Agenda, decisions and minutes

Councillor Anna Bradnam declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 4, as the Council’s representative with Milton Country Park.

The Portfolio Holder is asked to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 28 January 2016 as a correct record. 

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 January 2016, were agreed as a correct record.

The Environmental Services Portfolio Holder

APPROVED   the Environmental Health and Licensing Service Food Safety Plan 2016/17.

The Operational Manager Environmental Health and Licensing introduced this report, which invited the Environmental Services Portfolio Holder to approve the Environmental Health and Licensing Service Food Safety Plan. It was noted that the Plan did not have to be approved by Council.

Minor amendments

Officers agreed that the words “Communications about” should be added to the final sentence of the introduction to the plan and it should be made clear that “outstanding” meant that the report had not been carried out.

Outstanding inspections

In response to concern regarding the 48 inspections that were outstanding at April 2016, the Director of Health and Environmental Services explained that:

·         Half of the 48 inspections were for new businesses.

·         The Council had decided to prioritise their inspections and focus on businesses in the highest risk category.

·         There were no outstanding inspections in the highest risk category.

·         There was only one outstanding inspection in risk category B and only four outstanding inspections in risk category C.

·         Lower risk categories were often home businesses where it was impossible to guarantee the business owner would be present for an unannounced inspection.

The Environmental Services Portfolio Holder requested that the inspectors aim to have no outstanding inspections in the top three categories at April 2017.

It was noted that it was not compulsory for a business to display its hygiene star score.

It was understood that the Council had not needed to take any food establishments to court during 2015/16.

The Environmental Services Portfolio Holder

APPROVED   the Environmental Health and Licensing Service Food Safety Plan 2016/17.

The Environmental Services Portfolio Holder

AGREED       

A)   To note the feedback from Parklife 2016

B)   To continue to work in partnership with Cambridge Sports Lake Trust to arrange a free Parklife event each year for the next three-years, relying on income from sponsorship, grant funding and pre-booking to reduce the Council’s expenditure to approximately £2,500 per event for each year of a three year programme; and

C)   To continue to underwrite the events with £10,000 per annum.

D)   To further promote the contribution of Cambridge Sports Lake Trust to the event through branding and advertising.

The Development Officer presented this report, which invited the Portfolio Holder to review the Parklife 2016 event and consider options with regard to the Council hosting similar events in the future.

The Development Officer explained that whilst not all activities were delivered by local providers, the activities provided could be pursued locally, as encouraging people to become active was the underlying principle for the event.

The Environmental Services Portfolio Holder stated that Parklife should remain a free event. He asked officers to consider whether there were sufficient funds in the budget to actually commit the £10,000, which was currently used to underwrite the costs of the event. He suggested there could be flexibility as to whether any sponsorship secured could be used either to offset costs or provide additional activity to that funded through the baseline budget.

The booking system that allowed both online bookings and for people to turn up on the day was supported.

The Environmental Services Portfolio Holder agreed that his decision should reflect the fact that Cambridge Sport Lakes hosted the event and that they should have an equal billing as partner in all branding and promotional activity.

The Environmental Services Portfolio Holder

AGREED       

A)   To note the feedback from Parklife 2016

B)   To continue to work in partnership with Cambridge Sports Lake Trust to arrange a free Parklife event each year for the next three-years, relying on income from sponsorship, grant funding and pre-booking to reduce the Council’s expenditure to approximately £2,500 per event for each year of a three year programme; and

C)   To continue to underwrite the events with £10,000 per annum.

D)   To further promote the contribution of Cambridge Sports Lake Trust to the event through branding and advertising.

The Environmental Services Portfolio Holder requested that the Head of Service, Environmental Commissioning and the Scientific Officer (Contaminated Land) liaise with Councillor Janet Lockwood, the local member for Hauxton, to ensure that the Council’s Communication and Engagement Strategy regarding the Bayer Cropscience site at Hauxton served the interests of the local community.

The Director of Health and Environmental Services presented this report, which invited the Environmental Services Portfolio Holder to consider an Outline Communications and Engagement Strategy for the forthcoming redevelopment and remediation works at the Bayer CropScience site at Hauxton.

Councillor Janet Lockwood, the local member for Hauxton, requested that in future, residents receive full warning of any remedial works that could affect the quality of life of those in the village through the release of unpleasant smells.

The Environmental Services Portfolio Holder stated that in the first instance the officers should liaise with the local member on this matter. If necessary, these matters could then be communicated to all councillors at a later date.

The Environmental Services Portfolio Holder asked the Head of Service, Environmental Commissioning and the Scientific Officer (Contaminated Land) to liaise with Councillor Janet Lockwood, the local member for Hauxton, to ensure that the Council’s Communication and Engagement Strategy regarding the Bayer Cropscience site at Hauxton served the interests of the local community.

The Portfolio Holder is invited to maintain a Forward Plan identifying all matters relevant to the Portfolio which are likely to be considered in the current municipal year.

The Environmental Services Portfolio Holder noted the Forward Programme.

Members are asked to bring their diaries.

The Environmental Services Portfolio Holder provisionally agreed that the next meeting should be held on Thursday 22 December at 5pm.