Wendy Martin from the LA side chaired the meeting at Brian Etheridge's request as he was unable to attend.
The Chair welcomed members to the 17th PELG meeting.
Apologies were received from Mr Roger Marris (LGA&Nth.East), Ms Alison Edwards (LACOTS), Phil Monger(PRA), Phil Ingham(Nth. West) and Brian Etheridge(LAU-HSE).
The minutes of the last meeting were accepted without discussion.
The Chair gave an update on progress from the last meeting.
LA side expressed their concern about the need for performance indicators (PIs) for petroleum licensing, in order to ensure its proper share of resource. This would be in line with the HELA strategy to provide PIs for health and safety. Wendy Martin suggested that a letter should be sent to HELA raising this concern.
Action: Wendy MartinIt was also agreed that work on data collection on the causes of incidents involving petrol should be passed to the Technical Sub-Committee to identify what information will be needed and for what purpose and to draw up a template for approval by the main committee.
Action: John BrazendaleThis had been completed. Moira Buchan agreed that LAU would further check this list against regional group member lists to ensure that they were fully up to date.
Action: LAUNigel Hammond presented a paper (attached). Rowena Dossett (LA secondee to LAU) gave a brief description of how the scheme was moving forward and a draft leaflet on LAPS was issued to members.
Nigel Hammond reported on a meeting with Mark Duvall (LACOTS) looking at how LAPS fits in with the Home Authority Principle. PELG members agreed that:
Brian Etheridge had written to Mr Denby. A copy of this letter would be circulated to PELG members with the minutes.
John Hazeldean had carried out a review of the PETEL and APEA guidance and was satisfied that they were consistent.
Action: LAUMembers were asked to pass on thanks to all PLAs for their prompt response to the request for information about disused storage tanks.
Members were keen to issue information about fuel storage to the public in advance of any further action following the sixty days deadline. This should ideally be based on the proposed HSE press release, to ensure consistency among PLAs.
Moira Buchan agreed to liaise with John Brazendale and send information to members as soon as the press release was cleared. This information would also be sent to all PLAs.
Action: LAUMoira Buchan reported on Roger Marris' behalf on the agreement which had been reached between Asda and the West Yorkshire FCDA. In anticipation of the problems the emergency services encounter around bonfire night (localised civil unrest/disturbances) with the malicious use of petrol and the possibility of hoarding petrol in the lead-up to the sixty day deadline, Asda have agreed that from 30 October to 6 November their unattended sites will either close or operate as attended self-service. This arrangement would extend beyond 6 November or be recontinued should there be indications that the threatened fuel protests would materialise. These temporary contingency arrangements would apply to all Asda's unattended sites throughout the UK as part of the Lead Authority Partnership Scheme
John Brazendale informed the meeting that a paper had been prepared for the Commission asking for a delay in implementing CAD. The paper would be presented at the next meeting of the Commission on 7 November. John Brazendale agreed to brief LAU on the outcome of the meeting to allow information to be passed on to PELG members and PLAs as soon as possible because of the resource implications for PLAs of any delay in implementation.
Action: John BrazendaleJohn Brazendale then updated the group on the proposals for modernising petrol legislation which would entail two stages:
These proposals would be discussed by the Petroleum Working Group and would be taken to the Commission in January and February 2001.
Members were concerned about the knock-on effect of the likely delay to the implementation of CAD. John Brazendale agreed to keep LAU informed so that further information could be passed on to PLAs when it became available. He also agreed to circulate papers for the Petroleum Working Group to PELG members through LAU.
Action: John BrazendaleMembers expressed their concern over the delay of the latest Fees Regulations, particularly in the case of explosives which had caused PLAs considerable difficulties because of the short lead-in to November 5th.
John Brazendale reported to the group on this item. Main points were:
Moira Buchan reported that she had attended meetings of two of the regional groups (SELCOG and NERPECG) and had received information from the other regional groups on their terms of reference and membership. PELG members were in agreement on the importance of these groups in achieving consistency of enforcement in petrol licensing. Wendy Martin suggested that a letter should be sent from LAU, LGA and COSLA to all local authorities reinforcing the status of the regional groups to ensure that petroleum licensing officers would not have difficulties in attending meetings.
Action: Wendy MartinThe website for PETELs on the HSE website seemed to be working well. Nigel Hammond reported to the meeting on the progress of the design of the LAU website and asked for contributions from PELG members by 10 November.
Action: PELG membersAn up-to-date list of ELOs had been sent to all PELG members. The group was of the opinion that the service provided to PLAs by ELOs was patchy and perhaps indicated a need for improved training for ELOs. Nigel Hammond would be attending the next ELO conference and would ensure that this matter was put on the agenda.
Action: Nigel HammondSteve Quick had asked for an update on how priority planning for petroleum licensing fitted into the general scheme. Nigel Hammond reported on research going on at present to revise priority planning for local authorities and said that he would ask researchers to look at systems already in place e.g. Trading Standards system which includes petroleum licensing and LFEPA which has its own system for petroleum licensing.
Action: Nigel HammondChris Hunt said that the UKPIA Contractor Safety Passport Scheme included training for forecourt attendants on carrying out a generic risk assessment which included petroleum risks. He agreed to send a copy of this to Nigel Hammond.
Action: Chris HuntThe meeting agreed that there should be some high level agreement on liaison between the Environment Agency and PLAs to co-ordinate inspections by the two authorities. John Brazendale agreed to raise this matter with DETR. Huw Morgan agreed to send details of a project between Welsh PLAs and the Environment Agency on this matter to John Brazendale.
Action: John BrazendaleSteve Quick had asked for this item to be placed on the agenda. PETEL 65/28 on the Bontddu incident contains information on this issue. Many local authorities have requested copies of the Gwynedd Emergency Plan referred to in this PETEL and have used this as a template to develop their own emergency plans.
John Hazeldean raised the matter of a petrol tanker dispensing directly to cars (at a specific event eg car rally), and the legal issue of whether an exemption is required. Phil Thomas asked for clarification on the legal question as an exemption is required for a tanker dispensing to aircraft.
Action: LAUThe next two meetings of PELG will take place on: