Minutes - draft

Please note these minutes are currently draft and are subject to committee approval.

Minutes of the inaugural meeting of the Health and Safety Sub-committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 16 February 2004 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Jennette Arnold (Chair)
• Toby Harris
• Rachel Whittaker

MPA Officers

• Catherine Crawford (Clerk)
• Keith Dickinson (Head of Partnerships and Policing)
• Nick Baker (Head of Committee Services)

MPS Officers

• Martin Tiplady (Director of Human Resources)
• Gordon Davison (Director of HR People Development)
• Nick Kettle (MPS H&S Branch)

Also present: Rob Justham (Deputy Secretary Met-TUS), Mike McAndrew (London District Secretary, Police Superintendent Association), Steve Rands (Police Federation H&S)

Part 1

1. Introductions and apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

The Chair welcomed members, officers and advisors to the meeting. She invited those present to introduce themselves.

It was reported that an apology for absence had been received from Kirsten Hearn.

2. Declarations of interest

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations of interest were made.

3. Committee arrangements

(Agenda item 3)

The Sub-Committee received a report that outlined to members its terms of reference and proposed arrangements for future meetings.

It was agreed that the Sub-Committee should meet not less than three times a year and that future meetings would needed to be planned to coincided with the MPS Health and Safety Strategic Committee.

The Chair confirmed that meetings of the Sub-Committee were open to the public, but acknowledged that there would be items that would need to be considered as exempt items and in closed session.

The Clerk reported that Kirsten Hearn had submitted some proposed additions to the Sub-Committee’s terms of reference and members supported the proposed additions.

Rob Justham of the Trade Union Side sought confirmation of the role of the trade union and staff association representatives at the Sub-Committee meetings. It was confirmed that they had been invited to provide the Sub-Committee with the views, opinions and concerns of those organisations relating to health and safety issues. It would not form part of the formal negotiation process. Confirmation was given that their role was advisory and that the representatives would not have voting powers.

Members agreed that the Sub-Committee would benefit from the appointment of co-opted members with health and safety expertise. The Clerk reported that Kirsten Hearn had provided details of possible co-opted members who currently provide support to the Transport of London health and safety committee. Members agreed that officers seek nominations for co-opted members.

Resolved – That

1. 1. the terms of reference for the Health and Safety Sub-Committee as outlined in the report and the following additions be approved and agreed:
   • ‘To look at the opportunities provided by the health and safety regime to enhance our services to staff and customers’
   • ‘To consider the strategic equality and diversity issues arising from good health and safety policy and practice’
2. the Sub-Committee meet not less than three times per year;
3. meetings be attended by an MPS HR representatives. a representative from MPS Health and Safety Branch, OCU commanders/manager as requested, trade unions staff associations and an external advisor as and when necessary; and
4. officers seek nominations for co-opted members (not more than two) to the Sub-Committee in accordance with the Authority’s Sanding Orders.

4. MPS Health and Safety plans for 2004/05

(Agenda item 4)

Members considered a report that presented the MPS’s Health and Safety plans for 2004/05 and members were invited to adopted the policy.

The Chair of the Sub-Committee expressed disappointment that as the policy was a joint MPS/MPA document that the MPA had not been involved in the policy development at an earlier stage.

Members agreed the importance of the role of the Sub-Committee in monitoring the implementation of the plan and requested that regular update reports are presented to future meetings.

In response to members’ concerns regarding the legal implications of the policy, the MPS confirmed that legal requirements had been met in the drafting of the policy and that it broadly met health and safety requirements.

It was agreed that an equalities impact assessment of the policy should be undertaken.

Resolved – That

1. members endorse the new MPS Health and Safety Policy; and
2. the new Policy specifically includes the health and safety management of police staff and police buildings, including Private Finance Initiative (PFI) buildings be noted; and
3. the Sub-Committee monitor the implementation of the MPS Health and Safety Policy and to review it periodically.

5. Health and Safety plans and priorities

(Agenda item 5)

The Sub-Committee received a report that outlined the process and plans for monitoring the performance of the MPS in health and safety matters and set out proposed objectives and targets for monitoring support in 2004/05.

Members sought clarity of the role of the Sub-Committee in monitoring the plans and priorities and expressed concern that the Authority had not been included in the initial process for setting and establishing these. Members requested that in order to have a clear idea of the targets that had been set data be circulated to them before the next meeting.

Arising from the discussion members highlighted that work life balance issues were not covered by MetAir.

Resolved – That

1. the report be noted; and
2. target setting data be circulated to members

6. Health and Safety specific reports

(Agenda item 6)

Members received a report that sought to outline recent specific MPS health and safety reports, investigated incidents and proactive initiatives.

Members welcomed the list of specific reports and agreed that the Sub-Committee should received regular reports on key issues. Members also suggested that these report should highlight how health and safety issues and operational issues have worked.

In addition to the specific reports listed at Appendix 1 to the report, the Clerk reported that Kirsten Hearn had requested that a report on health and safety aspects of compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act be included and a report on this be bought back to a future meeting of the Sub-Committee. Members supported this proposal.

Confirmation was given that future specific reports would be categorised as those being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive, other major health and safety at work issues and other specific interests. It was noted that some of the reports would be presented as confidential.

Resolved – That the report be received.

The meeting closed at 3.20 p.m.

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