandemic to support the community. During this time a wide range of services and support continued to be available throughout Halton to respond to concerns about crime, anti-social behaviour and other issues that impact on community safety. Members received an update on the work surrounding the following services and the impact of COVID on those services:

·         Widnes and Runcorn policing;

·         Operation Pandas;

·         School Liaison;

·         Domestic abuse – raising awareness, press releases, open door Webchat, local domestic abuse services;

·         The impact on Alcohol/licensing night time economy;

·         Digital safety; and

·         Challenges for counter terrorism and channel policing.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.