Agenda item - Council Statement - Grenfell Tower fire

The Chair read out the following statement.

“Our thoughts are with the people affected by the terrible fire at Grenfell Tower and we thank the London Fire Brigade, the London Ambulance Service, all medical staff and council colleagues for their responses; and their bravery.

The safety of our residents is of paramount importance to us. All council owned high rise blocks are inspected by the council each year to ensure they are compliant with current standards.

We work closely with East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service through our Housing Fire Health & Safety Board to review and oversee compliance with current fire safety regulations in our housing stock, in particular high rise blocks. The board has met this morning and has discussed the Grenfell Tower fire.

A pilot sprinkler system – funded by Brighton & Hove City Council and East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service – was completed in 2016 at Somerset Point – a high rise seniors housing scheme in the city.

Working closely with our partners we have been able to increase the housing capital budget for works to reduce fire risk. We’re proposing sprinkler systems in two further high rise blocks in the city, subject to resident consultation in the blocks concerned.

As is the case with any major incident, we – along with our partners – will review processes and systems, but until the results of investigations into Grenfell Tower fire are available we cannot speculate on the potential cause or causes.

Officers would provide a report to the Committee after the enquiry.”  

Following the statement the Committee held a minute’s silence.