Council lands first Primary Authority partnership with local fish and chip shop

Basildon Council has established its first ever Primary Authority partnership with a chain of local chip shops.

The council is now working directly with The Chesterford Group, the company which operates Fish‘n’Chick’n restaurants across the borough, on matters relating to food safety and work place health and safety across its whole operation.

Primary Authority is a national scheme set up by the government giving businesses the opportunity to form a statutory partnership with one local authority (the Primary Authority). 

This means that the Primary Authority gets a detailed understanding of the operation of that business and in turn becomes the first point of contact to provide robust and reliable advice on how the business should comply with different laws. 

Other councils across the country must then take into account that advice in their dealings with that business – the main purpose being to ensure the consistent application of the law regardless of the location of the business outlets.

Head of Operations at the Chesterford Group Wayne Shaw said:

“After many years of working closely with Basildon Council’s environmental health service, The Chesterford Group encompassing Fish‘n’Chick’n, Churchill’s, Bankers traditional Fish and Chip brands are really proud to be the first business to sign up to a Primary Authority partnership with Basildon Council, and we look forward to the continued support and high level of expertise that Basildon Council’s environmental health service has to offer.”

Chair of the Neighbourhoods and Public Spaces Committee Councillor David Harrison, added:

“Our Environmental Health team has been working hard to set this up and has already been able to provide tailored health and safety advice around COVID-19 control measures with the assurance for the company that this will be respected by all local regulators, and to provide confidence to customers.”

Image: Basildon Council