Agenda item

Fire Safety on Tower Blocks

To receive a presentation by the Director of Housing and Neighbourhoods Service

Minutes:

7.1

The Committee received a presentation on Fire Safety on Tower Blocks, which was given by Janet Sharpe, Director of Housing and Neighbourhoods Services, supported by Councillor Jim Steinke (Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety).

 

 

7.2

The Committee received two questions from members of the public on this issue, as follows:-

 

 

7.2.1

Mick Watts queried when the Scrutiny Committee was expected to receive a report explaining why combustible cladding was affixed to the Hanover Tower Block, and if such a report was not published before re-cladding was to commence, would the Committee consider alternatives, such as a partial report.  He was informed that 95% of it was complete, and that it was now with the contractors for them to check accuracy.  The completed report, or a summary of the key issues in the report, would be available at the next meeting of the Committee, if not finalised.

 

 

7.2.2

Michael Mullin queried whether, moving forward, and for the reassurance of all the tenants of Hanover, the Council accepted that the alucobond cladding the Council previously installed on Hanover had a Euro class fire rating “D”, and would not have complied with building regulations past or present. Janet Sharpe responded by stating that there had been a query over the building regulations, but the Hanover Tower Block was in line with the regulations at that time, and this had building regulation approval prior to installation.

 

 

7.3

Janet Sharpe took the Committee through the presentation which set out a summary of early interpretations of findings of the Hackitt review. This covered where the City was at with regard to fire safety on tower blocks (all tenures).  The presentation set out the Building Regulations and Fire Safety Review, the key elements of the new Regulatory Framework, the 10 key themes and key elements of the new Regulatory Review, before occupation of new High Rise Residential Buildings (HRRBs) and after buildings were occupied, and the Government response to the recommendations.  The presentation also set out what the next steps were for Sheffield, the general progress on fire safety work within the Housing Service and for the City, and an update on the Hanover Tower Block.

 

 

7.4

The update aimed to provide assurance to tenants, not only those in the Hanover block, but city-wide.  She stated that a Fire Risk Expert had been engaged by the Council, and that the Council was also meeting regularly with the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (SYFRS), who were happy with the progress the Council was making.  The Council was pushing on to implement any changes that would improve tenant safety without waiting for changes to legislation. 

 

 

7.5

Members made various comments and asked a number of questions, to which responses were provided as follows:-

 

 

 

·                 Tenants had a voice through Tenants and Residents Associations (TARAs) but it was recognised that this didn’t engage all tenants.

 

 

 

·                 Following feedback from the tenants of Hanover Tower Block, it had been recognised that they had become frustrated that the replacement of the cladding had taken a long time, but on the whole, were generally satisfied by the support they had received, and that the replacement cladding was going to commence on site this year. The Council was now keen to start work, and would continue to work with the Residents Project Group, which has worked well on this project, and hold discussions with tenants and leaseholders on the timescales, the colour of the cladding and the installation process.

 

 

 

·                 The Council had sought Government funding, however in the interim, the works were being funded through the Housing Revenue Account.   If the bid for funding was unsuccessful, the Council would have to pay for the works.

 

 

 

·                 It was confirmed that leaseholders who had originally paid for additional cladding to the Hanover block, would not be charged for the new cladding.

 

 

 

·                 With regard to retrospective funding of sprinklers, the Government has confirmed that this would only be given if the Fire Service agreed with the Council that it was the only way to make the building safe. In all other circumstances, the costs would be the responsibility of the building owner. The Hackitt review hasn’t made this mandatory, therefore the Council will be following this up with the Government.

 

 

7.6

RESOLVED: That the Committee:-

 

 

 

(a)      thanks Councillor Jim Steinke (Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety) and Janet Sharpe for their contribution to the meeting;

 

 

 

(b)      notes the contents of the presentation and the responses to questions;

 

 

 

(c)      requests an update on the funding of sprinklers be submitted to a future meeting; and

 

 

 

(d)      agrees that the outcome of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry be added to the Work Programme for 2018/19.

 

Supporting documents: