Trading Standards Service Plan 2023 to 2024

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 mass marketing scams
• promoting the wellbeing of children through work to prevent underage sales
• tackling illegal money lending
• creating No Cold Calling Zones in designated areas
• regulating food standards including provisions around allergens, labelling, and compositional requirements
• tackling the supply of counterfeit and illicit tobacco
• enforcing controls on the display, advertising and labelling of tobacco
• restricting the supply of non-compliant vaping products, including sales to children
• 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

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
• monitoring weight restricted areas on roads throughout the Borough, to protect the environment, reduce congestion and keep pedestrians and other road users safe
• 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