Issue - meetings

Fire Safety Update Report

Meeting: 25/02/2020 - Cabinet (Item 856)

856 Fire Safety Update Report pdf icon PDF 135 KB

Report of Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director (Growth and Housing)

Additional documents:

Decision:

The Cabinet considered a report of Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director (Growth & Housing) setting out the progress in delivering the Council’s Fire Safety Review (established following the Grenfell Tower fire on the 14th June 2017) and the Council’s response to the Government Consultation ‘Sprinklers and other Fire Safety Measures in New High-Rise Blocks of Flats’.

 

Resolved:

 

1. That the Council’s response to the Government Consultation ‘Sprinklers and other Fire Safety Measures in New High-Rise Blocks of Flats’, be noted and endorsed.

 

2. That the work undertaken by the Council and South Essex Homes in respect to Fire Safety including the installation of a pilot ‘annunciation system’ in Longbow residential tower block, and the installation of photo-luminescent signage within high rise residential blocks, be endorsed.

 

3. That a further update be provided to Cabinet to autumn 2020.

 

Recommended:-

 

4. That the installation of a full sprinkler system in one high rise residential block as a pilot with a view to informing the development of a full programme of sprinkler installations across the high rise residential estate, be endorsed and that £400,000 be added to the HRA capital investment programme (to be funded from the HRA reserves) to fund the work.

 

Reasons for Decision

 

1. The Council has undertaken a fundamental review of its fire safety policies and procedures, reviewed its property stock, and put in place appropriate resources (financial and other) to ensure that it maintains its buildings in a safe condition whilst upgrading them where this is appropriate and practicable.

 

2. The Council has also recognised its ‘community leadership’ role in respect to fire safety and engaged with partners and the private sector to ensure residents, employees and visitors across the Borough are housed in, work in or visit safe premises.

 

3. The Council has considered the recommendations of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety and determined that it should take immediate steps to assess and enhance its duty holder requirements and to enhance opportunities for members of the public to raise concerns.

 

Other Options

 

1. To maintain all operational properties in their current condition with fire improvement works and, where practicable, to bring them up to the requirements of the latest Building Regulations when they next undergo major alterations and/or extension.

 

2. To maintain the current arrangements whereby individual building managers are identified as responsible for the buildings within which they operate. 

 

3. To commit to the immediate adoption of all recommendations set out within the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety.

 

Note: The decisions in 1-3 above constitute Executive Functions. The decision in 4 above constitutes a Council Function.

Eligible for call in to Place Scrutiny Committee

Cabinet members: Cllrs Gilbert and Terry

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered a report of Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director (Growth & Housing) setting out the progress in delivering the Council’s Fire Safety Review (established following the Grenfell Tower fire on the 14th June 2017) and the Council’s response to the Government Consultation ‘Sprinklers and other Fire Safety Measures in New High-Rise Blocks of Flats’.

 

Resolved:

 

1. That the Council’s response to the Government Consultation ‘Sprinklers and other Fire Safety Measures in New High-Rise Blocks of Flats’, be noted and endorsed.

 

2. That the work undertaken by the Council and South Essex Homes in respect to Fire Safety including the installation of a pilot ‘annunciation system’ in Longbow residential tower block, and the installation of photo-luminescent signage within high rise residential blocks, be endorsed.

 

3. That a further update be provided to Cabinet to autumn 2020.

 

Recommended:-

 

4. That the installation of a full sprinkler system in one high rise residential block as a pilot with a view to informing the development of a full programme of sprinkler installations across the high rise residential estate, be endorsed and that £400,000 be added to the HRA capital investment programme (to be funded from the HRA reserves) to fund the work.

 

Reasons for Decision

 

1. The Council has undertaken a fundamental review of its fire safety policies and procedures, reviewed its property stock, and put in place appropriate resources (financial and other) to ensure that it maintains its buildings in a safe condition whilst upgrading them where this is appropriate and practicable.

 

2. The Council has also recognised its ‘community leadership’ role in respect to fire safety and engaged with partners and the private sector to ensure residents, employees and visitors across the Borough are housed in, work in or visit safe premises.

 

3. The Council has considered the recommendations of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety and determined that it should take immediate steps to assess and enhance its duty holder requirements and to enhance opportunities for members of the public to raise concerns.

 

Other Options

 

1. To maintain all operational properties in their current condition with fire improvement works and, where practicable, to bring them up to the requirements of the latest Building Regulations when they next undergo major alterations and/or extension.

 

2. To maintain the current arrangements whereby individual building managers are identified as responsible for the buildings within which they operate. 

 

3. To commit to the immediate adoption of all recommendations set out within the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety.

 

Note: The decisions in 1-3 above constitute Executive Functions. The decision in 4 above constitutes a Council Function.

Cabinet members: Cllrs Gilbert and Terry


 

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