Decision details

Minor Change to the Joint Environmental Health Service Establishment

Decision Maker: Managing Director

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decision:

To approve the conversion of a vacant Licensing and Enforcement Officer post, reference
EH318, to a Licensing Support Officer post.
This change can be contained within the existing pay budget (reduction from Grade 7/8 to Grade 6).

Reasons for the decision:

The Environmental Health Service conducted a service review in 2021. As part of that review the Licensing Team was structured to include four Licensing and Enforcement Officers and two newly created Licensing Support Officer posts.

Following implementation of this new structure the administrative support required to fulfil the needs of the Licensing Service has increased (brought about via legislative changes, national guidance and internal process changes). As a result Licensing and Enforcement Officers are still undertaking a substantial amount of administrative work.

The Service considers that converting the vacant Enforcement post to an extra Licensing Support Officer post would create further resilience within the team and would release the existing Licensing and Enforcement Officers to undertake more proactive and reactive enforcement.

Alternative options considered:

Continue with the recruitment of a Licensing and Enforcement Officer. Continuing with the current structure does not provide suitable administrative cover for the team and as such higher paid officers are undertaking work that can be accommodated by a lower graded post.

Publication date: 18/05/2023

Date of decision: 07/03/2023