DECISION

1.    To note the report and recommendations of the Scrutiny Review Challenge Session on Fire Safety as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

2.    To approve the action plan in Appendix 2 to the report which sets out the Council’s response to the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review.

3.    To note the specific equalities considerations as set out in Paragraph 4 of the report.

Action by:

ACTING CORPORATE DIRECTOR, PLACE (A. SUTCLIFFE)

(Interim Divisional Director, Housing and Regeneration (M. Baigent)

Councillor Sirajul Islam, Statutory Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Housing introduced the report. He welcomed the good work undertaken by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and thanked Councillor Helal Uddin and the other Members involved. He welcomed the recommendations set out in the report.

The Mayor highlighted this report as showing the value that Overview and Scrutiny can add to the work of the Council. He agreed the recommendations as set out.

RESOLVED

1.    To note the report and recommendations of the Scrutiny Review Challenge Session on Fire Safety as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

2.    To approve the action plan in Appendix 2 to the report which sets out the Council’s response to the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review.

3.    To note the specific equalities considerations as set out in Paragraph 4 of the report.

Presented by Afazul Hoque, Senior Strategy Policy and Performance Officer. This report will be made available later in the week. Reason for general exception:

The Fire Safety Scrutiny Review will be a late paper to allow all Committee Members and officers who were involved in the reviews an opportunity to feed into the draft report before publication. Following completion of the evidence gathering sessions and drafting of the recommendations, the report will be made available.  Due to busy corporate diaries and Members’ availability, it was necessary to complete the evidence gathering sessions for the review in late February.

Elizabeth Bailey, Senior Strategy, Policy and Performance Officer, offered the Committee a final opportunity to feed into the Fire Safety Review.

Comments included:

• There are high density tall buildings in the borough. There should be a recommendation to draft a fire safety policy specific to tall buildings. Advice could be sought from firms in Singapore and New York on how they manage their tall buildings. The UK lacks expertise in this area as tall developments are a relatively recent phenomenon.
• Other Members said that officers would need to see if a Council has the power to action the above recommendation.
• The communications and engagement recommendations should be merged.
• Recommendation 16, emergency plans, to be amended – it appears to be a landlord and resident matter.
• Dame Judith Hackett is conducting the Grenfell inquiry – perhaps a statement of recommendations could be sent to her.
• Regarding recommendation 15, engaging tenant and resident organisations, there are only five established TRA’s. The Council will need to have a wider reach.
• There was a suggestion to include timings to the recommendations however the majority of members decided against this, as it was the responsibility of the Council and Executive to implement strategies and timescales.
• As there are several recommendations the report should highlight the five priority areas. .
• Officers to keep up to date with government advice and guidance on fire safety and emergency protocols should be included as a recommendation. 
• The report should mention the importance of educating residents on fire safety. Residents often install grills when doors are secure by design, grills are a fire hazard.
• The recommendation for emergency access from inside the building should also include a point about external access as well.

Members were advised to email Elizabeth Bailey if they had further comments on the report and to advise on what the top five priority areas for recommendation should be. The deadline for comments was noted as 25 March 2018.

RESOLVED

• To agree the recommendations, subject to the amendments discussed.
• To authorise the Divisions Director of Strategy Policy and Partnership to amend the draft report before submission to Cabinet, in consultation with the Chair.