Customer Services Minutes , item 4. PDF 63 KB - Council meetings

MINUTES:ACTION:only to alcohol.– The UNION reps requested an update on timescale for next steps/completion as they had provided their comments and suggestedadditions/amendments back in October 2012. They wished to have ameeting to discuss their suggestions.– Meeting agreed that NE to feedback. AP5: NE5 ANNUAL H&S REPORT– AG presented the final report. Key items to note:– Staff should be referred to the links to the Directorate’s portal, the H&Smanual and guidance on how to complete risk assessments.– The latest H&S activity in various service areas on page 15– The total number of incidents reported for 2011/12 was 83 (+17 from2010/11 of which 7 (-4) were RIDDOR reportable incidents, 65 (+9)involved employees and 18 (+8) involved non employees.– The UNIONS were interested in the total number of claims beingpresented to the council.AP6: AG6 PROGRESS OF AUDIT RECOMMENDATIONS– AG provided an update of all the red, amber recommendations for eachservice.– The following all have red recommendations which means that the‘implementation date’ is overdue:o Bereavement – 1o Waste & Recycling – 3o PSH & RS – 1– The following have red recommendations which means that the‘implementation date’ is now overdue (31 st December):o Street Cleansing – 6– Following recent audits, new recommendations are in the system forBereavement (29) and Trading Standards & Markets (11).7 ANY OTHER BUSINESS- Training: PD provided an updated programme of training availableacross the council. A breakdown of attendees has also been providedby HR but it was in PDF format so can’t be drilled down.oooLegionella courses are available via the L&D website.EW said that the manual handling training and resolving thetechnical issue needs to be a priority particularly for staff who aremoving across to Laurence House from the Town Hall and whomay need to lift/carry heavy boxes.MB added that it is not easy to understand from the L&D sitewhich courses are suitable for staff and managers. PG said thathe would add this to his discussions with Jean-Marie Rhoden.- Wearside: EW said that she had heard that the HSE had returned toWearside and was disappointed to note the UNION reps had not beeninformed to attend. EW reminded the meeting that it is a legalrequirement that UNIONS be present and have the opportunity to putforward members view. Even if the visit is unannounced there is always aUNION representative available to attend.ooPD advised that the HSE had returned to review works on theinspection pit at Wearside following the incident earlier this year.The inspector still had further recommendations for improvementbut was going away to seek advice. No further feedback had yetbeen received. In any event NE had been working to implementsome of the inspectors recommendations.MB added that the Inspector that came to review Waste Serviceslast year had never returned despite indicating that he would.o The meeting discussed whether guidance notes of such visits –“When an Inspector Calls” - should be drawn up so that2

7MINUTES:Managers know what to do and who to inform and/or about suchvisits. It was agreed that PD should draw up some protocols.- Dead animal collection: EW queried the protocol for this service as shewas aware of staff having to enter people’s home to collect the deadanimal and some staff had experienced challenging behaviour frombereaved owners. PD suggested that EW contact Gerry McAneney asthis came under his service. It was agreed that a risk assessment shouldbe done and/or reviewed for this activity.- H&S Board Update: PD advised that the board had discussed riskmanagement control procedures and that these would be put on thecorporate site. (The UNIONS had already been involved in the review).o SLA’s between Estate Management, HR and Property Serviceswere being negotiated. Clarification was being sought over whoshould be ‘lead officers’.o The Schools accident reporting system is now on-line and beingutilised well.ooDATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS- TBCThere was a H&S conference at Bromley Court HotelThe ToR for the H&S committee were discussed and will be anagenda item at the next H&S Committee on 23 January 2013. EWcommented that the UNIONS need the opportunity to sit downwith members and talk through H&S issues.ACTION:AP7: PDAP8: GM3