Issue - meetings

The Health and Safety Officer presented a report to the Committee on Health and Safety covering the period July – September 2020.

Councillor Ruffles referred to the Chairman’s earlier comments thanking Officers for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic. He asked whether there were any particular organisations or service areas that the Committee should formally place it thanks to on record.

The Head of HR and OD said all staff had contributed and it would not be viable to single them all out for praise, but Environmental Health, the Health and Safety Officer, Revenues and Benefits and Customer Services had all played an important role.

The Chairman asked that the Committee’s thanks to the aforementioned individuals and services be placed on record.

Councillors Ruffles and Newton asked about the payment kiosk at Wallfields. Councillor Ruffles said some residents in his ward had struggled without this service.

The Head of HR and OD said that residents could still make cash payments at Post Office branches. Most payments to the Council had been taken online and the demand for in-person services had dropped further in view of the pandemic; very few residents had been affected by the closure of the payment kiosk.

Councillor Newton asked why the rate of accidents at Grange Paddocks leisure centre was higher than at other sites. The Health and Safety Officer said that this was due to the higher level of footfall at this site, due to the size of the leisure centre and the extent of the facilities there.

RESOLVED – that the report be noted.