Agenda item

Councillor Cathy Martyn, the Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Safety, and the Corporate Director of Communities and Housing, submitted a joint report advising Cabinet on the existing fire safety measures that are in place to the Council’s residential blocks of flats, which ensure that they are safe to live in. It also set out the proposed activities to improve fire safety following the Grenfell Tower fire, in response to the resolution at Council of 13th July 2017 (Council Minute 19, 2017/18 refers). The report also sought Cabinet’s approval for the proposed fire safety improvements to comply with current benchmark standards and further enhance fire safety, which will also help to make sure that residents feel safe.

Councillor Martyn introduced the report, setting out the background, including the consultation that had taken place with the Adults' Health, Adults' Care and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the ongoing communications with tenants and leaseholders.

Following her introduction of the report, Councillor Martyn, supported by the Head of Property Maintenance and the Fire Service Area Manager, responded to questions put by Councillors Emma Bushell, Oliver Donachie and Bob Wright on the following issues:

·        the funding of the proposed fire safety improvement works, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report, and the lobbying of Central Government for additional resource for this unforeseen budget pressure;

·        the materials used in panelling at the David Murray John Tower;

·        the “stay put policy” and the consistency of advice given to residents on how to respond in the event of an alarm;

·        the need to keep communal areas clear in 3 and 4 storey residential blocks; and

·        the proposed use of a rescue chair to evacuate residents at Rueben George Hall.

Resolved – (1) That the fire safety improvement works and the requisite budget of £1,066,380, as set out in the summary of fire safety costs shown in Appendix 1 to the report, be authorised.

(2) That a revenue budget of £50k be allocated to appoint a consultant for a sample of intrusive type 4 fire risk assessment surveys to be carried out, which will provide a comprehensive fire safety report for the different types of flats.

(3) That resources be increased and a revenue budget of £40k be allocated for a temporary post to manage fire safety activities for a 12 month period, as a one-off cost.

(4) That future fire risk assessments be carried out to a type 3 level to ensure that the communal areas (common parts) and a sample of flats are included within the fire risk assessment for each block of flats, which is to be an ongoing cost of £20k per annum.

(5) That the Head of Housing Services be authorised to prioritise future fire safety work arising from more in-depth fire risk assessments, as part of the annual budget setting process for future capital programmes of work.

(6) That the Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Safety report these decisions to Council in response to the resolution of 13^th July 2017.

The reasons for the decision and alternative options are as set out in the report to the meeting.