Presentation by:
- Andrew Ennis – Service Lead for Environmental Health and Car Parks
- Jody Harding – Principal Environmental Health Officer for Private Sector Housing
- Helen Wharam – Public Health Project Officer
Minutes:
Andrew Ennis – Service Lead for Environmental Health and Car Parks
Andrew Ennis introduced his presentation from the Environmental Health team and made the following points:
· Environmental Health works within a historic and statutory framework to support vulnerable groups. The factors which determine ill-health have a disproportionate impact on those in the community who are less well off, and there is a direct link between environmental health and poverty
· The EDDC Environmental Health work includes, for example, advice and support for those setting up new food businesses, dealing with the deceased where there is no other support, poor housing, deprivation, nuisances, noise and other social issues such as anti-social behaviour and pest control
· EDDC Environment Health also works with the East and Mid Devon Community Safety Partnership which collaborates with other agencies such as the Police and town and parish councils
Jody Harding – Principal Environmental Health Officer for Private Sector Housing
Jody Harding outlined his team’s work to improve housing conditions in the private sector in East Devon as follows:
· Environmental Health also deals with climate change and fuel poverty in relation to housing and has obligations under the Homes Energy Conservation Act 1995 across all tenures of housing stock, including social rented housing
· The service is provided across four key areas; advice, education, enforcement and provision of adaptations and there are a range of legislative actions available, including undertaking inspections
· Three key activities to address fuel poverty have been identified; reduce energy bills, improve energy efficiency and maximise household income
· Environmental Health’s work also supported local communities to break down barriers to improving energy efficiency and enabled residents to engage with the Council and its partners
· The presentation outlined the various interventions available to households to improve home energy efficiency and the various partners and methods of delivery, including loan providers for home improvements
· Current actions with regard to private sector housing were highlighted and proposed strategy and actions included to enhance and improve understanding of fuel poverty in East Devon, to influence and change behaviour, to signpost and educate residents and to make direct referrals to energy partner companies
Helen Wharam – Public Health Project Officer
Helen Wharam introduced her work which included writing the Public Health Strategic Plan and evidence-based projects aimed at tackling health inequalities and health deprivation. Helen’s presentation highlighted the following:
· Deprivation covers a wide range of issues including employment and education as well as financial poverty, so that there is a strong overlap with public health
· The Public Health Project Officer works with services across the District Council, at County Council level and with colleagues in the NHS
· Projects included working with other agencies to support community activities, for example, encouraging public libraries to host hygiene banks and setting up of flu vaccine drive through clinics
· Work in the past year has focussed on Covid-19 support work, but would normally focus on providing information for residents to help with making good decisions which impact on their health
Discussion included the following points:
· The need for support for disabled residents to access digital and online services
· Regarding problems with housing, referrals may come from tenants and are then triaged
· Enforcement is undertaken through Environmental Health and Trading Standards legislation
· In past years, the single greatest reason for homelessness has been the loss of private rented accommodation
· Part of the Environmental Health remit is joint working with the Planning team on health aspects of development
· Concern was raised about the number of food businesses starting up from individuals’ homes, partly as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and whether the right support was in place to ensure public safety
· It is a legal requirement to register a new food business with the local authority prior to commencement and registration is free
The Chair thanked Andrew Ennis, Jody Harding and Helen Wharam for their very informative presentations.