Environmental health enforcement policy
One of the primary functions of Environmental Health
Services is to safeguard the public, the environment and bodies of
people e.g. workers, consumers or residents.
By carrying out our enforcement activities in an equitable and
consistent manner, we hope to promote a sustainable local economy
and to maintain a safe & fair business and domestic
environment.
We appreciate that most people want to comply with the law and
we will always be willing to help traders and others meet their
legal obligations without unnecessary costs.
It is the Council's policy to carry out its enforcement
activities in an equitable and consistent manner.
The purpose of the policy is to make clear the approach of the
Environmental Health Services Division to its various enforcement
roles. More specific policies for enforcement of food safety and
health and safety are in place and can be viewed on this
website.
The Council has signed up to the Enforcement Concordat and this
shows the Council's commitment to work with businesses and provide
advice and information.
The Council has a publicised complaints procedure, further
details of which are available on this website.
This policy is based on the following five guiding
principles:-
Consistency: to ensure that similar issues are dealt with in the
same way
Proportionality: to ensure that the action taken relates
directly to the actual or potential risk to health, safety or the
environment
Targeting: to ensure that resources are targeted where
activities give rise to the most serious health, safety or
environmental risks
Transparency: to ensure that people easily understand the action
expected of them and that clear distinctions are made between legal
requirements and guidance
Accountability: inspectors are accountable to citizens,
Parliament and the Council for their actions and the Council has an
effective mechanism for dealing with complaints and comments.
Levels of Enforcement Action
Legislation may be enforced by one or a combination of
methods:-
Informal Action: will normally be taken where a minor offence
has been committed and it can be reasonably expected that informal
action will result in compliance
Formal Action: such as service of legal notices will take place
where the contravention is significant, there is a risk to health,
safety or the environment or it is expected that an informal
approach would not result in compliance
Prosecution: is a serious matter which will only be taken after
full consideration of the implications and consequences
A full copy of the Environmental Health Services Enforcement
Policy can be downloaded below.