Issue - meetings

Consider report by the Service Director Regulatory Services.  (Copy attached).

With reference to paragraph 15 of the Minute of 18 August 2015, there had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director Regulatory Services providing an update on the Control of Contractors Policy (Construction, Maintenance & Repair).  The policy defined to move to the in-house approval of Contractors using SHE ASSURE (Lexi) instead of external approval by ConstructionLine and defined how the Council would uphold its Health and Safety responsibilities by ensuring a standard of safety from those employed to undertake contracted works for and on behalf of the Council.  The policy was managed by the Health and Safety Team and Mr Stuart Ford, the Health & Safety Team Leader reported that the policy contained a requirement that Scottish Borders Council (SBC) only employed contractors who were fully accredited SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) members.  It removed the additional requirement to be a member of ConstructionLine but retained the requirement to provide SSIP Assessment Certification, Public Liability Insurance etc, which would now be recorded and managed on the SHE ASSURE (Lexi) platform.  The revised policy also introduced the “Alternative works” category which was for Construction, Repair or Maintenance works not involving SBC owned or occupied buildings or sites or any fixed plant, equipment, fixtures or fittings therein.  This required contractors involved in these works to provide suitable information to allow the Health and Safety Team to assess their suitability.  These works had not previously been suitably covered by the policy.  The Service Director Regulatory Services highlighted that the reliance on a third party to undertake background checks created a potential risk to the Council, if the third party failed to ensure suitable background checks had been carried out and using SHE ASSURE would allow this to be managed in-house and remove this risk.  Mr Frater and Mr Ford responded to members questions and confirmed that the use of sub-contractors was covered by SSIP.  If any issues were raised in this regard they would be investigated.

DECISION

AGREED to approve:-

(a)       the updated requirement for approval using SHE ASSURE instead of ConstructionLine as part of the Control of Contractors Policy (Construction, Maintenance & Repair); and

(b)       the new mechanism for approval of Contractors involved in “Alternative Works”