Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Waste and Emergency Planning, held on 3^rd June, 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 Sean Fiander, Principal Health and Safety Officer, which included: -

(a) Business Continuity

• The team had been almost entirely devoted to BCMShared developments in the last couple of weeks.  Version 1 was taken ‘off line’ on 29th May and Version 2 came ‘on line’ on 10th June. The transition took considerably longer than expected due to some unforeseen IT issues outside the control of the Business Continuity team which took some while to resolve. Accordingly, extended hours of work were required to put the system into effect. Nevertheless, it is now up and running and initial results confirm the expected benefits to users in terms of appearance and usability.

• The team was represented at the Riverside Building Resilience Group meeting, which was developing measures to reinforce the resilience of the building.

Emergency Planning

• The team attended a Key Stage 2 careers event at New York Stadium. The Land Rover and Trailer were present and the team talked to 150 children about Emergency Planning throughout the day. The event also gave an opportunity to provide the children with Emergency Planning information and a leaflet that they could discuss with their parents/guardians.

• The EPIMS incident logging system that had been utilised for a number of years was going to be updated. Members of the Team have met with IT and work would commence on an improved system in August/September 2013. This would be at no cost to EPSS.

• The Team were heavily involved in planning and responding to the EDL/UAF demonstration in Sheffield.

Health and Safety

• The team had carried out a series of Fire Risk Assessments of a number of buildings providing sheltered housing accommodation. (Shaftesbury House, Wellfield Lodge, Dawson Croft and Heathfield Gardens).  Such fire risk assessments were the legal responsibility of the Council to ensure that adequate procedures and fire prevention was in place.

• The Riverside House Building Operations Group meeting was attended, which was set up to look at operational and security issues that affected Riverside House. The Health and Safety team had provided advice to the group on issues relating to the health, safety and welfare of staff based in the building. This included changes to work station design and advice on procedures that were needed in emergency situations.

• The team conducted Fire Safety Training at My Place, and Woodseats Primary School. This was an initiative to continually promote fire safety within the Council.

• The team conducted a Health and Safety review at Clifton Park Museum.

• The team conducted an audit on the Waste Recycling Centres around the Borough. This was to ensure that these sites were following health and safety procedures to protect the public using these facilities.

• The team conducted a site inspection at Middleton Avenue, Dinnington. This site was one of several house extensions to provide improved foster care facilities within the Borough.

Resolved:-  That the update be received and the contents noted.

Further to Minute No. 81 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Waste and Emergency Planning held on 22^nd April, 2013, consideration was given to a report presented by the Waste Manager concerning the current provision of the Household Waste Recycling Centres in Rotherham and proposing stricter enforcement and realignment of existing policies to achieve the required budgetary savings for financial year 2013/14.

Discussion took place on the implications of the proposed changes to the existing policy, including the financial savings achievable.

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

(2) That a stricter enforcement of existing Policy, as detailed in the report now submitted, be applied at household waste recycling centres to curtail the abuse of the discretionary visit system by vehicles otherwise prohibited.

(3)  That the Vehicle Access Permit system, as detailed in the report now submitted, be amended to reduce the maximum number of visits to household waste recycling centres, allowed per annum, from twelve to six.

(4)  That, with effect from 1^st April, 2013, the Council shall no longer accept used car tyres at its household waste recycling centres.

Consideration was given to the update provided by the Adrian Gabriel, Waste Manager, Environment and Development Services, which included:-

A further meeting was scheduled with Trades Unions on Monday, 24^th June, 2013, regarding the Waste Local Agreement.

Meetings were scheduled with regards to the Interim Waste Treatment and Disposal Contract and discussions remained ongoing.

Resolved:-  That the update be received and the contents noted.

Resolved:-  That the next meeting of the Cabinet Member for Waste and Emergency Planning take place on Monday, 1^st July, 2013 at 9.30 a.m.