A Lib Dem councillor has urged Luton Borough Council to review its food hygiene policy after two takeaways were prosecuted for hygiene breaches.
Last summer the council agreed its food law enforcement plan for 2012–13, which saw inspections reduced because of budget cuts.
The plan stated that the council would not “meet all its statutory obligations during the year” with its budget allocation of £404,000, reduced by £15,000 from the previous year.
It said “hard decisions” would need to be taken to prioritise the resources available to areas presenting the highest risk to food safety, and that some lower risk businesses due an inspection would not receive one during the year.
At the time the Lib Dems asked for amendments to the motion approving the plan, requesting a plan that “included the council fulfilling its statutory obligations and provides of a safe level of protection for Luton residents”.
Lib Dem leader David Franks said yesterday: “It is quite simply alarming that at a time when the number of fast food shops in Luton is increasing rapidly the Labour Council has adopted an official food law enforcement service plan which actually says the council will not fulfil its statutory obligations.
“Fortunately, most of the fast food shops in the town offer safe food and follow all the hygiene regulations but the risk of one or more causing serious illness must surely increase when the council cuts back on the number of inspections they undertake.
“The Labour executive members of the council should take another look at their service plan before it’s too late.”