Issue - meetings

Purpose.

1.    The purpose of this report is to inform the Cabinet Member for Safety in the Community as to how Regulatory Services (Portsmouth Trading Standards [PTS]) will approach service delivery challenges for 2022-2024.

2.    Currently, PTS are witnessing increasing levels of consumer vulnerability. The impact of the various and numerous economic and social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have caused extenuating circumstances for consumers and business and unfamiliar and uncertain territory in the trade of even the most basic of consumer goods and services.

3.    PTS role is to protect consumers from adverse transactional experiences. This requires a transparent consumer protection system for businesses, with consumers aware of their rights alongside robust law enforcement. This is increasingly difficult to maintain due to newly emerging and complex markets.

4.    Businesses also rely on advice from PTS, however, this area of service is under pressure in respect to the enforcement necessary, particularly, to tackle rogue practices in this burgeoning area of unfair business activity as they emerge.

5.    This paper highlights the current demands, service capacity and identifies the forecasted threats and challenges presented by new burdens.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member for Safety in the Community:

 i.        Acknowledges the increasing duties and pressures facing Portsmouth Trading Standards.

ii.        Acknowledges the level of resourcing currently available to Portsmouth Trading Standards to provide the protections the public should reasonably expect.

iii.        Approves the way Portsmouth trading Standards proposes to mitigate the growing threats as set out within the report.

The Cabinet Member for Safety in the Community:

1.    Acknowledged the increasing duties and pressures facing Portsmouth Trading Standards.

2.    Acknowledged the level of resourcing currently available to Portsmouth Trading Standards to provide the protections the public should reasonably expect.

3.    Approved the way Portsmouth Trading Standards proposed to mitigate the growing threats as set out within the report.

Edward Skinner, Regulatory Services Lead introduced the report.

Councillor Fazackarley noted that he had requested further information so that he can discuss funding of the service with his Cabinet colleagues.  He expressed concern regarding the daunting workload faced by the department with such minimal resources.

In response to questions from members, Mr Skinner explained that:

When a complaint is received, it is assessed to determine whether it warrants an investigation.  The bar for this triage will be raised.

If the council fails to fulfil its statutory duties, it risks damage to its reputation and a legal challenge.

There are currently fewer than three full time equivalent (FTE) senior investigators who deal with approximately 30 viable investigations at any one time.  An additional two would increase this to 50.

Members thanked officers for their work and agreed on the importance of adequate funding for this portfolio to keep communities safe and stated that they would all lobby their groups to try to secure more funding.

Action.

It was agreed that the cost of two additional members of senior staff would be sent to members.

DECISIONS

The Cabinet Member for Safety in the Community:

1.    Acknowledged the increasing duties and pressures facing Portsmouth Trading Standards.

2.    Acknowledged the level of resourcing currently available to Portsmouth Trading Standards to provide the protections the public should reasonably expect.

3.    Approved the way Portsmouth Trading Standards proposed to mitigate the growing threats as set out within the report.