Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Waste and Emergency Planning held on 22^nd April, 2013, were considered.

Resolved:- That the minutes of the previous meeting be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chairman.

Consideration was given to the update provided by the Emergency and Safety Manager.  The update included:-

(a) Business Continuity

·         BCMShared version 1 has been taken off-line with a view to version 2 being launched on Monday, 3rd June, 2013.  Work has centred on the successful migration of data to ensure the user experience is seamless.

·         Debriefings have taken place after exercise Clash, including within the team and with participants (in the form of written comments being collated). Comments are being collated into a post-exercise report, together with amendments to the draft plan.

(b) Emergency Planning

·         The Emergency Planning Team took part in a COMAH (Control of Major Accident Hazards) exercise at Cullina Logistics, Hellaby. The site has made significant safety improvements over the last few years. All aerosol products are kept in cages to prevent them becoming projectiles in the event of a fire.

·         Staff and senior managers of both Sheffield City Council and this Council attended the annual Local Resilience Forum Gold Symposium. This year’s topic was looking at the aftermath of an incident, including interesting presentations from Lucy Easthope on Mass Fatalities and solicitor/advocate Mark Scoggins on legal inquires. Many useful points were picked up and brought back for further discussion with colleagues, with a view to integrating or weaving through the Council’s recovery arrangements.

·         Staff have visited the Leicestershire Emergency Mortuary facilities for the Midlands area and also observed a major ‘live’ Emergency Mortuary exercise in Lincolnshire, as part of the work in developing the South Yorkshire plan.

(c) Health, Welfare and Safety

·         A member of staff has taken early retirement and his post will not be replaced  in order to meet savings targets

·         Staff have undertaken inspections in schools which have arranged their own construction and maintenance work through the employment of contractors in the summer break. Whilst some minor issues were identified, they were rectified without significant problems.

·      A noise survey was carried out on a waste management vehicle during the collection of glass bottles and the transfer into a side-loading refuse vehicle. This was conducted whilst waste management operatives were emptying household waste in the Broom Valley area. Noise surveys of this kind are often conducted in noisy working environments to ensure that employees are working in conditions that meet the required standards of health, safety, and welfare. This was a proactive measure to mitigate against possible future claims arising from the introduction of new equipment.

·         Staff have carried out a Health and Safety inspection at Davis Court, Dinnington. This was a joint inspection with the unit manager to ensure this unit complies with the Council’s health and safety policy. Some minor issues were identified; however these were attended to before leaving the site.

·         Staff have undertaken an operational observation of a waste management crew on blue box collection duty in the Wickersley area. This followed concerns raised about the state of the road at Holly Mount, which is an unadopted highway. The surface was uneven along the length of the road, which may  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

Consideration was given to a petition, containing 53 signatures, from residents of Shaftsbury House, Kenneth Street, Rotherham, expressing concern about the alteration of waste collection arrangements at these premises.

Resolved: - (1) That the petition be received and its contents noted.

(2) That it be noted that the petition is being considered by the Cabinet Member for Safe and Attractive Neighbourhoods, as a Housing Service issue.

Consideration was given to the update provided by the Waste Manager, Environment and Development Services.  The update included:-

(a) Waste Local Agreement – update of discussions with trades unions’ representatives;

(b) Commercial Waste – rescheduling of rounds is being considered, as well as trials of recycling initiatives in schools;

(c) Interim Waste Treatment and Disposal Contract – update of contract negotiations;

(d) Household Waste Recycling Centres – update of current arrangements;

(e) Green Waste – monitoring arrangements in place to ensure that the clean green price is being obtained;

(f) Private Finance Initiative – update of current arrangements.

Resolved:- That the update be noted and the Waste Manager be thanked for his contribution.