Cllr Garry Perry Portfolio Holder for Public protection gave a highly visual presentation to the Leader of the Council, Cllr Mike Bird, assorted members and media at a recent Cabinet meeting held in the Council building on 12 February. Cllr Perry’s focus at the meeting was this year’s Council Food Law Enforcement Service Plan (FLESP). Several posters on prominent display around the committee room, soon engaged all of those in attendance. Images of grease caked cookers and dirty sinks and rodent activity evidenced the very worst extremes in food hygiene standards. These pictures were then juxtaposed with the very best ratings of cleanliness and where businesses had been awarded a top score of 5.
The message on the night was clear – whilst overall businesses are improving their ratings – if any food operative poses a risk – Environmental Health and Trading Standards Officers will take swift action.
During the meeting, Cllr Perry re-iterated how statutory food hygiene standards in Walsall are maintained, improved and where necessary are enforced to protect the public. Cabinet heard that the percentage of businesses achieving a ‘satisfactory’ rating in Walsall has continuously improved over the last six years with a 90.6 % overall. However, the Portfolio Holder for Public Protection was keen to point out that Environmental Health officers will always close or prosecute that very small percentage of businesses that pose risk. He praised officers for their vigilance.
Cllr Perry said: “I would like to thank the Environmental Health and Trading Standards teams for all that they do. These teams really, really defend and protect the people we serve. Out there, they are potentially saving lives.”
He added: “Tonight you can see exactly why officers will pursue action through the courts to keep people in Walsall safe.”
“I am a long term advocate of mandatory ‘scores on the doors’. I want the buying public of Walsall to make informed and clear choices on where they spend their hard earned money. Look before you buy is my motto. I want businesses to place their Food Safety Hygiene ratings in plain sight and I want this to become law.”
Cllr Perry who is currently lobbying on this issue in Westminster is optimistic that mandatory scores will happen in the future.
