Agenda item

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Members received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services which provided an update in relation to fire safety matters since the last update report submitted to the Committee in June 2018. 

Members noted the extensive work being undertaken on fire safety in the Corporation’s social housing portfolio. The Assistant Director, Barbican and Property Services referred to the current provision of the Waking Watch service in Great Arthur House and the proposal that, once the fire alarm system was installed, the service would be phased out. Following a successful fire drill, in which residents had demonstrated a knowledge of what to do in the event of a fire, the Waking Watch would be removed on 19 October 2018 and residents had been informed of this. 

In answer to a question about the number of residential blocks of flats the Corporation owned, and the position on cladding, Members noted that there were 60 blocks but only 20 had been identified by the fire risk assessment as having more serious issues. No blocks had cladding similar to that on Grenfell Tower. Members noted that pan-London discussions continued to be held regarding fire safety for housing blocks and many private owners had been contacted to ask what action they were taking to address safety issues.

A report would be presented to the Committee on the fire door replacement programme once the programme had been finalised. Members stressed the importance of keeping residents informed and for them to understand the level of due care, and the time needed, to ensure this work was completed to the highest possible standard.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.