The Executive Director (Communities and People) has submitted a report to seek Cabinet approval and delegated authority to award contracts to enable replacement of entrance doors to flats with compliant certificated fire doors for relevant properties in the portfolio as identified in fire risk assessments.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.      Grant project approvalfor the replacement of front entrance doors to flats in higher risk buildings with compliant certificated fire doorsas described in the report; and

2.      Delegate authority to the Executive Director (Communities and People) in consultation with the Head of Financial Services, the Head of Law and Governance and the Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities to enter into a contract with ODS (subject to agreeing an appropriate price in line with previous similar works) or an alternative contractor in order to deliver the installation of certified fire doors across the housing portfolio.

The Executive Director (Communities and People) had submitted a report to seek Cabinet approval and delegated authority to award contracts to enable the replacement of entrance doors to flats with compliant certificated fire doors for relevant properties in the portfolio as identified in fire risk assessments.

Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, drew attention to the legislative framework relating to fire doors in residential buildings as outlined in the report.  The Council was currently unable to evidence that all of the fire doors in Council-owned residential buildings met all of these requirements.  A programme to replace all fire doors with new, certificated fire doors had therefore been initiated, in order to give full assurance that all safety standards were being met. The programme had been completed for the highest risk high-rise blocks: the next stage would involve the next priority risk blocks of temporary accommodation, housing for older people and Pound House.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.      Grant project approvalfor the replacement of front entrance doors to flats in higher risk buildings with compliant certificated fire doorsas described in the report; and

2.      Delegate authority to the Executive Director (Communities and People) in consultation with the Head of Financial Services, the Head of Law and Governance and the Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities to enter into a contract with ODS (subject to agreeing an appropriate price in line with previous similar works) or an alternative contractor in order to deliver the installation of certified fire doors across the housing portfolio.