The Trading Standards Joint Advisory Board was scheduled to discuss proposed fees and charges for the upcoming financial year, as well as the service's work plan for 2025-26. A key item on the agenda was an update regarding the ban on single-use vapes, which is set to come into effect in June 2025.

Fees and Charges 2025-26

The Board was presented with a report outlining the proposed fees and charges for the Brent & Harrow Trading Standards Service for the 2025-26 financial year. These fees are categorised into statutory fees, RPI-linked fees, and discretionary fees. Statutory fees are set by legislation, while RPI-linked fees are adjusted annually based on the Retail Price Index. Discretionary fees are determined annually based on prevailing circumstances, with a focus on remaining competitive with other local authorities.

Specific fees discussed included those for processing explosive (firework) licenses, which vary depending on the type of license. The report also detailed proposed monetary penalties for breaches of legislation related to lettings agency work, property management, and client money protection schemes, with penalties ranging from £1,000 for low harm offences to £30,000 for high harm offences on subsequent breaches. Primary Authority partnership fees were also outlined, with an increase proposed due to the RPI adjustment.

Fees related to Weights and Measures, such as the verification of equipment and calibration of weights, were presented with proposed increases. The report also noted a fee for officers carrying out duties at Wembley events and a proposed increase for the Financial Investigator's fee, which is charged to other local authorities. The report indicated an increase in the income budget for 2025-26, reflecting a return to pre-pandemic work volumes.

Joint Advisory Board Work Plan 2025-26

A report was presented detailing the proposed work plan for the Brent & Harrow Trading Standards Service for the 2025-26 financial year. The plan aims to set out priority areas of work and serves as a guide for performance monitoring. The service's priorities are influenced by national and regional assessments, including those from the National Trading Standards Board (NTSB) and London Trading Standards (LTS).

Key priority areas identified include doorstep crime and scams, illicit and underage sales of vapes and tobacco, product safety, and fair trading practices. The work plan also considers the corporate plans of both Brent and Harrow Councils, aligning with their strategic objectives. The plan assumes a reactive approach, focusing on statutory responsibilities and complaint-driven investigations, while also prioritising commercial activities that generate income.

The work plan categorises areas of work into high, medium, and low priorities. High priority areas include estate and letting agents, doorstep crime and scams, unsafe goods, primary authority partnerships, and illicit tobacco products. Medium priority areas encompass misleading descriptions, consumer credit, online terms and conditions, and unsafe goods at the retail level. Low priority areas include single-use carrier bag charges and misleading descriptions of low-value goods. The report also projected work volumes for both the Harrow and Brent teams, based on their respective enforcement staff numbers.

Update on the Ban of Disposable Vapes

The Board received an update on the ban of single-use vapes, which is scheduled to come into effect on 1 June 2025, under the Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (England) Regulations 2024. This ban will prohibit the sale and supply of disposable vapes, regardless of whether they contain nicotine, with the aim of protecting the environment. Refillable and rechargeable options will remain permitted.

Local authority Trading Standards services in England will be responsible for enforcing the ban. The report outlined the powers of authorised enforcement officers, which include entering business premises and seizing single-use vapes. Offences related to the supply of single-use vapes can result in fines. The regulations also provide for civil sanctions, such as fixed monetary penalties, compliance notices, and stop notices, with the potential for criminal proceedings and unlimited fines for non-compliance.

The service has developed an action plan to assist businesses in transitioning to the new regulations, including press releases and signposting to government guidance and training. The report noted that while the ban addresses single-use vapes, further changes related to vape flavours or other aspects of vaping law may be addressed under the forthcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill. The report also highlighted that officers will require training on the new regulations, and there may be additional work generated through business visits to ensure compliance.