The Public Protection and Enforcement Policy Development & Scrutiny Committee met on 10 September 2025, to discuss a range of issues including illicit sales of trading standards, Bromley's annual food safety plan, and an update to the Bromley Council Public Protection Enforcement Policy. The committee agreed to appoint Grace Lyashere from Bromley Youth Council as a non-voting co-opted member, and endorsed the revenue budget monitoring for the Public Protection & Enforcement Services portfolio.

Trading Standards - Illicit Sales

The committee undertook a policy development deep dive into trading standards, specifically focusing on illicit sales. A briefing paper, PPE PDS Policy Development Discussion Paper - Vaping Tobacco Use in Bromley - New Legislation 1, was provided to the committee which drew together current Bromley-level data, the national policy and legislative context, environmental and enforcement issues relating to tobacco control and the regulation of vaping.

The paper noted that the Tobacco and Vapes Bill (2025) includes:

• Making it illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009
• Establishing a licensing regime for the sale of tobacco and vaping products, with on-the-spot £200 fines for underage sales
• Powers to extend smoking bans into specific outdoor locations heavily frequented by children
• New restrictions on the flavours, display, packaging and advertising of all types of vapes and nicotine products
• A ban on single-use vapes across the UK

The committee noted that as of June 2025, it is illegal for businesses in Bromley and across the UK to sell, supply, or stock single-use vapes, with Trading Standards as the lead enforcing authority.

The briefing paper also provided data from the ASH Smokefree GB Youth Survey 2025, which found that:

• 20% of 11-17 year olds have ever vaped
• 7% of 11-17 year olds are current vapers, with 3% vaping daily
• 21% of 11-17 year olds have ever smoked
• 46% of vapers buy from shops, despite age restrictions
• 71% of young people aware of vapes report seeing advertising, mainly in shops and online
• The primary drivers for youth vaping are social curiosity, peer influence, and attractive flavours/packaging

The committee considered a number of questions, including what the new legislation means locally for residents and businesses, what the enforcement strategy and prioritisation should look like, whether the new legal framework will reduce the sale of vapes to minors, and what partnerships could strengthen Bromley's response.

Review and Update of the Bromley Council Public Protection Enforcement Policy

The committee reviewed and updated the Bromley Council Public Protection Enforcement Policy, detailed in the report Review and Update of the Bromley Council Public Protection Enforcement Policy. The update incorporates new Trading Standards powers to use civil sanctions for breaches of consumer protection legislation concerning single-use vapes and single-use plastics, following the introduction of the Environmental Protection (Single-Use Vapes) (England) Regulations 2024¹ and other related legislation.

The updated policy allows authorised officers to enter business premises where they suspect single-use vapes are being sold, and to seize any such products. The sanctions available include fixed monetary penalties, variable monetary penalties, compliance notices, non-compliance penalties, stop notices, enforcement undertakings and publicity notices. The report stated that any income generated through fixed or variable monetary penalties will be reinvested into the Public Protection service.

The Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Enforcement was asked to approve the updated Public Protection Enforcement Policy, including the additional powers for this new statutory provision.

Annual Food Safety Plan

The committee discussed Bromley's Food Safety Service Plan 2025 – 2026, detailed in the report Food Safety Plan PDS Report 2025-2026, which outlines the strategic framework for maintaining food safety standards in line with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) Food Law Code of Practice. The plan sets out the objectives against which the Council will monitor food safety and standards in Bromley, and the mechanisms for delivery.

The report noted that the number of registered food businesses had declined from 2,862 to 2,702, and that there were 91 new unrated food businesses awaiting inspection. A total of 1,033 food hygiene inspections are scheduled for 2025–26. The report also provided a summary of progress made against the 2024/25 Food Safety Plan, including that 1,582 inspections were completed, 326 complaints about food were received, and 19 hygiene improvement notices were served.

The Portfolio Holder was asked to approve the Food Safety Service Plan 2025 - 2026.

Budget Monitoring

The committee reviewed the revenue budget monitoring position for the 2025/26 financial year for the Public Protection & Enforcement Services Portfolio, detailed in the report Q1 Budget Monitoring 2025-26 PPE PDS - Approved. The report showed a breakeven position for quarter one.

The committee agreed to release £140,000 of funding carried forward from the 2024/25 financial year relating to the MOPAC MyEnds Violence Reduction Grant, which will contribute to the delivery of interventions focused on addressing concerns of violence and exploitation in identified hotspot areas.

Public Protection Risk Register

The committee reviewed the Public Protection Risk Register, detailed in the report PPE Main Risk Register Report. The report presented the revised register for scrutiny, which forms part of the Annual Governance Statement evidence-base and has been reviewed by the Environment and Public Protection Departmental Management Team and Corporate Risk Management Group.

The report noted that the Public Protection and Enforcement Portfolio currently has thirteen risks, and that there have been no score changes to the register. The current red risk ratings relate to increased costs for the Coroner's Service² and dysfunctionality of the Uniform Information Management System.

Appointment of Co-opted Member

The committee considered the AppointmentofCooptedMember report and voted to appoint Grace Lyashere from Bromley Youth Council as a non-voting Co-opted Member of the Public Protection and Enforcement PDS Committee for the 2025/26 municipal year for the consideration of Part 1 (Public) reports only.

Matters Arising and Work Programme

The committee reviewed progress on matters arising from previous meetings and the Forward Work Programme, detailed in the report PPEPDSMAandWPforSeptember, indicating any changes or issues that it wished to scrutinise for the year ahead.

Portfolio Holder Update

The Portfolio Holder provided a verbal update on the work that had been undertaken within the Community Safety Teams.

Public Protection Performance Overview

The committee reviewed the PPE Performance Overview Q1 report.

Contracts Database Report

The committee reviewed the Contracts Database Report and noted that the provision of a Stray Dogs Service was a statutory requirement.

Police Update

Superintendent Luke Baldock provided the police update, including key performance data against priorities for 2024/2025. He noted that violence, robbery, anti-social behaviour and burglary had reduced, but that theft of motor vehicles and retail crime had increased. He also highlighted the successful rollout of Operation Kelleher, which is being adopted Met-wide.