Issue - meetings

That:

1)         the corporate health and safety performance for 2014/15 be noted; and

2)        the approach described and the health and safety priorities for the current municipal year be endorsed.

The Executive considered the Health and Safety Annual Report for 2014/15 which relates to occupational health and safety in respect of the Council’s services and schools.

The Executive Member for Resident Services informed the meeting that although the number of incidents reported had increased significantly this was mainly due to a new recording system which made it easier to report health and safety incidents.  Also one special school, who always reported a high number of incidents, had reported even more incidents in 14/15 which again it was felt was due more incidents being reported rather than an increase in incidents.

Councillor Jorgensen also highlighted that the Council had been supporting local schools with the provision of external defibrillators, following the tragic death of young person in Woodley, by providing advice and encouraging the purchase of them.  In relation to next years’ priorities it was noted that the intention was: to revise procedures and health and safety manuals to make them easier to use; to continue to develop the reporting system; to add extra training for management contractors; and to improve health and safety induction for service managers and elected Members.

The Executive Member for Children’s Services advised that although the amount of reported school incidents had nearly doubled from the previous year this was due to better report and she hoped that there would be more continuity throughout all the schools.  With regards to the provision of external defibrillators Councillor Haitham Taylor reported that work was being carried out to support schools which included looking at working with different charities that could provide the equipment. 

RESOLVED that:

1)         the corporate health and safety performance for 2014/15 be noted; and

2)        the approach described and the health and safety priorities for the current municipal year be endorsed.