Issue - meetings

To approve the Council’s Open Spaces Water Safety Policy.

Approve the Open Spaces Water Policy for implementation.

The Cabinet received a report presented by the Executive Councillor for Operations (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) regarding the Open Spaces Water Safety Policy.

The Open Spaces Water Safety Policy had been designed to better enable the Council to ensure the safety of the public within District Council open space and had been developed based on advice and guidance from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).  The Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) had been engaged to review the document and their advice was used to improve the policy and establish a programme of risk assessments.

In May 2016, RLSS trained eleven members of staff to conduct Risk Assessments in relation to water safety, seven of which completed the exam and qualified with a Level 3 Award in Risk Assessment Principles and Practice.  During the training, staff received ‘on the job’ guidance and priority phase risk assessments were completed.

Whilst it was agreed that the Open Spaces Water Safety Policy was a thorough document it was more appropriate as a Guidance document as it was too comprehensive to be a Policy document.  The Cabinet suggested that the format should be a short Policy document accompanied by a more comprehensive Guidance document.

It was noted that the document made no reference to any contribution from the Environment Agency or to any areas that the Environment Agency had responsibility for. 

The Policy required promotion to the public, which it was assumed would be via the Council’s website.  However, the Cabinet requested that Officers be mindful of how the information was presented, which needed to be targeted and accessible, not by a lengthy document.  In concluding the debate the Cabinet,

RESOLVED

to approve the Open Spaces Water Policy for implementation.

The Open Spaces Water Safety Policy Implementation Report is to be presented to the Panel.

With the aid of a report by the Head of Operations (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Open Spaces Water Safety Policy – Implementation Report was presented to the Panel.

Members were informed that establishing the fact that the Council requires an Open Spaces Water Safety Policy, a draft Policy was developed based on advice from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). The Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) were engaged to review the draft after a competitive tender.

In response to a question regarding the sites listed in section five of the Policy, Members were informed that they are all owned by the Council and that the Policy only covers static bodies of water owned by the Council.

Following a question could the Council assist parish councils with their static bodies of water, the Panel was informed that the Council are able to assist with risk assessment however the Council have no obligation to assist parish councils.

Concerns were raised in relation to all Operations Policies as well as Health and Safety Policies. A Member stated that there was little oversight from Members to ensure that Policies are working well and that officers are adequately trained to implement the Policies. The Head of Operations informed the Panel that officers’ health and safety training is kept up to date.

The Panel recommended that the Cabinet endorse the Policy.

(At 7.44pm, during the consideration of this item, Councillor G J Bull left the meeting and did not return.)