Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet Member for Waste and Emergency Planning held on 18^th February, 2013, were considered.

Resolved: -  That the minutes of the previous meeting be agreed as an accurate record for signature by the Cabinet Member. 

The Emergency and Safety Manager, Internal Audit and Asset Management, Resources Directorate, provided an update for the Cabinet Member in relation to emergency planning and health and safety issues.

Business Continuity: -

·         Flu Plan – the intended launch of this plan had been slightly delayed in order to integrate the roles, responsibilities and actions of Public Health in relation to this area;

·         Recovery and Restoration presentations had been arranged for 26^th March and 16^th and 26^th April, 2013, to highlight issues to M3 and above managers in advance of the corporate exercise that had been planned for 1^st May, 2013.

Emergency Planning: -

·         Representatives of the Emergency and Safety Team attended a seminar at the Medico Legal Centre in relation to Mass Fatality Planning for aviation incidents.  A number of speakers presented, including representatives from the Home Office, Virgin Atlantic, Thompsons and the Department for Transport’s Air Accident Investigation Branch;

·         Representatives of the Emergency and Safety Team had contributed to an exercise on the evening of Thursday 21^st February, 2013, at the New York Stadium, to test the stadium’s safety arrangements;

·         Representatives of the Emergency and Safety Team had been working with South Yorkshire Police and other partners to plan for a future major operational commitment. 

Health and Safety: -

·         The Health and Safety Executive had undertaken ‘blitz’ inspections of building sites in Rotherham during February and March, 2013.  One Notice for Contravention had been served at one school where an extension was being built;

·         Representatives of the Emergency and Safety Team had met with the Headteacher of a Special School following a high number of reported violence to staff incidents being reported.  All reasonable measures in relation to risk assessments and training for staff were found to be in place.  However, it was agreed that the Emergency and Safety Team would offer support and monitor the situation as far as possible. 

The Cabinet Member thanked the Emergency and Safety Team manager for the update provided. 

Resolved: - That the information shared be noted. 

The Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham Waste Manager, Environment and Development Services, provided an update in relation to the Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham (BDR) Waste Project. 

·         A letter of comfort had been sent to all Local Authorities who had current Private Finance Initiatives in place in relation to security of the waste infrastructure credits.  Rotherham had received this letter;

·         Positive reports on the BDR Waste Project had recently appeared on the Rotherham Advertiser’s on-line site;

·         The BDR Manager reported that she had received concerns from local residents in Wath in relation to the level of additional vehicles on the local road network as a result of the new facility.  Communications had taken place with those who had reported their concerns in relation to the Project’s Transport Strategy to allay their concerns as far as possible;

·         A number of minor amendments had been made to the proposed buildings’ reviewable design items.  The BDR Manager reported that these amendments were being treated as a Section 73 alteration and would be required to go through a public consultation process and returned to the Planning Board for determination.  The alterations related to changes to the footprints of the proposed Visitor’s Centre and Gatehouse, and the main building’s cladding. 

·         The BDR Manager reported on the development of a Fly Management Plan for the new facility.  A visit to an existing facility was proposed to share best practice and lessons learned in relation to the issue.

The Cabinet Member thanked the BDR Manager for the update provided.

Resolved: - That the information shared be noted. 

Resolved: -  That the next meeting take place on Monday 18^th March, 2013, to start at 9.30 am in the Rotherham Town Hall.