Association of London Environmental Health Managers

A plan setting out what Alehm seeks to achieve between April 2008 and March 2009 was agreed in April 2008, and is now published here.

Public service reform organisation A4e, have identified Alehm's partnership with PATH National as a success story.

A4e have recognised how this programme successfully enhances workforce diversity through training interventions aimed at black, Asian and minority ethnic people.

Please find attached the agenda, minutes and Powerpoint presentations used at the meeting.

BV questionnaires covering the following topics:

• Food Safety
• Pest Control
• Health and Safety
• Air Quality Management
• HMO Licensing
• Noise Control

Completing questionnaires

You are invited to download the questionnaires for the topic areas that you interested in, complete them and return them to Kumud [dot] Joshi [at] Haringey [dot] gov [dot] uk (020) 8489 5289 with a copy to Patricia [dot] Derrick [at] Haringey [dot] gov [dot] uk, by Friday 3 October 2008.

Results

Following the information placed on the website last year, the source of which is unclear, I have put together a spreadsheet for London LA's for 2008.

The Food Standards Agency has awarded Food Champion status to ALEHM and 11 local authorities. This is to acknowledge the important role they play in their local community and to recognise the good practice they have demonstrated.

All local authorities in England and Wales were eligible to take part in the award scheme and the assessment panel, consisting of key Agency partners, were very impressed with the overall quality of the 72 entries received. The panel awarded five local authorities Food Champion status for food safety and three of these five winners were from London.

The Circular is seeking comments on the National Air Traffic Services consultation on new flight paths. The consultation proposes massive changes to flight paths across a large part of London and London Councils are keen to ensure that as many borough officers as possible take the time to consider the impact of these proposals.

Please respond by e-mail by 9 May 2008 to marisa [dot] burnal [at] londoncouncils [dot] gov [dot] uk

Michael Ojo
London Councils

Today the Health Protection Agency has launched a three month consultation on A Children’s Environment and Health Strategy for the United Kingdom. The Strategy provides an overview of the current impact of the environment on children’s health in the UK and highlights areas where this could be improved. The consultation provides you with an opportunity to give your views on the priority areas identified and invites your suggestions on areas which you consider should be included. The consultation runs until Friday 13 June 2008.

You will be interested in this article on yesterday's decision to consult on a scores on the doors scheme. The decision does not follow the recommendation in the paper, in that it proposes a consultation on two alternative schemes:

• A three tier (Pass, Improvement Required and Fail (i.e. bad enough to close) scheme, as exists currently in Scotland and
• A four tier (Good, Satisfactory (i.e. broadly compliant), Improvement Required and Fail (i.e. bad enough to close) 3 star scheme

In 2005 the Association of London Environmental Health Managers together with Thames Water agreed a joint working protocol in connection with London sewer baiting, rat baiting and treatments.

The National Pest Technicians Association have published their National Rodent Survey Report 2007. This includes positive mention of ALEHM's Sewer Rat Protocol with Thames Water.

The attached note comments on changes to statutory notice addressing practices since the demise of the mandatory post of Company Secretary.

To comply with the security arrangements for the building and to assist in making the catering arrangements can you please advise Julia Hayden at julia [dot] hayden [at] cityoflondon [dot] gov [dot] uk, with a copy to me at alehm [dot] sec [at] btinternet [dot] com, of your intention to attend by close of play on Tuesday the 15th January 2008.

London Environmental Health Practitioners Limited is the executive arm of ALEHM. The directors of LEHP are exclusively drawn from ALEHM members.

To help improve communication and work planning across London, ALEHM and the CIEH's London Region Policy Officer are updating records of all active sub-groups of ALEHM or the CIEH's London region. Please help us by letting us know to which group or groups you attend update our records.

Please note the change of venue and time of the meeting.

The meeting will be held at Chadwick Court, 15 Hatfields SE1 8DJ. It will start at 10.00 with coffee served from 9.30 and lunch from 13.00.
The meeting agenda, notes of the meeting and copies of presentation given at the session can be found on this page.

Agenda, meeting notes, documents tabled and some of the presentations used on the day are attached. The powerpoint presentation used by Environmental Biotech is too large to be placed on the website, the company can be contacted at www.environmentalbiotech.com to obtain a copy.

Minutes and supporting documents of the ALEHM meeting held on the 18 March 2008 are now available

Environmental health services, based in the London Boroughs, have protected the environment and the health of Londoners, since the early nineteenth century1 2. The relationship between the environment and human health has long been recognised. Unpolluted air, water and land; together with safe housing, food and working conditions, are basic requirements for human health and well-being.

1. 1. John Snow.
2. 2. Edwin Chadwick.

Initial agenda items

• Nick Clack, from LACORS, will attend to talk about the Environmental Protection Forum and include-what it has achieved, current workload and challenges and proposed action for the future

1. Ensuring consistency of inspections. Michelle Hardy King - CMi Consulting
2. Lunch
3. Environmental Health. Key Worker Status. Sharon Smith - CIEH Strategic Projects Director, and representatives from the DCLG team and the relevant home buy agencies.
4. Secretary/Co-ordinator report. Keith Hill
5. Health and Safety issues - Janet Francis
6. Report back from London region policy officer and specialist advisers.
7. Accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on the 24th May 2007.
8. Matters Arising