Agenda item

The Chair asked Mark Norris, LGA Principal Policy Adviser, and Charles Loft, LGA Senior Adviser, to introduce the Building Safety update report.

Mark updated members on work to establish a new building safety regulatory framework. He outlined the potential models for a new regulatory body, the approach the LGA had been pressing for and the potential role for fire and rescue services and councils under them. He said that a shadow regulator was due to be set up in the next couple of months but that legislation formally to establish it was unlikely to be passed until 2021.

Charles updated members on current progress with remediation work on residential blocks with dangerous cladding. He said that the Government had now provided details of the £200 million funding made available for replacement of dangerous Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding on privately owned high rise blocks. He added that the Government expected enforcement action to be taken against owners who didn’t apply for the funding and carry out works. He said that the MHCLG had asked councils to identify cladding and insulation material on all residential buildings of 18 metres or over in their areas and had provided £4 million to help support this work. He added that this would be a considerable task given the number of estimated high-rise residential buildings. Charles said the LGA retained serious concerns about the safety and testing of other cladding materials and had called on the Government to provide funding for removal of these. In addition, concern remained about the focus on the 18 metre threshold as two recent fires – at Barking and Worcester Park – involved buildings just below this level.

Charles went on to brief members on the establishment of the new Fire Protection Board, chaired by Roy Wilsher, whose initial priority would be to provide assurance around the interim fire safety measures put in place in buildings with dangerous ACM cladding. He said that the Board represented a good opportunity for the sector to put forward its concerns to the Home Office.

Charles concluded by stating that the Government’s priority must be to remove dangerous cladding from all residential buildings without delay and to ensure that the failings of the building safety system that had led to the current crisis were corrected at the earliest opportunity.

In the discussion that ensued, the following comments and questions were raised by members:

·         Concern was expressed about the capacity and expertise in the system in terms of qualified and experienced fire safety inspectors, to carry out all the inspections and remedial works required. This was particularly the case in FRA’s with small numbers of high rise blocks. Charles agreed, saying that the provision of specialist fire safety inspectors could not suddenly be significantly increased as the role required a number of years of training.

·         It was queried whether the £200 million was to be match funded by FRAs? Charles said that it wasn’t, but the funding was specifically for ACM cladding and there may be other underlying problems that needed funding separately.

·         Where was the £10 million funding for the Fire Standards Board coming from? Charles said that it was part of the recent Government Spending Round.

·         It was suggested that there should be elected member representation on the Fire Standards Board. Mark said that there might come a point when this was needed given the prevalence of high rise buildings in local authority areas, but currently it was focused on providing assurance about interim measures in blocks with ACM cladding.

·         Were there any potential liabilities for local councils and councillors in this process?

·         Given the serious concerns raised around the whole inspection and remediation process, it was agreed that the Chair would write to the Fire Minister outlining the Committee’s concerns.

Decision

FSMC noted the contents of the update report

Actions

·         Officers to draft a letter to the Fire Minister outlining the Committee’s concerns.

·         Charles to circulate Home Office paper on Fire Standards Board funding to Lead Members.