Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: August 21, 2025

Purpose: Seek approval on the Food and Feed Plan 2025/26 detailing the work plan and note previous year performance data.

Content: The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Public Health and Communities which sought approval of the Food and Feed Plan 2025/26 for the Borough of Rochdale. The report also updated on the service performance for 2024/25, which had met the Food Standards Agency (FSA)’s requirements.   The Head of Public Protection was in attendance to present the information and to address the questions and the comments of the Cabinet Members.   The Officer informed that the Food and Feed Service Plan was a statutory document. The FSA set out a prescribed format for the plan and its contents in the Framework Agreement on Local Authority Food Law Regulation. The Service Plan identified the scope and demands on the regulatory services. It provided details of last year’s performance and detailed the current and future plan and challenges. It identified the way the Public Protection Service would deliver food hygiene, food standards and feed regulatory functions during the year.   Resolved: 1.    That the service performance for year 2024/25, which had met the FSA’s requirements, be noted; 2.    That the Food and Feed Plan 2025/26 for Rochdale Borough Council, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.   Reason for decision: The FSA had been formed back in 2000 in response to a number of damaging, high profile food scares. The FSA set out in a Framework Agreement the levels of mandatory service to be provided by local authorities for Food Safety (hygiene and hazard control in food business involved in manufacturing, processing and distribution etc of food for human consumption), Food Standards (labelling, composition, allergens etc of food for human consumption) and Feed (feed businesses involved in the production, distribution, transportation and use etc of animal feed). Local Authorities are required to submit to the FSA, bi-annual returns of both the qualitative and quantitative aspects of work carried out. The FSA carry out audits of local authorities as part of a “rolling programme”, to check compliance with the Framework Agreement and closely monitor and scrutinise Local Authority performance.   It was a requirement of the Framework Agreement that local Food Authorities review their performance on an annual basis. The FSA which regulated the enforcement of food legislation, required service plans to be submitted to a relevant Member forum for approval. The programme of work carried out was in accordance with national legislation, codes of practice and guidance. The most recent Food Law Code of Practice (FLCoP) had been issued in June 2023 and informs Food Authorities on the execution and enforcement of food legislation. Food Authorities must have regard to this Code when discharging their statutory duties.   On 26 May 2021, the FSA issued a board paper; LA Recovery Roadmap in recognition of the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic. This reflected the update position, the changing business landscape, with many food businesses closing or changing operations. It detailed the objectives and principles to be adopted over 2 phases of recovery, covering the period from 1 July 2021 through to March 2023 and beyond.   Significant work had been undertaken by the team to recover from the pandemic impact. The FSA now expected Local Authorities to resume to pre-pandemic arrangements and endeavour to inspect all premises that are due.   This work would continue through 2025/26 on a risk based pro-active basis alongside inspecting and supporting new food businesses, events and investigating complaints from consumers, which was detailed in the plan. The team also carried out health and safety checks whilst in the businesses. The team also undertook pro-active health and safety initiatives in food premises and this year the initiatives and visits focussed on: • electrical safety • machine guards • legionella management in all registered care homes • carbon dioxide/ ventilation/ extraction suitability audits • coffee machine/ pressure systems safety • window blinds/ cords safety in children’s nurseries • health and safety at events.   Alternatives considered and rejected: The FSA stipulated the frequency and type of official intervention which was monitored and there was little scope for alternative actions. The only alternative would be to deliver a service that does not comply with the FSA requirements which was not a viable option.