Revised Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy

This policy reaffirms Derry City and Strabane District Council’s commitment to effectively managing those risks in order to protect the Health, Safety and Wellbeing of its employees and others. It has been prepared to secure compliance with the law, which council recognises represents the minimum standards to be achieved, and to provide the foundation for achieving continuous improvements in Health and Safety performance. DCSDC will establish, document, implement, maintain and continually improve on OH&S management system in accordance with the requirements of the ISO 45001 standard.

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Policy on the use of tobacco and electronic cigarettes in the workplace

This policy seeks to protect and promote the health of those working at or visiting Council premises, by:

• securing compliance with the Smoking (Northern Ireland) Order 2006;

• ensuring a healthy work environment;

• addressing the issues of smoking in private vehicles;

• supporting those who wish to stop smoking; and

• creating a positive, health promoting image for Council.

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Fleet Safety Policy

The Fleet Safety Policy documents Council’s commitment to ensuring that all vehicles and fleet related activity will be managed and controlled in accordance with current and future legislation and in the interests of the safety and wellbeing of personnel and members of the general public

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Dog Control Enforcement Policy

This policy aims to:

1. To educate dog owners in the principles of sustainable and responsible dog ownership

2. To raise awareness of the legal responsibilities associated with dog ownership

3. To balance the interests of those in charge of dogs against the interests of those affected by the activities of dogs, bearing in mind the need for people, in particular children, to have access to dog-free areas where dogs are kept under strict control, and the need for those in charge of dogs to have access to areas where they can exercise their dogs without undue restriction.

4.To provide information and advice to dog owners to enable and support compliance with the law

5. To help prevent easily avoidable dog attacks and reduce the number of incidences where there is an apprehension of an attack.

6. To ensure that robust enforcement action is taken where appropriate.

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Play Pitches Strategy

The strategy has two main aims

• Audit the design, distribution, demand/supply information and condition of all sites hosting Council education and community/club owned outdoor ‘pitches’ and associated changing facilities in the District.  This condition audit is to include all natural turf and synthetic pitches for association football, gaelic games, rugby, hockey and cricket was added to the list given its prominence as a club sport in the District.

• Strategy – review the current provision data and previous strategy work and evaluate against:

• Current best practice guidance on the scale and distribution of pitch provision.
• Condition assessments.
• Changing needs/expectations of many outdoor sports.
• Demand/supply/poor condition closure information.
• Existing information for relevant non-Council facilities.
• An assessment of current changing provision.
• Local consultation responses
• To make recommendations for a prioritised pitch and associated changing provision investment strategy for the District and provide indicative cost estimates.

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Museum and Visitor Attraction Pricing Policy

Council Museum and Visitor Services Pricing Policy and Schedule aims to:

a) Ensure a consistent approach to pricing and charges across all museum and visitor attraction services within Derry City and Strabane District Council. 

b) Provide value for money fairly and equally to all and to assist with increasing public access to Council facilities.

c) Increase the number of people utilising the Museum and Visitor Services and so contribute to the cultural and social wellbeing of the population.

d) Ensure that prices are comparable with competitors in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area and on a regional basis.

e) Demonstrate equality and transparency throughout the pricing policy and the associated schedule of charges.

f) Ensure the policy will be practicable in that the processes involved will take full account of the need to show respect and recognise issues of dignity.

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Decision to use E-Tendering process

The aim of this policy is to use an electronic tendering platform, allowing the tender process to be completely electronic, from tender notification, clarifications, tender submission, evaluation and appointment. The benefits of this would be that:

1    The platform has a complete audit trail in place and provides fully traceability and transparency in the tendering process.

1. Suppliers have the ability to request and receive tenders 24hrs per day.
2. Supplier queries & clarifications are issued to all suppliers that have registered for the tender.
3. As the system is completely electronic, tender submissions can be made anytime and the supplier receives confirmation that the tender has been submitted.

5    There is no requirement for additional copies of tender documents to be submitted therefore this   will result in paper cost saving for suppliers.

4. In addition to this, the use of E-tendersNI will allow Council to benefit from a reduction in advertising costs

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Revised Safeguarding Policy (Children and Adults at Risk)

The purpose of this policy and procedures is to safeguard the personal safety of all children and adults at risk using Council’s facilities and services through actively promoting awareness, good practice and robust procedures

The objectives of the policy are:

• To promote zero-tolerance of harm to all children and adults at risk from abuse, exploitation or neglect.
• To put in place clearly defined procedures for referring, reporting and dealing with incidents relating to safeguarding
• To ensure effective selection, supervision and training of employees in relation to safeguarding issues.   
• To ensure that safeguarding responsibilities are fully understood and complied with.
• To ensure that all those working for, or representing the Council adhere to the appropriate Codes of Behaviour for Staff.
• To serve as a model of good practice to the wider community.

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Council’s Statement on Employer’s Discretions

Derry City & Strabane District Council is required to formulate, publish and keep under review a written policy statement on certain discretions in accordance with:

• Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations (NI) 2014

• Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment and Transitional Provisions) Regulations (NI) 2014

• Local Government Pension Scheme (Administration) Regulations (NI) 2009 - in respect of leavers between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2015 and

• Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations (NI) 2002 - in respect of leavers between 1 February 2003 and 31 March 2009.

 In formulating its Policy Statement, The Council has ensured that its discretionary powers:

• Are exercised reasonably

• Will not be used for ulterior motive

• Will be used with regard to all relevant factors.

• Will be duly recorded when used.

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Severance and Redundancy Policy

This policy outlines the payment arrangements for employees who leave the Council as a result of voluntary severance or voluntary or compulsory redundancy.

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