Agenda item

The Chair firstly paid tribute to those affected by the fire in Barking, London over the weekend.  This took place in a high-rise residential block.  Residents has previously raised concerns over the possible safety of the tower.  The Chair then invited Mark Norris, Principal Policy Adviser to introduce the item. 

Mark’s update focused on four updates:

·         The Government has announced it will make the funding available to private high rise building owners for remedial work. Details are still being formalised with the Treasury, with hopes of the fund opening in July, with their being a limited timeframe for applying for funding. 

·         The Government has also commissioned tests of over 20 different types of cladding products, and this testing is still on-going.  

·         The MHCLG consultation is now live on how to implement the recommendations made by Dame Judith Hackitt in her Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety.  This closes at the end of July 2019.

·         Mark also gave a brief overview of the Barking fire; this took place mid-afternoon, with the highest temperatures of 1000 degrees reported.  The building in question fell just below what is considered to be a high rise (six stories and above). 

Following Mark’s update, members made the following comments:

Members praised officers for their work, but stated that this is not just a building safety/cladding issue.  A member reported a fire locally at the beginning of May.  Due to fire stations being shut down in her local area, there were significant issues as fire response was coming from ten miles away, in peak traffic.  Residents were also reliant on an on-call fire service, rather than full-time one. 

Members raised concerns that residents in the Barking fire who have raised these cladding safety issue, with nothing reported actioned, and questioned what can residents do? Mark responded that the consultation will look at giving residents greater say in building safety issues. 

Members focused on the number of buildings that are still incomplete in their remedial work. Members questioned if there was a central database to gain access to this information, including how far along the work has been done?  Mark stated that there is no central database, nor individual details as to each remedial work, however the LGA had been checking on progress with the work on council blocks.

Mark also stated that progress in remedial work was dependent on the complexity of the block and the system used, with some more simple to work on  and others less so.

Members pointed out that it has now been two years since the Grenfell Tower tragedy, and stated that it is vital the LGA reinforce concerns ahead of the Government consultation. Members requested a letter sent out now to Ministers highlighting the LGA’s concerns.  Mark stated that he will liaise with the Grenfell Task & Finish group regarding a letter, stating that councils should have a greater say and control.

The Chair stated that powers to improve building safety absolutely need to be with local authorities.  The Chair highlighted numerous failings in the system, and members agreed that if the building safety framework had been fit for purpose, the Grenfell disaster would never have occurred. 

Decision

1.    Members of the Safer and Stronger Communities Board will continue to note and monitor the LGA’s building safety related work, during the 2019/20 cycle.

The following actions were noted:

1.    Officers to update the Board on progress in remediation undertaken on high-rise residential buildings at its next meeting. 

2.    Officers to liaise with the Grenfell Task and Finish Group about sending further letters to ministers which highlight the LGA’s continued concerns and positions.