Agenda item

The Senior Technical Officer’s (Asset Management and Compliance) report updated the Board on the current position in relation to fire safety in blocks of flats, and set out a proposed way forward.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 set out requirements in relation to general fire safety precautions that landlords must adhere to. The basis of the legislation was centred on the completion of Fire Risk Assessments (FRA). By adopting a fire risk assessment approach, there was the need to look at how to prevent fire from occurring in the first place, by removing or reducing hazards and risks (ignition sources) and then looking at the precautions to ensure that people were adequately protected, if a fire were still to occur.  FRAs were updated every two years.  Any urgent recommendations were implemented urgently. Non-urgent recommendations were packaged up and tendered.  FRAs were confined to communal areas and means of escape in accordance with the guidance.  FRAs were in place for all of the properties that required one.

Throughout the period in which fire safety work had been carried out EDDC had established a very close working relationship with Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.  They had provided an expert level of guidance and support throughout and were extremely satisfied with the manner in which EDDC had approached and were addressing fire safety, so much so that EDDC were held up as a flagship for other housing providers to aspire to.

The emphasis on fire safety had resulted in a detailed review of the fire safety policy, which was carried out in 2017.  The policy:

·           gives clarity in the main statutory regulations/legislation that applied and needed to be followed,

·           defined the roles and responsibilities within housing, particularly in relation to upgrading/maintaining the buildings and managing the buildings.

The Strategic Lead – Housing, Health and Environment explained that there was a number of options in terms of spend, depending on the degree of urgency given to the fire safety works.  The works highlighted in the report were essential and future FRAs would be done on a similar basis to that already done.  The housing accountant advised that in the budget fire safety works could be prioritised over the new housing development fund, but this would mean that it was not possible to provide so many new properties.  The three options for the delivery of outstanding fire safety works outlined in the report were:

1.     Provide the complete budget to carry out all the work in the next financial year, approximately £3million.

2.     Carry out the work over two financial years, approximately £1.5million per annum.

3.     Carry out the work over three financial years, approximately £1million per annum.

It was noted that considerable resource would be required from the Property and Asset team to deliver the required work to prepare documentation to procure the work, whichever option was selected. It was therefore proposed to extend the employment of the Fixed Term Programmed Works Officer (Fire) beyond the initial twelve months.

RECOMMENDED: 

1.     that Cabinet note the progress made in relation to fire safety in blocks of flats and agree the priority of future works to address property issues related to fire,

2.     that members be aware of the significant budget required to bring all blocks of flats up to a fully compliant fire safety standard.

3.     that Cabinet approve the extension of the employment of the additional Programme Works Officer (Fire Safety) for a further 12 months.