This report sets out for approval the updated Food Service Plan for the period 2024-2025.

The Committee considered a report setting out for approval the updated Food Service Plan.  Attached to the report at Appendix 1 was the Food Service Plan 2024-2025 and at Appendix 2 a Climate and Impact Assessment.

The report noted that the Food Service Plan was a statutory requirement for all Local Authorities who undertook official food controls and was detailed within the Food Law Code of Practice set by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The Food Service Plan outlined the Local Authorities commitment to development of the food service.

The FSA set a standard template for the Food Service Plan which had to be drawn up in accordance with the FSA Framework Agreement on Official Feed and Food Controls by Local Authorities. The Plan included qualitative and quantitative performance reviews of delivery against previous plans and outlined how national priorities and standards would be addressed and delivered locally.

The Food Service Plan served to assist Local Authorities in aligning with the principles of good regulation, focussed on key delivery issues, provided an essential link with corporate and financial planning, set objectives, managed performance and provided information on service delivery to key stakeholders.

The report noted that there remained a backlog of inspections, particularly Food Hygiene inspections, following Covid-19 and in part due to a number of vacant posts within the team.  The Team had appointed three officers to fill the existing vacancies, two of whom would require further development to be able to undertake official food controls. At present there was a deficit of resources in order to meet the requirements of the Food Law Code of Practice, clear the backlog of inspections and maintain the required number of inspections and complete other work identified within the Food Service Plan, including statutory requirements that fell to the Food & Safety Team.  There was also additional work that fell within the remit of the Food Service which was a priority but outside the scope of the Food Service Plan.

Following recruitment and meeting with the FSA to agree an improvement plan it was predicted that all areas of the improvement plan could be successfully implemented.  It was anticipated that the authority would be able to meeting the full requirements of official controls detailed within the Food Law Code of Practice by the end of 2024-25.

Resolved –

           That the statutory Food Service Plan for 2024-2025 be approved.