Agenda and draft minutes

To receive declarations by Councillors of interests in respect of items on this Agenda.

Councillors are reminded that, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, they are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which have not already been declared in the Council’s Register of Interests. (It is a criminal offence not to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest either in the Register or at the meeting).  

Whilst not a legal requirement, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9 and in the interests of clarity and transparency, Councillors should declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which they have already declared in the Register, at this point in the meeting.  

In accordance with Part B Section 2 of the Code Of Conduct, Councillors are required to declare the existence and nature of any other interests as defined in paragraphs 8(1) or 9(2) of the Code of Conduct. 

Councillor Jason Wood declared his interest as an employee and member of UNISON and as a member of Unite the union, these interests being publicly declared. He also declared that his wife is a member of UNISON, Unite the union and GMB. 

Councillor Margaret Pattison declared her interest as a member of UNISON.  She also declared an interest as a relative is a health and safety consultant to the Council. 

To receive as a correct record the Minutes of meeting held on 18^th July 2024 (previously circulated). 

The minutes of the meeting held on 18^th July 2024 were approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record. 

There were no items of urgent business. 

At this point the Chair expressed his thanks to Councillor Paul Newton for his work and contributions whilst a member of the Committee and welcomed Councillor Paul Stubbins, as a new Member, to the meeting. 

Report of HR Policy and Strategy Lead. 

The HR Policy and Strategy Lead submitted a report that enabled the Committee to consider and approve the introduction of revised HR Policies which fall into the category of Standby, Callout and Overtime, Social Media and Mobile Phones and Smoking and Substance Misuse. 

Comments and amendments following the meeting of JCC on 30^th September 2024 were set out in the report. 

The policy tracker, appended to the report, advised of further information on the changes to be reviewed.  For these policies these were:

HR Policy Amendments Tracker

Report of Senior Corporate Health and Safety Manager. 

The Senior Corporate Health and Safety Manager submitted a report that enabled the Committee to consider and approve a range of amendments and additions to existing policies and procedures.  These were:

·            SG16 COSHH Policy

·            SG17 Manual Handling Policy

·            SG18 Noise and Vibration Policy

·            SG33 Personal Protective Equipment Policy

·          SG37 Working at Height Policy

Questions and comments following the meeting of JCC on 30^th September 2024 were set out in the report.  Some minor wording amendments were made within some of the policies. 

At this point the Chair expressed his thanks to Officers for the work undertaken to date. 

It was proposed by Councillor Professor Chris Harris, seconded by Councillor Jason Wood, and unanimously resolved as follows. 

Resolved: -

That Health and Safety SG16 COSHH Policy,SG17 Manual Handling Policy, SG18 Noise and Vibration Policy,SG33 Personal Protective Equipment Policy andSG37 Working at Height Policy, appended to the report, be approved, subject to the following amendments:

SG16 – Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Policy (COSHH)

Section 8 PPE and RPE, first bullet point amend the wording from “- suppliers can advise the procurement officer” to “- to obtain specialist advice from suppliers.”