Suggestions for Service Environmental

Improvements Availability of Officers

Health and Building
The Council is always interested to The nature of the work is such that

receive suggestions as to how a service officers spend a large part of the working
Control Services
can be improved. The Environmental day away from the office.

Health and Building Control Services

Department carries out its own quality
Enforcement Policy
However, should you wish to contact an

checks and customer surveys but is officer, our Environmental Health Support

particularly interested to receive feedback Officers are available during the following

that may result in changes to the services times:

and improved efficiencies to the benefit of 8.30am to 5.30pm (Monday-Thursdays)

the consumer. 8.30am to 5pm (Fridays)

Complaints about the service Address of correspondence!

If you feel that we have failed to apply the Senior Environmental Health Manager
criteria as set out overleaf then you may Spelthorne Borough Council
have a valid cause for complaint. Should Council Offices
you have a complaint that cannot be Knowle Green
resolved with the Officer concerned then Staines TW18 1XB
you should write to the Senior
Environmental Health Manager. Your Tel: 01784 446291
complaint will normally be dealt with by Fax: 01784 446437
the manager of the appropriate section
who will endeavour to respond to your Website: www.spelthorne.gov.uk
complaint within seven working days. If
the situation is complicated and likely to e-mail: environmental.health.
take some time to resolve then a detailed commercial@spelthorne.gov.uk
reply will follow as soon as possible
afterwards. Full details of the Council’s
Complaints Procedure can be obtained
from the address overleaf or downloaded Advice to Businesses
from our website www.spelthorne.gov.uk

Improvements to services
We would welcome any suggestions as to
how services may be improved.

www.spelthorne.gov.uk www.spelthorne.gov.uk
0113
Enforcement Policy Forms of Enforcement Action
Spelthorne Borough Council believes that
enforcement powers should be used
sympathetically and relative to the
seriousness of the situation. Referring a
matter for prosecution is therefore the last
option that is usually considered.
This leaflet is to provide businesses with
basic information about our enforcement
policy, which sets out the approach we
shall follow when enforcing relevant laws.
The full enforcement policy can be
obtained from Environmental Health and
Building Control Services who can be
contacted on telephone number 01784
446291, or by writing to the address
overleaf, or downloaded from our website
www.spelthorne.gov.uk
General Approach
Officers will endeavour to explain not only
what is wrong, but why. Where
appropriate an action plan will be agreed
to improve/rectify matters in an
acceptable time scale, dependent on the
problems and risks involved. However, the
history of compliance will also be a
determining factor in deciding the form of
enforcement action to be taken. If a
situation is serious, interviews will be
conducted under caution and evidence
may be taken with a view to taking legal
action. In some circumstances proprietors
may even be required to close their
business or cease carrying out an activity
in order to safeguard
public health.
There are generally four forms of
enforcement action (for the full list see the
service’s Enforcement Policy):-
1) Verbal Advice - this is the simplest
form of action. Advice is given where
there are areas which can be improved
but the law is not necessarily being
directly contravened.
2) “Informal Notice” - this tends to be a
letter / form with a time limit for
completion of the necessary work. It
can also be verbal. It is used where
there are minor contraventions of the
legislation but where there is minimal
or no immediate risk. It is only used
where officers believe that compliance
will be achieved within a reasonable
timescale.
3) “Formal Notice” - this is a Notice
served in accordance with the legal
provisions that requires works to be
carried out within a specified time. It is
used where the officer is of the opinion
that the degree of risk warrants it, an
informal approach would not secure a
lasting result, or there is some
statutory obligation upon the officer to
serve the Notice.
4) Formal Caution or Prosecution - this
form of action would be considered
where any of the following
circumstances apply:
• There had been either gross neglect
or intentional defiance of a
statutory requirement such as to
prejudice public health or in order to
gain an economic advantage over a
law abiding competitor.
• There have been repeated breaches
of legal requirements despite
previous warnings.
• There has been a failure to comply
with the requirements of
a formal or informal Notice.
• The offence was foreseeable
and inadequate precautions had
been taken.
• The making of false or misleading
statements in respect of questions
that could lawfully be asked.
• The obstruction of an officer.
• A similar offence has occurred in
the past.
• Little or no effort being made to
meet agreed deadlines.
If formal action is proposed the officer
will write confirming this. You will also be
given a brief resume of the evidence and
details of the recommended course of
action. If you disagree with the facts as
presented or if you wish to present any
mitigating arguments then you should do
so in writing to the Senior Environmental
Health Manager at the address overleaf.
You may wish to consult a solicitor before
doing so.
Land Charges
The Council is required to disclose
whether there are any formal or
information Notices outstanding.