Agenda item
To consider Item 10
Minutes:
The Group Commander advised Members that the purpose of this report was to provide an overview of two Home Office funded Protection programmes. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) had established the Building Safety Programme to make sure that buildings were safe, and people feel safe, now, and in the future.
Following the Grenfell Tower fire, the Government had banned combustible materials in the external walls of high-rise residential buildings of 18 metres and over. Following a review into its effectiveness, was now consulting on extending the ban significantly further, including lowering the 18m height threshold to 11m. In March 2020, the Home Office Fire Protection Board’s first Building Risk Review (BRR) exercise focusing on Aluminium Composite Material buildings was successfully completed by fire and rescue services (FRS’s).
The Group Commander advised Members that the next phase of MHCLG work to be undertaken, involved two Protection programmes. The Building Risk Review programme, which would deliver a review of all high-rise residential buildings over 18m by the end of December 2021, and the Protection Uplift Programme, to drive improvements in local protection capability. Both programmes had been supported through Home Office grant funding.
Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS) had received grant funding of £60,000 based on there being 32 in scope Buildings, as identified by the Home Office. However, BFRS records had identified a total of 71 premises above 18m, 57 of which were in scope. A third of these buildings had been triaged so far and, subject to COVID-19, the Service was on target to complete this programme by the middle of 2021.
The Protection Uplift Programme was set to bolster fire and rescue services protection capability and delivery. This Service had received a grant of £123,549.85 to support this based on 2,393 in scope premises, according to MHCLG.
A Member asked if a further report noting any changes or recommendations could be brought to Members and was advised that officers would continue to update Members on matters around the building risk review, protection uplift and infrastructure activities.
The Chairman advised Members that she had asked for a letter to be written to the Planning Departments of Buckinghamshire Council and Milton Keynes Council asking that the Authority become a statutory consultee on high rise buildings. The Chairman appreciated that with the planning changes made in December 2020, some residential properties could just be built.
The Area Commander confirmed there was a draft letter waiting to be presented as part of a briefing for consideration.
A Member asked regarding the number of buildings in scope for £10m funding including one religious building in Buckinghamshire, where it was and was advised that the Authority was aware of a number of religious premises with a sleeping risk. The one highlighted in the report related to a nunnery in the south of the county. Although only one had been high-lighted by MHCLG, the Authority’s own internal data team had very robust information and that was what officers were working from.
The Chairman asked for updated figures so that Members would be aware of exactly how many building’s were being looked at in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.
RESOLVED –
That the Service’s approach to the BRR be noted.
It being proposed and seconded:
RESOLVED –
That a letter go from the Authority to the Planning Departments of the constituents councils, requesting that it become a statutory consultee in the planning process for certain types of premises.
Supporting documents:
- ITEM 10_FA Cover Paper BRR - Protection Uplift Programme 020221, item 10. PDF 213 KB
- ITEM 10a_Appendix A - BRR - Protectuion Uplift Report (2), item 10. PDF 260 KB
- ITEM 10b_Appendix B - Total distribution of funds by FRA, item 10. PDF 305 KB
- ITEM 10c_Appendix C - Grant Payments Acceptance Letter, item 10. PDF 308 KB
- ITEM 10d_Appendix D - Infrastructure funding distribution, item 10. PDF 117 KB
- ITEM 10e_Appendix E -Protection Funding Rationale, item 10. PDF 215 KB