Issue details

Summary of the Report considered by the Leader of the Council

This report recommends that the Head of Service with responsibility for Environmental Health be authorised to exercise the Council’s powers, duties and functions with regard to the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Business Closures) (England) Regulations 2020.

This will enable the Council to effectively enforce the health protection regulations with regard to coronavirus and business closures.

The Government has passed legislation to require businesses selling food and drink for consumption on the premises to cease and other businesses where the public socialise to close with immediate effect. 

The Secretary of State has powers to designate enforcement bodies to deal with any non-compliance.  Given local authority environmental health and trading standards existing relationships and expertise in dealing with these business sectors, local authorities have been designated as enforcers of these regulations. 

To use these powers effectively, the Council will need to delegate them to appropriate officers. As they are not a matter reserved to Council or otherwise restricted, they fall within the Executive powers of the Council, which the Leader of the Council has the authority to delegate. In keeping with the Council’s Officer Scheme of Delegation, it is therefore recommended that the powers be delegated to the Head of Service with responsibility for Environmental Health, who can then delegate them to other officers as appropriate.