The authority overseeing environmental, public and animal health controls across the Liverpool City Region coastline fears its budget may not be enough to fulfil its duties.
Mersey Port Health Authority, which manages controls across 53 miles of coastline in Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral, will present its financial plans for 2022/23 to Liverpool Council next week.
The body oversees import controls for animal origin foods and products, ship sanitation control, food safety and hygiene inspections as well as infectious disease and pollution control.
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A report containing the breakdown of figures details how there are concerns the “proposed budget for 2022/23 may not be sufficient resources for compliance with the Authority’s statutory port health duties.”
This could have a wider impact on the Port of Liverpool’s status as a UK Border Control post, with the Port Health service relied on to sustain its designated status.
The Port of Liverpool is also listed as an Authorised Port, able to issue Ship Sanitation Certificates, in accordance with International Health Regulations.
In order to maintain this status it is anticipated that the equivalent of 58 full time employees will be needed during 2022/23.
These will be jointly subsidised by generated income and grant funding from the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs.
This is in response to a predicted workload increase associated with the introduction of new imported food checks on European products following the UK’s exit from the European Union.
The document, which will go before members of the Mersey Port Health Committee, outlines how expenditure of £2.2m is expected in 2022/23, with the budget recommended by the Chief Port Health Officer.
Levy contributions from Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral Councils totaling £350,000 will remain in place in order to mitigate costs to taxpayers as grant funding for the Port Health authority has yet to be determined.
The authority holds close to £1m in reserves, which is considered “prudent” in case of the need to finance any maintenance costs throughout the year.
The report added: “Achieving the required level of income and recruitment of port health staff remains a financial and operational risk.
“This will be closely monitored during the financial year and budgets adjusted for 2023/24 as required.”
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