Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Allan Bailey and Councillor Nick Clarke.

To note any urgent items of business which the Chairman has consented to being considered under the provisions of Section 100(B) 4(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Chair explained that under the provisions of Section 100(B) 4(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, he had consented to one urgent item, which was the Sickness Absence - Quarter 3 (October – December 2021) report being presented by the HR & OD Manager.

The Chair referred to the section of the report which read: “Mental Health awareness sessions are being delivered across the Council as part of the Council’s quarterly corporate training programme.” He requested that the Committee should receive feedback on how the mental health awareness sessions go.

Moved by Councillor Andrew Joesbury and seconded by Councillor Maxine Dixon RESOLVED that:

(i)            The Committee notes the report.

(ii)          The Committee receives feedback on how the mental health awareness sessions go.

(HR & OD Manager)

Members should declare the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and Non Statutory Interest as defined by the Members’ Code of Conduct in respect of:

a)  any business on the agenda

b)  any urgent additional items to be considered

c)  any matters arising out of those items

and if appropriate, withdraw from the meeting at the relevant time.

There were no declarations made at the meeting.

To consider the minutes of the last meeting held on 30^th September 2021.

Moved by Councillor Andrew Joesbury and seconded by Councillor Maxine Dixon

RESOLVED that the minutes of a meeting of the Safety Committee held on the 30^th September 2021 be approved as a true and correct record.

The Health & Safety Manager presented the Quarter 2 Accident Statistics report. She explained how the total number of accidents in the quarter in the report was 9. The accident breakdown was:

4 Manual handling

1 Slip, trip and fall

1 Struck by a moving object

1 Struck against a fixed object

2 Other.

The ‘Other’ incidents related to 1 small electrical shock and 1 scolding. Of these accidents, 6 occurred in Streetscene, 2 occurred in Leisure and 1 in Housing. She explained how in addition to these figures, there had also been an operator in Streetscene injured, and an investigation into the incident was being carried out.

The Health & Safety Manager explained that the table section in Appendix 1 titled ‘1st Action Review Date’ would not appear in future reports.

The Chair referred to the ‘Health & Safety Training’ section of Appendix 1 and asked what percentage of staff had not received Health & Safety training. The Health & Safety Manager explained that COVID-19 had interrupted the training programme so staff undertaking training had not been recorded, but the programme had now been revisited.

The Chair requested that in future Health & Safety reports received by the Committee, there should be more information on who doesn’t have Health & Safety training and who requires it.

The Health & Safety Adviser informed the Committee that managers were given booking sheets to give their officers Health & Safety training.

Moved by Councillor Andrew Joesbury and seconded by Chris McKinney

RESOLVED that the Health & Safety report be noted.

The meeting concluded at 12:00 hours.