Andrew Netherton, Service Manager, Licensing to present the report which proposes that Plymouth City Council adopts new model byelaws produced by the Department of Health.

Councillor Riley presented the report on the Adoption of new byelaws regulating activities of Acupuncture, Electrolysis, Tattooing, Cosmetic Piercing and Semi Permanent Skin Colouring.  It is proposed that the Council adopts the new model byelaws produced by the Department of Health with the existing byelaws to be repealed.

It was agreed that Cabinet considers this report and recommends that Council resolves to:

1.         Adopt the new byelaw to set minimum standards of cleanliness and hygiene in the carrying out of Acupuncture, tattooing, semi-permanent skin-colouring, cosmetic piercing and electrolysis as set out in Appendix 1.

2.         Authorise officers to carry out the necessary procedure in relation to the creation of the new byelaw (which includes application to the Secretary of State for confirmation of the byelaw and publishing a notice in the local newspaper of the intention to do so).

3.         Authorise the Common Seal of the Council to be applied to the new byelaw.

4.         Revoke the existing byelaws upon the coming into force of the new byelaw.

Body piercing and semi-permanent skin colouring pose high risks of transmission of blood infections and therefore it is important to ensure that the practices, premises and people involved are clean and hygienic. Changes to the legislation allow these activities to be regulated and it is recommended that the model byelaws be adopted to set minimum standards.