Online ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH service requests: www.flarefox.com/webflare

Environment Health & Trading Standards
Environment House
Lombard Street
West Bromwich
B70 8RU

Tel: 0121 569 6628
Fax: 0121 569 6599

Email: environmentalhealth@sandwell.gov.uk
Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 9.00am - 5.30pm, Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm

Information and Advice

The Safety and General Licensing Team is committed to working together with proprietors and managers to achieve high standards and prevent problems. We are always willing to give advice on legislation, or practical problems, so if you are considering setting up a business, or wish to discuss anything in relation to your existing premises, please feel free to contact us.

Licensing of Taxis and Private Hire vehicles is carried out by:

Highways Direct
Waterfall Lane, Cradley Heath B64 6RL

Tel: 0121 569 6655

Food Safety Inspections

The Safety and General Licensing section carries out regular checks on all food premises in the Borough to ensure the public is protected and that high standards are maintained.

Visits to premises are carried out, as far as possible, without prior notification and are priority programmed according to the degree of potential risk. This ensures that higher risk premises are visited more frequently than those in lower risk categories.

During an inspection, Officers will want to reassure themselves that potential food safety risks have been identified by the business, and that there are adequate controls in place to prevent any problems. They will also look at the training of managers and food handlers to ensure that it is suitable, and they will check that the condition of the premises and equipment is satisfactory.

Where practices or conditions are not satisfactory, every attempt will be made to resolve the situation by informal means, but where poor conditions persist, or where there is a risk to public health it may be necessary to resort to formal action. This could involve either the service of legal notice, prosecution, or in extreme cases closure of the business.

www.food.gov.uk This site contains all the latest Food Standards Agency news, Food Alerts, Consultations, science, research and regulatory information.

www.eatwell.gov.uk - Food Standards Agency consumer advice and information site contains practical healthy eating and food safety tips.

www.food.gov.uk/safereating - Safer Food, Better Business website developed to help small catering businesses such as restaurants, cafés and takeaways comply with new regulations that apply from 1 January 2006.

A general guide to two sets of Regulations that are very important to food hygiene:

• Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995
• Food Safety (Temperature Control) Regulations 1995

These are Regulations made under the Food Safety Act 1990.

Food Complaints

The investigation of complaints concerning standards in food premises, unfit or contaminated food is a further aspect of our work. These are usually resolved by giving advice to the proprietor or manufacturer, but in certain circumstances formal action may be taken, either in the form of a formal caution or prosecution.

Registration of Food Premises

Most food businesses are required to be registered with the Local Authority. Information on how to register can be obtained by contacting us on 0121 569 6528.

Investigation of Food Poisoning and Food-Borne Illnesses

The Safety and General Licensing team is involved in the investigation of outbreaks of food poisoning and other infectious diseases, which are notified by GPs, hospitals etc. This work is aimed at controlling and preventing the spread of these illnesses.

Food Sampling

The Section undertakes a comprehensive programme of microbiological and analytical food sampling. Any unsatisfactory sample results are carefully investigated with the intention of giving advice on improvements to manufacturing techniques, or systems of handling and storage.

Cooling Towers

All premises where cooling towers and evaporative condensers are situated must register with the local authority under The Notification of Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers Regulations 1992.

The prime purpose of this is to identify potential areas that could give rise to spread of infectious disease e.g. legionella and to ensure preventative measures are taken to eliminate the risk of such infection arising to employees and the public.

General Licensing

The following licences are dealt with by this team.

Amusements with prizes/gaming machines

More commonly known as 'fruit' machines or 'one armed bandits' these machines can be found in amusement arcades, cafes, fish and chip shops etc. Permits are issued for a period of 3 years.

Public entertainments (PEL)

Any premises providing entertainment by way of music, singing or dancing requires to be licensed. Can also include comedians, hypnotists etc. Outdoor musical events do not require to be licensed if they take place on 'public' land. If a charge is made however, or the land is 'private' land, a licence is required. Licence is also needed for a display / contest / exhibition of indoor sports entertainment to which spectators are invited to attend. PEL normally covers events such as 'live' bands, Karaoke, discos, DJ's etc.

Certificate of Suitability

Any premises holding a licence to sell alcohol and wishing to remain open past the normal permitted hours will need to apply to the Magistrates Court for a 'Special Hours Certificate'. The Magistrates will require the premises to also hold a PEL ( i.e. if a nightclub for example ) or, in the case of a 'private members' club, a Certificate certifying the premises as suitable for 'music, singing and dancing'.

Cinemas

A licence is required for the 'public performance of film exhibitions'. This applies to films as well as video recordings. A licence is needed, not only by a purpose built cinema but also for premises which have a video juke box or video screens installed. Public Houses showing 'live' TV programmes ( i.e. 'simultaneous broadcast' ) do not need a licence, but if a particular programme is videod and then shown later a licence will be required.

Theatres

A licence is required for the 'public performance of a stage play' , which can include any 'dramatic piece'. As well as purpose built theatre premises licences are more often taken out by schools, community centres, church halls etc. Licences can be granted annually or occasionally.

Lotteries

The most common form of lottery is the selling of raffle tickets by local sporting organisations and other societies. Essentially, all lotteries are illegal unless they are subject to registration or are exempt from registration. Lotteries also include prize draws, scratch cards etc. It is important that prizes are distributed by 'lot or chance'. If any skill is involved, it will not be classed as a lottery.

Street Collections

A permit is required by anyone who wishes to collect money or sell articles for charitable purposes in the street or in any public place. If, for example, a magazine is being sold and there is a representation that part of the proceeds are to be applied for charitable purposes, a street collection permit will be required. No licence fee is payable but within one month of the collection taking place a properly audited account of the collection has to be submitted to the Licensing Office. Permits are usually granted for specific dates and specific locations.

House to House Collections

Similar, in some ways, to street collections except the method of collection is from 'door to door'. This might be within a residential neighbourhood or perhaps from pub to pub for example. Collectors have to wear a prescribed badge which they must obtain from HMSO at their own expense. Permits can be granted for up to one year's duration and may cover the whole of the Sandwell area. As with street collections a properly audited account has to be submitted after the collection has been made.

Sex Establishments

There are 2 types of 'establishment' - a sex shop or sex cinema. A sex shop usually sells magazines, videos and other articles of a 'sexual' nature. A sex cinema shows films of a 'sexual' nature. Powers are given to the Council to control this type of establishment through licence conditions. These regulate the opening hours, the location, the outward appearance of the premises and even the operating name of the business.

Late Night Refreshment Houses

Any premises which open for 'public refreshment, resort and entertainment' between 10pm at night and 5am the following day will require a licence. Conditions are imposed on the grant of a licence restricting the hours during which a particular premises may operate. Premises already holding a licence to sell alcohol granted by the Magistrates Court are exempt from having to obtain a licence.

Track Betting

A sporting stadium or racetrack of any kind (greyhounds, horse racing etc. ) and which provides betting facilities must hold a licence. Licences are granted for a period of 7 years initially.

Poisons List

The Council is required to keep a list of persons who are entitled to sell 'Part II poisons' as defined by the Poisons Act 1972. The list also includes particulars of the premises from which those persons are entitled to make sales.

Scrap Metal Dealers

Persons dealing in scrap metal a required to supply details of their business to the Council. A Register is then maintained of all scrap metal dealers within the area.

Mobile Traders

Mobile traders, i.e. ice-cream vehicles currently or proposing to operate within Sandwell Borough need to obtain relevant consent. Contact us on 0121 569 6744 for further information.