Agenda item - Housing Fire Safety Policy

Report of the Executive Director for Neighbourhoods, Communities & Housing (copy attached).

21.1    Rachel Chasseaud, the Head of Tenancy Services, introduced the report and highlighted:

• The new fire safety policy would be reported at the Housing & New Homes Committee on 18 January 2017.
• The current policies and vulnerable resident fire procedures had been updated.
• The sprinkler system had been installed in Somerset Point and a further two high rise blocks were to have the system installed in 2017.
• Following the advice from the East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, alternative solutions were being found to store mobility scooters, as they could not be kept in the communal hallways.
• There was an article in the previous edition of Homing In providing information regarding fire safety, and there would be a further, more detailed, article in the winter edition. Posters had been redesigned and leaflets had been produced.

21.2    In response to queries from the Panel the Head of Tenancy Services clarified:

• That the Housing Association should be abiding by the Council’s policies regarding keeping clear common hallways.
• The majority of purpose built blocks had storage space that could be used for bikes and mobility scooters; however, a lot these were not being used. Lower cost solutions were being looked at for storage and these would have smoke detectors installed.
• The East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service encouraged power sockets to be switched off at night. New homes were being built with sockets located higher on the walls, in accordance with the national building regulations, to ensure vulnerable residents can reach them.
• The East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service noted that candles should not be left unattended.
• Brighton & Hove City Council and Mears were aware that more power points were needed, as extension leads could be a hazard, and they were insuring more were being installed in new homes.
• There was a limited space for advertising homes; therefore, available storage would not be noted in an advert.

21.3    RESOLVED – That the Panel agreed to note the report.