Purpose

A document advocating delegating responsibility to Senior Leadership for approving corporate health and safety policies.

Decision

The purpose of this item was to Submit the Health and Safety Delegated Responsibility Framework to the Cabinet for approval.

Councillor Mike Evemy invited the Director of Service to introduce the report.

Cabinet was asked to consider the report which proposed a Health and Safety Delegated Responsibility Framework to provide a clear, consistent and proportionate approach to the development, approval and implementation of health and safety policies across services delivered through Publica on behalf of the Council.

The Cabinet noted that the framework would clarify policy categories, approval routes, consultation, publication, monitoring and review arrangements. It would enable technical and operational policies to be approved under delegated authority where appropriate, while ensuring matters with significant legal, financial, strategic or political implications, or where required by the Constitution or legislation, were referred to Cabinet.

The framework was intended to support timely updates to policies in response to changes in legislation, operational practice and best practice, while maintaining Cabinet’s strategic oversight and strengthening accountability for health and safety across the Council.

The recommendation was proposed by Councillor Patrick Coleman, seconded by Councillor Tristan Wilkinson and put to the vote.

Cabinet RESOLVED to:

1. Approve the implementation of the attached Health and Safety Delegated Responsibility Framework.
2. Delegate authority to the Chief Executive Officer to approve health and safety policies in line with the Framework attached

Voting record:

7 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions