Action:

1. 1. Apologies & Welcomes:Apologies: Hank Roberts (ATL)

Cenric Clement-Evans (Right to Know: Wales)

Val Andrews (ASCL)

John McClean (GMB)

Susan Murray (UNITE)

1. 2. Notes/Actions from 15 October 2013 (plus redacted notes):All notes/actions approved.

1. 3. Matters arising from notes NOT covered elsewhere on this agenda and Chairs Actions from 15 October 2013:Social Networking Sub Committee: Denise is leading this work with support from Cenric and Richard from Voice but we need to consider how other members can support this work. It was agreed that for both this work and anything posted on the website, there needs to be agreed protocols.

JUAC response on mesothelioma consultation has been sent. There have been some important developments as the courts won’t impose fixed costs or insist on a fast track approach that could be prejudicial to claimants, although more is still to be fought for in relation to the payment of success fees and insurance premiums. Debate is ongoing.

The environmental levels paper is still to be updated by Michael as more information on new laser air sampling will be discussed in a meeting with manufacturer Alert to be set up week commencing the 14^th of January. Nick, Julie and Wayne expressed interest in attending the demonstration.

Action: ML to liaise with others to set up this meeting, and redraft the paper after this

Cwmcarn: all letters sent and circulated to the group

DfE review: VM and ML drafted a letter outlining the areas that we would want the review to focus on and this has gone to the DfE

Gas masks: The DfE have now taken advice and issued a warning about masks to all schools and LEAs, whilst the HSE are carrying out tests to see if they should be withdrawn from sale or how to enforce compliance with the existing regulations. Julie suggested that all unions should consider re issuing guidance to members on gas masks and warm air cabinets after a year.

ML

1. 4. JUAC Website:Julie reported that the work by Pattinson and Brewer has now been completed.

Action: The links and content will now be reviewed.

1. 5. JUAC Safety Representative Survey

Sarah presented the interim report on the survey.

Action: Sarah will finalise the report after the deadline and then work with Valentine to pull the results together into one report with those of the leadership unions by the end of January.

SL/VM

1. 6. HSE Formal complaint on Cwmcarn

The Scientific Adviser has replied to our letter to say that he cannot go into individual cases but he has asked the HSE to feed back the application of the points of principle by the 6^th of January.

1. 7. DfE Policy Review

Julie updated the group that the DfE intend for the review to include the HSE’s report on sampling of asbestos management in non-local authority schools, which will not be available until the end of March so that it is unlikely that the review will report until the end of June. She expects the Call for Evidence by the end of January and that there will probably only be eight weeks to submit evidence by the end of March.

The Group reviewed the current proposal for the evidence that we will submit.

Action: Julie to update the evidence list and Valentine to circulate a case study template

JW/VM

1. 8. Property Data Survey Plan

The Minister has made a written statement confirming that further surveys will take place over next 8 months so there is an opportunity to make the case again for including asbestos.

Action: Julie and Annette for AiS to draft a letter to the Minister on this, and will also write to the Chair of the DfE steering group.

1. 9. Asbestos removal in occupied schools

As discussed in the last meeting, Julie has asked the DfE for the online guidance to be amended to advise that asbestos should not be removed in occupied schools. Michael advised that there have been three recent cases where asbestos removal was being undertaken during term time. He will highlight this in the next steering group meeting to highlight why we believe that the guidance should be updated. Action: Julie to write to DfE and ask for this to be on the next agenda.

JW

JW

This body are prepared to support schools by providing free training on asbestos management in schools. It was agreed that we would support such development.

13. Channel Islands

As these are separate legislatures with their own approach to asbestos in schools, Wayne suggested that we should raise issues with these legislatures when we raise issues with the DfE. It was agreed to do this and to include Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Action: Julie to write an initial letter with our positions to each of these governments

14. Asbestos insurance cover in academies and free schools

The Committee thanked Michael for his very good and clear paper which raises some real concerns about the exposure of academy governors

Action: Valentine will take this paper to the DfE’s Advisory Group on Governance which includes FASNA and NGA and alert them to the issues, whilst Julie will raise it with the Chair of the DfE steering group for discussion at the next meeting

15. Any other business

Julie suggested that as we were coming up to union conferences in the Spring, unions should consider whether JUAC could have a stand at their conference. All teaching unions agreed to look into the possibility of this and liaise with Julie.

Actions: Teaching unions to consider whether there could be a JUAC stand at their conference and will liaise with Julie

Action: Julie and Michael are meeting Jim Sheridan, Labour MP with responsibility for health and safety and on the Health and Safety APPG and are raising all our lobbying points with him and asking him to communicate with Tristam Hunt. Julie to write to Tristram Hunt Shadow Minister for Education and ask for meeting.

Action: Julie to write to European Federation of Building and Woodworkers and offer support for Asbestos Information Sheet and joint badging with JUAC.