Trading Standards Service Plan 2022 to 2023

Trading Standards sits within the 'Our People' corporate theme and also makes important contributions to all other corporate themes:

Our People - people are safe, healthy and protected from harm

• ensuring the safety of all consumer goods
• dealing with doorstep crime
• tackling rogue traders
• protecting the vulnerable from scams
• promoting the wellbeing of children through underage sales activities
• tackling illegal money lending
• creating No Cold Calling Zones
• regulating food standards including provisions around allergens, labelling, and composition
• tackling the supply of illicit tobacco
• enforcing controls on the advertising and labelling of tobacco products
• protecting children from the harm caused by alcohol
• promoting healthy eating and nutritional standards
• promoting home safety initiatives
• working closely with partner agencies, both locally and regionally, to tackle rogue traders in targeted operations
• ensuring compliance with business restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of Coronavirus as a central part of the Council's Covid Compliance Unit

Our Places - a place that is vibrant, clean and attractive

• regulating estate agents, letting agents and property misdescriptions
• registering and controlling the activities of animal feed establishments
• testing the accuracy of 'green' claims regulating rules on construction products, hazardous substances and packaging requirements
• enforcing regulations concerning the safety of fertilisers and pesticides
• monitoring the provision of Energy Performance Certificates and Display Energy Certificates
• acting as a responsible authority under the Licensing Act to help regulate entertainment activities, late night refreshment and sales of alcohol

Our Economy - a thriving economy where everyone has an opportunity to succeed

• promoting a fair, safe and equitable marketplace
• providing comprehensive business advice and support
• providing a high-quality consumer advice and information service
• undertaking risk based, comprehensive inspections of local businesses
• active targeting of rogue traders and trading malpractice
• tackling product counterfeiting
• providing a high-quality weights and measures calibration service for local industry

Our Council - a council that is ambitious, effective and proud to serve

• maintaining professional competency frameworks
• ongoing commitment to train staff and update skills and knowledge
• ensuring very high levels of customer satisfaction
• using an Accredited Financial Investigator to help ensure that criminals do not benefit from their criminal conduct and that where appropriate, their assets are confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002