MINUTES OF THE SOUTHERN ENGLAND RADIATION MONITORING GROUP MEETING HELD ON THE 5th FEBRUARY 2004

Present

Nananka Ford, Bournemouth Council
Paul Williams, North Cornwall Council
John Leach, Exeter City Council
Ian Croudace, Southampton University
Alan Higgins, Portsmouth City Council

1. Apologies

None

2. Minutes of the meeting held on the 9 October 2003

The minutes were noted.

3. Matters Arising not on the agenda
1. Items for Environmental Health News
Ian had been unable to progress this issue but would look to draft something in the near future and pass it to Alan for comment. ACTION: IC


4. State of new contracts

Ian circulated information on the state of the new contracts and noted that to date only 29 authorities had signed up in total. This was quite worrying because the viability of the scheme depended upon sufficient Local Authorities being involved and with the current numbers viability was marginal. Ian also circulated a further document for discussion looking at the possible restructuring of the scheme which he proposed be discussed with the East & West Sussex, Kent & Surrey Chief EHO Groups to ascertain the level of interest as far as new members were concerned.

The proposals focused on the need for support in an emergency planning situation and reduced the resource required from Local Authorities for routine sampling. It was to be hoped that if it was possible to progress this process that it would benefit existing members as well. It was important that existing members were kept onboard in the process. There was some discussion as to whether or not we should approach those members that had dropped out in relation to the new proposals but it was felt that this was possibly something that would need to take place at the next phase of the process.

5. Sampling Programme

Ian had nothing to report on this, it was progressing with very few problems.

6. RIMNET 3

The note from Keith Binfield setting out the programme for implementing Rimnet 3 and the new supplementary data entry software was noted. This is not likely to go ahead before the 31st March. Keith had not responded on the issue of funding any accreditation process but Ian noted that the University was going ahead with UKAS Accreditation in any event.

7. Seminar

It was agreed that we should not proceed with a Seminar at this stage but we should look to consider one for the autumn, particularly if we were able to restructure the scheme.

8. Date of the next meeting

This will be held on the 7th September 2004 at Reading Borough Council.