Minutes:
“As Labour's Parliamentary Candidate for Welwyn Hatfield, I attended a meeting before Xmas with tenants, leaseholders of Queensway House and their representative Dee Chessum also attended by the Council leader and housing portfolio holder and Labour councillors. The meeting heard from tenants and leaseholders about their deep and legitimate concerns about delays to essential repairs to sort out urgent damp and mould problems, sanitation issues, very serious security risks which have resulted in anti-social behaviour and delays to the fitting of essential fire sprinklers which won't even start to be fitted until September this year more than 2 years after the tragedy of Grenfell Tower. Added to that tenants are without a lift for several months. Their only access to their homes via a stairwell which non tenants have found their way into because of security risks. There are small children living in the block. Does the leader of the Council think this is an acceptable way for people to have to live and does he take full responsibility for the abject failure of the Council to ensure that Queensway House is fully fit for human habitation?”
Answer
The question was answered by Councillor N.Pace (Executive Member, Housing and Community) :-
“I am sorry that residents of Queensway House feel concerned about various issues relating to the block. The Council is fully aware of all these concerns and has remained in regular and comprehensive communications with residents about these issues, prior to and since the terrible tragedy of Grenfell Tower.
In relation to concerns about mould and damp in flats we are aware that this has come about since the council, acting directly upon the recommendation of the Herts Fire and Rescue Service, carried out works to infill bathroom windows which opened directly into the communal hallways. Herts Fire and Rescue service made this recommendation when carrying out an inspection of Queensway House as a part of a nationwide response following the Grenfell Tower fire. Whilst the infilling of windows before a new ducted extractor system has been installed may be causing some incidents of condensation in bathrooms, the council’s first priority will always be to ensure the safety of residents. Officers have been working with individual residents to help alleviate issues caused by condensation as and when requested by residents, including providing advice and distributing dehumidifying units.
Regarding concerns about sanitation in the block the council has invested in a CCTV survey and full jetting of the soil stack and successfully cleaned and removed limescale which had built up naturally over time. Any individual concerns about sanitation are managed by council officers upon request and the council has clearly communicated contact details for residents who remain concerned.
I am sorry that residents feel there is a security risk to the block. In response to residents’ concerns as previously reported to the council, a full maintenance inspection has taken place of the communal entrance doors and remedial works took place to fix the doors. The council has not received any further complaints about the doors since they were repaired in December 2018.
The council has been working hard with the police to address and deal with reported cases of anti-social behaviour. There have been five incidents of anti-social behaviour in communal areas of Queensway House reported to the council over the past eighteen months. Six incidents were reported to the police over the same period. On all of these occasions the incidents were investigated. The council is currently looking at whether the CCTV in the block can be enhanced. The council is fully committed to continue working with residents and partner agencies to tackle these issues and I would encourage anyone who witnesses anti-social behaviour taking place to report this to the council and the police.
I appreciate that residents are frustrated over the length of time being taken to install the new lift. The replacement of the lift was included on the council’s planned maintenance schedule because it was nearing the end of its life. A series of breakdowns late last year which were well documented prompted the early decommissioning of the lift prior to the installation of the new lift later this month. The council has worked hard to identify residents who are unable to manage stairs while the lift has been out of action. Where this has been the case alternative accommodation has been provided. Where residents remain at Queensway House compensation has been paid and accepted in recognition of the inconvenience caused whilst the lift has been decommissioned.
In addition to fitting the new extractor system to bathrooms following the infilling of the bathroom windows, Members made the decision to retrofit a full block sprinkler system to enhance existing fire protection measures at Queensway House. This decision was taken following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, which has drawn the country’s attention to the importance of robust fire prevention and control measures, especially in tower blocks. The retrofitting of a sprinkler system is not currently a legal or regulatory requirement, however as explained above, the council puts the safety of residents at the forefront. The council appreciates that this bespoke product, along with the bathroom extraction system is a significant and complex piece of design and installation work, hence the long time frame in completing it.
The council has taken a comprehensive and diligent approach in managing the various issues of concern raised by residents of Queensway House. It is taking every possible measure to ensure the fire safety of the block, including compliance, demonstrated through the fire risk assessment process.
In conclusion I fully reject the accusation that Queensway House is not fit for habitation and that the Council has failed in its management of the block.”