Agenda item

Charles Loft, Senior Advisor, introduced the report which covers the work the LGA has continued with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Home Office to support building safety reform and the remediation of dangerous buildings.

            Charles highlighted the following key points from the update:

·       The government has published data on waking watch costs, showing how alarm costs are almost always lower than waking watch costs.

·       The Public Accounts Committee reported on the progress of remediation at the end of September; the Sunday Times had reported it will take almost 150 years to complete at the current rate and insurance costs are increasing significantly. The LGA’sresponse to the PAC report urged the Government to act on its recommendations without delay, especially action to address the chronic shortage of necessary skills.

·       The LGA was expecting the Government to introduce a concessionary amendment to the Fire Safety Bill, in place of an amendment proposed by the LGA, which addresses the lack of qualified and insured risk assessors to carry out risk assessments.

·       The Building Safety Bill has been subjected to pre-legislative scrutiny by the HCLG select committee; this was due to be completed by the end of September.  A working group has been looking at charges and cost recovery under the Bill. There is concern that the shadow regulator has yet to emerge, so it may be some years before the building safety regulator is fully up and running. Officers agreed to produce a timeline on building safety work for the next meeting.

            Following the discussion, Members made the following comments:

·       Concerns raised around whether any landlords, leaseholders, or residents are aware of the waking watch costs report. Charles responded that he would look into promoting this and is in the process of putting together top tips for councillors who are approached by residents who have this issue. 

·       There are unrealistic deadlines for freeholders around completing claims forms for building funds by 31 December based on contractors starting work by March, which will not happen. Charles responded the EWS1 form has failed to achieve what is set out to achieve and has had massive impact on homeowners but that he had heard that the government was trying to change the form.

Decision:

            Members of the Safer and Stronger Communities Board noted the LGA’s building safety related work.

Action:

·       Officers to share a building safety timeline at the next meeting.