Content

To approve the conversion of a vacant
Licensing and Enforcement Officer post, reference
EH318, to a Licensing Support Officer post.
This change can be contained within the existing pay budget
(reduction from Grade 7/8 to Grade 6).

Reasons for the decision

The Environmental Health Service conducted a
service review in 2021. As part of that review the Licensing Team
was structured to include four Licensing and Enforcement Officers
and two newly created Licensing Support Officer posts.

Following implementation of this new structure the administrative
support required to fulfil the needs of the Licensing Service has
increased (brought about via legislative changes, national guidance
and internal process changes). As a result Licensing and
Enforcement Officers are still undertaking a substantial amount of
administrative work.

The Service considers that converting the vacant Enforcement post
to an extra Licensing Support Officer post would create further
resilience within the team and would release the existing Licensing
and Enforcement Officers to undertake more proactive and reactive
enforcement.

Alternative options considered

Continue with the recruitment of a Licensing
and Enforcement Officer. Continuing with the current structure does
not provide suitable administrative cover for the team and as such
higher paid officers are undertaking work that can be accommodated
by a lower graded post.