Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Chief Fire Officer regarding the work undertaken by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service following the Phase 1 Inquiry and report findings of Grenfell Tower incident.

The Authority received a report from the Chief Fire Officer (item 10 in the minute book) on progress following the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and subsequent recommendations.

Members were taken through the report and it was confirmed that high rise buildings were being focussed on, with inspections and any measures required being implemented by the end of 2021. Additional funding had been received but there were strict guidelines as to how this could be spent, and an update would return to the Full Authority in December 2021.

The Chief Fire Officer thanked officers for their work in making the high rise buildings across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight as safe as possible.

It was confirmed that known cladding issues were being assisted financially by Central Government, who were also being lobbied by other groups outside of the Fire Service to further help residents with funding for defects in high rise buildings.

It was enforced that buildings ‘failing’ an inspection did not automatically mean that they were dangerous, but the Fire Service did have powers to intervene where a building was felt to be dangerous and the causes were not being addressed by the owners. The Fire Service continued to work with planners and developers to ensure building safety at the earliest opportunity before construction went ahead.

Members agreed to add the topic to a future APAG agenda.

RESOLVED

The contents of the report were noted by the HIWFRA Full Authority.