1 Minutes of the Proceedings of the Meeting of the Operations

MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE MEETING OF THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE HELD IN ANTRIM CIVIC CENTRE ON MONDAY 3 JUNE 2019 AT 6.30 PM In the Chair : Alderman J McGrath Members Present : Aldermen - T Burns, M Girvan Councillors – J Archibald, A Bennington, M Cooper, R Foster, J Gilmour, N Kelly, R Kinnear, A Logue, J Montgomery, N McClelland, S Ross and R Swann In attendance : Alderman J Smyth Councillors - L Clarke and B Webb Officers Present : Director of Operations - Ms G Girvan Head of Leisure – Mr M McDowell Head of Waste Management – Mr M Laverty Head of Environmental Health – Mr C Todd ICT Officer – Mr C Bell Media and Marketing Officer – Mrs J Heasley Mayor and Member Services Officer - Mrs S Fisher CHAIRPERSON’S REMARKS The Chair welcomed everyone to the June Operations Committee meeting and reminded all present of recording requirements. He also took the opportunity to particularly welcome all the new Members along to a busy and diverse committee. 1 APOLOGIES None 2 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST None 1 3 ITEMS FOR DECISION 3.1 EH/EHS/2 SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT - WELFARE OF ANIMALS (NI) ACT 2011 Since April 2015, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has been acting as a Sub-Regional Lead Council responsible for the delivery of the Animal Welfare Service across the Northern Region (Mid and East Antrim; Antrim and Newtownabbey; and, Causeway Coast and Glens). A Service Level Agreement (SLA) established the provisions under which Mid and East Antrim Borough Council may provide the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) funded Animal Welfare Service. The SLA had previously been renewed on an annual basis, however upon consultation with all concerned parties, it was proposed that the period of the SLA be extended to March 2021. A copy of the SLA with the revised end date was circulated. In response to a query, the Head of Environmental Health advised that the service is fully funded by DEARA. Proposed by Councillor Kelly Seconded by Councillor Logue and agreed that the revised Service Level Agreement between Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for the delivery of an animal welfare service for the period to 31st March 2021 for the Borough be approved, signed and sealed. ACTION BY: Clifford Todd, Head of Environmental Health 3.2 EH/EHS/LR/10 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ENFORCEMENT POLICY Members were reminded that the enforcement activity carried out by the Environmental Health team is delivered in accordance with an Environmental Health Enforcement Policy. The policy sets out the principles and approach adopted in applying the legislation falling under the remit of Environmental Health to ensure effective, consistent and open enforcement. As set out in the policy, it was agreed that a review would take place every two years to ensure that it satisfies current legal requirements and customer expectations. This review was due in 2019 and had now been completed and was circulated for Committee’s consideration. There was one amendment in the section on confidentiality on page 4 of the document, where a sentence had been added to the narrative around confidentiality and anonymity. In this case, it was setting out that in the case of an anonymous complaint it may not be possible to pursue legal proceedings. 2 The revised policy had undergone Equality Screening and an Impact Assessment was not required. Proposed by Alderman Girvan Seconded by Councillor Kelly and agreed that the revised Environmental Health Enforcement Policy be approved. ACTION BY: Clifford Todd, Head of Environmental Health 3.3 EH/EHS/018 FOOD SERVICE DELIVERY PLAN 2019-2020, REVIEW OF FOOD SERVICE DELIVERY PLAN 2018-2019 Members were advised that Council is required to produce an annual plan showing how it intends to fulfil its statutory duties and deliver Food Control services. Copies of the Food Service Delivery Plan 2019/2020 and the review of the Food Service Delivery Plan 2018/2019 were circulated. Proposed by Councillor Montgomery Seconded by Councillor Bennington and agreed that i) The Food Service Delivery Plan 2019/2020 be approved; ii) The review of the Food Service Delivery Plan 2018-2019 be noted. ACTION BY: Clifford Todd, Head of Environmental Health 3.4 EH/EHS/011 HEALTH AND SAFETY DELIVERY PLAN 2019/2020, REVIEW OF HEALTH AND SAFETY DELIVERY PLAN 2018/2019 Monitoring guidance issued by the Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI) under Article 20 of the Health and Safety at Work Northern Ireland Order 1978 requires the Council to establish and maintain a planned Health and Safety activity programme on an annual basis. Copies of the Health and Safety Service Delivery Plan 2019-2020 and the review of the Health and Safety Service Delivery plan 2018-2019 were circulated. Proposed by Councillor McClelland Seconded by Councillor Archibald and agreed that i) The Health and Safety Service Delivery Plan 2019-2020 be approved. ii) The review of the Health and Safety Service Delivery Plan 2018-2019 be noted. ACTION BY: Clifford Todd, Head of Environmental Health 3 3.5 EH/GEN/009 REGULATORY EXCELLENCE AWARDS NOMINATION 2019 Members were reminded that the Council has been implementing, for the last two years, an allergy strategy to improve compliance with food allergen information requirements in food businesses. Food businesses are required by law to provide customers with accurate information on the 14 major food allergens, if they are included in any of the products they produce, sell or serve. A full report on the allergy strategy was included in the agenda report. The Food Safety Team submitted a statement about its strategy work to the ‘Regulatory Excellence Awards’ and as a result, the team had been announced as a finalist in the Innovation and Technical category. The awards are organised by the Office for Product Safety and Standards part of the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The Awards recognise regulatory organisations, individuals, businesses and trade associations that have achieved positive outcomes through good practice. This category nomination demonstrates how the Council had made a real difference in protecting its citizens and supporting local food businesses, by creating better regulation tools. To be chosen as a Regulatory Excellence Awards finalist is a significant achievement. Category winners would be announced at the Awards final to be held at 1pm on 20 June 2019 in London. Travel Costs A return flight (same day) from Belfast International to London Gatwick is approximately £152 per person with additional associated public transport costs. Proposed by Alderman Girvan Seconded by Councillor McClelland and agreed that the Mayor, Chair and Vice Chair of Operations Committee, or their nominees, attend as an approved duty plus 1 officer. ACTION BY: Colin Kelly, Environmental Health Manager (Commercial) 3.6 L/LEI/648 DARKNESS INTO LIGHT EVENT 2019 In recent years Council has been hosting the Darkness into light event at the V36. Darkness into Light is a unique international event which is held in 120 locations worldwide when thousands of people come together at dawn to walk from darkness into the light in memory of loved ones lost to suicide and/or to promote the message of suicide prevention and hope. Again this year, a Working Group was established, made up of Members, Officers, PSNI, Charity partner - Antrim Youth Information and Counselling Service (AYICC) and Tesco. 4 The Working Group met on Thursday 2 May 2019 and the minutes of the meeting were circulated together with some photographs. On Saturday 11 May, the event went ahead with over 200 people participating to support this cause. Proposed by Councillor Foster Seconded by Councillor Logue and agreed that the minutes of the meeting of the Darkness into Light working group 2019 be approved. ACTION BY: Anna Boyle, Sport and Physical Activity Development Manager 3.7 PK/GEN/131 PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY ENQUIRY: ELIZABETH GARDENS TO BALLYEASTON ROAD (BALLYCLARE) Queries had been received regarding the status of a laneway – Elizabeth Gardens to Ballyeaston Road in Ballyclare. Beginning at Elizabeth Gardens, the first half of the laneway has been tarmacked by Northern Ireland Housing Executive as shown on the map circulated. The remainder of the path (B-C) is in well maintained grass, with evidence of high usage. However, recent complaints had been received that homeowners of houses either side of the laneway are encroaching onto it with new hedging, and blocking the exit with their vehicles. This had been confirmed by Officers who carried out a recent site visit. A Land Registry search has revealed that although the first section is owned by Northern Ireland Housing Executive, the remaining section is unregistered. The laneway had not been asserted by Council as Public Right of Way, however, it is highly likely that it fits the criteria of a public right of way and merits investigation: ie it joins two public spaces and has been used on a regular basis by pedestrians uninterrupted for many years. Proposed by Alderman Girvan Seconded by Councillor Archibald and agreed that approval is granted for Officers to initiate an investigation into the status of the laneway between Elizabeth Gardens and Ballyeaston Road, Ballyclare. ACTION BY: Elaine Upton, Countryside and Physical Activity Development Manager 3.8 PK/BIO/018 BEST KEPT GARDEN COMPETITION 2019 Council’s annual Best Kept Garden competition was launched on 10th May (during compost week) with a closing date for entries of 31st July 2019. The closing date will be later this year to ensure that entrants can provide photographs of their garden at its best. The judging panel will assess the entries during August 2019 with a winners’ event planned at Mossley Mill in September 2019. Nominations for judging 5 panel (3 elected members) are requested.

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