Priorities and Performance

Trading Standards aims to contribute to the Council's strategic targets by:

• Taking effective action against businesses that deliberately or persistently break the law, particularly those engaged in door to door sales.
• Restricting access for children and young people to harmful age-restricted goods.
• Educating and advising Kent businesses and consumers to support a fair and safe trading environment.
• Preventing the spread of animal disease and taking action in cases of unnecessary suffering of livestock at critical control points.
• Taking effective enforcement action in relation to the storage and supply of dangerous goods.
• Maintaining food standards and helping people to make informed, healthy choices.

Our performance

Each year we survey a proportion of the consumers who have contacted us for advice and businesses who have either received a visit from us or asked for advice or information. Below are some key results from our most recent user surveys.

Consumer Advice Service User Survey - year ending March 2007

99% found officers courteous and polite at all times
96% found advice easy to understand
92% considered they were treated fairly
94% found staff informative
82% overall satisfaction
74% thought advice would, or may, help with similar problems in future

Issues we are addressing:

A "Good Trader" scheme - Consumers frequently request help in finding reputable traders. We have now introduced a "Buy with Confidence" scheme which gives consumers access to a directory of traders who have proved their commitment to trading fairly.

Increase information provision - We will continue to update and improve the information available on this website. Additions to the site include an interactive food label, local scam warnings and helpful national links for consumers. We have also produced a Consumer Newletter to let consumers know what we have done with information provided to us.

Business survey - year ended March 2007

Our Business Survey includes both business visited and those who contacted us for help or advice. Below are key results for the year ending March 2007.

Key results:
99% found staff courteous and polite
96% overall satisfaction
94% found staff informative
93% of those inspected said the visit caused little or no disruption to their business
93% of those not meeting their legal obligations thought our repose to the problem was fair/reasonable
89% of those we have been in touch with before considered they had been treated consistently each time

Issues we are addressing:

Providing more information - A large range of business guidance notes and leaflets are available on this site, together with links to other business resources such as Ask Cedric and Business Link.

We have a business information stand and officers attend business seminars and exhibitions.

We have introduced a "Buy with Confidence" scheme which benefits reputable traders.