The Joint Trading Standards Service Committee met to approve the budget for the upcoming financial year and the official Food Standards and Feed Control Service Plan. The committee also reviewed the previous year's performance and discussed updates to the Trading Standards Enforcement Policy and ongoing tobacco work.

Joint Service Budget

The committee noted the outturn for the joint service budget for 2025/26, which showed an underspend of £266,226, primarily due to additional income from the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Fund and an underspend on salaries. The proposed budget for 2026/27 was agreed at £2.9 million, which includes pressures and savings and aligns with the medium-term financial plans of both partner councils.

Official Food Standards and Feed Control Service Plan 2026-2027

The committee approved the Official Food Standards and Feed Control Service Plan for 2026-27. This plan, required by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), outlines how the service will enforce food standards. While the plan represents a step up from the previous year and will help deliver current FSA expectations, it was acknowledged that it does not fully meet the FSA's long-term expectations, which are set to be fully realised by 2029. Delivering these future expectations will require significant additional resources. The plan includes an increase of 1.2 FTE¹ compared to the previous year and focuses on high-risk premises and interventions. To manage increasing expectations with limited resources, the service will reduce its sampling plan, devise questionnaires for lower-risk premises, develop a robot for its CX system to speed up food registrations, and share information with Environmental Health. The service is also making representations to the FSA regarding the feasibility of their expectations and exploring lobbying through MPs and the Association of Chief Trading Standards Officers².

2025/26 Full Year Performance

The committee noted the performance report for 2025/26, which showed mixed results against key performance indicators (KPIs). The financial impact of scam interventions with vulnerable people decreased to £2.3 million, partly due to telecoms providers offering free call blocking services. The estimated financial impact of disruptive activities remained stable at £2.46 million. The number of Primary Authority Partnerships³ increased to 165, and business satisfaction remained at 100%. However, the percentage of requests for business advice completed within 10 working days fell to 75%. The number of premises tested for selling age-restricted products decreased significantly, with 88% of premises not selling to underage volunteers. The committee also considered proposed changes to future KPIs, including the removal of indicators related to vulnerable residents supported and webinar engagement, and the introduction of income from business advice and support activities.

Trading Standards Enforcement Policy

The committee agreed to the amended Trading Standards Enforcement Policy. The update includes a link to required information relating to civil penalties under the Renters' Rights Act 2025⁴ and other housing legislation. The policy outlines the service's commitment to fair, risk-based, and proportionate enforcement, adhering to the principles of the Regulators' Code⁵. It details a range of sanctions available, from undertakings and civil court actions to prosecutions and financial penalties, and considers aggravating and mitigating factors in each case.

Trading Standards Tobacco Work

The committee noted the report on the service's work in relation to tobacco and associated products, including vapes. The service seized 40,757 cigarettes, 9.6 kg of hand-rolling tobacco, and 16,595 vapes during 2025/26. Underage test purchases were reduced due to vacancies in public health-funded posts, but sales occurred in 11% of attempts. The service issued one conviction related to the supply of illegal tobacco, resulting in a £429 fine, and issued 13 written warnings and 13 advice letters. Significant resources were focused on enforcing the ban on single-use vapes, leading to the seizure of 8,700 vapes and the issuance of seven Fixed Monetary Penalties⁶ totalling £1,400. The service also participated in Operation Machinize 2, a multi-agency operation targeting illicit activities in high street businesses, which resulted in the seizure of illicit goods valued at approximately £68,000. For 2026/27, the service will continue to focus on reducing the supply of illicit tobacco, promoting education, and monitoring the market for alternatives to tobacco products.