Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director (Housing and Communities) provides an update on progress and outlines the actions undertaken to Queensway House.

Report of the Corporate Director (Housing and Communities) provided an update on progress and outlined the actions undertaken to Queensway House which had been or were necessary to comply with the requirements of the fire risk assessment (FRA) and Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Members noted that, whilst the design details for the update for the additional unforeseen works were awaited from the consultants, the Council continued to take every possible measure to manage resident and leaseholder’s expectations regarding timescales and the challenges faced.  Members also noted that the additional unforeseen works had not been detailed in the original FRA (new ventilation and fire suppression sprinkler system).

The post-Grenfell Hackitt report and subsequent overhaul of areas of fire safety had meant that progress with certain elements of the work had been slower than expected.  However, residents had been kept updated of the areas of fire safety work that this related to and how this affected them.

In response to questions, Officers reassured Members that, at the time of procurement, the fire safety doors had met all Government standards.  The situation had arisen because the Government was questioning the original specification.  The work to replace the fire safety doors had virtually been completed, with two or three leaseholder doors remaining to be replaced.  Officers were closely monitoring the situation and would keep Members updated regarding new concerns raised nationally about the effectiveness of fire doors.

Officers reported that, following the request of the mother of a Queensway House resident to hold a meeting to inform of the reasons for the delay and length of time it had taken to carry out the works, a resident’s meeting had been held the previous week.  It had been a highly charged meeting which had been very difficult to control and to convey messages to the residents due to the atmosphere at the meeting.  At the conclusion of the meeting it was agreed that an action plan would be produced and progressed to the conclusion of the works.

The Corporate Director provided the background to the reasons why the bathroom windows had been blocked up.  The Fire and Rescue Service had raised the windows as the area of most concern in relation to the safety of residents in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.  As the priority of the Council was to maintain the safety of residents, the decision had been taken to carry out the work to fill in the window spaces.

Members were asked to note that a complicated electronic ventilation system would be installed to compensate for this.  However, it would take time for this to be sourced and installed.

Officers confirmed that Ward Members were regularly updated about the progress made with the works to Queensway House and would continue to be.

Members noted that Building Control had been made aware that the bathroom ventilation was not currently compliant with Building Regulations.  However, it was acknowledged that the fire safety of the building overrode this requirement.

In response to a question, Officers undertook to inform Members separately to the meeting, of the timetable for the final tenders for the proposed integrated ventilation / sprinkler system at Queensway House.

RESOLVED:

(1)        That the report be noted.

(2)        That a further update be brought to the next meeting of the Panel.

(3)        That the timetable for the tenders for the proposed integrated ventilation / sprinkler system at Queensway House be circulated to Members separately to the meeting.