Agenda and minutes

            The Minutes from the meeting held on 28^th July 2020 were taken as read and signed as a correct record subject to Councillor Joe Roberts being added to the list of those present.

The Board was advised that no public questions had been received.

The Board was presented with the Minutes relating to the Corporate Services Portfolio which had been considered by the Executive Board since the last meeting of this Board.

            RESOLVED: That the Minutes be noted.

The Board was provided with a report from the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which presented details of health and safety management within the Authority from 1 April 2019 to 31^st March 2020.

The report highlighted health and safety incidents that had taken place over the past twelve months and as a result of those incidents proposed actions for the future. In addition the report included information around the number of actual near misses, accidents that had resulted over 7 day absences, together with significant accidents. In summary:

·         there had been a decrease in significant incidents whilst over 7 day injuries have remained the same as the previous year at 16;

·         there had also been a total of 8 near misses, a decrease of 4 from the previous year. Slips, trips and falls, Manual Handling incidents and equipment use accidents had all decreased;

·         violent Incidents were showing a rise in the number of verbal incidents compared to last year’s figures and physical incidents have rose from 10 to 12 in the last 12 months. There had also been a rise in physical incidents but no reported verbal incidents within Halton schools;

·         lone working monitoring system usage data showed seventy nine users had been deleted for non-use across both directorates despite mandatory use being approved and endorsed by Management Team;

·         Display Screen Equipment assessments had risen to 32 for 2019 compared to 23 throughout 2018 with staff coming forward to report various health issues surrounding Musculoskeletal Disorders; and

·         Risk Assessments completed on the corporate risk assessment system had risen from 1432 in 2018/19 to 1859 in 2019/20 following consultations at Joint Consultative Committee Meetings across the Authority.

            Arising from the discussion Members were advised on the home working risk assessments currently in place for staff which included:

·         delivery of specialist equipment such as chairs and tables to their home;

·         Managers had carried out appropriate assessments and there had been continuous support from the Health and Safety Team;

·         support had been provided to those staff to work from a Council building;

·         the Learning and development team provided online mental health learning and support to staff; and

·         a workforce survey was being developed to go out to staff.

            A Member queried the legal implications of deleting staff from the lone working system and it was reported that there were other lone working controls in place, however this would be looked into.

                        RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

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            The Board considered a report from the Strategic Director of Public Health which provided a presentation covering the most recent data on COVID-19 Coronavirus; latest update on Halton outbreak support team approach, and Halton’s testing approach in the community and for schools.

            It was recognised that testing was key and there was a robust programme in Halton with regional sites as well as mobile testing units and  walk through testing sites in both Widnes and Runcorn. All of these were accessible on the national portal. In addition, national home delivery testing kits were also available.

            Arising from the discussion a Member queried if the Walk in Centres were still appointment only and it was agreed that this would be checked and Members advised.

            Members queried the policing of the track and trace system in pubs and restaurants and were advised that the responsibility was the Environmental Health team, however they did not have the resources to carry out spot checks.

Should a member of the public have concern that the COVID-19 guidelines were not being followed they should phone the contact centre to report it.

            RESOLVED: That the presentation be noted.