Agenda

Meeting on 29 November 2002 at 11.00 a.m. in Hope Room, Rose Court, 2 Southwark Bridge, London SE1 9HS

Coffee - from 10.30am

Item

1. Minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2002

The minutes were agreed to be a true record.

2. Matters arising

LAFORUM 02/02

National Joint Agreement (NJA)
The joint secretaries have been busy with other work and that this issue has not been progressed.  Continue to place pressure to forward this work.

Draft Councillors Guidance
Revised draft to be circulated with the minutes.

Contract Research Report
Extrapolate data for the LA respondents.

Invest to Save Scheme
HSE to revisit paper prepared by Employers Organisation and Unison with a view to preparing a proposal to fund a scoping study to consider an audit tool for benchmarking.

Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPI)
BVPI to be explored through the practitioners' panel.

LAs Annual Award for Innovation
To be pursued in 2003.

Safety Representatives Charter
LA Forum to consider how best to roll out the document within the LA Sector.

Woodworking Machines guidance in Wales
Document to be circulated with the minutes.

Good Practice Guide
Draft guidance to be circulated to Forum in early 2003 for comments.

Best Value Guidance
The earliest date expected for the guidance is mid December 2002.

Safety Practitioners' Group
The group is developing guidance on Legionella and hand arm vibration. 
Agreed to circulate the groups terms of reference to the Forum.

3. Secretary's Report

LAFORUM 03/02

Feedback provided on the Officials Meetings.  Actions to be pursued with the Scottish Executive, COSLA and the National Assembly for Wales.

Business case for Scotland and Wales to be taken forward.

Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA)
The final version of the CPA document contained no reference to health and safety.
Agreed to request a meeting with the Audit Commission.

Refuse Collection
Manual Handling - The report of the comparative study was circulated to members for comments.
CCTA - Update provided on the current position which will be that CCTV will form part of the risk assessment along with mirrors and banksmen.
The two issues on refuse collection should be considered together.

4. RHS Falls Programme

LAFORUM 04/02

Background information to the RHS Falls Programme provided.  An LA volunteered to assist with the Falls Programme.  HSE to arrange a meeting with other priority programme managers.  LA employers organisations and unions to scope how other priority programmes work can be progressed.

5. Scotland's Revitalising Forum (SRF)

An overview of the work of the SRF including membership was provided.
Papers to be circulated with the minutes for members information.

6. The Business Case

Update provided on the business case including that 1% reduction in ill health costs equates to 20,000 staff.

7. Any other business

England Care Standards Memorandum of Understanding
Update provided on the position of the health and safety enforcement within the care sector and described the MoU, which has been drawn up in conjunction with the LGA and NCSC.  Now available on the HSE/NCSC/LGA websites.

Medium Pressure Ductile Iron-pipe work
Update provided on the current position on this issue.  HSE will be sending a letter to public sectors who might be affected to identify networks, which fall within this category.

Slips & trips seminars
To ask the Priority Programme Manager for slips & trips to provide support for future seminars/events due to be held in March/May 2003.