Issue - meetings

To submit a report by the Head of Regulation and Economic Development.

It was resolved to accept the Corporate Health and Safety Annual Report 2017/18 and to implement the Development Plan.

The report of the Head of Regulation and Economic Development incorporating the Corporate Health and Safety Annual Report for 2017/18 was presented for the Executive’s consideration. The report noted the number of health and safety incidents recorded during the year with an analysis thereof; the number of incidents reported to the Health and Safety Executive and whether any follow-up action was required and provided a summary of partnership working.

It was noted that significant work has been done by Senior Officers, Human Resources and Corporate Health and Safety to establish a method of revitalising Health and Safety within the Council. The revised Health and Safety Policy which clearly identifies Health and Safety as the responsibility of all Council Members and Staff should lead to an improved Health and Safety culture within the Council and, together with the role of the Health and Safety Co- ordinators should set the foundations for maintaining and improving health and safety within the Council.

The Corporate Health and Safety Advisor said that Health and Safety is an ongoing process and that currently work is focused on continued improvement as supported by the Health and Safety Action Plan (appended to the annual report).

The Executive noted the information presented and acknowledged the work that has been done to strengthen Health and Safety arrangements and structures within the Council. The Executive noted also that concerns have been raised and reported in the media recently about the safety of glyphosate as an ingredient in certain brands of weed killer. The Executive sought clarification of the Authority’s approach to the use of glyphosate.

The Corporate Health and Safety Advisor said that glyphosate is licensed by the HSE and as such there are strict controls on its use with which all contractors working for the Authority are required to comply. The Authority is monitoring the situation.

The Chief Executive confirmed that the Authority has discussed the use of glyphosate with other authorities and is keeping a watching brief on the matter. The Authority’s approach which is generally shared by the other North Wales authorities is to carry on using glyphosate as a herbicide within the strict guidelines issued whilst continuing to monitor the situation for any developments.

It was resolved to accept the Corporate Health and Safety Annual Report 2017/18 and to implement the Development Plan.