Issue - meetings

To consider the Annual Report of the council’s Head of Health & Safety, together with an overview of the performance of the City of York Council / North Yorkshire County Council Health & Safety shared service.

Resolved:  (i)      That the Annual Report be noted, including the council’s response to managing and responding to significant H&S risks including national risks around fire and terrorism.    

                   (ii)      That the performance of the Shared H&S Service be noted.

                   (iii)     That a report on actions being taken to ensure consistency in the use of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) by council workers and contractors carrying out highways repairs and other street works in York be brought to the September Decision Session.

                   (iv)    That the position that verbal and aggressive behaviour towards council staff and contractors working on the council’s behalf will not be tolerated be endorsed, given the marked increase in the number of related incidents reported in 2017/18.

Reason:     So that the Executive Member and residents can be assured that H&S services are appropriately managed and resilient and that the council has proper arrangements in place for managing and responding to H&S risks.

The Executive Member considered a report which presented the Annual Report of the council’s Head of Health and Safety (H&S), together with an overview of the performance of the City of York Council (CYC) / North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) H&S shared service.

The Annual Report, attached as an annex, included information on key areas of work carried out over the past 12 months, as well as accident and incident statistics, and work planned for the current year.  The council’s client officer for the shared service was present at the meeting and confirmed that the key areas of performance met the requirements of Schedule 1 of the Collaboration Agreement.  The Executive Member had the option to identify any areas of specific H&S risk for further reporting.

In response to questions from the Executive Member on aspects of the Annual Report, officers confirmed that:

·        Procurement of the H&S Management Information Technological solution would be led by NYCC but in consultation with CYC, to meet the needs of both.

·        Every school buying into the H&S Service Level Agreement received an annual H&S inspection visit.

·        The use of posters and other publicity would be considered within measures to tackle aggression towards front line staff.

·        Information on policy development with regard to national terrorism threats could be brought to a future meeting.

Resolved:  (i)      That the Annual Report be noted, including the council’s response to managing and responding to significant H&S risks including national risks around fire and terrorism.    

                   (ii)      That the performance of the Shared H&S Service be noted.

                   (iii)     That a report on actions being taken to ensure consistency in the use of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) by council workers and contractors carrying out highways repairs and other street works in York be brought to the September Decision Session.

                   (iv)    That the policy that verbal and aggressive behaviour towards council staff and contractors working on the council’s behalf will not be tolerated be endorsed, given the marked increase in the number of related incidents reported in 2017/18.

Reason:     So that the Executive Member and residents can be assured that H&S services are appropriately managed and resilient and that the council has proper  arrangements in place for managing and responding to H&S risks.