Sunderland Trading Standards officers deal with more than 500 lockdown reports against businesses

Since the coronavirus restrictions were introduced, Sunderland City Council has been inundated with messages from the public about environmental offences.

This ranged from fly-tipping and housing standards to businesses potentially flouting lockdown rules.

At a virtual full council meeting on June 10, deputy council leader with responsibility for environment and transport, Coun Michael Mordey, updated councillors on environmental services.

During the lockdown, three vehicles have already been seized in connection with fly-tipping offences.

Meanwhile, Trading Standards officers have responded to 569 requests from members of the public over concerns that businesses were ignoring lockdown restrictions and allegations of “inadequate social distancing” in premises permitted to remain open.

Officers made 499 advisory visits and 105 enforcement monitoring visits during the lockdown, resulting in the serving of two prohibition notices.

However, council bosses said there were “high levels of compliance” across the city with Trading Standards and environmental teams adapting to the “new regulatory normal.”

This includes responding to complaints from tenants in the private rented sector.

Coun Mordey said: “Whilst residents have been asked to stay at home it has been more important than ever to ensure their homes are safe and that the environment in which they live is healthy.

“Environmental health officers have continued to react to increased demands for service with 2,107 requests relating to reports of poor housing conditions and neighbourhood concerns being received over this time.

“Officers have continued to investigate throughout the lockdown to keep residents safe using innovative video and photographic techniques, visiting properties where there were significant tenant safety issues and where no other option were available to resolve them.”

During the outbreak, the council has served a total of 72 legal notices to remedy issues from unsafe electrics, no heating or hot water and unsafe open properties to smoke and noise nuisance, rotting waste and rat infestations.

Coun Mordey said wherever formal action has been necessary, consideration has been given to the difficulties of undertaking remedial work.

He added: “This has not meant that residents need to suffer unnecessarily, officers have carefully balanced the needs of tenants and legal compliance with what is a reasonable and responsible response to secure safe and healthy homes.”

For more information on Sunderland City Council’s response to coronavirus, visit:www.sunderland.gov.uk/article/17026/Coronavirus-information

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