Councillor Jones welcomed Mark Earwicker from the Technical Fire Safety Department of the Essex Fire Service and stated that the Cleaner Greener and Safer and the Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committees had requested that the Fire Service attend the first available committee following the horrific fire scenes that were witnessed with the fire at Grenfell Towers in West London.

Councillor Jones stated that politics should be put to one side so that all Members, Officers and Services should work together to try and alleviate any fears that Thurrock residents may have and to ensure that all residents who live in tower blocks are fully aware of the emergency procedures.

Mark Earwicker reported the following to Members:

•           That following the tragic fire at Grenfell Towers, a significant amount of work had been undertaken to reassure the public, look at what happened and to ensure that this event did not happen again.

•           Still waiting for the interim report on the fire although information had been made available to the Fire Services and the National Press as to the cause of the fire.

•           The reason for the spread of the fire was still under investigation. The Building Research Establishment had undertaken a specific number of fire tests on cladding performances.

•           The Government had set up an Enquiry Panel which had now received their own Terms of Reference. A Technical Team had been set up to give advice to this Panel.

•           Following the fire at Grenfell Towers, a critical team had been set up in Essex to analyse information that came out from this tragedy.

•           In Essex, the Fire Service were approached to look at tower blocks from a public prospective and to ensure buildings were technically up to standard.

•           The Chief Fire Officer sent letters to all Council’s chief executives offering services and for their engagement with the fire service.

•           Similar letters were sent by the Technical Fire Safety Department to Housing Departments to ensure engagement with residents was also taking part and a point of contact was available.

•           A Themed Audit Programme was set up to look at what high rise buildings were within the County. As part of the risk assessment undertaken those tower blocks with ten or more storeys where given priority for inspections and then the five to nine storey buildings.

•           Today in Essex, a full fire service audit had been completed on the 59 premises which had 10 or more storeys and these had been undertaken with the community officer in attendance. Engagement with residents had been made to offer support, advice and offer home safety visits for those required.

•           The Community Safety Team had visited 128 buildings, knocked on just under 6000 doors and had received 148 referrals for home safety visits.

•           The Community Safety Team had also carried out 65 audits on premises that ranged from five to nine storeys with 123 outstanding. These should be complete within the next two to three weeks.

•           No reports received that Thurrock high rise blocks had the aluminium composite material cladding similar to that of Grenfell Towers on them.

•           That 12 blocks were confirmed as having cladding but these were made from a resin-based material which had the highest possible fire rating.

•           That the 15 blocks in Thurrock had been visited with minor defects detected which could range from a door closure or an emergency light that had not illuminated and stressed that these would not cause any reduction in safety to those buildings.

•           That three out of the five to nine storeys had been visited with 17 still to be carried out within Essex.

•           A lot of work had been undertaken with public reassurances by the Fire Service personnel, crew and volunteers.

•           That the web site had been updated with animations to bring the leaflet to life.

•           Concluded that at this time consideration would be to undertake all the remaining checks.

Councillor Jones thanked Mark Earwicker for his report and asked who the members were that formed the Community Safety Teams and what umbrella of the Fire Service did they fell under. Mark Earwicker stated that the Team consisted of ex-operational officers, non-operational officers and volunteers. This team sat under the domestic arm of the fire safety to which this came under the Director of the Fire Service.

Councillor Collins queried if the cause of the fire was known. Mark Earwicker stated that the cause was a fridge on the fourth floor but a full investigation was underway to which the results were still waited on.

Councillor Collins questioned what was being done for those private properties that had been converted to flats. Mark Earwicker stated that this should form part of the building regulations and risk inspection programme. If Members had any concerns they should be reported and would be looked into.

Councillor Piccolo questioned what enforcements were in place when private owners did not engage with the Fire Service as part of safety checks. Mark Earwicker stated that private owners are formally requested to attend but following that legal action may need to be taken.

Councillor Kent questioned whether the process undertaken had been effective in the high rise blocks. Mark Earwicker stated that the responsibility fell on that responsible person and that person had to ensure that the risk assessment was in place and that they complied with building regulations.

Councillor Kent asked what enforcements could be put in place for those residents parking inconsiderately around the surrounding areas of rise blocks. Mark Earwicker stated that no specific feedback had been received from crew members about parking but leaflets were left on vehicles that were inappropriately parked in dangerous areas. Unfortunately the Fire Service had no powers on parking enforcements.

Councillor Allen asked what defined a minor defect. Mark Earwicker stated that a minor defect would be possibly a fire door closure or a light not illuminating. Mark Earwicker stated that Thurrock had come out well as part of the investigation with only minor defects with these being common in such large buildings.

Councillor Piccolo questioned whether a register could be kept of any major alternations made to high rise blocks or high rise buildings. Mark Earwicker stated that these alternations would form part of the building legislation and regulations and could be obtained through these means.

Councillor Kent asked that if a call from a high rise fire had been made for an Aerial Ladder Platform would this have sufficient crew to man it if crews from Grays, Orsett and Corringham were already in attendance at a fire. Mark Earwicker stated that if an Aerial Ladder Platform was required it would be called for and would either come from Southend or Chelmsford.

Councillor Jones thanked Mark Earwicker and the Essex Fire Service for the work undertaken and appreciated all the efforts made.

Mark Earwicker and Councillor Allen left the committee room at 7.45pm.