Purpose

The Covid-19 pandemic restrictions have
significantly reduced the ability of the Food Team to undertake
routine inspections of food businesses in Doncaster in accordance
with the risk assessed inspection programme because premises were
closed, or Covid restrictions prevented visits. In addition, some
food enforcement
officers have been undertaking Covid-19 investigation and
enforcement duties,
pulling them away from their normal BAU food inspection
duties.
This has resulted in a significant backlog of food hygiene
inspections as food businesses are now opening up again after the
lifting of restrictions and visits to premises are now more
practical.
In addition, one officer is currently on maternity leave until the
end of 2022 and 2 members of staff left the food team in 2021 and
the recruitment process to fill the posts has taken longer than
anticipated. This has left the team short of establishment.
The request is to use Consultancy + to procure consultant food
inspectors to undertake outstanding low risk hygiene inspections.
We currently have over 1800 outstanding low risk inspections
due.
The performance of local authority food enforcement services, is
The options are to try and cover the backlog of inspections from
within the existing team resource, or to employ external
contractors to undertake a proportion of the outstanding
inspections due.
Because of the increased outstanding inspection numbers and the
establishment shortfall, the “in house” resource
available to complete the inspection programme is significantly
limited. Whilst existing staff can be used to inspect higher risk
premises this leave a large proportion of lower risk premises
overdue.
It is proposed to employ Consultancy + ( the Council’s
approved contractor supplier) to provide an inspection resource for
the lower risk Category C and D premises.
Monies are available in the service transformation fund to the sum
of £***** to fund the contract. The market place for
authorised food inspection contractors is very competitive.
Discussions with Consultancy +, has indicated the £****
budget will be sufficient to employ available staff for the period
December 2021-March 2023.monitored by the Food Standards Agency,
who have powers to ensure LA service delivery is maintained at
appropriate levels. The Team is currently trying to comply with the
FSA’s Covid Recovery Plan, which runs until March 2023. It is
therefore important that we avoid any intervention from the FSA and
try and meet our inspection programme.

Content

To approve a contract with Reed Talent
Solutions Limited, trading as
Consultancy+, to undertake food hygiene inspections during
2021-2023 in the Doncaster Borough