the Chairman and Leader have exercised their discretion to permit consideration the following questions:
From Cllr Vint to Cllr Tucker, Leader of Council
In light of the Grenfell Tower Fire tragedy:
1. What action have Social Landlords in the South Hams taken to:
(a) ensure that all their properties comply with current Fire regulations and other Health and Safety regulations; and
(b) ensure that all premises have undergone a recent Home Fire Safety Inspection and that tenants have a copy of the relevant Certificates; and
2. What action has this Council taken to:
(a) ensure that Social Landlords and any major private landlords are complying with all relevant Fire regulations and other Health and Safety regulations?
(b) ensure that Social Housing Tenants and the general public are aware of all relevant Fire regulations and other Health & Safety regulations and their associated rights as tenants?
Minutes:
21/17
Whilst questions on notice were not normally permitted at Special Council meetings, the Chairman advised that she, in consultation with the Leader of Council, had exercised her discretion to enable for two questions to be considered at this meeting. These questions were as follows:-
From Cllr Vint to Cllr Tucker, Leader of Council
In light of the Grenfell Tower Fire tragedy:
1. What action have Social Landlords in the South Hams taken to:
(a) ensure that all their properties comply with current Fire regulations; and other Health and Safety regulations; and
(b) ensure that all premises have undergone a recent Home Fire Safety Inspection and that tenants have a copy of the relevant Certificates.
Cllr Tucker’s response advised that:-
- All social landlords had been required by the Homes & Community Agency (HCA) to produce a report, listing the buildings that they had, which were 18 metres high or above. In South Hams, Devon and Cornwall Housing (DCH) had one block of purpose built flats (in Salcombe) which was below 18 metres but as a precaution had been assessed and found to be compliant. In addition, DCH had assessed all properties of 4+ storey’s;
- Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFRS) had risk assessed all buildings of 5+ storeys in the County. This was following a Fire HQ instruction. Elizabethan Court in Totnes was assessed and found to be compliant. The old Dartmouth Hospital had not been assessed but this was planned;
- The fire service have had a central role in this process and had made numerous press releases and had worked with local social landlords; and
- DCH had checked that all fire notices and action plans were in place and had reassured their tenants through their communication channels.
2. What action has this Council taken to:
(a) ensure that Social Landlords and any major private landlords are complying with all relevant Fire regulations and other Health and Safety regulations?
(b) ensure that Social Housing Tenants and the general public are aware of all relevant Fire regulations and other Health & Safety regulations and their associated rights as tenants?
Cllr Tucker’s response highlighted that:-
- Landlords on the House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) council list had been written to reminding them of their responsibilities. We also asked that they remind tenants on what to do in the event of a fire. There was also a section on smoke alarms. This letter would be followed up by an Environmental Health Specialist;
- Licenced HMO (3+ floors and 5 + tenants from 2+ households) were visited every five years, there were currently 11 in the South Hams. Where there was a significant time until the next inspection and it was felt it was higher risk, it would be visited as a priority outside of the established programme;
- For unlicensed HMO’s where there were no statutory inspections, a desktop risk exercise had been undertaken and higher risk properties, particularly above commercial premises, would be visited over the coming months;
- Local social landlords had provided fire safety advice and reassurance for their tenants. All had claimed to have carried out fire risk assessments of their blocks of accommodation. This was not really applicable in the South Hams or West Devon due to the lack of high rise accommodation;
- The council had a statutory duty to respond to complaints from residents of poor housing conditions/ health and safety concerns. We had not seen a significant rise in complaints following the Grenfell fire; and
- The Council website was being updated with relevant links and information on fire safety.
In reply to a supplementary question, Members were given assurances that the Council had reminded each of its Registered Social Landlords of their Health and Safety responsibilities.