Issue - meetings

To receive a report from Surrey Fire and Rescue Service about the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase Two Report.

Witnesses:

• Kevin Deanus, Cabinet Member for Fire and Rescue, and Resilience
• Dan Quin, Chief Fire Officer – Surrey Fire and Rescue Service
• Lee Spencer-Smith, Area Commander for Protection – Surrey Fire and Rescue Service

Key points made in the discussion:

1.            A Member asked about the risks of not pursuing enforcement actions regarding the high-risk residential buildings, the legal advice that indicated enforcement would likely be unsuccessful, and the implications of this. The Chief Fire Officer explained that only 7 of the high-rise residential buildings in Surrey needed mitigation measures, which were already in place. He explained that it was the Responsible Persons (RP) role to ensure those measures worked well. The Chief Fire Officer added that the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) inspected the buildings and confirmed that the mitigation measures met the required standards.

2.            A Member asked if the 263 mid-rise buildings in the County were safe, the timeframe for addressing potential fire risks in the 14 flagged buildings and questioned the actions to be taken if building owners did not respond regarding the cladding issues. The Chief Fire Officer explained that inspections began prior to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry: Phase 2 report/findings. Fourteen buildings were identified for further investigation due to concerns about their external wall systems. The Area Commander for Protection noted that under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the ‘RP’ must ensure fire safety. He added that SFRS would continue to work with premises and offer advice and, where necessary, issue notices to ensure compliance before considering other enforcement options.

3.            A Member asked a supplementary question about what powers the fire authority holds if property owners choose to ignore their advice. The Area Commander for Protection said that the authority has enforcement powers under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order. This means they can issue notices which require premises to notify the enforcing authority of any proposed changes which may increase risk to their premises and in serious cases can prohibit or restrict the use of unsafe buildings. He mentioned that this Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to most buildings/workplaces in England, except single private dwellings (homes), but covers common areas in premises where there are 2 or more private dwellings like high-rises. The Chief Fire Officer added that the fire and rescue authority uses its full suite of powers to enforce the law when necessary.

4.            The Chair asked about the implications of creating a single regulator for the construction industry, including its potential advantages, disadvantages, and risks to stakeholders during the development process. The Chief Fire Officer stressed that this was a heavily caveated opinion and the difficulty of creating a new regulator for the construction sector, noting the benefits of a consistent regulatory approach across England while also cautioning against potential losses in local oversight and context. He assured the Committee that current regulatory activities will persist until changed, with the possibility of safety improvements as new measures are integrated.

5.            A Member asked about  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39