Vision

The ambition for a district where residents and the employed can prosper in a healthy and safe community and environment.

Key Aims

  • Residents and the employed in the district have their human rights protected
  • Communities are supported, including minority and vulnerable groups
  • Action is taken against individuals and businesses which fail to fulfil their duties and responsibilities to others and the environment
  • The protection of the physical environment

Service Objectives

  1. To protect public health by ensuring that food producers and premises are inspected in accordance with the FSA Code of Practice (England).
  2. To protect public health by ensuring that workplaces etc are inspected in accordance with HSE guidance.
  3. To protect public health by investigating and controlling cases of infectious disease as required by Public Health England.
  4. To protect public health by licensing all activities and persons, ensure all licence conditions are complied with. In addition to protect the finances of the Council by ensuring all fees are paid.
  5. To protect public health by controlling dogs, pests and pollution. In addition to protect the finances of the Council by ensuring all fees are paid.
  6. To reduce fuel poverty (Rother only) 
  7. To reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, protect vulnerable persons and increase community cohesion (Rother only) 
  8. To improve the living conditions and safety of private sector tenants, licence HMOs, bring empty properties back into use, administer DFGs.  (Rother only)

Service Objective 1

To protect public health by ensuring that food producers and premises are inspected in accordance with the FSA Code of Practice (England).

NumberActionLead Officer
F1Publish an annual food service plan that includes the numbers of risk based inspections to be carried out.
Targets 95% of food businesses that have been inspected to be broadly compliant with legal requirements. Less than 3% of food businesses to score less than 3 and 75% of businesses to score 5 (FHRS).
UK
F2PLANNED FOOD INSPECTIONS– carry out inspections in accordance with the plan.UK
F3To approve food producers so they can supply retail customers UK
F4To give advice to the public and new businesses  UK
F5To respond appropriately to complaints and service requests from the public and businesses UK
F6Carry out the national food sampling programme UK
F7Prepare for major outbreak by reviewing and testing the plan UK
F8Sample private water supplies PW
F9Continue to publish weekly the results of the food hygiene rating system  UK
F10Inspect gaming machines and lottery card dispensers in public houses during food inspections UK
F11Issue Export Health Certificates UK
F12Operate Regional Fish Export Hub at Rye RH
F13Respond to FSA consultations UK
F14Prepare for food import controls UK
F15Explore use of iPads to conduct inspections UK
Partners:
Sussex Food Liaison Group
UKHSA
KCC Public Analyst
Food Standards Agency

Service Objective 2

To protect public health by ensuring that work places etc are inspected in accordance with HSE guidance. Refer to RIAM procedures.

NumberActionLead Officer
HS1Publish an annual plan that includes the national projects being undertaken, in accordance with Government guidance.UK
HS2Carry out inspections in accordance with this planUK
HS3To investigate significant accidents (major injury or death)UK
HS4To give advice to the public and new businessesUK
HS5To respond appropriately to complaints and service requests from the public, employees and employersUK
HS6Carry out proactive inspections in accordance with the HSE national priority listUK
HS7Prepare for major accident by reviewing and testing the planUK
HS8No activity this year.UK
HS9Chair Bonfire SAGs in Rother and Wealden and attend some events UK
HS10Operate SAGs for major events, if scoring criteria met  UK
HS11No activity this year.UK
HS12Respond to local intelligence on health and safety standards at work by conducting local intervention campaigns UK
HS13Implement short term holiday accommodation project-voluntary register UK
HS14Inspect commercial caravan sites and issue new licences UK
HS15Inspect all residential mobile home sites when a new application has been received, including single units. RH
HS16To inspect all residential mobile home parks (6+ units).  To also complete bi-annual gypsy count.   RH
HS17Carry out inspections in association with Project Discovery SE
Partners:
HSE
Project Discovery (Modern Day Slavery)
Safety Advisory Groups
Sussex H&S Group

Service Objective 3

To protect public health by investigating and controlling cases of infectious disease as required by UKHSA.

NumberActionLead Officer
H1Investigate and control infectious diseasesUK
H2To attend quarterly community infection meetings with UKHSAOO
H3Prepare for major outbreak by reviewing and testing the planUK
H4Implement bye laws to control acupuncture, body piercing etcUK
H5Public Health Funerals (Wealden only)CM
H6Visit all funeral directors (national project)UK
Partners
Director of Public Health (ESCC)
UKHSA

Service Objective 4

To protect public health by licensing all activities and persons, ensure all licence conditions are complied with. In addition to protect the finances of the Council by ensuring all fees are paid. Refer to RIAM procedures.

NumberActionLead Officer
L1Licences to be issued in accordance with written procedures and statutory deadlines 

Alcohol and regulated entertainment 

Animal Welfare Licences eg dog breeding, home boarding, pet vending, performing animals and hiring of horses (new regulations) 

Gambling- betting shops, bingo, lotteries 

Taxis 
CMB
L2AW licensing:

Dog breeding, home boarding, pet vending, performing animals and hiring of horses

Animal boarding (catteries and kennels) inspections


CP

UK
L3To respond to complaints and service requests from the public and investigate activities not licensed CMB
L4To give advice to the public and new businesses  CMB
L5To liaise with the police (LAGs), other LAs and other enforcement bodies to achieve improvements by co-ordinated actionCMB
L6To evict Gypsies and Travellers from unauthorised site (Rother owned land only) CMB
L7Provide on-line forms to replace Gov forms CB
L8Operate SAGs for major events (Eridge and Pippingford Park)

Events on Council land 

Other events 
MR

RPH

UK/CB
L9Produce Business newsletterRE
L10Implement compulsory internal CCTV in Rother taxis. WDC to consider introduction in September 2024 CMB
L11Taxi Home Safe campaign (Christmas and Proms) CM
L12Review Licensing Policies: 

Gambling in 2024 

Alcohol and Regulated Entertainment in 2025 
CMB
L13Review Licensing Policies:

Gambling in 2024

Alcohol and Regulated Entertainment in 2025
CMB
L14Aim to ensure Council taxi licensing conditions comply with Best Practice by March 2026 MR
Partners
Gambling Commission
Sussex Police (Licensing Unit)
Trading Standards (ESCC)
Sussex Licensing Officers Group

Service Objective 5

To protect public health by controlling dogs, pests and pollution. In addition to protect the finances of the Council by ensuring all fees are paid. Refer to RIAM procedures.

NumberActionLead Officer
P1Pollution Permits (eg brick works, car spraying, petrol stations) to be issued, processes inspected in accordance with a risk assessment. Ensure invoices are issued.CMB
P2To carry out monitoring of nitrogen dioxide, particulates and radiation so that the annual air quality review can be written and so that vulnerable members of the public can be alerted to high pollution episodes. Promote Air Alert that allow the public to sign up to automatic text alerts of high levels of pollution.GM/PW
P3To respond to complaints and service requests from the public
• Anti-Social Behaviour
• Accumulations of waste on private land if prejudicial to health
• Air pollution-bonfires
• Filthy and Verminous premises
• Light pollution
• Noise- Commercial, Domestic, and Industrial
• Grossly overgrown gardens
• Private drainage- cesspools, drains, septic tanks, sinks, spouts, gutters and WCs etc
• Statutory Nuisances
CMB
P4To give advice to the public and new businessesCMB
P5To liaise with the police, other LAs and enforcement bodies to achieve improvements by co-ordinated actionCMB
P6To comment on planning applications that have a significant environmental impact 

To contribute to the development of the Local Plans for the districts 
CMB
P7To provide a pest control service  UK
P8To provide a dog control service UK
P9To investigate cases of fly-tipping in Rother (not investigated by NES Ltd) referred by Neighbourhood Services to identify and prosecute offenders JH
P9ATo develop procedures to be used to deter and prosecute fly-tippers / unauthorised disposal of waste including at least two vehicle stop operations (Op Taurus with Sussex Police)JH
P10Investigate and evaluate contaminated land only if associated with planning applications   CMB
P11Produce annual air quality reviews GM/PW
P11APurchase and deploy mobile air quality monitors in Wealden GM
P12To licence Scrap Metal Dealers and work with the police on enforcement operations JH
P13Participate in Internal Drainage Boards CMB
P14Provide summer noise patrol focused on licensed events DB
Partners
HASBRAC
Mediation Plus
NES Ltd in Rother
Rother Planning Service
Safer Wealden Partnership (and JAG)
Sussex Pollution Group, Sussex Air
Wealden Planning Service
Wealden Street Scene Team

Service Objective 6

To reduce fuel poverty (Rother only)

NumberActionLead Officer
FP1Promote community switch campaign or Sussex Energy tariff, to advise residents that they can change energy suppliers CMB
FP2Train Officers to be able to advise residents about home energy efficiency measures and grants FPC

(HBC)
FP3Increase number of referrals to Warm Home Check service. JC
FP4Produce draft affordable warmth action plan JC
FP5Enforce MEER in PSH CMB
FP6Biannual HECA Report to be published JC

Service Objective 7

To reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, protect vulnerable persons and increase community cohesion (Rother only) 

NumberActionLead Officer
CS1Administer the joint Hastings and Rother Community Safety Partnership (SHARP)CS
CS2Operate JAGS and SHARP sub groupsCS
CS3Liaise with Sussex Police NPTCS
CS4Attend Violence Crime Reduction Partnership, Prevent GroupRPH
CS5Lead on Safeguarding
Lead on Child Protection
Attend Child Protection Board
RPH/CS
CS6Attend Cuckooing, MAPPA and HASBRAC meetingsCS
CS7Implement DISC (reduce shoplifting)CS
CS8Transfer Battle CCTV camera to BTCRPH
CS9Train RDC staff in Prevent, Anti-Terrorism, Modern Day Slavery and Fraud PreventionCS
CS10Project Discovery SPOCCS
CS11Administer community safety grantsCS

Service Objective 8

To improve the living conditions and safety of private sector tenants, licence HMOs, bring empty properties back into use, administer DFGs. (Rother only)

NumberActionLead Officer
PS1Respond to complaints from tenants and take appropriate action CMB
PS2Licence HMOs CMB
PS3Issue civil penalties for HMOs not licensed  JC
PS4Inspect ten percent of licensed HMOs CMB
PS5Respond to requests for reports on accommodation from Housing Needs

Advise Head of Housing if standards and requirements for RDC properties change and works required 
CMB
PS5AInspect properties being purchased for TA CMB
PS6Implement action plan to reduce empty properties-target 5 empty homes brought back into use.CMB
PS7Focused area approach in Bexhill, targeting low income households, using enforcement action at first stage.CMB
PS8Increase professional or technical resources within teamCMB
PS9Develop action plan to increase enforcement activity. Target: notices to be served on 5 properties per year.CMB
PS10Administer DFGs including provision of temporary accommodation for disabled persons.JC
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