Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Principal Health and Safety Officer.

Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 28 June 2018 and its comments will be reported.

The Environmental Health and Licensing Manager presented the report on the Council’s activities and performance in health and safety at work during 2017.  Members were advised that there were no serious matters to report.

Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 28 June 2018 and its comments were reported.

RESOLVED the content of the Annual Report be noted.

To consider the report of the Principal Health & Safety Officer.

The Environmental Health and Licensing Manager presented a report which detailed the Council’s activities and performance in health and safety in the work place during 2017. He stated that the Council’s ambition was to maintain and advance its positive health and safety culture by creating an environment with fairness and clear lines of responsibility at its core.

The Environmental Health and Licensing Manager responded to Member‘s comments on the previous spend on health and safety and the protection afforded to staff who faced attacks when carrying out their daily duties. The new culture of health and safety under the strategic leadership of the Director (JY) incorporated a reformed Corporate Health and Safety Committee with all members of the Senior Management Board and Representatives Committee including representatives from all departments and union safety representatives and provided a forum for staff to raise any concerns as part of a responsible and efficient culture. He also responded to a Member’s comments on the Council’s approach to portable appliance testing (PAT) and the potential for ‘robot’ grass cutting on steep gradients, and provided an update on the progress made with checking all electrical equipment in the Civic Centre and satellite offices.  A contractor had been appointed to carry out PAT testing and they had made rapid progress having finished their inspections at the Civic Centre and moved to other external location areas with a range of action undertaken to ensure compliance. Certainly mechanical grass cutting would be desirable for steep gradients.

The City Surveyor also responded to a Member’s comment on the stance taken by the Police at recent incidents at Eastern Fields in Pinhoe, and stated that police did not routinely attend such instances as a general rule.

Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee supported the report and requested Executive to recommended Council approval of the revised Health and Safety report for adoption.