The minutes of the meeting held on Friday 16 December 2016 were approved as a correct record.

There was no urgent business to report.

To note any questions or to receive any statements, representations, deputations and petitions which relate to the published reports on Part A of the Agenda.

No members of the public were present to make representations to the Committee.

Members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary, personal or prejudicial interests they may have in relation to items on the agenda for this meeting.

There were no Member declarations of interest.

A proposal to appoint David Hickman, Director of Corporate Strategy and Development, as Secretary to the Local Joint Committee was moved, seconded and agreed by all present.

RESOLVED:

That David Hickman be appointed as Secretary to the Local Joint Committee.

The Safety Officer introduced the report which asked the committee to recognise the improvements made to the overall management of safety by the Authority and to endorse the recommended priorities and actions for 2017.

He noted that the new Health and Safety Policy had come into operation in January 2017, replacing the General Statement of Safety Policy which had been used for many years.

The officer drew attention to the independent internal audit report findings, noting that the full audit report had been presented separately to the Audit, Resources and Performance Committee (19 May 2017 Item 11 Appx 6). The auditor’s report gave the overall opinion that the Authority’s health and safety controls in place at the time of the audit provided “High Assurance”.

Analysis of data relating to staff accidents and incidents in 2016 revealed a continuing average downward trend despite indications of a slight increase over the year. Members asked that a trend graph also be included for visitor accidents and incidents in the next report.

The officer referred to an incident that had occurred in May 2016 involving a Centaur vehicle being driven by one of the Authority’s rangers. As both the driver and the passenger were injured, and the passenger was a volunteer ranger, the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) was notified of the incident by the Safety Officer on the day it happened. Both injured persons made a full and speedy recovery.

As a result of its investigation into the incident, the HSE served a Notice of Contravention on the Authority which was consequently required to pay the HSE’s investigation costs in excess of £45,000. This figure included laboratory costs incurred during examination of the vehicle.

The minutes of the Health and Safety Committee held on 8 May 2017 were received.

The recommendation was moved, seconded and agreed.

RESOLVED:

That the Safety Officer’s Annual Report for 2016 be approved.

A member of the Staff Committee presented the report and thanked the Authority’s Leadership Team for sharing information about the structural reorganisation with staff via Staff Committee and UNISON. These meetings had enabled feedback from staff to reach the Leadership Team quickly, particularly during the on-going period of change in the Outreach and Visitor Experience service.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

This report gave an update on UNISON activity in the first 6 months of 2017.

A ten minute break was taken during which the UNISON representative copied and tabled the report and members of the committee read it.

The work of UNISON representatives and members of Staff Committee had continued throughout the on-going structural reorganisation, particularly of the Commercial Development and Outreach Directorate. Following the end of the staff  consultation on this process on 28 June 2017, UNISON representatives had submitted a response from its members to the Authority’s Leadership Team.

The UNISON representative thanked Leadership Team and the Head of Human Resources for continuing good relations and useful meetings during this process.

The Director of Corporate Strategy and Development acknowledged receipt of the UNISON consultation response on behalf of the Leadership Team and confirmed that the Leadership Team intended to issue their response on 12 July 2017.  He thanked Staff Committee and UNISON representatives for their active role during the consultation  period.

The Chair thanked everyone involved in the staff consultation.

RESOLVED:

That the report is noted.