The report of the Strategic Director of Neighbourhoods is attached.

The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director Neighbourhoods which provided information about building safety compliance in Housing Services in light of the issue of a Limited Assurance opinion concerning fire safetyprocesses in July 2023.

The Director of Housing Services introduced the report with emphasis that safety remained at the heart of the Council’s vision and practise for social housing and, as such, prior to the transfer of former Northwards housing stock (the Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) back to the Local Authority, an audit of systems and procedures in connection with fire risk assessment safety had been undertaken. The findings had resulted in the issue of a Limited Assurance opinion and a number of agreed actions which were set out in the report for ease of reference. The majority of those actions had been completed, with just two remaining actions not yet fully implemented. New roles and systems had been implemented. The matter was under review of the Housing Board and the Housing Advisory Body and performance information on building safety compliance had been published on the Council’s website

Discussions touched on recent events in Bristol where approximately 400 residents in a Local Authority maintained tower block were decanted from their homes at extremely short notice requiring temporary accommodation due to concerns over building safety. The Director of Housing Services gave assurance that the circumstances surrounding the Bristol decant were markedly different to the issues raised in the assurance opinion. Tried and tested policies and procedures were in place, including the availability of front line staff to support and accommodate residentsshould safety concerns arise. Furthermore, a review of the Council’s approach to building safety in view of recent legislative changes was underway. This would include the approach taken in relation to damp and mould and asbestos exposure and any further areas of improvement that had been identified. He also gave emphasis to a majority of capital programme spending in Housing Services being ring-fenced to building safety and decent homes.

A member of the committee welcomed the progress and sought clarification on the underlying reasons for the delay with the remaining two action points yet to be finalised. A degree of complexity around particular Private Finance Initiative (PFI) housing stock was described as the cause, as well as an assessment of best practice examples from other organisations prior to ratification by the Housing Board. With regard to the access strategy, he advised that further engagement with residents was needed in view of a number of complexities however good progress had been made.

In response to a question about Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), the Committee noted that full structural surveys had been undertaken of high rise stock which identified no RAAC. A recent detailed desktop exercise undertaken by Strategic Housing had identified a small number (circa 35) of assets (communal and high rise configuration of buildings) requiring further investigation. For residential assets, a further study was underway of approximately 1500 properties with a potential structural element containing RAAC. However initial onset investigations indicated that this was not the case, though further sampling would be undertaken. It was asserted that colleagues were in a strong position to act quickly should any remediation be necessary.

In response to a question about next steps where residents refused access to properties to enable remediation, the Committee was informed that risk based assessments, including vulnerability assessments were undertaken in view of the nature of work being refused. Enforcement, where indicated, of tenancy agreements and other legal routes would also be considered subject to being proportionate, reasonable and compliant with the relevant legislation because of the impact not only to the resident but to neighbouring properties.

The Executive Member for Housing and Development agreed that issues around refusal of access were an important consideration that had been duly considered at that Housing Advisory Board. An education piece had subsequently been implemented to support better engagement with residents to explain the importance of this type of work and the benefits conferred on residents in term of theirs and their neighbours/ health and safety. Due to the time taken to complete such an exercise, the matter would be overseen by the Housing Advisory Committee. The extent to which local ward members could facilitate the process would also be explored.

Decision

To note the report.