Agenda item

Mark Norris, Principal Policy Adviser, introduced item five.  This report updated members on the building safety developments since its last meeting.  Mark’s update included details of the findings of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 report, headlines of which included:

·         Cladding played a key role in how the fire spread

·         The identification of issues in the response by London Fire Brigade (LBF).

·         The recommendations to fire and rescue services, local authorities, national government, LBF, the ambulance service and the Metropolitan Police Service to improve their response to large scale incidents like the fire at Grenfell Tower. These recommendations will be looked at in more detail in the coming weeks by the LGA.

·         The report backed up calls for the remediation of buildings with ACM cladding to be undertaken quicker.

·         The accessibility of building plans to FRS and other recommendations which are also being considered as part of government’s response to the Hackitt Review’s recommendations.

·         The ability to change from a ‘stay put’ to a ‘simultaneous evacuation’ strategy. There were practical implications of being able to fight a fire while also evacuating residents that needed to be explored further, including the role of fire doors in ensuring the continued safety of stairwells and the impact that toxic smoke might have on the ability of people to self-evacuate.

·         The need for personalised emergency evacuation plans for disabled and vulnerable residents, which would require a number of practical issues to be addressed to be able to be put in place.

·         Lord Porter, former LGA Chairman, had responded to the publication of the report in the debate on it in the House of Lords. He had referenced the views of survivors and the families of victims who seemed satisfied with the conclusions of the report, but had noted that the Inquiry had been conducted in the wrong order as the crucial point was to ensure buildings were not built with combustible cladding.

Mark gave a further update on the other work being undertaken:

-       Remediation work on social housing blocks with ACM cladding is progressing well; the Joint Inspection Team would shortly be undertaking their fourth inspection.

-       There were emerging issues around advice to surveyors based on MHCLG’s advice notes and the impact this was having on mortgage valuations, making it more difficult to re-mortgage or sell properties in blocks with ACM cladding. 

-       An update on the three recent fires in buildings which were less than 18 metres in height in Barking, Sutton and Crewe.  These were timber framed constructions which burnt down quickly.

-       Implementation of the Hackitt recommendations. To inform this work the LGA have commissioned work to look at the costs of implementing the new building safety requirements and the wider implications of this for councils’ Housing Revenue Accounts.

-       The work around buildings using Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in their construction methods. Following on from the work the LGA, DfE and SCOSS had taken to highlight issues with RAAC roofs to councils and education establishments it had become clear this type of construction has been used more broadly than anticipated.

In the discussions that followed, member raised the following points: 

Members commented on the LFB’s performance, and noted that as the biggest fire authority in country, it raised concerns that they had struggled to handle the volume of calls.  This was an important issue as an area identified for improvement after the Lakanal House fire had been call handling. Members noted that it is vital these lessons need to be learned going forward, and questioned if the LGA’s Fire Services Management Committee will be looking into this?  Mark confirmed that they will.  However, in response to this, the Chair started that LBF Firefighters on the ground should be commended for their bravery.   

Member raised the role of councillors, including the information at their disposal when applications came to planning committees for approval. Members went on to discuss the role of councillors when complaints have been made over building safety; what powers to challenge and change do they have, and how can councillors act when faced with these questions?  In response to this, Mark stated that some of this will be picked up under the Hackitt implementation work and agreed that scrutiny remains an important function. Mark mentioned the LGA’s Leadership Essentials courses, which empowers councillors to broaden their knowledge of the technical issues, and that a new course on building safety was available.

Cllr Eric Allen, who represents the London Borough of Sutton, updated members on the recent fire in his area.  23 flats were engulfed within fire within 15 minutes, however, there were luckily no fatalities as someone was able to raise the alarm.  Cllr Allen went on to explain why the fire had spread so quickly, and the need for fire alarm systems. Mark stated that the LGA was in conversation with the NFCC around these sorts of issues to inform its response to the government’s consultation on further technical changes to Approved Document B.

Members requested that the LGA engage with Fire Prevention Association, as they have been lobbying government regarding timber framed buildings for years.  Members also commented that it is not just about building safety, but methods of construction – some of these buildings will not be insurable once people realise the issue.  Mark confirmed he will make contact with the Fire Prevention Association.

Members questioned what information residents are receiving over the stay put strategy? The Government and Sir Martin Moore-Bick are clear that compartmentalisation and the stay put strategy are fundamental aspects of fire safety policy going forward, and that the issue is that this is not what residents are hearing.

Decision

1.    Members noted and commented on the LGA’s building safety related work.