The Council Procedure Rules provide for a maximum of four petitions to be presented for discussion at an Ordinary Meeting of the Council.

5.1       Petition regarding Latham House fire safety

Councillor Oliur Rahmanaddressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners and responded to questions from Members. Mayor John Biggs then responded to the matters raised in the petition. The Mayor reported that the Council had commissioned fire risk assessments of its housing stock prior to the Grenfell Tower fire. He also reported that Tower Hamlets Homes had agreed a programme of works to address fire safety issues including measures to help address the issues identified at Latham House that had been assessed as at medium risk. He also advised whilst the initial testing of the cladding indicated that it was not at risk, samples would be sent off for further testing.

In addition, the Mayor reported that the Council had developed an Anti - Social Behaviour strategy to address the issues regarding community safety and that he would be consulting on measures to improve the street layout around the Troxy on Commercial Road to minimise disturbance from events.

RESOLVED:

1.            That the petition be referred to the Acting Corporate Director, Place for a written response within 28 days.

5.2       Petition regarding Galleon House fire safety

Nasim Ahmed addressed the meeting and responded to questions from Members. Councillor Sirajul Islam, Cabinet Member for Housing then responded to the matters raised in the petition. He reported that the Council worked closely with housing associations including East End Homes in respect of fire safety matters. He also advised that after receiving the petition, he had sought and received a statement from East End Homes regarding the matters raised in the petition. This provided reassurances about a number of matters including:  their risk assessments of buildings; their investigation of the recent fire at the block; and the further steps they intended to take to address the issues raised in the petition.

He stated that both himself and East End Homes were happy to meet with the residents to discuss their concerns further

RESOLVED:

1.            That the petition be referred to the Acting Corporate Director, Place for a written response within 28 days.

5.3       Petition regarding for water sprinklers at Anglia House, Salmon Lane E14

Dipu Jagirdar and others addressed the meeting and responded to questions from Members. Councillor Sirajul Islam, Cabinet Member for Housing then responded to the matters raised in the petition. He reported that the Council would continue to monitor fire safety and that all of the fire risk assessments of its housing blocks were up to date. Furthermore, the Council had committed funding for fire safety works,

He also advised that Anglia House had been identified as at moderate risk and the Council and THH had approved works to improve the fire safety rating. They would consult with residents throughout this process.

On the issue of sprinklers, he advised that the requirements only applied to buildings built after 2007 over a certain height. All of the Council’s high rise housing blocks were built before this date. Nevertheless, they should be protected by their design features.  He also added that the Council were awaiting further advice on this matter and had contacted the government to secure funding for sprinkler systems.

RESOLVED:

1.            That the petition be referred to the Acting Corporate Director, Place for a written response within 28 days.

5.4       Petition regarding Campaign for Outdoor Gym in Sir John McDougal Park, Westferry Road, E14

Petition not presented due to the absence of the petitioner.

RESOLVED:

1.            That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Children’s for a written response within 28 days.