Agenda item

The Chairman asked if Members had any questions regarding the report.

Councillor Dumont referred to paragraph 9.0 of the report and asked if Members were to be issued with the new lone worker devices.  The Health and Safety Officer said that there had been no further discussions regarding this matter, but that there was provision for Members to be included within the current contract. The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development said that a Members Group were looking at this matter, and that an app based system was thought to be more appropriate for Members and the way in which they worked.  

Councillor Alder referred to paragraph 13.4 of the report and asked when it was expected that all staff would return to working at the Council offices. The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development said that staff had returned to the offices in November 2021, under the new blended working offer. The offer consisted of the option for the majority of staff to work up to 50% of their hours at home, with the remainder of their hours worked at the offices. He said that the blended working offer was to be reviewed after 12 months, in November 2022.

Councillor Alder said that she had experienced delays when contacting the Council by telephone. The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development said that extra resources were being given to these issues and that both the Executive Member for Corporate Services and the Head of Communications, Strategy and Policy would be the best placed to speak to regarding such issues.

Councillor Newton asked for the definition of a ‘non-reportable accident’, and if there was any explanation as to why Grange Paddocks appeared to have a higher number of these accidents compared to the Council’s other leisure facilities. The Health and Safety Officer said that a non-reportable accident would be a minor accident, and gave the examples of a paper cut, or a trip. He said that the higher number of such accidents seen at Grange Paddocks was due to the increased size of, and therefore the higher footfall at this facility. The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development said that comparable data for Grange Paddocks would be sourced, which would provide reassurance for Members. He added that the use of term IP in the report was an acronym for ‘injured person’.

Councillor Bull asked if there were any plans to move the closed tip facility at Aspenden (which is not owned by the Council) to the recycling area at Buntingford. The Health and Safety Officer said that he was not aware of any such plans, but that he would make enquires regarding this matter with the Head of Operations. Councillor Bull said that recycling facilities at Buntingford were needed as outlining villagers also used these alongside the residents of the town. The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development said that although there were no known plans to re site the aforementioned closed tip, there were plans to maximise the existing recycling site at Buntingford in partnership with North Herts Council. The Health and Safety Officer said that the expansion of such services at Buntingford had already begun, but the site presented challenges due to its small size.

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

RESOLVED - that the Health and Safety Quarterly Review (Quarter 4) – January 2022 to March 2022 and Annual Report be received.