Agenda, decisions and minutes

On behalf of the whole Council, I want to express deepest sympathies to all those affected and to the families who have lost loved ones in the Grenfell Tower fire in North Kensington.  I would like to thank all the emergencies services for their swift and courageous response; we have all seen the images of them running towards danger.

The council has been providing support to Kensington & Chelsea Council since the fire, including offering accommodation to people from Grenfell Tower. It has been a very harrowing experience for all involved and we are providing counselling support to the firefighters who were at the scene and who did so much to save lives.

Understandably there are concerns about the cause of the fire, the external cladding and whether there are any possible implications for residents in tower blocks elsewhere. We are working to identify any blocks within Islington.  Our commitment to making sure Islington residents are safe remains our absolute priority.  We have put on hold proposals to clad further buildings and are awaiting health and safety reports.

I am confident that in Islington we have good and robust housing management policies.  Since 2013, we have spent £7 million on fire safety works, with a further £38 million of works planned.  All our estate tower blocks in Islington are hardwired with fire detection alarms. All dry riser and wet riser systems that help firefighters to tackle any fires are inspected every 12 months to ensure they are in a good working condition.  Every council block has a robust Fire Risk Assessment at least every three years, with some blocks assessed every year, and all of these assessments are signed-off by the London Fire Brigade.

We have asked the Fire Brigade to inform us if there is any change to the advice given to residents in tower blocks in case of a fire. The advice from the Fire Brigade remains that if there is a fire elsewhere in your building then you are safer to stay in your flat, unless the heat or smoke is affecting you.  It is important to remember that the Fire Brigade has stressed that people living in high rise properties are no more at risk of a fire than anyone else.

None.

Councillor Andy Hull and Councillor Claudia Webbe declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item A4:  iCo Appointments and Indemnity arrangements.  The Chief Executive had issued both Councillors with a dispensation to allow them to speak on the item and to vote.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting on 18 May 2017 be confirmed as a correct record and the Chair be authorised to sign them.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reason for decision – as specified in the report.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

Councillor Andy Hull and Councillor Claudia Webbe declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item. The Chief Executive had issued both Councillors with a dispensation to allow them to speak on the item and to vote.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the granting of indemnities to officers and Members to cover the risk of claims which may be made against them personally, or other losses or liabilities they might incur, when acting as directors of the council’s trading company, Islington Limited (iCo), in the terms set out in Appendix A to this report, be approved.

2.    That the process for appointing a new director to the iCo Board, as set out in the report be approved.

Reason for decision – to provide additional security for the directors of the company at no extra cost to the council and to support the management of the company and its commercial activities.

Other options considered – None other than as specified in the report.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reason for decision – as specified in the report.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

RESOLVED:

1.    That NSL Ltd be appointed to the parking enforcement framework as the sole parking enforcement service provider and awarded a contract for a seven year period, from 1 September 2017 to 31 August 2024 be agreed

Reason for decision – to ensure the continuity of the parking service, whilst making significant savings over the lifetime of the contract.

Other options considered – none other than as specified in the report.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

Noted.

RESOLVED:

That the information in the exempt appendix to Agenda item B5 be noted (see Minute 407 for decision).