Issue - meetings

The Chairman said that it would be beneficial for new Members to be given an outline of the Safety Committee from the Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development.

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development said that the Safety Committee was set up as per Health and Safety Executive law. He said that he was the Chair of the Safety Committee, whose membership comprised of both officers and union members.

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development said that the Human Resources Committee received the Minutes from each of the Safety Committee meetings as they had responsibility for providing focus and monitoring the Council’s health and safety matters.  

Councillor Connolly referred to paragraph 6.2 of the Safety Committee Minutes and expressed her concerns regarding Marshgate Bridge. She asked if action regarding the bridge would be trackable via future Safety Committee Minutes.

Councillor Smith said that Marshgate Bridge was a very busy bridge which was very important to the community, and she asked if an update would be available at the next meeting of the Committee.

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development said that Marshgate Bridge had been identified as a potential concern, which the Council wished to get ahead of as it was the only access to Hartham. He said that the Assets Team were to confirm ownership of the bridge, and that the owner would then be contacted regarding a structural survey.

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development said that as Marshgate Bridge was an action in the Safety Committee Minutes, the Human Resources Committee would see any updates in the next Minutes of the Safety Committee. He said that the Safety Committee met quarterly, and he would also arrange for Members of the Human Resources Committee to receive an email update on Marshgate Bridge.   

Councillor Buckmaster referred to paragraph 13.3 of the Safety Committee Minutes and expressed her concerns regarding the long hours which some employees had worked on the District Elections day.

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development said that concerns from employees had been raised with the Returning Officer and the Monitoring Officer. He said that the Council attempted to not employ staff for both polling station and count duties on the same day, and that there was an option to delay the count until the day after polling, which several authorities had adopted. 

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Safety Committee held on 9 May 2023 be received.