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E. coli warning over council cuts by spending watchdog | E. coli warning over council cuts by spending watchdog |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Councils could struggle to tackle any future outbreak of E. coli food poisoning, a watchdog has warned. | Councils could struggle to tackle any future outbreak of E. coli food poisoning, a watchdog has warned. |
Cuts mean local authorities would not have the "people with expertise" to deal with any increase in demand for environmental health services, the Wales Audit Office said. | Cuts mean local authorities would not have the "people with expertise" to deal with any increase in demand for environmental health services, the Wales Audit Office said. |
The watchdog said current obligations were being met despite budget savings. | The watchdog said current obligations were being met despite budget savings. |
But food hygiene and pest control could become stretched because their spending is not protected, auditors warned. | But food hygiene and pest control could become stretched because their spending is not protected, auditors warned. |
'Tipping point' | 'Tipping point' |
It is the first in a series of reports by the Wales Audit Office (WAO) focusing on the delivery of individual local government services at a time of financial cutbacks. | It is the first in a series of reports by the Wales Audit Office (WAO) focusing on the delivery of individual local government services at a time of financial cutbacks. |
It said councils needed to "make new strategic choices" as environmental health services were "reaching a tipping point". | It said councils needed to "make new strategic choices" as environmental health services were "reaching a tipping point". |
Nick Selwyn, one of the report's authors, said: "If there was a significant increase in demand for these services, councils would find it very hard to deal with that and they would struggle." | Nick Selwyn, one of the report's authors, said: "If there was a significant increase in demand for these services, councils would find it very hard to deal with that and they would struggle." |
Environmental health staff had been cut by 16.4% at Welsh councils since 2011-12, compared to around 7% of all council staff. | Environmental health staff had been cut by 16.4% at Welsh councils since 2011-12, compared to around 7% of all council staff. |
Mr Selwyn said if there was a repeat of the 2005 E. coli outbreak in south Wales - in which a five-year-old boy died and around 160 people fell ill - councils would find it "quite hard to manage" due to a lack of staff numbers or those with the relevant expertise. | |
The 22 local authorities were accused of "salami slicing" the relevant budgets, which have been cut by 4.3% over the last three years. | The 22 local authorities were accused of "salami slicing" the relevant budgets, which have been cut by 4.3% over the last three years. |
The report said such an approach meant very few safeguards were in place to ensure future obligations were met. | The report said such an approach meant very few safeguards were in place to ensure future obligations were met. |
It said this "represents a risk to the health and well-being of all those living in and visiting Wales". | |
Darren Millar, chair of the Public Accounts Committee, said the situation did not seem to be "sustainable" and needed to be addressed "before public health is jeopardised". | Darren Millar, chair of the Public Accounts Committee, said the situation did not seem to be "sustainable" and needed to be addressed "before public health is jeopardised". |
The Welsh Local Government Association has been asked to comment. | The Welsh Local Government Association has been asked to comment. |