Agenda item

Report of the Divisional Director of Human Resources and Organisation Development.

The Forum received a report of the Divisional Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development, which set out the Council’s Health and Safety performance for the year 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021, providing an update of activities and giving information on outcome measures such as the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, training required, audits carried out and the number of accidents reported.  The report also included the Council’s Health and Safety Strategy and the Corporate Health and Safety Plan Policy. For completeness, the report also included information about Occupational Health and Safety.

An officer introduced the report and identified the six key areas, details of which were set out in the report.  He stated that the Health and Safety Strategy, Performance Plan and Health and Safety Policy formed the foundations to a positive health and safety culture.

Members were briefed on the work streams, such as the need to carry out risk assessments which were dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic, details of which were set out on page 78 and onwards of the agenda.  A governance and risk assessment process had been established and initially reviewed by the Health and Safety Compliance Manager to ensure that the right controls were in place.  These were then shared and further reviewed by the relevant Corporate Strategy Board sub-group.  There was confidence that robust processes had been put in place and this had been confirmed by the random spot checks carried out by the Health and Safety Executive who had applauded and provided a positive feedback on the processes that the Council had put in place.

Various measures were also put in place as part of the Council’s Wellbeing and Agile Working agenda, including support for those with mental health issues and wellbeing activities.  There had been a marked drop in the number of accidents reported which had been due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the initial closure of schools. Several (17) RIDDOR reports were submitted to the Health and Safety Executive.  Most accidents were in schools and had been attributed to physical assaults.  The Council was fortunate in that it had been possible to carry out much of the training on Health and Safety face- to-face.

The officer apologised for the typographical error and confirmed that the Strategy, which was for 3 years, would be reviewed in March 2022.  He acknowledged that the Strategy had been signed off the former Corporate Director of Community and would be refreshed but that the Strategy was being monitored by the Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development. He responded to questions as follows:

-                 there had been a low uptake in staff volunteering for Covid-19 vaccination, but the service had been made available.  A Unison representative questioned this further and wondered if misinformation had been in circulation.

-                 the Housing stock had been reviewed during the year.  In terms of the risk assessment methodology and the comparison with the Grenfell Tower fire disaster, the Council was satisfied that the one high rise building in its stock met the necessary safety requirements.  A Member questioned if there had been delays in completing certain works to buildings because of asbestos and she cited an example.  The officer agreed to communicate with the Member in this regard and requested further information to be sent to him before he was able to respond.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the accidents and incidents report be noted;

(2)            the Strategies and Policies enclosed in the appendices to the report be noted.