Update from Roy Wilsher, Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council
Minutes:
Roy Wilsher (NFCC) gave this oral update. He updated the Committee on the NFCC Chairs and Vice-chairs who are now in place and highlighted that every fire service, except one, has now signed up to the operation principles.
Roy gave an update on Grenfell Tower. As NFCC Chair he had become the advisor to the Government in this area as the Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser had been away on the day of the fire. He explained that he had attended all meetings since the event with the Government to put fire and rescue services position ahead. Cladding control is under review and there are 600 buildings might not comply with the building regulations which are going through testing to identify any necessary remedial work. Remedial works have already begun on some buildings that have failed the testing and in some areas of the country sprinklers will be being fitted.
He particularly highlighted the exemplary work of the London Fire Brigade during the fire and commended their bravery in the midst of concerns about the stability of the structure they were working in. He suggested those officers involved in the rescue effort will need and are being offered professional support.
Councillor Gary Porter (Chairman of the LGA) then gave an update from the LGA perspective. He echoed Roy’s sentiments around the fire officers bravery and need for support post the event, in particular assurances that the sector will strive to make them safer in their jobs, to minimise risk for tenants and firefighters in the future.
The Chairman outlined the work currently being done on this event including a team of LGA staff currently embedded in the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and constant conversations between himself and the Department. The focus is on identification of at risk buildings, taking remedial action, mapping out available extra accommodation in case of the need for decant of residents and public reassurance.
Sally Burlington (Head of Policy) requested that members give their feedback on reactions to this event in their individual areas and recommendations of what the LGA can do on their behalf on this issue.
A discussion followed in which Members raised the following points:
· Response to the incident:
- The need to reassure tenants about their safety, and to find out what went wrong;
- The strategic and literal capacity of local authorities to deal with the aftermath of these kinds of events and the emergency procedures in terms of evacuation need to be reviewed in light of this event;
- The co-ordination of mutual aid between councils, particularly in terms of temporary accommodation;
- The identification of other at risk buildings.
· Public confidence which currently lies with the firefighters, rather than the Local Authority.
· The FSMC offering support to the public enquiry, calling for more funds to return emergency planning to local government and to support the pay negotiation, sharing of best-practice around emergency planning, training leaders to deal with situations and lead on integration and collaboration in emergency plans.
· A lack of clarity about who has responsibility for guaranteeing safety in high rise buildings and the need for a review of these arrangements and more stringent guidance and legislation around this.
· The advantages and pitfalls of retrofitting sprinklers in tower blocks, including the difficulty of asbestos riddled buildings, structural stability for large water tanks and pumps in tower blocks and practical steps which can be taken if sprinklers are not suitable including:
- Use of water mist suppression systems as a fire safety measure alongside sprinklers.
- Improving the linkup between fire authorities and councils in terms of open communication and community resilience
- Improvement of communications around this issue to council leaders and officers.
· The motion put before the Committee by the Labour Group was also discussed.
· The potential for government to make it compulsory for certain types of building to go through a fire services review between planning can be agreed.
· Further areas of concern including privately owned flats and other types of at risk building such as hotels.
Decisions
Members noted the update from Roy Wilsher.
Members:
Agreed to discuss the proposals in the motion in the item on the Committee’s priorities going forward.