Issue - meetings

Report of Councillor C Cupit, Portfolio Holder for Environment

RESOLVED -

(1)          That Cabinet noted the achievements of the Joint Environmental Health Service.

(2)          That Cabinet receive a final Service Review report, including a detailed 2020-23 Environmental Health Improvement Programme, pending conclusion of job evaluation and staff consultation.

(3)          That Cabinet receive a report on new ways of working in the Joint Environmental Health Service and the lessons learned for North East Derbyshire District Council, at its meeting in October 2020.

(4)          That a Business Case be developed to support the new ways of working in the Environmental Health Service, in collaboration with the Joint ICT Service, on the tools and solutions required to support these new ways of working, such as the early adoption of ‘Microsoft 365’, within the Joint Environmental Health Service.

REASONS FOR DECISION - To apprise Cabinet of the progress made by the Joint Environmental Health Service and to enable further improvements to be made.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED BUT REJECTED - No alternative options would have been appropriate, given the importance of ensuring that the Joint Environmental Health Service continues to perform effectively.

Please note that this was not a Key Decision and so can be implemented with immediate effect by officers.

Cabinet considered a report from Councillor C Cupit, Portfolio Holder for Environment, on the Joint Environmental Health Service. The report provided an update on how the Service had performed, the ways in which it had improved and responded to additional demands, as well as the scope for building on these improvements in the future.

Cabinet discussed the report and the especially the improved performance that had been achieved. Specific mention was made of how the Service had successfully carried-out the large backlog of outstanding food safety interventions.

Members heard that progress had continued to be made on Environmental Health Service Review. However, this had been slower than expected because the Service had to concentrate on the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak; and especially on managing the emergency response and the rapid implementation of new ways of working in order to maintain service delivery.

Cabinet was informed about the next stages of the Review. In particular, Members heard that a final Improvement Programme for the period 2020-23 would be drawn up for Cabinet to consider.

RESOLVED -

(1)          That Cabinet noted the achievements of the Joint Environmental Health Service.

(2)          That Cabinet receive a final Service Review report, including a detailed 2020-23 Environmental Health Improvement Programme, pending conclusion of job evaluation and staff consultation.

(3)          That Cabinet receive a report on new ways of working in the Joint Environmental Health Service and the lessons learned for North East Derbyshire District Council, at its meeting in October 2020.

(4)          That a Business Case be developed to support the new ways of working in the Environmental Health Service, in collaboration with the Joint ICT Service, on the tools and solutions required to support these new ways of working, such as the early adoption of ‘Microsoft 365’, within the Joint Environmental Health Service.

REASONS FOR DECISION - To apprise Cabinet of the progress made by the Joint Environmental Health Service and to enable further improvements to be made.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED BUT REJECTED - No alternative options would have been appropriate, given the importance of ensuring that the Joint Environmental Health Service continues to perform effectively.