Issue - meetings

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which advised on the actions and activities the Council had undertaken following the tragic events that took place in Kensington and Chelsea with the Grenfell Tower Fire.

            Following the tragic events that took place at Grenfell Tower on 14^th June 2017, the immediate focus was on the type of cladding used on residential tower blocks greater than 18m tall. The Council was required, as also were all Registered Social Landlords, to send various returns to Government in relation to buildings in their ownership. The Council provided all information requested within the timescales set. As the Council does not own any housing stock, most returns were therefore nil returns.

            It was noted that there were no residential blocks of 18m tall in the Borough, however, the Council Building Control Team offered support to both Halton Housing Trust (the owners of Churchill Mansions in Runcorn) and also to the Management Company who look after The Decks in Runcorn. Following a review with the owners of those buildings, it was concluded that the high rise accommodation in Halton was considered low risk in relation to the external envelope of the building. However, two recommendations were made to the building owners:

·         Review all fire risk assessments and action any recommendations from those assessments; and

·         Retreat any timber above 18m as advised, or with any suitable treatment giving class 0 surface spread of flame (this relates specifically to The Decks)

            The only other high rise building in the Borough was the Municipal Building, Widnes and whilst it did have aluminium cladding panels to the podium, this was extruded aluminium and not aluminium composite material (ACM) that was used in the Grenfell Tower.

            Whilst there were no similar buildings to Grenfell Tower in Halton, the Council carried out further activities to ensure, as far as possible, that public buildings within the Borough were safe and full details of these were outlined in the report.

            Arising from the discussion, the Board requested an update from the building owners of The Decks and Churchill Mansions on the two recommendations detailed above.

            RESOLVED: That

1.    the report be noted; and

2.    an update be requested from the building owners of The Decks and Churchill Mansions on the two recommendations detailed above.