Hampshire County Council Item 5(Amended decision

Sheet)

Executive Member, Policy and Resources

10 June 2004

Trading Standards National Performance Framework

Report by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

1

Summary

1.1

The following decisions are sought:

1. That subject to the comments made by the Policy and Resources PRC on 27 May 2004 the National Performance Framework for the Trading Standards Service attached at Appendix 1 be approved.

2. A formal request be made to central Government to amend the law to make corporate owners of licensed premises responsible for under age sale of alcohol.

3. A further report be presented to the Policy and Resources PRC and the Executive Member for Policy and Resources on the resourcing issues currently facing Trading Standards.

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.

2.2

These decision support all the Corporate Strategy Aims in particular:

Aim 2 Stewardship of the Environment - by enforcement of packaging regulations

Aim 4 Building Strong and Safe Communities - by a range of initiatives to support young people and vulnerable groups, and protecting consumers against unsafe food and consumer products

Aim 5 Improving Services by continuing to review and improve service standards and information to the public

3

Other options considered and rejected

3.1

None

4

Conflicts of interest declared by the decision-maker or other Executive Member 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 5

27 May 2004

Executive Member, Policy & Resources

10 June 2004

Trading Standards National Performance Framework

Report by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

How the conclusion in this report fits with the Corporate Strategy

This scheme will impact on the delivery of all Corporate Aims, focusing most immediately on:

Aim 2 Stewardship of the Environment - by enforcement of packaging regulations

Aim 4 Building Strong and Safe Communities - by a range of initiatives to support young people and vulnerable groups, and protecting consumers against unsafe food and consumer products

Aim 5 Improving Services by continuing to review and improve service standards and information to the public

1

Introduction

1.1

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

The DTI require the Service Delivery Plan to be formally approved. The Plan was been considered by the Policy and Resources PRC on 27 May 2004 when the following comments were made for consideration by the Executive Member:

1. The NPF Service Plan be approved subject to `youth' being identified as a separate key local priority rather than it being merged with `crime and deprivation'.

2. The County Council be asked to write to the Government asking for the law to be amended to make corporate owners of licensed premises responsible for under age sales of alcohol.

3. A future report be presented to the Policy and Resources PRC and the Executive Member on resourcing issues currently facing Trading Standards and their ability to deliver appropriate services to the community of Hampshire.

4. Future annual reports contain quantitative information on the impact of the Service's 2004/5 initiatives, including and update on the top ten problem traders.

This report seeks approval to the NPF Service Plan which is summarised below and attached as Appendix 1 subject to the inclusion of (1) above.

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, submit it for Member approval and publish it. This is the third such Service Plan produced by the County Council's Trading Standards Service. The Institute of Public Finance (IPF) is contracted to audit the plans for the DTI. Assessing last year's plan the IPF found Hampshire to be above the upper quartile for planning, modernisation and improvement. The Service is highly regarded by the DTI; LACORS and DEFRA and has piloted a number of projects for the government.

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 produces a project plan for each of its functional teams:

· Advice, Community, Education and Business Support

· Fair Trading

· Safety and Standards

· Food and Agriculture

3.2

This year the first three team's plans in 3.1 above have been combined in the NPF Service Plan. There is a statutory requirement for the Food and Agriculture Plan to receive approval by the Executive and this plan will be presented to PRC in July.

4

Summary of NPF Service Plan

4.1

The Service Plan has three 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 eg police; primary care trusts; CABx; Fire and Rescue Service; local businesses etc.

4.3

Key priorities for the Service in 2004/05 are:

· To promote and develop the `Protecting Older Persons' campaign in partnership with Social Services, the Police and community groups to focus on rogue traders

· To improve health and reduce anti-social behaviour by cutting the level of illegal sales of alcohol, fireworks, cigarettes, solvents and aerosol paints

· Identify our top ten problem traders and take action to improve their impact on consumers

· To promote and expand its good trader scheme, `Buy with Confidence', apply for approval by the Office of Fair Trading and develop it as a regional and national model

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

· To improve awareness and accessibility and reach non-users eg by introducing a text messaging service for young people and a child safety CD for new parents

· To provide an advice and information service to the 21,000 consumers and businesses who contact us each year

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

· To work with Local Business Partnerships and provide named specialist officers to help Hampshire businesses, in particular our 700 Home Authority companies

· To inspect all High and 50% of Medium safety risk premises in accordance with LACORs risk assessment model.

· To reduce accidents by providing free child car seat and electric blanket checks in partnership with other agencies

· Work with the NHS as part of the Hampshire and IoW Tobacco Alliance to help reduce the impact of smoking on the health of residents

· Work with Waste Management to reduce the level of waste in Hampshire through the enforcement of packaging regulations

· Provide a comprehensive website and support literature for consumers and businesses

4.4

The DTI has developed a standard set of questions for Trading Standards Services to use in surveys of both businesses and consumers. This will help in benchmarking services and will be part of the Performance Information return to the DTI. The Trading Standards Service will use these questions and the Citizens Panel to assess levels of awareness and changes in consumer priorities.

5

Next Steps

5.1

A process of self and peer auditing is being developed by the DTI and as part of its commitment to continuous improvement Hampshire is piloting this for the south east region. 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, which also include a statutory annual return under the Weights and Measures Act. The Service is also assessed against Best Value Performance Indicator 166, which is based on a best practice framework. In 2003/2004 the service scored 100%.

6

Conclusion

6.1

The Trading Standards Service has a well established system of service planning and meets most of the standards in the NPF. It provides a comprehensive range of services that are highly regarded by consumers and businesses. The peer review process will be used to highlight further areas for improvement over the next 12 to 36 months.

Recommendation(s)

1

2

3

That subject to the comments made by the Policy and Resources PRC at its meeting on 27 May 2004 the National Performance Framework Service Plan at Appendix 1 be approved.

A formal request be made to central Government to amend the law to make corporate owners of licensed premises responsible for under age sales of alcohol.

A future report be presented to the Policy and Resources PRC and the Executive Member for Policy and Resources on the resourcing issues currently facing Trading Standards and their ability to deliver appropriate services.