To consider agreeing the Maidstone Borough Council Corporate Health and Safety Strategy.

That the Health and Safety Strategy attached to the report of the Health & Safety Committee be agreed and be implemented.

The Council’s vision is set out in the Strategic Plan:

‘We want Maidstone Borough to be a vibrant, prosperous 21st century urban and rural community at the heart of Kent, where its distinctive character is enhanced to create a safe, healthy, excellent environment with high quality education and employment where all people can realise their aspirations.’

The Health and Safety Strategy is one of a number of strategies that are essential to the realisation of the organisation’s vision.

The scope of the Corporate Health and Safety Strategy extends to the people that deliver services on behalf of the Council and those affected by the services. The strategy should ensure that those people, who work for the Council, receive or deliver services for the Council, know that their health and safety is of importance.

Corporate Health and Safety – the vision

The Council’s vision for Corporate Health and Safety is that

‘It has sensible health and safety at the heart of its business, it is integral to the culture and decision making processes of all aspects of the organisation.’

This strategy will assist in delivery of this vision, and demonstrate, not only to staff, but also to contractors, the general public and the Health and Safety Executive, that the Council sees sensible management of health and safety risk as a core part of its business.

It could be agreed not to support the report of the Health and Safety Committee.  This may have implications for the council should any enforcement action be taken and would leave the council in a weaker position if asked to prove commitment to health and safety. The strategy sets out the link to the overall direction and priorities of the Council.