To answer questions asked after notice in accordance with the provisions contained within the Council Rules in Part 4 of the Constitution on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties or which affects the District:
(a) to the Chairman of the Council;
(b) to the Leader of the Council;
(c) to any Member of the Cabinet; or
(d) the Chairman of any Committee or Sub-Committee.
The Council Rules provide that answers to questions under notice may take the form of:
(a) direct oral answer;
(b) where the desired information is in a publication of the Council or other published work, a reference to that publication; or
(c) where the reply cannot conveniently be given orally, a written answer circulated later to the questioner.
Answers to questions falling within (a) and (b) above will be made available to the member asking the question one hour before the meeting. Answers to questions falling within (c) above will be circulated to all councillors.
Questions, if any, will follow if not received in time to be incorporated into the agenda.
Minutes:
Question by Councillor S. Neville to the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Councillor S. Stavrou
“Could the Housing Portfolio Holder advise;
a) For how long did the council know that Mullaley were using flammable insulation, encapsulate or not, in the properties being built in Burton Road; and
b) Could she give an assurance that no such materials have been used in other council houses built or adapted in the Council House Building programme.”
Answer to Councillor S. Neville from Councillor C. Whitbread, Leader of Council on behalf of the Housing Portfolio Holder S. Stavrou
“The contract with Mulalley is based on Design and Build where the contractor to takes on overall design responsibility beyond the planning drawings. This gives them flexibility in terms of material selection, although they must have regard to the Employers Requirements and above all, the Building Regulations, which are there to ensure fire safety, is put at the heart of the design process.
In terms of responding to the question “how long the council have known of Mulalleys intention to use ‘flammable’ insulation” is perhaps more difficult to respond to, it was certainly evidential when the insulation materials were first brought to site that they had not selected ‘Rockwool’ for example as their preferred insulation. But, as I have already said, material selection is a choice for the contractor, and they are not required to draw every detail to the council’s attention or seek permission for their selection.
However, it is not the choice of insulation itself that represents a fire risk, it is the method in which it is to be utilised i.e. fully encapsulated means that it would not be exposed directly to a source of fire once it is in situ. The insulation selected for the Burton Road development would not be a fire risk were it fully encapsulated as it was designed.
Having read the comparisons with the Grenfell disaster on the front page of the local paper recently, we are concerned that sensational headlines will cause a great deal of unnecessary anxiety for potential tenants. Links with the Grenfell Tower do a disservice to the people involved in that disaster as well as families currently waiting for a new home on our waiting list.
Burton Road is a completely different building and it is not yet finished. The fire was caused by a construction related accident, not the materials used. Unlike Grenfell, Burton Road only has four floors. The interior was practically untouched by the fire. Even if it had been possible for such a fire to start once the building was finished and occupied, all the evidence suggests people would have been able to escape unharmed. The building stood up remarkably well to the blaze.
However, I can advise that the council will, in consultation with its contractors, review the type of insulation materials it uses to continue to ensure that our new homes are built with due consideration of health and safety standards, the Building Regulations and best practice for fire safety. We will also be reviewing our requirements for flat roof construction, and considering all our options going forward, including alternatives to ‘hot works’ if practicable.
Regarding the assurances that no such materials had been used in other council properties. No, he could not give assurance that these materials have not been used widely across all our new build properties. However, the choice of insulation material does not constitute the same risk as for the Burton Road fire as it is fully encapsulated and not exposed as a potential source of fire as per my previous response.”
Councillor S. Neville had no further supplementary questions.