This report sets out the updated Food Service Plan for the period 2022-2023.

The Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report which set out the updated Food Service Plan for the period 2022-2023.  The report explained that the Plan, which was attached at Appendix 1 to the report, had been drawn up in accordance with the Food Standards Agency Framework Agreement on Official Feed and Food Controls by Local Authorities.  The Food Service Plan typically covered a one-year period, but the Covid-19 pandemic had meant that no plans had been completed for 2020-2021 and 2021-22. Due to the ongoing impact of the pandemic on services, the backlog of work created by suspended services and resourcing difficulties, the new Food Service Plan covered the period April 2022 to March 2023 and detailed the work plans of the Food & Safety Team in line with the FSA recovery plan.

The report stated that there were over 1600 premises producing, retailing or serving food, which was an increase of 13% on the number of premises since the previous plan. The plan detailed the performance of the food service during previous years (2019-2022) and future performance plan for 2022/23.  In addition, the Food & Safety Team plan had identified and would prioritise the following key pieces of work which aligned with the Council’s corporate objectives;

·         Ensuring that all officers were appropriately and correctly authorised to carry out their remit of work;

·         Ensuring that all officers were appropriately qualified and trained in line with Food Law Code of Practice;

·         Ensuring that the service worked to correct and up-to-date standard operating procedures to ensure consistency within the parameters of the Food Law Code of Practice and Practice Guidance;

·         Fully resume a food hygiene and standards sampling programme to support interventions carried out within Reading’s premises and ensure that the food sold was safe to eat and not misleading to the consumer whilst supporting wider national programmes to achieve this across England;

·         Increasing awareness and uptake of our paid advice service for food hygiene and standards within our local community and Reading based businesses, including resuming our food hygiene training courses which were available to local residents and businesses;

·         Improving digital access to our Food Service through our webpages and enabling interaction through social media platforms;

·         Resetting the way special treatment premises licences were issued to ensure that premises met the required standards set by Reading’s byelaw prior to trading.

Resolved:     That the Food Service Plan 2022-2023 be noted.