Hillingdon Council Cabinet Member and Officer Decisions
The provision of Laboratory Testing for the Imported Food Office, London Borough of Hillingdon
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Executive Decision Notice – 17 February 2025
This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk
OFFICIAL EXECUTIVE DECISION NOTICE
PUBLISHED BY DEMOCRATIC SERVICES
Notice is hereby given that the following decision(s) have been made today by
Cabinet Members at the London Borough of Hillingdon:
Title of decision THE PROVISION OF LABORATORY TESTING FOR THE
IMPORTED FOOD OFFICE, LONDON BOROUGH OF
HILLINGDON
Reference No. 1322
Date of decision Monday 17 February 2025
Call-in expiry date Monday 24 February 2025
Relevant Select
Committee
Residents’ Services Select Committee
Relevant Wards N/A
Decision made
Cabinet Members
making the decision
Councillor Ian Edwards, Leader of the Council
Councillor Eddie Lavery, Cabinet Member for C ommunity &
Environment
Decision Approved
That the Leader of the Council, in conjunction with the
Cabinet Member for Community & Environment agreed to
extend the contract for the London Borough of Hillingdon
with Public Analyst Scientific Services for laboratory
testing for a two-year period from 01 December 2024 to 30
November 2026 and at a value of £737,000.
Reason for decision The London Borough of Hillingdon is responsible for
overseeing imported food and feed controls at its Imported
Food Office (a Border Control Post) located at London
Heathrow Airport. Current legislation requires imports of
certain food and feed products to be introduced into Great
Britain only via approved inspection facilities. The Imported
Food Office at London Heathrow Airport is an approved
inspection facility for both imports of products of animal origin,
and those not of animal origin.
Public Analyst Scientific Services Limited is our current service
provider. The services being sought are highly specialised with
few other organisations able to deliver them. Performance over
the current contract term has been good. Public Analyst
Scientific Services Ltd holds several similar contracts,
providing analysis of a wide range of food samples undertaken
during the course
of regulatory checks or as part of routine
surveillance or regional and national sampling projects. They
also conduct provision of analysis and reporting to tight
Executive Decision Notice – 17 February 2025
This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk
deadlines for detained samples as required by their clients.
Furthermore, they provide advice and consultancy on sampling
requirements, analysis and legislation relating to imported food
Charges that are levied by the London Borough of Hillingdon
for the provision of this work must reflect what is charged by
the service provider. Therefore, a reduction in the applicable
fees charged to importers is recommended where reductions
have been achieved, as well as increases to fees where this is
the case.
Alternative options
considered and
rejected
The alternative option of ceasing to test imported food and feed
consignments for the presence of contaminants is not
considered viable. The consequence of this would be that the
Council would fail to meet its statutory obligations as a Border
Control Post (BCP) which would likely to
result in Central
Government intervention.
Classification Part II – Members only and not for publication
Link to associated
report
That this report be declared as exempt from publication as
it involves the disclosure of information in accordance
with Section 100(A) and paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule
12 (A) to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), in
that the report contains information relating to the
financial or business affairs of an y particular person
(including the authority holding that information) and that
the public interest in withholding the information
outweighs the public interest in disclosing it
Relevant Officer
contact & Directorate
Samantha Doherty – Place Directorate
Any interest declared
by the Cabinet
Member(s) /
dispensation granted
N/A
Implementation of decision & scrutiny call-in
[Internal Use only]
When can this
decision be
implemented by
officers?
Officers can implement Cabinet Member decision in this notice only
from the expiry of the scrutiny call-in period which is:
5pm on Monday 24 February 2025
However, this is subject to the decision not being called in by
Councillors on the relevant Select Committee. Upon receipt of a
valid call-in request, Democratic Services will immediately advise
the relevant officer(s) and the decision must then be put on hold.
Councillor scrutiny
call-in of this
decision
Councillors on the relevant Select Committee shown in this notice
may request to call-in this decision. The request must be before the
expiry of the scrutiny call-in period above.
Executive Decision Notice – 17 February 2025
This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk
Councillors should use the Scrutiny Call-in App (link below) on their
devices to initiate any call-in request. Further advice can be sought
from Democratic Services if required:
Scrutiny Call-In - Power Apps (secure)
Further information These decisions, where applicable, have been taken under The
Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access
to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.
This is the formal notice by the Council of the above executive
decision, including links to the reports where applicable.
If you would like more information on this decision, please contact
Democratic Services on 01895 250636 or email:
democratic@hillingdon.gov.uk.
Circulation of this decision notice is to a variety of people including
Members of the Council, Corporate Directors, Officers, Group
Secretariats and the Public. Copies are also placed on the
Council’s website.
Democratic Services
London Borough of Hillingdon
Civic Centre
High Street
Uxbridge
UB8 1UW