Issue - meetings

The Human Resources and Organisational Development Manager introduced the report which had been prepared by the Health and Safety Officer and covered the past civic year under his remit.

The Human Resources and Organisational Development Manager said that there had been no accidents reportable to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrence Regulations (RIDDOR), and no reportable accidents involving employees during the period. He said that there were no reported accidents regarding BEAM (formally Hertford Theatre) and two reported accidents regarding members of the public.

The Human Resources and Organisational Development Manager said that the Health and Safety Officer was utilising tools to update Display Screen Equipment Assessments for home/blended working employees.

The Chair thanked the Human Resources and Organisational Development Manager for his report.

Councillor Willcocks sought clarification on how the top deck of the Northgate End Car Park was being closed at night.

The Head of Strategic Finance and Property said that due to its proximity to Yew Tree Place the Northgate End Car Park was under planning restrictions which required the top deck to be closed at 23:00 hours. He said that grills were used to stop access after this time, but that the Car Park, which was open until midnight, now closed completely at 23:00 hours.

Councillor Connolly said that it was good to see that the Health and Safety Officer was now working as part of the Transformation Team and that an Equalities Impact Assessment had been undertaken.

The Chair asked for details on the Health and Safety procedure around the use of pesticides by the Council.

The Head of Strategic Finance and Property said that personal protective equipment (PPE) would be always used under the current contract. He said that he could not comment on the type of pesticides being used, but he could obtain this information and arrange to have it circulated to Members via the via Committee Support Officer.

The Chair said that this information would be helpful, and that it would be good to know the timing of when the pesticides were used, i.e., not when the public were in situ. 

Councillor Swainston said that the use of pesticides was a subject which was recently looked at by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Chair said that the report was very encouraging and showed that the Council had a good safety culture. 

It was moved by Councillor Connolly and seconded by Councillor Willcocks, that the recommendations, as detailed, be approved. After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that the Annual Health and Safety Report 2023/24 be considered, and any comments/amendments be provided to the Service Manager of HR and OD and the Health and Safety Officer.