Welcome to theEHP’s newsletter issue 102. View the online version here.
In this weeks newsletter you will find reports on Shale gas emissions, summary powers on unauthorised encampments, RPT Decisions and lots of prosecutions.
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Recently, a number of court judgements have clarified issues over the licensing of HIMOs and how local licensing fees should be determined. The cases concerned are:
- Hemming v Westminster City Council
- Crompton v Oxford City Council
- Bristol City Council v Digs (Bristol) Ltd
The National Landlords Association (NLA) has written to local authorities asking them to come clean about the level of fees they have charged private-landlords, if they were entitled to make these charges, and when they will refund any money unjustly demanded. Through the link you will find the press release from the NLA, the NLA’s letter to councils and details of the court judgements.
If you would like to submit an article or Podcast to theEHP, Contact Us for details.
Looking forward to seeing you at theEHP.
Environmental Protection
Environmental Protection: Hull residents fined for multiple breaches of noise nuisance notice
Two Hull residents have been fined after Hull City Council’s Environmental Regulation Team investigated reports of excessive noise at a property in Perth Street West.
Environmental Protection: Shale gas extraction emissions are a ‘low’ risk to public health
The risks to public health from exposure to emissions from shale gas extraction are low if operations are properly run and regulated, according to a PHE report. The report reviews the potential health impacts of shale gas extraction.
Environmental Protection: Dealing with illegal and unauthorised encampments – Summary of Powers
The Department for Communities and Local Government has published a summary of available powers to tackle the formation of illegal and unauthorised camp sites and help the reclamation of land and property.
Environmental Protection: Hull resident fined for noise nuisance
Hull City Council’s investigation into noise nuisance in Kings Bench Street has resulted in resident, Lacey Graham Denton, being prosecuted and fined
Environmental Protection: Poor condition of garden results in prosecution
A Hull resident has been prosecuted for allowing their property to become in an unacceptable state.
Groupon Deals
Events:
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Toys:
- Children’s Workbench set for £24.95 with Free Delivery (50% off)
- Dress Up Toys: Castle Vanity Table Set with Toy Piano and Accessories
from £24.95 (58% off)
Food Safety
Food Safety: Rodent infestation at Ellesmere Port takeaway
Ellesmere Port’s ‘Delight’ takeaway failed to live up to its name when Cheshire West and Chester Council food safety officers paid a visit.
Food Safety: Calderdale takeaway fined for hygiene and safety offences
A Calderdale takeaway has been fined for having poor food hygiene and putting people’s health at risk.
Food Safety: Broxtowe takeaway managers plead guilty to food safety offences
Two Beeston men were handed a £2000 penalty after pleading guilty to nine Food Safety Offences and three Health and Safety at Work offences.
Food Safety: Kingston curry house boss punished after ignoring food safety warnings
The former owner of a Tolworth restaurant who failed to keep his business clean and in good condition is more than £1,000 out of pocket after admitting a string of food safety offences.
Food Safety: Man sentenced for running a Bristol multi-million illegal poultry business
A man has been sentenced by Bristol Crown Court for running a £4 m chicken supply business in Fishponds. He was found guilty in 2011 of thirty six charges concerning the multi million pound illegal poultry supply business, which he ran from a warehouse on Fishponds Trading Estate.
Food Safety: 2 Sisters to pay over £110,000 for Botulism Risk
The 2 Sisters Food Group have been ordered to pay over £110,000 by Ipswich Crown Court over failure to maintain food safety standards.
Food Safety: Darlington Food outlet fined for unclean food and premises
A Darlington fast food outlet has been fined and is now under new ownership. Darlington Borough Council enforcement officers visited the premises of Best Kebab 2, 69 Skinnergate on 15 April 2013.
theEHP Book Store
Book Deals on Amazon
- Supervising Food Safety: Level 3: A Text for Level 3 Food Safety Courses and a Reference for Supervisors – Available from £8.00
- Master Handbook of Acoustics – Available from £14.07 (46% off RRP)
- Environmental Law 8th Edition – Available from £30.03 (19% off RRP)
- Statutory Nuisance: Law and Practice – Available from £67.87 (15% off RRP)
- The Real Cost of Poor Housing: (FB 23) – Available from £22.21 (25% off RRP)
- The Damp House: A Guide to the Causes and Treatment of Dampness – Available from £8.74 (49% off RRP)
View all Environmental Health Books here. If you think a book should be added to the store, please let us know.
theEHP’s Top 10 Environmental Health Books
We have compiled a list of the 10 most popular environmental health books. This list is based on an analysis of purchases and clicks through to the Amazon store.
Health & Safety
Health & Safety: Birmingham prosecutes company over windows safety failure
Birmingham City Council has successfully prosecuted a care home company which failed to fit adequate safety catches on windows, allowing a vulnerable resident to fall and sustain life-threatening injuries.
Health & Safety: Fine for Caerphilly sunbed firm
A sunbed operator has been fined over £5,000 for failing to give proper advice and supervision to its customers, following an investigation by Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Environmental Health Service.
Housing
Housing: NLA Demands licence fee refunds
The National Landlords Association (NLA) has written to all local authorities in England after recent court judgements have clarified issues over the licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and how local licensing fees should be determined.
Housing: LGO – Use of B&B accommodation failing young people and families
A report published by the LGO highlights the human impact of councils’ inappropriate use of bed and breakfast to house the most vulnerable.
Housing: Wrexham landlord fined for unlicensed HIMO
A Wrexham Landlord has been found guilty of failing to Licence their House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).
Housing: Two Haringey companies fined for failing to maintain HMOs
Two large letting agencies have been fined for breaching property management laws – and the council has warned others to heed regulations in order to avoid a similar fate.
Housing: Poor housing costs letting agent £47k
A letting agent who rented out a damp, dangerous and dilapidated property received a hefty fine following a successful council prosecution.
Housing: Hillingdon landlord fine for renting out illegal properties
The latest coup by Hillingdon Council’s ‘beds in sheds’ team has seen a couple from the borough fined £58,750 for housing breaches following an intensive investigation.
Housing: Cambridge landlord fined following fire at HIMO
Following a fire on 14th March 2013 at 15 Nuttings Rd in Cambridge, the landlord Mr Yu Chang of Ditton Fields Cambridge, was prosecuted on the 5th September 2013 by Cambridge City Council for five breaches of the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006. Mr Chang was fined a total of £6075, £125 Victim surcharge and £400 costs.
Housing: Landlord fined for fire hazard
A landlord has been fined more than £4,000 for breaches of fire and safety regulations.
Housing: Rugby landlord fined for failing to comply with improvement notices
A LANDLORD has been fined £1,500 after failing to carry out repairs at a rented house in Rugby.
Public Health
Public Health: Successful Dangerous Dogs Prosecution
Hull City Council’s Public Protection team compiled a prosecution file, resulting in the prosecution of the owner of three dangerous dogs.
Public Health: Illegal Specialist Make-Up Artist Prosecuted
A specialist make-up artist who undertook illegal semi-permanent skin-colouring at her customers’ homes has been prosecuted following an investigation by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council.
Resources
A Guide to BS 5839-6:2013
This new book, fully revised and updated in its third edition, is the comprehensive guide to BS 5839-6:2013. Based on in-depth experience of developing this code of practice as well as its use in the field, this book provides full background explanation and discusses the practical application of its recommendations.
A Guide to BS 5839-1:2013
This new book, fully revised and updated in its fourth edition, is the comprehensive guide to BS 5839-1:2013. Based on in-depth experience of developing this code of practice as well as its use in the field, this book provides full background explanation and discusses the practical application of its recommendations.
A Guide to BS 5839-8:2013
This new book, fully revised and updated in its third edition, is the comprehensive guide to BS 5839-8:2013. Based on in-depth experience of developing this code of practice as well as its use in the field, this book provides full background explanation and discusses the practical application of its recommendations.
RPT Decisions
RPT Decision: Improvement Notice & Prohibition Order Appeal (LON/00AU/HPO/2012/0020 & LON/00AU/HIN/2012/0036)
This case relates to an Appeal against an Improvement Notice and Prohibition Order issued by London Borough of Islington.The Prohibition Order related to a room that was too small for use as a dwelling because of restricted head height and the lack a stair rail.
RPT Decision: Improvement Notice Appeal (CHI/18UE/HIN/2013/0003)
This case relates to an Appeal against an Improvement Notice issued by North Devon Council. The applicant’s appeal was on the grounds that as a lessee, he had no authority to carry out the works and that the notice should have been served on the freeholder. The tribunal varied the notice.
RPT Decision: Improvement & Prohibition Notice Appeal (CHI/18UE/HIN/2012/0001-0003)
This case relates to an six Appeals against four Improvement Notices and two Prohibition Notices issued by North Devon District Council.
RPT Decision: Improvement Notice Appeal (CAM/34UB/HED/2013/0002)
This case relates to an Appeal against an Improvement Notice issued by Corby Borough Council. The Improvement Notice included Category 1 hazards at the property.
