Agenda item

Mark Norris, LGA Principal Policy Adviser, gave members an update on the work around fire safety in high rise buildings. He noted that the LGA had a place on two of the six working groups established by Dame Judith Hackitt and that the leads from each of these groups were due to report on their draft recommendations. Mark explained that part of this work included looking at who the regulator might be going forward and whether it would replicate the Health and Safety Executive by there being a national lead with local partners responsible for delivery.

MHCLG officials said there were around 1,000 buildings which had not had their cladding identified and that additional funding was being provided to councils to conclude this work. A discussion was being had about how best to use that money but it was broadly decided that the money should support authorities with the longest list of buildings. Mark gave a brief update on the impact identification and cladding replacement work would have on leaseholders and advised members of the results of two tribunal cases in which the judge ruled that costs could be passed onto leaseholders. The LGA’s position was that some leaseholders would struggle to pick up the costs of remedial work and that financial support needed to be offered to those individuals. Mark also noted that the replacement of fire doors might become an issue over the next few months.

Decision

Members noted the update.