Minutes:
Neil Evans, Director of Resources and Housing gave the Board an update following the recent fire at Grenfell Towers in London. There was an understandable concern from high rise residents and the Board was informed of actions and responses to reassure residents.
Of the 116 high rise blocks across the City, 23 have had cladding installed. None of these cladding systems were similar in style to that of Grenfell Towers and materials used were of higher specification and fire retardant. Samples would be taken from each block that had for cladding for further fire testing but there was no belief that any of the cladding systems used in Leeds were a fire hazard.
All tenants had been written to and informed of the situation and fire safety leaflets had also been sent. Fire procedures were explained and though there had been fires in high rise blocks in Leeds, these had not spread. Fire procedures involved getting the fire service to the source of the fire as quickly as possible and there would not be instruction for mass evacuation.
In relation to investment on fire safety, over £12 million had been spent over the past three years. This was mainly works with regard to improvements to ducting and insulation which supported compartmentation in case of fire. There had also been a program of retrospectively fitting sprinkler systems in sheltered blocks where residents were felt to be more vulnerable. There would be discussion at a national level as to whether sprinkler systems should be retrospectively fitted to all tower blocks.
It was further reported that daily checks were carried out by cleaners to ensure that there were no fire hazards or obstructions and that quarterly checks of fire doors and fire safety equipment were carried out by housing officers. Annual checks were carried out by qualified health and safety professionals and the fire service and these checks would inform any improvements that were required.
In response to comments and questions, the following was discussed:
· Emergency Planning – it was felt that Leeds had the capacity to cope for a similar scale incident with contingency plans to set up respite centres in the event of an emergency.
· Concern regarding mobility scooters and electric wheelchairs being charged in communal areas which could cause an obstruction. Part of the daily inspections carried out by cleaners involved making sure passageways and corridors were clear.
· Smoke alarms – some concern that these should be hard-wired. It was reported that smoke alarms were checked on annual home visits and tenants were reminded to check batteries.
· Further discussion and meetings would be held with tenants and residents groups.
· Frequency of testing of fire equipment - dry riser systems are used in the tower blocks so there wasn’t any equipment as such to test. Quarterly tests were felt adequate for this.
· Subject to approveal, the Scrutiny Board (Environment, Housing and Communities) was going to carry out an inquiry of fire safety in high rise blocks.
On behalf of the Board, the Chair thanked all officers involded for their responses following the Grenfell Towers fire and asked that these thanks be cascaded to all staff.