Agenda item

7.1

The Committee received a report of the Director of Housing and Neighbourhood Services containing an update in terms of the action being taken in connection with providing assurances to residents living in high rise accommodation in Sheffield with regard to their safety, following the recent fire at the Grenfell Tower in London, on 14th June 2017.

7.2

In attendance for this item were Councillor Jayne Dunn (Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety), Janet Sharpe (Director of Housing and Neighbourhood Services) and Jill Hurst (Head of Housing Investment and Repairs). 

7.3

The Committee received two questions from members of the public on this issue, as follows:-

7.3.1

John Cawthorne, member of the Hanover Tenants’ and Residents’ Association, read out a detailed statement on behalf of the Association and tenants of the Hanover tower block, highlighting a number of issues following the Grenfell tower disaster, and the consequent action taken by the Council in terms of the assessment of the cladding material and the work undertaken to reassure tenants that they were safe in their homes, and that they were fully supported.

7.3.2

Andrew Woodhead questioned whether the Committee could urge the Council to recognise that stripping the cladding off the Hanover tower block was only half the work, and that preparation needed to be started now to put fire safe cladding back on to the block.  This work needed to be undertaken as soon as possible if more expense was not to be incurred.

7.4

The report set out details of results of the assessment of all blocks over six stories, as required by the Department for Communities and Local Government, in order to establish if the cladding material contained an Asbestos Composite Material (ACM).  The report also contained details of the Council’s ‘Stay Put’ policy, the use of sprinklers, tower block management and inspection, communications, details of tower block fire safety information meetings, and Housing Association, University and private sector housing tower blocks.

7.5

Specific reference was made to Hanover tower block, following receipt of information from the Building Research Establishment (BRE) on 25^th June 2017, that one element of the external cladding on the tower block had failed the new fire tests.  Councillor Jayne Dunn and Janet Sharpe commented further on the work which had already been undertaken, and would continue to be undertaken, in connection with the removal of the external cladding element from the block, the additional security measures which had been put in place in order to reassure residents and meetings held with residents to provide reassurance and respond to any concerns they had.

7.6

Councillor Jayne Dunn and Janet Sharpe provided a brief update on the current position, following the presentation made by the Chief Executive at the Council meeting on 5^th July 2017. 

7.7

Members of the Committee raised questions and the following responses were provided:-

·                The Council was very comfortable in terms of the policies and procedures put in place following the Grenfell tower disaster and in some cases, the steps taken had been over and above what had been required.  The Council already undertook a considerable amount of work in terms of fire safety regarding its tower blocks.  As part of the assessment process, a number of issues with regard to quality of repairs had been identified, and would be addressed.  Reference was also made to plans to amend the Council’s tenancy conditions.  It was hoped that any additional works, following the assessment process, would be funded by the Government, and the Council continued to lobby the Government in this respect.

·                Whilst the precise details in terms of the decision to use the ACM were not known, it was known that such panels had been given the same safety rating as aluminium. 

·                The reason for the testing of the aluminium, even though it was accepted that there were no fire risks involved with this material, was simply to comply with the request of residents, and thus provide additional reassurance to them.

·                Whilst there was a lack of clarity in terms of how Camden Council managed their tower blocks, officers understood the reasoning behind that Council’s decision to establish a post of Head of Residents Safety, following the Grenfell Tower Block disaster.  The primary role for Sheffield was to ensure that the Council complied with all the relevant regulations.

·                The Council worked very closely with the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (SYFRS) in connection with rough sleepers lighting fires in stairwells in high rise tower blocks, and was planning to extend this work to low-rise blocks also.  Whilst the Council planned to continue with this work, there was an expectation that the Government would introduce new building regulations following the Grenfell Tower Block inquiry.  It was accepted that there was a need for a consistent approach in terms of all Council tower blocks.

·                The Department for Communities and Local Government (DfCLG) had provided specific guidance, as part of its announcement on 18^th June 2017, in terms of the samples to be taken, and submitted to the BRE, as part of the assessment process.  The Council had been requested to provide samples where the cladding material appeared to be different, and also samples above and below 18 metres. 

·                The Council had communicated extensively with residents of the Hanover tower block, using members of the Tenants’ and Residents’ Association, as well as the National Translation Line in connection with any issues regarding the translation of publicity material. 

·                As at 6^th July 2017, the Council had received 15 requests from residents of the Hanover tower block to be relocated, with the majority of these people already having made plans to move out anyway.  Officers were liaising with those families who wished to move out, but be relocated within the surrounding area, in terms of school places for their children and any other issues or concerns they had.  Officers were also dealing with a number of requests for families to be relocated during the six-week period when the cladding was to be removed. 

7.8

RESOLVED: That the Committee:-

(a)       notes the contents of the report now submitted, together with the comments now made and the responses to the questions raised;

(b)       requests:-

(i)          the Director of Housing and Neighbourhood Services to (A) submit a report on the progress of the assessment and cladding works to a future meeting and (B) continue working closely with the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service in connection with the risks caused by rough sleepers lighting fires in the stairwells in Council tower blocks;

(ii)         that, as suggested by Birmingham City Council, a joint letter, to be signed by the Leaders of all the Core Cities, be sent to the Government, requesting that it helps pay for the fire suppression measures in all local authority residential tower blocks; and

(iii)       that representatives of the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, the Ambulance Service and the Health and Safety Executive be invited to attend a future meeting of this Committee; and 

(c)        expresses its thanks and appreciation to Councillor Jayne Dunn (Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety), the Director of Housing and Neighbourhood Services and all other members of staff involved, for the excellent work undertaken by them in response to the Government announcement on 18^th June 2017, following the Grenfell Tower Block disaster.