Agenda item

Report of the Director of Service Delivery (CSC/21/5) attached.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Service Delivery (CSC/21/5) that set gave an overview of the actions the Service had taken to respond to the recommendations and changes in legislation arising from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

The report addressed, amongst other matters:

·       The response by Government following the Inquiry;

·       The immediate actions taken by the Service following the fire;

·       The independent review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety;

·       Fire Safety legislation, notably the Fire Safety Act 2021 and the Fire Safety Bill;

·       The Buildings Risk Review;

·       Additional grant that had been received by Fire and Rescue Services;

·       The Grenfell Tower Inquiry;

·       The progress made with recommendations arising from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

The Director of Service Delivery drew attention to the point that the Service had undertaken a survey of all residential blocks in its areas with 6 floors and above and 3 residential towers had been identified in Plymouth with flammable cladding that did not resist the spread of fire to the standard required in Building Regulations.  Additional measures were put into place and this work was now completed and the tower locks were now a much better place to reside as a result.  He added that, in terms of the Building Risk Review, 85 of 92 premises had been inspected now and the Service was on track to complete this work in accordance with the Home Office requirements.  The Service had experienced incidents since the Grenfell Tower fire where poor construction methods had resulted in fire spread between new build properties which was a concern.

In terms of funding, the Service had received a number of grants to support investment in staff and technology to improve protection capability.  Notably, £60k had been provided to the Service as a grant to resource specialist teams to carry out the work on the Building Risk Review.  Further money had been used to support the recruitment of Business Safety Officers and Apprenticeships had been established to ensure that there was a career pathway for staff employed in the fire safety role.

In response to a question, the Director of Service Delivery confirmed that a new Building Safety Regulator had been appointed by Government who would be responsible for actions once the Building Safety Bill was enacted. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) had a Protection Policy Reform Unit set up to understand how fire and rescue services could undertake this work in future.  The Service had seconded some of its staff to work in this Unit already so was well placed to contribute and to see what may emanate from this.  The Committee requested a six monthly update on progress with Grenfell to be included within the Forward Plan.

Councillor Coles MOVED (seconded by Councillor Parker-Khan):

          “the addition of a recommendation to express thanks to the Director of           Service Delivery and his staff in continuing, at pace, to protect the           residents of Devon and Somerset”.

Upon a vote, the motion was CARRIED unanimously.

Councillor Randall Johnson stated that fire safety prosecutions should be covered within this report in future whereupon she MOVED (seconded by Councillor Coles):

          “the addition of a further recommendation that the Authority continues           to support  the Service in the delivery of fire safety enforcement action”.

Upon a vote, the motion was CARRIED unanimously.

RESOLVED

(a)       That thanks be expressed to the Director of Service Delivery      and his staff in continuing, at pace, to protect the residents of      Devon and Somerset;

(b)       that the Authority continues to support  the Service in the      delivery of fire safety enforcement action; and

(c)       That subject to (a) and (b) above, the report be noted.