Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director (JY).

The Chief Finance Officer presented the report of the Council’s Annual Health and Safety Report for 2018. Exeter City Council had the intention to be an exemplar of health and safety practice by continually improving its health and safety management systems and remain transparent with its approach to health and safety. He discussed the progress in meeting the statutory obligation for employees’ safety and health at work and the progress in managing work-related stress.  Members’ attention was given to the reduction in the number of reportable accidents by 50% from the number reported in 2017, advising that the 16 incidents were reported in 2017 and halved to only eight in 2018.

In response to questions from Members, the Chief Finance Officer advised:-

·         Trade Unions would have been consulted on the health and safety report, however the concerns from Members on there being no mention of the Unions in the report would be fed back to Environmental Health and Licensing Manager;

·         Details of potential stress related to agile and flexible working and monitoring staff wellbeing after its conclusion, would be requested from Environmental Health and Licensing Manager;

·         The provision of a bollard on the pavement in front of the Customer Service Centre was recommended following  discussions with other agencies and was being managed by the Civic Centre Manager;

·         The Health and Safety Committee developed action plans and recommendations for health and safety matters, ensuring significant issues were raised and delivered;

·         The absence of an Equality Impact Assessment in the report will be raised with the Environmental Health and Licensing Manager;

·         Volunteer Staff who may require a separate approach to health and safety would discussed with the Environmental Health and Licensing Manager;

·         The changes to operational procedures involving the refuse lorry incident, detailed in the report, would be provided to Members in full;

·         The risk assessment for kerbside recycling had been considered by the Place Scrutiny Committee and was included as part of the overall project.

Councillor Sheldon moved and was seconded by Councillor Hannaford to add an additional recommendation - for the Chief Executive & Growth Director and the Leader of the Council to be named as joint owners of the report, and was voted for unanimously.

The Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee noted the Report and requested that:-

(1)  The Executive notes the content of the Annual Health and Safety report; and

(2)  The Chief Executive & Growth Director and the Leader of the Council to be named as joint owners of the report.