Issue - meetings

Arising from a report of the Housing Services Manager, the Homes Policy Development Group had recommended the revised Fire Risk in Communal Areas Policy be amended to include a reference to the fact that the Private Sector Housing lead officer had been consulted and that the revised policy as amended be approved.

Arising from a report of the Housing Services Manager, the Homes Policy Development Group had recommended that the revised Fire Risk in Communal Areas Policy be amended to include a reference to the fact that the Private Sector Housing lead officer had been consulted and that the revised policy as amended be approved.

The Cabinet Member for Housing outlined the contents of the report stating that the policy had been approved in the summer of 2016 however a further review had taken place following some recent incidents with our own housing stock and following the horrific fire at Grenfell Tower in North Kensington. It had been decided that a zero tolerance policy should be implemented relating to the storage of personal belongings in communal areas so that access was unfettered in the event of fire.

He outlined the proposed changes within the report following discussions that had taken place with the Fire Service and highlighted the Council’s obligations to the tenants, tenants’ obligations and the storage of scooters.

RESOLVED that the recommendation of the Policy Development Group be approved.

(Proposed by Cllr R L Stanley and seconded by Cllr Mrs M E Squires)

Note:  * Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.

To receive a report from the Housing Services Manager reviewing the Fire Risk in Communal Areas Policy.

The Group had before it a report * from the Housing Services Manager reviewing the Fire Risk in Communal Areas policy. The contents of the report were outlined with the officer stating the policy had been due for review and it had been coincidental that this had coincided with the recent Grenfell Tower disaster.

The following was highlighted within the report:

·         In recent months there had been several incidents in one of the Council’s schemes which had involved the Devon Fire and Rescue Service. As a result of these they had assisted with a review of the Council’s fire prevention policy and procedures. They had been content with the policy but had suggested some further improvements mainly around the area of fire risk assessments. In addition to this there had been suggestions from other colleagues in the Public Health and Environmental Health areas.

·         A system of fire risk assessments were now in place taking into consideration such issues as sight problems and English not being a first language. These were regularly reassessed to reflect the needs of the tenants living in a property at any one time.

·         Since the Grenfell Tower disaster the Council had received a number of Freedom of Information requests relating to fire safety.

Consideration was given to the following:

·         Ward Members were being kept informed when incidents of fire happened.

·         There was now a zero tolerance policy with regard to anything being left in communal areas. This included mobility scooters which housed combustible batteries and needed to be stored in alternative locations.

·         Social media was a very useful tool for informing tenants about fire safety and a regular newsletter in hard copy was sent to all tenants.

·         There was increased signage in relation to fire throughout all Council owned blocks.

·         Alleyways also needed to be kept clear but this was a difficult area since sometimes an alleyway formed part of someone’s tenancy.

·         The Housing Service worked with the Fire Service to offer home fire safety checks.

RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that the revised Fire Risk in Communal Areas Policy be amended to include a reference to the fact that the Private Sector Housing lead officer had been consulted and that the revised policy as amended be approved.

(Proposed by Councillor Mrs H Bainbridge and seconded by Mrs G Doe)

Note: * Report previously circulated; copy attached to the signed minutes.