Hi-vis jackets and safety boots for all Southend councillors?

2:00pm Friday 19th October 2012 in News

Stephen Aylen Stephen Aylen

FLUORESCENT jackets and steel-capped boots should be issued to all councillors the moment they are elected.

That’s the view of Stephen Aylen, an Independent councillor for Belfairs ward in Southend.

Mr Aylen spoke out after several councillors visited the site of the new Belfairs Woodland Centre, in Belfairs Park, where building work is getting under way on the £1.5million visitor centre.

The former Tory councillor, who defected before May’s elections, claimed the turf-cutting ceremony was a “complete farce” because, while councillors had been issued with hi-vis jackets, no safety shoes were handed out.

He said: “Some even wearing open-toe sandals.

“Southend Council has a responsibility to all its employees, including councillors.

“Can an explanation be provided as to why when a councillor is elected they are not issued with safety shoes and high vis jacket?

“This is a requirement for any councillor who visits a site, if it’s a planning issue or a highway site visit.”

Mr Aylen has proved an outspoken character in the Civic Centre since he was first elected in May 1997.

He hit the headlines last December, when he said he did not care if “smokers got cancer and died” while calling for council homes to be set aside for non-smokers.

He estimated the cost of providing hi-vis jackets and steel-capped boots would be £9.50 per councillor.

But Andrew Moring, the Tory councillor responsible for support services, said there was no need for every councillor to be given their own safety equipment.

He said: “The requirement for councillors to have access to personal protective equipment will vary according to the nature of their role within the council, and is likely to change during their period of office.

“In the case of the Belfairs Woodland Centre, in line with all other construction contracts, the responsibility for the health and safety of the site rests with the contractor.

“I am confident that our current practice in this area complies with legislation and ensures that we fulfil our responsibility for the health and safety of all our employees, members and service users.”

Comments (17)

2:09pm Fri 19 Oct 12

Eric Whim says...

flak jacketd would be more appropriate - they need 'em!
flak jacketd would be more appropriate - they need 'em! Eric Whim

2:47pm Fri 19 Oct 12

billericay boy says...

I'm sure when they go for a site induction they are told they have to wear ppe by the contractor.
I'm sure when they go for a site induction they are told they have to wear ppe by the contractor. billericay boy

3:02pm Fri 19 Oct 12

Joe Wildman says...

QUOTE Mr Aylen "He estimated the cost of providing hi-vis jackets and steel-capped boots would be £9.50 per councillor"

Yeah right, A Hi Vis can be picked up cheap but steel toe boots your looking at least £30 for a basic pair, what about those councillors that have no need to visit a building site, why would they need them?

Why not say Buy it Yourself limit the budget per councillor to £50, they them take the recipt to the council to prove they have bought the item that way the coucnil are not paying out for boots and HiVis's that will not be used.
QUOTE Mr Aylen "He estimated the cost of providing hi-vis jackets and steel-capped boots would be £9.50 per councillor" Yeah right, A Hi Vis can be picked up cheap but steel toe boots your looking at least £30 for a basic pair, what about those councillors that have no need to visit a building site, why would they need them? Why not say Buy it Yourself limit the budget per councillor to £50, they them take the recipt to the council to prove they have bought the item that way the coucnil are not paying out for boots and HiVis's that will not be used. Joe Wildman

3:21pm Fri 19 Oct 12

J Arthur Rank says...

This is surely a trivial matter in the extreme. Surely Mr Aylen has more pressing things to concern himself with. However, since he has raised the issue I have a couple of comments to make in response.

He said: “Some even wearing open-toe sandals."

I assume these were of the Liberal persuasion.

He also said “Southend Council has a responsibility to all its employees, including councillors."

Councillors are not employees of the council, they are officers of the council. A local authority cannot appoint as an employee in any capacity, any councillor who is currently a member of that authority or who had been a member in the previous 12 months (s.116 LGA 1972).
This is surely a trivial matter in the extreme. Surely Mr Aylen has more pressing things to concern himself with. However, since he has raised the issue I have a couple of comments to make in response. He said: “Some even wearing open-toe sandals." I assume these were of the Liberal persuasion. He also said “Southend Council has a responsibility to all its employees, including councillors." Councillors are not employees of the council, they are officers of the council. A local authority cannot appoint as an employee in any capacity, any councillor who is currently a member of that authority or who had been a member in the previous 12 months (s.116 LGA 1972). J Arthur Rank

3:29pm Fri 19 Oct 12

marshman says...

Joe Wildman wrote:
QUOTE Mr Aylen "He estimated the cost of providing hi-vis jackets and steel-capped boots would be £9.50 per councillor" Yeah right, A Hi Vis can be picked up cheap but steel toe boots your looking at least £30 for a basic pair, what about those councillors that have no need to visit a building site, why would they need them? Why not say Buy it Yourself limit the budget per councillor to £50, they them take the recipt to the council to prove they have bought the item that way the coucnil are not paying out for boots and HiVis's that will not be used.
Dunno where you get your boots but a tenner's an average price for toe-tecs or rigger boots. Buying through their corporate account the council would be sure to get a good discount so £9.50 per person is probably an over estimate.

But the real issue is what sort of complete numpty wears open toe sandals on a site visit? They should have been sent home immediately and told not to come back until they were dressed appropriately. My bet is they squeezed the site visit in between lunch and a few g & t's and only showed their face so they could claim the attendance allowance and travelling expenses.
[quote][p][bold]Joe Wildman[/bold] wrote: QUOTE Mr Aylen "He estimated the cost of providing hi-vis jackets and steel-capped boots would be £9.50 per councillor" Yeah right, A Hi Vis can be picked up cheap but steel toe boots your looking at least £30 for a basic pair, what about those councillors that have no need to visit a building site, why would they need them? Why not say Buy it Yourself limit the budget per councillor to £50, they them take the recipt to the council to prove they have bought the item that way the coucnil are not paying out for boots and HiVis's that will not be used.[/p][/quote]Dunno where you get your boots but a tenner's an average price for toe-tecs or rigger boots. Buying through their corporate account the council would be sure to get a good discount so £9.50 per person is probably an over estimate. But the real issue is what sort of complete numpty wears open toe sandals on a site visit? They should have been sent home immediately and told not to come back until they were dressed appropriately. My bet is they squeezed the site visit in between lunch and a few g & t's and only showed their face so they could claim the attendance allowance and travelling expenses. marshman

3:34pm Fri 19 Oct 12

shoeburylad says...

Surely this can not be the most pressing matter that the council has to deal with.

It does make you think if the residents of Belfairs elected him to represent them on such trivial and non important issues.
Surely this can not be the most pressing matter that the council has to deal with. It does make you think if the residents of Belfairs elected him to represent them on such trivial and non important issues. shoeburylad

3:37pm Fri 19 Oct 12

Rochford Rob says...

They need all this gear to watch a bit of turf being cut? How about they don't visit in the first place thereby saving time, and very probably via their expenses, tax payers money??

If someone is in need of protection whilst they watch SOMEONE ELSE work I suggest we have the wrong type of person pulling the levers of power in Local Govt.

But there again, I knew that anyway.
They need all this gear to watch a bit of turf being cut? How about they don't visit in the first place thereby saving time, and very probably via their expenses, tax payers money?? If someone is in need of protection whilst they watch SOMEONE ELSE work I suggest we have the wrong type of person pulling the levers of power in Local Govt. But there again, I knew that anyway. Rochford Rob

4:24pm Fri 19 Oct 12

Displeased of Shoebury says...

Mr Aylen you get £8000 per year for being on the council plus expenses.
Do like the rest of us BUY YOUR OWN like the rest of us.
Free meals now free clothing what next TOILET ROLLS?

About time you and the rest on the council got in the real world.
Mr Aylen you get £8000 per year for being on the council plus expenses. Do like the rest of us BUY YOUR OWN like the rest of us. Free meals now free clothing what next TOILET ROLLS? About time you and the rest on the council got in the real world. Displeased of Shoebury

4:47pm Fri 19 Oct 12

siddymint says...

I asked my coucnillor how much they got and yes all coucnillors get an amount then there deductions etc. etc
most unless you are a cabinet holder don't get expenses .
displeased should check his facts
Most hard working coucncillors it actaully costs them out of thier own pockets but there are the ones who do nothing and get the perks.
many have bought thier own safty gesr from thier own pockets and are laughed at when they wear it.
I asked my coucnillor how much they got and yes all coucnillors get an amount then there deductions etc. etc most unless you are a cabinet holder don't get expenses . displeased should check his facts Most hard working coucncillors it actaully costs them out of thier own pockets but there are the ones who do nothing and get the perks. many have bought thier own safty gesr from thier own pockets and are laughed at when they wear it. siddymint

5:25pm Fri 19 Oct 12

Linda Golding says...

siddymint wrote:
I asked my coucnillor how much they got and yes all coucnillors get an amount then there deductions etc. etc
most unless you are a cabinet holder don't get expenses .
displeased should check his facts
Most hard working coucncillors it actaully costs them out of thier own pockets but there are the ones who do nothing and get the perks.
many have bought thier own safty gesr from thier own pockets and are laughed at when they wear it.
As a councillor (not Southend) I get a small allowance on which I pay tax and insurance - we get no expenses. I do site visits regularly and go suitably dressed and do wear boots (my own)!! I find the suggestion by an elected councillor that we should be provided with boots/hi-vis jackets a joke - he needs to take a reality check. A complete waste of taxpayers money.Although I have a laptop 'on loan' we provide our own printers, phones (including mobiles), all stationery, petrol etc., etc., etc.
[quote][p][bold]siddymint[/bold] wrote: I asked my coucnillor how much they got and yes all coucnillors get an amount then there deductions etc. etc most unless you are a cabinet holder don't get expenses . displeased should check his facts Most hard working coucncillors it actaully costs them out of thier own pockets but there are the ones who do nothing and get the perks. many have bought thier own safty gesr from thier own pockets and are laughed at when they wear it.[/p][/quote]As a councillor (not Southend) I get a small allowance on which I pay tax and insurance - we get no expenses. I do site visits regularly and go suitably dressed and do wear boots (my own)!! I find the suggestion by an elected councillor that we should be provided with boots/hi-vis jackets a joke - he needs to take a reality check. A complete waste of taxpayers money.Although I have a laptop 'on loan' we provide our own printers, phones (including mobiles), all stationery, petrol etc., etc., etc. Linda Golding

6:04pm Fri 19 Oct 12

bob7 says...

If the event was held on a proper designated work site then health and safety rules should have been set out at the entrance. It would list the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment needed. If this wasn't displayed or the site boss chose to let the councillors in without PPE, it was a breach of rules and someone should be pulled up over it. I'd be sent off site if I tried to work without my safety boots, without pay!
If the event was held on a proper designated work site then health and safety rules should have been set out at the entrance. It would list the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment needed. If this wasn't displayed or the site boss chose to let the councillors in without PPE, it was a breach of rules and someone should be pulled up over it. I'd be sent off site if I tried to work without my safety boots, without pay! bob7

6:06pm Fri 19 Oct 12

Joe Wildman says...

marshman wrote:
Joe Wildman wrote: QUOTE Mr Aylen "He estimated the cost of providing hi-vis jackets and steel-capped boots would be £9.50 per councillor" Yeah right, A Hi Vis can be picked up cheap but steel toe boots your looking at least £30 for a basic pair, what about those councillors that have no need to visit a building site, why would they need them? Why not say Buy it Yourself limit the budget per councillor to £50, they them take the recipt to the council to prove they have bought the item that way the coucnil are not paying out for boots and HiVis's that will not be used.
Dunno where you get your boots but a tenner's an average price for toe-tecs or rigger boots. Buying through their corporate account the council would be sure to get a good discount so £9.50 per person is probably an over estimate. But the real issue is what sort of complete numpty wears open toe sandals on a site visit? They should have been sent home immediately and told not to come back until they were dressed appropriately. My bet is they squeezed the site visit in between lunch and a few g & t's and only showed their face so they could claim the attendance allowance and travelling expenses.
Where from?

The last pair I bought were £35 Steel toe, Steel heel, water resistant, oil resistant, non slip sole, and flame resistant they do exactly what it said on the box... Well don't know about the flame resistant part not attempted that!

They came with slip on snow/ice spikes.
[quote][p][bold]marshman[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Joe Wildman[/bold] wrote: QUOTE Mr Aylen "He estimated the cost of providing hi-vis jackets and steel-capped boots would be £9.50 per councillor" Yeah right, A Hi Vis can be picked up cheap but steel toe boots your looking at least £30 for a basic pair, what about those councillors that have no need to visit a building site, why would they need them? Why not say Buy it Yourself limit the budget per councillor to £50, they them take the recipt to the council to prove they have bought the item that way the coucnil are not paying out for boots and HiVis's that will not be used.[/p][/quote]Dunno where you get your boots but a tenner's an average price for toe-tecs or rigger boots. Buying through their corporate account the council would be sure to get a good discount so £9.50 per person is probably an over estimate. But the real issue is what sort of complete numpty wears open toe sandals on a site visit? They should have been sent home immediately and told not to come back until they were dressed appropriately. My bet is they squeezed the site visit in between lunch and a few g & t's and only showed their face so they could claim the attendance allowance and travelling expenses.[/p][/quote]Where from? The last pair I bought were £35 Steel toe, Steel heel, water resistant, oil resistant, non slip sole, and flame resistant they do exactly what it said on the box... Well don't know about the flame resistant part not attempted that! They came with slip on snow/ice spikes. Joe Wildman

6:57pm Fri 19 Oct 12

Nebs says...

I agree that all councillors should be given the boot.
I agree that all councillors should be given the boot. Nebs

8:58am Sat 20 Oct 12

EssexBoy1956 says...

Mr Aylen should be a bit more consistent. On the one hand he's happy for smokers to get cancer and die, but on the other he's worried about councillors turning up on site in sandals, and what? Having their toes chopped off? Big deal.
I'm sure it's the council's responsibility to point out H & S issues, but at the end of the day, if councillors wish to behave like numpties, let them.
Mr Aylen should be a bit more consistent. On the one hand he's happy for smokers to get cancer and die, but on the other he's worried about councillors turning up on site in sandals, and what? Having their toes chopped off? Big deal. I'm sure it's the council's responsibility to point out H & S issues, but at the end of the day, if councillors wish to behave like numpties, let them. EssexBoy1956

12:17pm Sat 20 Oct 12

lucy10 says...

he is one of best working councillors
in belfairs
he is one of best working councillors in belfairs lucy10

4:06pm Sat 20 Oct 12

Lastlaugh.. says...

Chipped with lie detectors might also be a good idea!
Chipped with lie detectors might also be a good idea! Lastlaugh..

4:42pm Sat 20 Oct 12

Eric Whim says...

if he's like the Councillors in Basildon he'll be more worried that he might burn his hands on a hot pie
if he's like the Councillors in Basildon he'll be more worried that he might burn his hands on a hot pie Eric Whim

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