Issue - meetings

Mrs Tracey Beattie, Mid Kent Environmental Health Manager, introduced the Environmental Health Annual Report.  Mrs Beattie explained that the report provided an overview of work from 2016 to 2018.  The Annual Status Report, provided by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), summarised the work being undertaken regarding air quality.

The Committee requested that further training be provided on the subject of environmental health issues and the services delivered by Mid Kent Environmental Health.

In response to questions from the Committee, Officers stated that:

·  Treatments that required injections, such as lip filler or skin plumping, were likely to be controlled under medical regulations.  They were therefore not included in Special Treatment Registrations data. 

·  The feasibility study into a Low Emissions Zone was an element of the Low Emissions Strategy.  This had been formulated through workshops with Members.  A tendering process had begun, inviting consultants to bid for this work.

·  Air quality was monitored continuously at Upper Stone Street, however monitoring took place in other locations when it was deemed necessary to do so by Officers.

·  Work was undertaken with the Planning Service to ensure that emissions from new housing developments were mitigated.  Further information on this topic was to be shared with Members.

·  Food hygiene training uptake had been impacted by the prevalence of online training.  Mid Kent provided classroom training and organised this in a manner that encouraged the highest possible attendance.

Mrs Beattie offered to circulate information to members regarding Special Treatment Registrations and work undertaken with the Planning Department regarding emissions as a result of new developments.

RESOLVED: That the Environmental Health Annual Report be noted.