Environmental Health Service Standards

With the following exceptions detailed below, all service requests will be responded to within three working days.

A risk based judgement will be made by officers to determine whether a more prompt response is required.

Exceptions:

Immediate

• Vermin in food premises.
• Food poisoning outbreak.
• Case of suspected food poisoning.
• Mouldy food complaint.
• Any situation likely to result in an imminent risk to health.
• Stray dog.

Within 24 hours

• Collection of a food complaint.
• Inspection of imported food at East Midlands Airport.
• Rat in a house.
• Fatal accident.
• Risk of serious personal injury.
• Overflowing/blocked drains and private sewers.

Within three working days

• All other service requests.

Within five working days

• Confirmed cases of all other food related illness or communicable disease.
• Determination of hackney carriage/private hire driver, vehicle and operator licence applications.

Within seven days

• Respond to all Building Control demolition notices.

Within 14 days

• Following an inspection proprietors will receive a letter within 14 days. The letter will contain details of how to make representations to the Head of Environmental Health.
• Respond to internal Planning Application consultations.
• Respond to all Building Control contaminated land notifications.

Within three weeks

• Determination of acupuncture, ear piercing, electrolysis and tattooing registration applications.
• Determination of game dealers licence applications.
• Respond to external Planning Application consultations.
• Respond to Haulage Operator Application consultations.

Within four weeks

• Determination of animal boarding establishment, dog breeding establishment, dangerous wild animal, pet shop and riding establishment licence applications.
• Determination of caravan site licence applications.
• Determination of scrap metal dealers licence applications.
• Determination of Motor Salvage Operators licence applications.
• Respond to all applications for chimney height approval.
• Respond as Responsible Authorities to Premise Licence applications.

Within five weeks

• Determination of small lottery registrations, amusements with prizes, house to house and street collection permit applications .

Within six weeks

• Determination of club premises certificate, premises and personal licence applications/variations.
• Determination of applications for the renewal of sex establishment licences.

Within 10 Weeks

• Determination of club premises certificate, premises and personal licence applications/variations that require a hearing.
• Determination of hackney carriage/private hire driver, vehicle and operator licence applications that require a hearing.
• Determination of small lottery registrations, amusements with prizes, house to house and street collection permit applications that require a hearing.

Within 12 Weeks

• Determination of sex establishment licence applications.
• Determination of applications for the renewal of sex establishment licences where objections are received.

Within four months

• Issue permits for installations under the Integrated Pollution Control regime.

The timescales for determination of applications come into effect once the Officer is satisfied they have received all the necessary information to process the application.

All enforcement action will be taken in accordance with the Council's Enforcement Policy, the Environment Directorate Enforcement Policy and service specific enforcement policies.