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.