Action:

1. 1. Apologies & Welcome:Jacqui O’Neill (ATL); Nick Green (Hazards); Bob Johnson (NASUWT);Susan Murray(Unite); Denise Bertachi (Unison); Anna Cole (ASCL)Welcome to Alex (NAHT)

1. 2. Notes/Actions from the last meeting + redacted notes:Both sets of minutes approved

1. 3. Matters arising from notes NOT covered elsewhere on this agenda:

NAHT circulated its advice team with the DfE online asbestos management guidance.

NUT have featured the guidance on the front page of its Asbestos Briefing document.

JMcC reported on Mesothelioma UK event

ML reported that the British Lung Foundation is attending the AiS meeting on Monday 10 December.

1. 4. Chair’s Actions:JW gave overview of completed actions.

1. 5. JUAC Website:Reminder to forward any items to JW for inclusion on the JUAC website.

ML has written an article for Voice – to be added to JUAC web site and other unions to consider running in their magazines

All

1. 6. DfE Steering Group Update:JW distributed minutes for discussion:Reminder to be sent to DfE S/G regarding ‘producing current evidence’ to support the statement “safer to manage than remove” and to seek a date for next meeting.

1. 7. JUAC & AiS Campaign:7.10 This item was taken first, but for continuity will be shown in order on the notes.7.1 CoC:JW & ML attended last CoC meeting and expressed their concerns about statement/paper and minutes before the meeting.DfE have said once they receive CoC final published statement they will carry out a review of Asbestos in Schools Policy; concern at delay – its is 2 years since CoC were asked to consider this. AIS and JUAC have requested via Annette Brook that the Education Select Committee carry out an urgent Enquiry.

JUAC and AiS will respond to call for evidence from Education Select Committee on role of school governors.
7.2 Warning about heaters:

JW & ML emailed Jocelyn Shaw giving an informal warning that an email was going out concerning free asbestos fibres within certain heater cabinets from Annette Brook to Chair DfE SG.
7.3 Environmental Levels:

This item ties in with item 7.11 (Cwmcarn School, national implications)

Consultants found AIB debris and amosite fibres in Cwmcarn School and although below clearance level, the school was closed.

ML gave overview regarding the difference between fibre level testing and environmental testing (see ML paper on Case for and environmental level for the occupants of schools).

AGREED: essential for call to have ‘environmental levels’ in schools and other buildings. ML to submit a paper to the DfE with support of JUAC.

7.4 Meeting with David Laws:

Meeting has been set for 18 December 2012

ML and AB to attend.

7.5 Meeting with Stephen Twigg:

Meeting has been set.

AGREED: ML and JW with another to attend.
AGREED: item 7.4 & 7.5 that both David Laws and Stephen Twigg be sent draft briefing paper before forthcoming meetings

7.6 HSE pro-active Inspections

HSE will no longer carry out pro-active inspections.

However, David Bryant did report to ML that funding has been found for 150 inspections to take place during 2013/14 and resources given for schools outside of Local Authority control.

AGREED: pressure needs to be put on HSE for all schools to be inspected;
JMcC – felt pressure to make this a Parliamentary question was important.

ML to write to Minister for England asking for this question to go before Parliament.
CCK had already written to the Wales Minister on this issue and was waiting for response

7.7 Review of Government Policies:

A DfE Review is very important as the existing Policy on Asbestos In Schools is failing as evidenced by Cwncarn. There is a need for a full Review to be carried out.
7.8 Insurance

JUAC and AiS asked PQ and asked DfE SG to confirm the position of Non Local Authority Schools and public liability insurance for asbestos claims. No response yet. A letter received recently from Zurich confirms cover is not available; it’s not known if pupils at Cwncarn are insured. Right to Know have asked the question formally of the Minister and await his answer.

Action : Chase DfE for response and date of next meeting.

7.9 Select Committee Enquiry:

see 7.7 above

7.10 Questions to parents:

ML drafted questions for parents and Jane Lawson organised a small study into the questions and reported back her findings (paper provided).

JL gave overview of the paper to group and the following recommendations were AGREED:

ML full questions to go on AIS website

Take the PowerPoint presentation (that ML produced) out to a wider group to widen knowledge

The exercise to be repeated – needs to reach grass roots

Downloadable post card link to be sent out which can have bullet points on main issues on one side and on the other basic asbestos question that anyone can ask their school

CALL FOR ACTION CAMPAIGN – by JUAC with head teaching unions leading a proactive approach. DBe/ML to write and statement on Asbestos good practice to take to his Exec and for future inclusion on JUAC website.

7.11 Cwmcarn school, National Implications:

Meeting taking place in Wales – Cenric Clements-Evans (Chair) on 7 Jan 2013.

AGREED: for JUAC to offer full support and for JMcC to attend.

All GS from each JUAC union to be asked to write to BBC and request if the Welsh BBC programme that was aired regarding Asbestos be shown nationally, ML to email link to JDW to progress this.

ML/JDW/DBes

ML

JW

ML

ML/JW

ML

JW

JW

DBe/ML

JMcC

ML

1. 8. AOB:8.1NV presented ML with the Robert Treswell award in recognition from the H&S industry for the dedication and contribution that ML has made towards increasing awareness of asbestos within this sector.

JMcC – update on Brussel’s call to abolish all asbestos products

8.2 DBr reported that he believes there are asbestos training courses available from Rosper which covers teaching, safety and education plus an on-line phone service dedicated to this. DBr to follow up on this and report back in more detail at next meeting. DBr has printed some JUAC postcards and will circulate.

DBr

1. 9. Observers:AGREED: for HR to become a member of JUAC with immediate effect.AGREED: to extend on an open invitation Right to Know – Cenric Clements-Evans.

AGREED: JMcC to speak to colleagues with a view to gaining contacts in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

JW

JMcC