The Trading Standards Joint Advisory Board for Brent and Harrow met on Thursday 6 June 2024 to review the Trading Standards Annual Report 2023/24, discuss the analysis of service requests, and receive updates on government proposals regarding tobacco and vapes, and the regulation of funeral directors. The Board noted the annual report, which detailed the service's activities and achievements, and discussed the analysis of service requests, identifying key areas of concern and recommending targeted enforcement. Updates were also provided on proposed legislation concerning tobacco and vapes, and the upcoming regulatory framework for funeral directors.

Trading Standards Annual Report 2023/24

The Board reviewed the Trading Standards Annual Report for 2023/24, which detailed the work undertaken by the joint service between Brent and Harrow. The report highlighted the service's efforts to promote a fair trading environment, protect consumers, and support businesses. Key activities included investigating 331 complaints in Brent and 169 in Harrow, providing primary authority advice to businesses like IKEA and River Island, and conducting compliance visits. The report also detailed efforts to tackle criminal behaviour, including the seizure of illicit tobacco and counterfeit goods, and initiatives to prevent underage sales of age-restricted products. Consumer safety was a focus, with actions taken regarding children's buoyancy aids and potentially dangerous electrical items. The report also outlined work on cost of living issues, including testing weighing scales and enforcing regulations in the lettings industry. The financial investigation team reported significant confiscation orders totalling over £1.1 million. The Board noted the report.

Analysis of Service Requests

Samuel Abdullahi, Senior Enforcement Officer, presented an analysis of service requests received by Brent and Harrow Trading Standards between April 2023 and March 2024. The service received a total of 4,297 requests, with the majority (87%) coming from consumers. The most frequent types of complaints related to used vehicles (610) and building and renovation services (482). The main types of breaches reported were substandard services and defective goods. The analysis identified hotspot postcode areas for complaints, with NW10 in Brent and HA1 in Harrow showing the highest concentration of issues. The report recommended focusing enforcement actions on these hotspot areas and educating the public about their rights. The Board endorsed these recommendations and noted the report.

Government Announcement on Tobacco and Vapes Update

Anu Prashar, Senior Regulatory Service Manager, provided an update on government proposals concerning tobacco and vapes. The report detailed plans to ban disposable vapes from April 2025 and the introduction of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which aims to create a smokefree generation by phasing out tobacco sales to those born after 1 January 2009. The Bill also includes measures to regulate vape flavours, packaging, and point-of-sale displays, and to extend age restrictions to non-nicotine vapes. Trading Standards officers will be empowered to issue on-the-spot fixed penalty notices for underage sales. The report noted that the legislation had not yet passed due to the general election. The Board noted the report and expressed interest in future developments.

Funeral Directors and Trading Standards Visits

Anu Prashar also presented a report on upcoming visits to funeral directors. This initiative follows a letter from the Ministry of Justice and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, prompted by a distressing incident at a funeral home in Hull. The funeral sector is largely unregulated, and the government is seeking to introduce formal regulation. Trading Standards and Environmental Health officers will conduct visits to assess funeral homes against a framework covering health and safety, operational procedures, and care of the deceased. These visits are supported by trade associations such as the National Association of Funeral Directors and the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors. The Board noted the report.

The Board also noted the dates for future meetings: 6 November 2024, hosted by the London Borough of Brent, and 19 March 2025, hosted by Harrow.