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An Order laid before Scottish parliament on 10th November will see the fixed penalty notice for flytipping increase from £200 to £500 from 1 January 2024.

The Fly-tipping (Fixed Penalty) (Scotland) Order 2023 exercises of the power conferred by section 33A(10) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 which provides for a fixed penalty notice procedure for an offence under section 33 in respect of a contravention of subsection 1(a) (for unauthorised deposit of controlled waste) or (1)(c) (for keeping or managing controlled waste in a manner likely to cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health). These offences are commonly referred to as fly-tipping.

The Chief Statistician has released the results of the 2022 Scottish Household Survey.

In 2022 most (95%) adults rated their neighbourhood as a good or very good place to live, and over half (57%) felt there were places to meet up and socialise. The proportion of adults experiencing feelings of loneliness in the last week increased from 21% in 2018 to 23% in 2022.

Half (50%) of households said they were managing well financially in 2022, a decrease since 2019 (56%).

Satisfaction with the three main public services (local health services, schools and public transport) decreased from 53% in 2019 to 40% in 2022. The largest drop was for satisfaction with local health services (from 80% in 2019 to 64% in 2022), although levels of satisfaction were lowest for public transport (58% in 2022).

In 2022, as in 2019, most (93%) families who used Scottish Government funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) were satisfied with it, and only 1% were dissatisfied.

Climate change was more likely to be perceived as an immediate and urgent problem in 2022 (74%) than in 2019 (68%). The largest increases were amongst those aged 25-34 (67% in 2019 to 78% in 2022) or aged 75+ (56% in 2019 to 65% in 2022).

More adults reported living within a five-minute walk of their nearest green or blue space in 2022 (70%) than in 2019 (66%). They were also more likely to visit the outdoors at least once a week in 2022 (70%) than in 2019 (56%).

More than eight in ten (82%) adults had taken part in physical activity in the previous four weeks, an increase from 2019 (80%). Taking part on more than 14 days in the previous 4 weeks also increased (from 51% in 2019 to 54% in 2022).

The proportion of adults participating in cultural activities was the same in 2019 and 2022 (75%), but there has been a decrease in adults attending cultural events or places of culture (from 81% in 2019 to 74% in 2022). Involvement in formal volunteering activities has also decreased (from 26% in 2019 to 22% in 2022).

The Autumn Journal, Environmental Health Scotland is now available in the members section of the website.

Annual General Meeting 

The Institute’s Annual General Meeting was held on Friday 17 November at the Edinburgh Training and Conference Centre with many members attending, some in person and others via MS Teams.  Evonne Bauer gave her Presidential Report reflecting on the previous year in her role as President. Prior to the AGM was the Institute’s annual Environmental Health Update where we heard from an excellent line up of speakers including Food Standards Scotland and Falkirk Council, speaking on collaboration of authorities with regard to the “slimming pill case”; challenges surrounding LEZs from Transport Scotland; climate and health problems with intensive farming from the Compassion in World Farming and a view from Fife Council on commercial premises and Net Zero Waste. The presentations from the event can now be view on the REHIS Members area. 

Lynn Crothers has now been installed as the Institute’s President for the coming year. Congratulations to the Lynn and all the newly elected Members of the Council.  You can view the Council Members here. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL 

REHIS Annual Environmental Public Health and Housing Update, 29 November 2023 

The annual Public Health and Housing update event is being held on 29 November 2023. The online event will have presentations on the health risks associated with lead in drinking water, traditional buildings and retrofit, details on the use of the shared common repairs app; and more.  To book a place please click here 

Updated Scheme of Continuing Professional Development  

As a corporate member of the Institute, you are recognised as a professional through your commitment to the scheme of continuing professional development (CPD). 

The Royal Charter under which the Institute operates offers a unique opportunity for EHO members to achieve Chartered EHO status subject to complying with the CPD scheme.  This is the highest possible professional status and recognises an individual’s professional qualifications, training, experience within, and commitment to, environmental health practice. 

The Institute has recently updated the scheme of continuing professional development to one single flowing document for both EHO and non EHO members.  The updated scheme also includes alternative options to the written submission for EHOs with or working towards Chartered status. 

Read more about the updated CPD scheme here CPD – REHIS  

Special Investigators Course 

The Special Investigators Course is being held in Stirling from 11-15 December.  Although the course is full, depending on interest the Institute would be happy to organise another 5 day event or perhaps a shorter event on specific aspects of investigation, evidence gathering, witness interviewing and court room proceedings.  Happy to hear your thoughts! contact@ 

Water, Wastewater and Drainage Policy Consultation 

The Institute has been invited to comment on the consultation below and thought this may be of interest to our members.  The proposed changes will replace the Water (Scotland) Act 1980 and incorporates all water quality including PWS.  The consultation seeks views on developing policy for the future of the water industry in Scotland in response to the climate emergency and refers to the “climate crisis” that is happening now. You are invited to comment on risks and recommendations laid out by the Climate Change Committee (CCC). 

The closing date for responses is 21 February.  

https://consult.gov.scot/energy-and-climate-change-directorate/water-wastewater-and-drainage-policy-consultation/

UK Ministers have been told, that heat pumps are too loud to be installed in millions of homes under the UK Government’s noise guidelines.

The UK Government aims to install 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028 to hit net zero targets, but a report seen by The Daily Telegraph, sound specialists warn uptake could be limited.

The study reveals that most heat pumps are too loud for many homes in built-up areas, such a terraced houses and flats, because they would break noise limits set for home-owners who want to install one without planning permission and with a government grant.

Local Authorities are also braced for a rise in noise complaints as more of the green appliances installed in urban areas.

The findings, produced by a group of noise experts, have been sent to the UK Government to contribute to a review into heat pump noise being run by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (Desnz). Air source heat pumps, which are positioned outstand a home, can produce a low constant hum of between 40 and 60 decibels which is similar to the level of noise made by a fridge or dishwasher. They will typically run continuously throughout winter.

The UK Government is encouraging homeowners to install heat pumps by offering up to £7,500 towards the cost under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS). The grant was last month increased from £5,000 after fewer than 10,000 of an available 30,000 vouchers were redeemed in the first year. But to qualify for the grant, heat pump installations must comply with regulations set out by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) – including a minimum level of noise disturbance to neighbours. It means a heat pump must not generate noise louder than 42 decibels within one metre of a neighbour’s door or window.

Yet, the report, which was presented to the Institute of Acoustics at a conference, found that the top heat pumps from the five main manufacturers, not one device would meet MCS standards on noise unless the unit was at least four metres away.

The authors warned: “Without the MCS there is no BUS grant and, therefore, a likely significant reudction in uptake of heat pumps across England and Wales”

Heat pumps installations also have to comply with MCS standards to be installed without planning permission as a permitted development.

Did you know that in the winter months (October – March), we are unable to get enough Vitamin D from sunlight? It is also really difficult to get enough vitamin D from food. Food Standards Scotland recommends taking a 10 microgram vitamin D supplement daily throughout the winter months. 

Why is this important? 

Vitamin D helps improve bone and muscle health. Some groups are at a higher risk of vitamin D deficiency and are recommended to take a supplement year-round. 

These include: 

•pregnant and breastfeeding women

•infants and children under 5 years old

•people who have low or no exposure to the sun, for example those who cover their skin forcultural reasons, are housebound, confined indoors for long periods or live in an institution

•people from minority ethnic groups with dark skin such as those of African, African-Caribbean and south Asian origin, who require more sun exposure to make as muchvitamin D

Support and guidance

Visit the Food Standards Scotland website for more information about the importance of vitamin D. 

It’s just one month until Global Action Plan officially kick off the first year of the Clean Air Night campaign.

The campaign will spotlight three important truths about wood burning – that it harms your wallet, health and the planet. 

The campaign will run for four weeks in the lead up to Clean Air Night on 24 January, with a week that spotlights each of these key truths: 

• Week 1: Introduction to Clean Air Night (13 – 19 December) 
• Week 2: Wood burning harms your wallet (3 – 9 January) 
• Week 3: Wood burning harms the planet (10 – 16 January) 
• Week 4: Wood burning harms your health (17 – 23 January) 

To make it as easy as possible for you to take part in Clean Air Night, Global Action Plan are providing dedicated social media resources for each of these weeks – as well as resources that can be used throughout the campaign and can be accessed here.

A new marketing campaign informing parents, carers and school pupils of the dangers of vaping has been launched by the Scottish Government.

The ‘Take Hold’ marketing campaign will increase awareness of the harms and risks of nicotine addiction associated with vaping, with schools across Scotland provided with digital guidance packs and resources for posters along with radio and outdoor advertising. Its key message is that vapes may quickly become harmfully addictive for children and young people, affecting their concentration, mental health and mood.

It comes as a new Tobacco and Vaping Framework is published, setting out actions which will be taken to create a tobacco-free generation by 2034.

Vaping addiction soon takes hold – NHS inform 

The Scottish Government have published a new Tobacco and Vaping Framework, which sets out actions to be taken to create a tobacco-free generation by 2034.

The Framework for reaching the 2034 goal includes action to raise the age limit for sales of tobacco and plans to improve services to help people quit. In addition, the Scottish Government will continue to review what further action is needed to limit the appeal of vapes to children, young people and non-smokers during the first phase of the framework which will run until November 2025 .

Earlier this month, the UK Government set out its plans for a “smoke-free generation” by phasing out the sale of cigarettes. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill going through Westminster will restrict the sale of tobacco so anyone turning 14 this year or younger will never legally be sold cigarettes. Scottish Ministers are producing their own framework which will complement this, with the cigarette phase-out also taking place in Scotland.

Key Framework actions are listed here Tobacco and Vaping Framework: Roadmap to 2034 – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

The first 2 year implementation plan actions are list here Tobacco and Vaping Framework: Roadmap to 2034 – gov.scot (www.gov.scot) and these include an awareness raising campaign on e-cigarettes, work on pack inserts and age of sale, including potentially extending UK legislation to include age of sale for e-cigarettes, price levers, enforcement, review hospital grounds restrictions, and improving transparency and accountability.

The Framework replaces the previous 5-year action plans enacting the 2013 strategy with an overarching Tobacco and Vaping Framework, which will be underpinned by shorter action-focused 2-year implementation periods.

The new action plan was developed through engagement with a working group of public health experts, including ASH Scotland, Public Health Scotland, Cessation coordinators, academics and The Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland. Engagement also included views from the Poverty Alliance Scotland and from the 11^th Citizen Panel for Health.

The European Commission have made a call for experts for the Advisory Committee on Public Health Emergencies (PHE).

The mission of the group at the request of the Commission or the Health Security Committee, carry out the tasks set out in Articles 23 and 24 of Regulation (EU) 2022/2371.

Although the Commission has considerable in-house expertise, it needs specialist advice from outside experts as a basis for sound policymaking. This may be provided by groups of experts or external consultants, or take the form of studies.

A Commission Expert group is explained here.

For more information and to apply see here – the deadline is 15 December.

Preventing and addressing antisocial behaviour will be the focus of a new independently chaired working group being set up by the Scottish Government.

Members will look at the current approach and make recommendations on what long-term changes can be made to reduce such behaviour and support victims. It is expected that the group will provide regular updates and present their conclusions to Ministers by the end of 2024.

The new group was announced following the publication of a joint report on antisocial behaviour by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Community Safety Network.

Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown, who is bringing together the working group, said:

“We want everyone to be, and feel, safe in their community and we are committed to tackling all forms of antisocial behaviour. Reported antisocial behaviour has broadly been in decline over the last decade, but the recent disorder on Bonfire Night, in particular, has shown that where issues arise, these can have a very serious impact for many people.

“The report published today recommends that we need to consider how we best develop our long-term approach to preventing and addressing this type of behaviour. That is why I will be convening an independently chaired working group. It is nearly 20 years since the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 was introduced and it is right that we examine whether this remains fit for purpose and that we assess our wider approach.

“I am grateful to those who took part in the engagement work with the Scottish Government and the Scottish Community Safety Network and shared their views and experience of antisocial behaviour. This report will inform the work of the new group.”

Director of the Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice Fiona Dyer, who will be one of two chairs of the working group, said:

“I am really looking forward to working with colleagues to support the prevention of antisocial behaviour across Scotland. Research demonstrates the vital importance and value of better engaging, enabling, and supporting individuals and their communities to reduce incidents of antisocial behaviour.  

“Through encouraging actively social behaviour within local communities, we can collectively address current issues and develop an inclusive and effective strategy that Scotland will be proud of.”

Joint co-chair Lorraine Gillies, Chief Officer at the Scottish Community Safety Network, said:

“Ultimately, we believe victims will experience less antisocial behaviour with a changed approach, making our communities safer places. We believe in taking evidence-based approaches to what works to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour, focused on tackling root causes and working together with communities to find solutions.

“I welcome the publication of our co-authored report – written in partnership with the Scottish Government – and the announcement of an independent working group, set up to review antisocial behaviour in-depth. I look forward to pursuing this work and, in doing so, improving people’s lives.”

An Edinburgh councillor is calling for a Dog DNA register to be set up to tackle dog fouling across the capital.

The Conservative councillor tabled a motion on the problem at the Transport and Environment Committee on Thursday 16th November and calls for a report to be provided to the Committee presenting options to help combat dog fouling that includes improving enforcement, the use of Fixed Penalty Notices, and the practicalities of establishing a Dog DNA register for the city, how it could be enforced, likely costs to set up and run, and how much might be funded through issuance of fines.

The motion added that in 2021, only four fixed penalty fines were issued by City of Edinburgh Council reflecting the difficulties prosecuting under the current regime even though it only requires the evidence of one witness to justify a fine for dog fouling.

It also added that the number of dog fouling complaints raised by the public is low and mostly reflects apathy with lack of enforcement rather than concern about the problem.

The scheme would see dog owners having to register their pets with the council, allowing it to test samples of dog mess left in the street and issue fines accordingly.

Conservative Councillor Christopher Cowdy said efforts made so far by the authority to address the issue had not worked.

Councillor Cowdy admitted it “might take a couple of years” to get up and running but said Edinburgh could be the “vanguard for combating the national problem”.

He said: “I suppose I thought about a dog DNA test as being the only real way you can make out for definite whose dog did what.

“The general idea I’m thinking of is there would be an Edinburgh by-law that would require dog owners to register their dogs with the city council who would hold a database.

“You would be obliged to bring your dog, a DNA swab would be picked up from the dog and recorded on the database, and then if there could be a team of wardens searching for dog foul they would pick it up, take a test from it and hopefully track it down.”

He said: “There are obviously issues that most responsible dog owners pick up after their dog anyway, and irresponsible dog owners might not be inclined to register their dog in the first place.”

Councillor Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “Tackling the issue of dog fouling is a priority for us – it’s unacceptable that a small minority of owners should leave dog’s dirt anywhere in the capital. 

“So I look forward to a report coming to a future committee exploring different ways of reducing this, on top of the work already being carried out by our Waste and Cleansing teams.”