Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Bob Maddocks and Tersaim Singh.

No declarations of interests were made.

[To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 22 November 2023 as a correct record].

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Regulatory Committee held on 22 November 2023 be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

[To discuss any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting].

There were no matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

[To approve the proposed fees and charges for 2024-2025].

Paul Dosanjh, Service Manager: Trading Standards & Licensing Act, presented a report outlining the proposed fees and charges for general licensing and miscellaneous matters for 2024-2025.

The Service Manager reported that the fees and charges remained the same as last year, with the exception of the distribution of printed matter for two days, the Safety at Sports Grounds Act 1975 and the Fire Safety and Places of Sport Act 1987.He explained the rationale for the changes to these fees. The Service Manager also brought to the Committee’s attention the correction of two typographical errors which appeared in previous reports, specifically relating to the charges for premises and practitioner registration for acupuncture, tattooing etc and the fee for sexual entertainment venue, that were wrongly included.  The fees were properly approved by the Committee in year and correctly applied. He reassured the Committee that nobody had been charged incorrectly as a result of the typographical errors.

The Vice-Chair, Councillor Rashpal Kaur moved the recommendations within the report and Councillor Greg Brackenridge seconded the recommendations.

Resolved:

That Members of the Regulatory Committee:

1.    Approved the proposed fees and charges for General Licensing as set out in Appendix 1, 2 and 3 of the report with effect from 1 April 2024.

[To approve the proposed fees and charges for 2024-2025].

Greg Bickerdike, Licensing Manager presented the report: Review of Fees and Charges for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing functions for 2024-2025. The report outlined the proposed fees and charges relating to Hackney Carriages, Private Hire vehicles, drivers and operators’ licences, and related licensing functions, from 1 April 2024.

The Vice-Chair, Councillor Rashpal Kaur moved the recommendations within the report and Councillor Sally Green seconded the recommendations.

Resolved:

That Members of the Regulatory Committee:

1. Approved the proposed fees and charges set out at Appendix 1 to the report with effect from 1 April 2023.

[To receive an update on Licensing of Non-Surgical Aesthetic Treatments].

Charlotte Rose, Team Leader: Environmental Health delivered a presentation outlining some of the pioneering work within the Council’s Environmental Health Service in relation to non-surgical aesthetic procedures that are widely available on the high street.  The presentation also included an update on the introduction of a licensing regime for those sort of procedures.

The Committee expressed the view that, if not already regulated for, local authorities should be given enforcement powers to regulate ‘Botox parties’ that take place in domestic premises, and to regulate services being set up in garages or mobile premises. It was reported that Environmental Health does not have enforcement powers in domestic properties under the Health and Safety at Work Act. However, the Service regularly referred matters to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).  Where treatments take place in premises that Environmental Health regulate, it would take enforcement action if it were unsafe. The point raised by the Committee had been put to the Department for Health and Social Care and it was hoped to see regulation included in the licencing regime. It was also reported that a by-product of regulation is the public becomes more aware that these aesthetic treatments should not be happening in domestic premises and that procedures should be carried out by regulated health professionals.

The government consultation on a licencing regime included a proposal for a three tier approach to cosmetic procedure categories (Green, Amber and Red). Members felt that procedures involving any type of injection should be in the Red category and any procedure involving cutting a person’s tongue should be done by a competent person, specifically a surgeon.

Members of the Committee also queried the level of public liability insurance providers of non-surgical aesthetic treatments should have, and whether there was flexibility for the local authority to set a minimum and maximum amount.  It was noted that a community event taking place on the high street or in a local shop would require insurance of around £5 million.  Members suggested that providers of non-surgical aesthetic treatments should have a higher level of public liability insurance.  In response it was reported there are some good practices who had insurance around the £5 million mark. The question would be put to the Department for Health and Social Care.

Members of the Committee said that they would like to see more done on raising awareness in schools, colleges and universities on non-surgical aesthetic treatments. The Environmental Health Officer reported that the value of raising awareness of young people was supported. She undertook to speak to Public Health who had well established connections to education.

Members of the Committee thanked the Environmental Health team for its pioneering work in this area, protecting the public from harmful procedures carried out by people who have little to no experience or knowledge.  The Committee also welcomed the progress made and influence the Service had nationally with government on the introduction of much needed legislation to regulate the growing prevalence and normalisation of non-surgical cosmetic procedures.  They  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.