Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Mrs Thomas. Councillors Ellis, Gooda and Lewis-Grey were not present.

To receive any declarations of interest by members of the Council in items on the agenda. For any advice on declarations of interest, please contact the Monitoring Officer.

There were no disclosable pecuniary or other significant interests declared at the meeting.

To note any members of the Council wishing to speak, of which due notice has been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 18, and which items they wish to speak on.

There were no Visiting Members who had registered as wishing to speak.

To approve the minutes of a previous meeting as a correct record. The only issue relating to the minutes that can be discussed is their accuracy.

Members reviewed the minutes. No amendments were proposed.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting dates 17 October 2018 be approved as a correct record.

Nollaig Hallihan, Food and Safety Team Leader, introduced the report which included the following comments:

·         Tunbridge Wells was operating under existing byelaws issued in 1998 and 2016.

·         The Department of Health had revised and consolidated the two byelaws into one which also took account of recent technological developments.

·         It was important for the industry to be regulated effectively due to the public health implications of the treatments being offered.

·         The new byelaws had recently been adopted by Maidstone Borough Council and were in the process of being adopted by Swale Borough Council. Adoption of the same byelaws by all three authorities in the shared service would help bring consistency and best practice across the partnership.

·         The new single set of byelaws would give clarity to all businesses and ensure clear and consistent public health controls.

·         There were few practical changes for existing business. However, in the new financial year, all businesses would be advised of the changes and visited to ensure compliance.

The discussion included consideration of the following additional matters:

·         The 1998 byelaws covered acupuncture and skin piercing. The 2016 byelaws extended controls to microblading (eyebrow tattooing) and cosmetic piercing (piercing other than of ears and noses).

·         Disposable needles were recommended to eliminate the risk of cross-contamination. 90 per cent of practitioners also used autoclaves to sterilise equipment despite not being required.

·         There were no reported cases of HIV being transmitted through a related business in Tunbridge Wells. Two complaints of other infections were later established to be due to poor personal hygiene after the procedure rather than the procedure itself.

·         Reference within the report to a ‘potential’ health and safety project run next year had been confirmed following approval of the required resources. The project would be completed during financial year 2019/20.

·         All inspection resources were in-house. Three members of the seven person team were already qualified with two further members due to qualify in April 2019. The remaining two members would be trained and qualified next year.

·         All new businesses were inspected on first registration but legislation did not provide for regular inspections without due cause. Implementation of new byelaws was such a due cause.

·         Staff and processes changed over time and it was unsatisfactory to not be able to re-inspect more regularly.

·         Businesses were required to register and this was provided for under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act. London Boroughs operated an annual licensing scheme under separate legislation. Kent authorities were pressing for a similar scheme but this was not currently possible and would be hampered by a lack of resource.

·         Inspections would initially be unannounced but if the proprietors were unavailable an appointment would be made.

·         Other methods of engaging with businesses were being explored, these might include seminars, training sessions and newsletters.

RESOLVED – That the Department of Health consolidated Model Byelaws for acupuncture, tattooing, semi-permanent skin colouring, cosmetic piercing and electrolysis, as set out at Appendix A to the report, be adopted.

To consider any other items which the Chairman decides are urgent, for the reasons to be stated, in accordance with Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There was no urgent business.

To note that the next scheduled meeting is Wednesday 3 April 2019 at 6.30pm.

The next meeting was scheduled to be held on Wednesday 3 April 2019, at 6.30pm in Committee Room A at the Town Hall.