Service checked (From Barry And District News)

Service checked

THE Vale of Glamorgan Council's Environmental Health Service must clean up its act if it is going to improve in the future.

The Audit Commission in Wales says that although the local authority offers a "fair service that has excellent prospects for improvement," it also has a number of weaknesses which must be addressed.

The service - which will cost £807,648 to run in 2001-02 - got one star, on a scale where nil is poor and three is excellent.

Audit Commission inspectors found staff were competent and provided a service most users were satisfied with.

They also highlighted the fact an Air Quality Review is in place, as well as strategies for contaminated land, and welcomed an improvement in levels of enforcement action.

But they added: "Improvements can be made in terms of developing a programme of health and safety inspections based on risk, ensuring effective enforcement of dog fouling legislation and better customer focus in work.

"However, the service recognises the need for these improvements and is taking action to facilitate this."

The Audit Commission highlighted four key areas to be addressed:

* People using the service should be kept informed of the outcomes of their inquiries.

* People using the service should be regularly consulted.

* The council should develop measures to ensure consistency and quality in inspection work.

* Awareness of what people do should be better co-ordinated across the council.

Stephen Nott, director of the Audit Commission in Wales, said: "This is an important service for people in the Vale which includes functions such as health and safety, food safety, pollution, noise and pest control in the county

"The service recognises those areas where their performance can improve and they have a plan that addresses these areas of weakness. The Environmental Health Service has excellent prospects for improvement."