MID Devon District Council (MDDC) has been found guilty of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 with regard to the removal of an asbestos soffit by an unlicensed contractor at Brays Close in Crediton.

Asbestos insulation boards were removed from council homes at the address in mid 2012.

An investigation was carried out by the Health and Safety Executive and details have been published in a letter to the authority from HSE inspector Helena Allum.

She said the removal of the soffits in the form of asbestos insulation board (AIB) were mistaken by employees of a private company as asbestos cement and removed by them. The company was not a licensed asbestos removal contractor.

She said that the work may have resulted in a release of asbestos fibres.

The council's management survey for Brays Close did not identify the soffits as being asbestos or what type.

Work at the council's Sunnymead properties at Copplestone was also investigated.

MDDC was also criticised for not providing sufficient information in the contractor's contract.

She said action must be taken to rectify the failings identified.

She added that the potential harm created by the way the work was carried out could not be determined as it took place too long ago.

Councillor Ray Stanley, MDDC's Cabinet Member for Housing, said: "The HSE findings are a wake-up call but we have already taken steps to ensure all advice to our staff and external contractors is clearer and more specific in the future.

"The HSE in their letter note the actions we have already taken to address some of the matters identified and state that unless new information comes to light, they consider the investigation to be concluded."

Noting that MDDC had already taken action to address some of the matters identified, she said she considered the investigation "to be concluded" unless new information came to light.

MDDC will, however, have to pay the HSE's investigation costs.

A report into the matter has been submitted to the council's decent and affordable housing policy group and will be presented at the next meeting, to be held on November 25.

Future guidance into work with asbestos was highlighted to the council.