Hampshire County Council

Executive Member, Policy and Resources Item

11 September 2003

Trading Standards National Performance Framework

Report by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

1

Summary

1.1

The following decision is sought:

1. That the National Performance Framework for the Trading Standards Service attached at Appendix 1 be approved.

2

Reason(s)

2.1

To meet the requirements of the Department of Trade and Industry to address inconsistencies nationally within the Trading Standards Service.

3

Other options considered and rejected

3.1

None

4

Conflicts of interest declared by the decision-maker or a member or officer consulted

4.1

Not applicable

5

Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

5.1

Not applicable

6

Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent

6.1

Not applicable

Approved by:

..........................

Date of decision:

.........................

Councillor T K Thornber

Hampshire County Council

Policy and Resources PRC Item

4 September 2003

Executive Member, Policy & Resources

11 September 2003

Trading Standards National Performance Framework

Report by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

1

Introduction

1.1

Following pilots in a number of authorities, including Hampshire, the DTI introduced a National Performance Framework (NPF) for all Trading Standards Services in 2002. The NPF has three main parts:

· A Service Delivery Plan

· A Set of Standards

· A Performance Information Return

1.2

Following the Policy Review Committee's involvement in the Best Value Review of Regulatory Services the Leader has requested the PRC consider a number of issues relating to Regulatory Services including the NPF Service Delivery Plan, which is summarised below and attached as Appendix 1.

2

Background

2.1

The aim of the NPF is to address inconsistencies in service delivery across the country identified by the Audit Commission in its report `Measure for Measure' (December 1999) by:

· Setting clear priorities and core standards

· Supporting Trading Standards' community role and contribution to key local priorities

· Developing performance measures and sharing best practice to support continuous improvement

· Facilitating a more coherent and consistent approach nationally.

The DTI require all authorities to produce a Service Plan using a specially designed template, submit it for Member approval and publish it. This is the second such Service Plan produced by the County Council's Trading Standards Service. The first plan was approved by the Executive Member for Policy and Resources in 2002 and received a very favourable report from the Institute of Public Finance, which is contracted to audit the plans for the DTI. The Service is regarded as an exemplar by the DTI, LACORS and DEFRA and has been awarded Government contracts and asked to carry out a number of pilot projects.

2.2

The main principles and standards of the NPF are to ensure delivery of the Government's aims for:

· Informed, confident consumers

· Informed successful business

· Enforcement of a fair and safe trading environment

· Efficient, effective and improving Trading Standards services.

3

Overview

3.1

Hampshire Trading Standards Service has planned service delivery and applied the European Foundation for Quality Management model for a number of years. The Service already produces a Service Plan for each of its functional teams:

· Advice, Community, Education and Business Support

· Fair Trading

· Food

· Safety and Standards

3.2

The above plans have all been tabled in the Members' room, with the exception of the Food Plan. There is a statutory requirement for the Food Plan to receive approval by the Executive Member for Policy and Resources. This, together with the Scientific Services and Registration Service Plans, will be presented to the PRC in October prior to formal approval of the Food Plan by the Leader at his decision day on 16 October 2003.

3.3

The NPF Service Plan is an short amalgam of the four Trading Standards Service Plans in 3.1 above, adapted and amended to fit the DTI template. The NPF Service Plan therefore is not as beneficial to Hampshire as it is to those authorities who do not have such a robust system of service planning. However, the standards set by the NPF help to focus the service and give it targets for continuous improvement. It therefore links to the Best Value regime and reinforces the need to meet stakeholders needs, in particular those of local consumers and businesses.

4

Summary of NPF Service Plan

4.1

The Service Plan has three key parts:

· Core responsibilities; objectives; local structure; resources and expectations of the local community.

· Priorities for the year ahead and an assessment or provisional aims against each standard.

· Arrangements to review the progress in delivering the plan.

4.2

The County Council's Trading Standards Service is responsible for the full range of duties associated with the service, including animal health and welfare and petroleum licensing. The key objectives of the service are linked to Corporate Strategic Aims and Priorities and the Government's key aims in 2.2 above. The Plan also outlines the Service's partnership working with a large number of organisations, e.g. police; primary care trusts; CABx; Fire and Rescue Service; local businesses etc.

4.3

Key priorities for the Service in 2003/04 are:

· To respond to 21,000 consumer enquiries and complaints

· To focus on `fraudulent' and `rogue' traders, working closely with Social Services and the Police to protect the elderly

· To reduce the level of under-age sales of alcohol, fireworks, cigarettes and solvents

· To conduct a comprehensive programme of sampling and testing to protect consumers against unsafe food and consumer products

· To improve awareness and accessibility to the service and reach non-users

· To provide consumer education to a wide range of groups, particularly young people and vulnerable groups

· To provide specialist advice and information to help Hampshire businesses

· To inspect all High and Medium risk premises

· To implement the DEFRA post foot and mouth disease control regime

4.4

The main weakness in last year's NPF Service Plan was the lack of recent consultation with consumers and businesses but this was addressed as part of the Best Value Review carried out in 2002. A key element of the Service's BV Improvement Plan is to make consultation an integral part of planning and monitoring service delivery.

4.5

The Trading Standards Service intends to repeat a survey using the Citizens Panel to assess levels of awareness and changes is consumer priorities. It will also be contacting businesses, both users and non users, and continue its regular satisfaction survey of clients on the Consumer Advice Centre. The DTI is developing a standard set of questions for Trading Standards Services to use in surveys of both businesses and consumers. This is to enable benchmarking of services across the country and the results will be part of the Performance Information return to the DTI under the NPF. These questions will be incorporated into the County Council's Trading Standards' surveys once they become available.

5

Next Steps

5.1

A process of self and peer auditing is being developed by the DTI and is expected to begin in 2004. Hampshire's Trading Standards Service is already accredited to ISO 9001 and its Advice Service to the Community Legal Services Quality Mark.

5.2

The Service Plans are complemented by a range of performance measures that are currently subject to further consultation. The Service reports against these measures, which also include a statutory annual return under the Weights and Measures Act. The Service is also required to self assess against BV 166 Performance Indicators, which it is hoped will be brought more in line with the NPF.

5.3

The Service will rationalise the number of Service Plans it produces in 2004 by adopting the NPF Plan as the key document supported by annexes for each functional team.

6

Conclusion

6.1

The Trading Standards Service has a well established system of service planning and the template of the NPF Service Plan does not readily match its functional team approach. However, the NPF does provide a set of standards that in most respects the Service either equals or exceeds. It is believed that this year the DTI will grade the plans and with its established planning processes and accredited quality systems the Service hopes to score well.

6.2

The Policy and Resources PRC is due to consider the National Performance Framework at its meeting on 4 September 2003. Any views of the PRC will be reported orally at the Leader's decision day meeting on 11 September.

Recommendation(s)

That the National Performance Framework Service Plan for the Trading Standards Service at appendix 1 be approved.