Agenda item

The Fire at Grenfell Tower

A number of questions were raised relating to the recent fire at the Grenfell Tower Block, in West London which led to a tragic loss of life.  Members expressed concerns about the safety of residents and asked about external cladding on council properties, on student accommodation and some houses in Rushey Mead.  A Member also commented that there were reports that the insulation at Grenfell Tower had given off cynanide gas.

The City Mayor thanked Members for the questions in the light of the terrible tragedy at the Grenfell Tower Block. He reported that Leicester City Council had six high rise flats, one of which had 22 floors and five were 17 storeys high. There was also a further building with 11 storeys. None of those had external wall insulation but neither did they have sprinkler systems.  It had been agreed to install sprinklers but work was needed on their specification  to ensure they were appropriate. All of the blocks had a current fire risk assessment and weekly fire safety inspections, and none of the blocks had gas in them. The City Mayor acknowledged that this did not answer all questions that had been raised by Members, particularly with regard to those properties that were not in the ownership of the Council. 

The City Mayor stated that he had spoken to the Chief Fire Officer who had said that he would prioritise initially all tower blocks that were over 8 storeys high as well as those with cladding.  He was not aware that cynanide gas was being attributed as being part of the issue, but more information about the fire was gradually emerging.

In relation to the conventional advice to stay put in a fire, there was a question that was emerging as to whether this was still the right advice. The City Mayor commented that he believed that the Chief Fire Officer considered this still to be the correct advice as it had been in the past. It was advice though that was dependent on the integrity and compartmentalisation of the building not being compromised. This advice would need to checked, but there was no reason to believe that for the time being, this advice should be changed.  

With regard to the concerns relating to individual houses with external cladding, the City Mayor commented that he had no reasons to believe that what happened at Grenfell Tower related to those properties, but they would be checked. This however would be after those issues that had already been identified as a main priority.

A Member suggested that there should be lights at a low level on stairways to help people exit in the event of a fire and subsequent smoke.  The City Mayor responded that he would talk to the Chief Fire Officer again and raise this suggestion.

A Member asked about residents with impaired mobility that lived in council owned properties. He questioned whether those residents had been identified, and if there were a lot of residents with impaired mobility in one block, whether the Fire Authority was aware.  Members also raised the need for a robust action plan to be in place.  At the City Mayor’s suggestion, Members agreed to receive a briefing on the emergency plan, at a future meeting of the Committee.

A Member stated that there were concerns about the safety of citizens because of the impact of spending cuts on the Police and Fire Authority. The City Mayor was asked if he could do everything in his powers to make sure the safety of residents was not compromised. The City Mayor responded that Willy Bach, the Police and Crime Commissioner had made representations about the budget and he would continue to support the Commissioner in his recommendations.  The City Mayor added that he believed that the Fire and Rescue Service was in a better position that it had been two years ago, in terms of budget and personnel.

The Chair concluded the discussion and thanked the City Mayor, Councillors and Officers for attending.