Agenda item

The Chair took welcomed Maxine Holdsworth, Islington’s Corporate Director of Housing following her stint at Kensington and Chelsea Council in the aftermath of the Grenfell fire incident in 2017.

During consideration of the report, the following points were made:

·         With regards to the recommendation about sprinklers, meeting was advised although not a panacea, concerns still remain about safety, its maintenance and vandalism. The Director assured the meeting that Council is currently carrying out a full appraisal of this issue and work is ongoing with the implementation of wet risers in high rise buildings which will be done in conjunction with fire safety guidelines.

·         On the issue of safety around communal areas in buildings, members welcomed the provision of cycle hangers on council estates but that it should not be at the expense of resident safety. Councillor Ward indicated that he would look into this issue in conjunction with concerns raised about request for keys.

·         Members welcomed the support of the Council’s SHINE support network and use of other services such as SHP or social services to vulnerable residents.

·         In response to concerns about evacuation plans of vulnerable people and caretakers not having a list of those in need, the Corporate Director Housing reassured members that with over 35000 properties, a new approach is required that looks at high complex risks. Council is currently working with the fire service to identify tall buildings with complex layouts on areas where assistance would be required by residents.

·         With regard to recommendation 1, it was noted that although the Grenfell Tower inquiry is still ongoing, things were being done especially with the Council considering the potential implications of the Hackitt review into the regulatory framework relating to fire safety.

·         Recommendation 2 – An interim report detailing actions that the Council will carry out following fire safety related reviews will be brought back to the Housing Scrutiny Committee in due course. Members requested that fire risk assessment registers for all high rise buildings be updated in other to provide some reassurance to residents.

·         Recommendation 5 –The Corporate Director Housing acknowledged that although PEEPs are noticeable in work places buildings, its effectiveness was  still dependent on the presence of a member of staff to execute the plan, however following advice from the Fire Services, Premises Information Boxes which is to help direct firefighters to vulnerable tenants in residential blocks is being piloted at Braithwaite House, Perth House, Selkirk House and Fyfield.

·         Recommendation 6 – The view was expressed that with regards to properties being managed by Partners for Improvement and plans to bring it back in house, the Committee should consider reviewing Partners evacuation plans to ensure it is in line with the Council’s.

·         Recommendation 10 – Members requested that the issue of retro fitting of sprinklers be revisited by Council.

·         Recommendation 12 – Members welcomed the policy of zero tolerance in respect of resident belongings being stored in the common areas. On the issue of obtaining keys to street properties and the anxiety among residents, members requested that the issue be revisited.

·         Recommendation 15 – Members were reassured that in cases of hoarding especially caused by vulnerable people, mobile sprinklers will be installed.

·         Recommendation 17 – On the issue of regular inspections of communal fire safety doors, the Corporate Director of Housing indicated that this issue will be looked into further.

·         With regards to Recommendation 4:21, the Corporate Director Housing informed the meeting that her responsibility at Kensington and Chelsea was not related to fire safety issues but with re-housing of tenants affected by the fire. In addition members were made aware of potential conflict of interest in inviting Chelsea and Kensington officers to give evidence as the inquiry was still ongoing. Members agreed to remove this recommendation.

The Chair thanked the Corporate Director Housing on her contribution and requested that in light of the importance of fire safety on all council buildings that a further update be scheduled in the work programme for the 2019/20 municipal year.

RESOLVED:

1.    That, subject to the above comments, the report be noted

2.    A report on fire safety be brought back to the committee next year for a further update.