Agenda item

This item includes appendices that contain exempt information. Discussion of the appendices will require passing the proposed resolution at the end of the agenda to exclude members of the public and press.

1. To note that Appendix 1 is not for publication on the basis that it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) as set out in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

2. That Cabinet approves the procurement strategy proposing a mini-competition via the Pretium Building and Fire Safety Framework (Lot 8 – External Wall Works) to source a contractor to undertake external façade safety works at Norland House, Stebbing House, Poynter House Edward Woods estate W11.

3. That Cabinet notes that the procurement will be a two-stage design and build process with the Council entering into a pre-construction services agreement (“PCSA”) with a preferred supplier. Following completion of the design phase the Council will seek to enter into a works contract with the preferred supplier.

Councillor Frances Umeh (Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness) introduced the report that sought approval to run a procurement exercise to source a contractor to undertake the required works to the towers at the Edward Woods estate. Councillor Umeh added that the works would replace windows, improve fire safety, and improve thermal performance.

She then discussed the work that the Council had been doing on fire safety including:

• Personal evacuation plans and person-centred fire risk assessments had been put in place for residents. There was a partnership between the Adult Social Care and Housing teams to ensure vulnerable residents had evacuation plans.
• Sprinklers had been installed in 580 homes and upgrades had been made to wet rises.
• 15 minute fire doors had been installed, including for leaseholders at no additional charge.
• The Council provided free plug adapters and free portable appliance testing (PAT).
• Annual letters had been sent to residents with fire safety booklets.
• Strong governance processes had been put in place, with regular updates sent to Cabinet to give an overview on compliance. Regular update papers from the Director of Housing went to the Council’s Senior Leadership Team meetings. And regular updates went to the Housing and Homelessness Policy and Accountability Committee for member scrutiny. There was also robust resident scrutiny – a resident group had been set up to look at the fire safety works.

Councillor Umeh said the Council recognised the importance of taking proactive measures to ensure residents felt safe in their homes.

The Chair added that the Council’s Fire Safety Plus programme had first been put in place in 2016 following fires caused by faulty whitegoods. The Council replaced at risk whitegoods, replaced front doors with higher quality fire doors, and put risk assessments in place for a high percentage of residents. He then highlighted the Grenfell tragedy and said the victims were always in the thoughts of members and officers. He said it was the Council’s duty to avoid an event like that in Hammersmith and Fulham.

Councillor Adronie Alford addressed the meeting and gave her full support to the measures outlined above. She then noted her concerns about lithium batteries being stored improperly on estates and asked that the Council remained stringent about the issue. She also noted that she had a smart meter installed that later caught fire and asked that when the Council checked properties, they checked that smart meters were correctly installed too.

The Chair said he was sorry to hear about the fire. He said the Council was also concerned about lithium batteries (used in electric scooters for example) and was in the process of changing the tenant agreement to tackle this issue. Councillor Umeh gave assurances that smart meters were installed correctly and person-centred fire risk assessments were completed for residents. Regarding electric scooters, she noted that the London Fire Brigade has spoken about the dangers of them and how they are charged. They were responsible for a fire every two days, often due to incompatible chargers. To tackle this the Council would provide spaces to charge mobility scooters in sheltered accommodation and signage was put up in housing estates warning of the dangers. She said this issue was a top priority for the Housing team.

Councillor Wesley Harcourt also noted the dangers of the disposal of lithium batteries and how it had resulted in fires at the Western Riverside Waste Authority. The Chair said the Council was very alert to the risks of lithium batteries and he had discussed the issue many times with senior officers and members. He suggested a paper on this issue should go to one of the Council’s Policy and Accountability Committees for further discussion and scrutiny.

The report and recommendations were unanimously agreed.

RESOLVED

1. To note that Appendix 1 is not for publication on the basis that it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) as set out in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

2. That Cabinet approves the procurement strategy proposing a mini-competition via the Pretium Building and Fire Safety Framework (Lot 8 – External Wall Works) to source a contractor to undertake external façade safety works at Norland House, Stebbing House, Poynter House Edward Woods estate W11.

3. That Cabinet notes that the procurement will be a two-stage design and build process with the Council entering into a pre-construction services agreement (“PCSA”) with a preferred supplier. Following completion of the design phase the Council will seek to enter into a works contract with the preferred supplier.