Local tattoo, piercing, and acupuncture businesses face "visits"

In Powys, for the first time, all tattoo artists, body piercing specialists, electrolysis practitioners, and acupuncture practitioners will be subject to the same regulations, according to a council chief.

New legislation for “special procedures” under the Public Health (Wales) Act 2017 came into effect on November 29.

On Monday, councillors received an update on how the new licensing regime will operate in the county at a meeting of Powys County Council's Licensing Act 2003 committee.

Licensing team manager Natalie Jones informed councillors that some would require training, as the council’s Licensing sub-committee will be needed to decide on certain licence applications in the future.

Ms Jones said: “I believe we will produce this report in the new year because there has been a delay in comment from legal and finance (departments) which is beyond my control.”

She added that the report was supposed to be “just for information” so that councillors are “informed” about the legal changes,

Cllr Huw Williams asked whether there would be a premises “inspection regime” for the council to administer?

Ms Jones explained: “In Powys we’re quite unique.”

She explained that the rules under the old Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1976 the practice had been administered differently in the three shires of Powys.

Ms Jones said: “In Montgomeryshire practitioners or people had to be registered, in Brecknockshire only premises had to be registered and in Radnorshire there was no requirement to register at all.

“This new legislation requires both practitioners and premises have licences.

“They need to fulfil the licensing part by passing a DBS check and level two hygiene qualification.

“The second part is the compliance check where an environmental health officer will go and meet the practitioner and inspect the premises prior to a licence being issued.”

She explained that during the three-year period that the licence covers, “unannounced visits” could take place.

Committee chairwoman Cllr Beverley Baynham said: “That’s helpful it’s only right that an establishment should be registered so it’s good news really.”

She asked the committee whether they wanted to hold another meeting once the official report had been produced.

The committee agreed to this course of action.

The Welsh Government have issued the mandatory licensing fees for “special procedures” that have been agreed by all 22 local authorities in the country.

The cost will be the same for “at least” the first year of the scheme’s operation.,

For a three year special procedure licence for individual practitioners the application fee costs is £159.

A further £44 compliance fee is payable once a licence has been granted.

An application for a three year premises or vehicle approval certificate will cost £244.

A further £141 compliance fee is payable after the approval certificate has been granted.

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporting Service