The council has maintained a solid record on health and safety and will continue to work to improve standards in the coming year.

There was a 15 per cent drop in the number of reported accidents during the previous year – beating the council’s target of a ten per cent reduction year-on-year.

Overall, the council’s average audit score was 75 per cent in 2017-18 – a slight drop on the 80 per cent score in the previous year but still classed as good performance.

A score of 90 per cent and above is classed as excellent performance, which the council is aiming to achieve.

The council’s annual health and safety report was discussed at a meeting of the constitution and general purposes committee last night (Tuesday, July 24).

Cllr Geof Cooke, Labour member for Woodhouse, raised concerns about the low numbers of people completing health and safety courses.

Figures showed only 40 per cent of the relevant staff members had completed risk assessment courses, while 51 per cent had completed health and safety for managers.

Chief executive John Hooton said: “These are way too low. I am asking directors across the organisation to make sure this gets sorted.”

Among the achievements for 2017-18 were a comprehensive review of the council’s fire safety arrangements following the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

The council also introduced a system that requires contractors to flag up any health and safety incidents.

During the next year, the council is aiming to improve health and safety and wellbeing performance, cut work-related injuries and ill health and boost the productivity of the workforce.