Minutes:
8.1 The deputy chief executive extended the council’s deepest sympathy to the family and friends of people who had died or lost their homes in the fire at Lakanal House. She thanked the emergency services for their response and thanked colleagues at the Red Cross, neighbouring boroughs, hospital and tenants’ organisations. The council was in the process of ensuring that other residents were safe and was supporting the police and fire authorities in investigating how the fire had started and how it had spread as it did.
8.2 In response to questions, the London Fire Brigade representative explained that as a matter of course all operational decisions made on the day would be examined with a view to identifying any lessons to be learned and establishing how the fire developed and how it was dealt with. The results of this would be made open. Members asked whether, if particular problems were detected at any early stage, interim measures would be taken immediately and not have to wait until the conclusion of the investigation. The London Fire Brigade representative clarified that interim measures to reduce risk in Marie Curie House had been agreed with the council. Councils across London had been asked to review and inspect their housing stocks as a priority. The deputy leader confirmed that no time would be wasted if any necessary works were identified. The deputy chief executive added that the council was undertaking a programme of fire risk assessments on all its blocks and had brought in private expertise in order to complete the programme by the end of the week.
8.3 The representative of the police reported that senior level discussions were taking place in order to establish a specialist unit to take over the police investigation. This would allow local officers to continue with other work. The London Fire Brigade representative explained that the fire brigade would be supporting the police investigation, in terms of providing scientific advice.
8.4 Members asked how any risk issues identified would be communicated to other local authorities and housing associations. The deputy chief executive commented that in the press a lot of emphasis had been placed on single access stairwell blocks but emphasised that at this stage this had not been identified as a contributory factor in the Lakanal House fire. It was the responsibility of a central government department, in collaboration with the fire brigade, to disseminate information to other housing authorities and the council was co-operating fully with them. The London Fire Brigade representative added that the fire had been fought from the single stairway at Lakanal House and that the integrity of the staircase was not in question. The fire had behaved, internally and externally, in a way that had not been anticipated and it was essential to ensure that any conditions contributing to this were not replicated in other blocks. The government had appointed a Chief Fire & Safety Advisor to take an overview of the circumstances of the fire, look at the result of the investigations and share lessons nationally.
8.5 Members were concerned as to when residents would have access to their possessions. The head of community safety explained that the police investigation team had begun the process of retrieving essential items and that to date thirty flats had been entered for this purpose. Members also asked where residents were being housed and what counselling or other support was being made available. The deputy chief executive reported that seventy-nine Lakanal households had been housed in emergency B&B accommodation, the remainder were staying with family or friends, and that significant housing resources were in place and working to provide longer term solutions. As of Monday July 5 all Homesearch advertising had ceased, housing assessments were being carried out and some offers had already been made. The aim was to get Lakanal residents back into the borough. A counselling service had been made available.
8.6 Members asked when information would be available about the costs to the council resulting from the fire and to what extent these would be mitigated by insurance policies. The deputy chief executive explained that this would depend on the findings of the fire investigation. A record was being kept of expenditure including any capital works that resulted.
8.7 Councillor Martin Seaton asked if the experience of previous fires on Sceaux Gardens was being taken into account as part of the investigations. He asked if the number and position of fire exits would meet current fire regulations. The London Fire Brigade representative responded that all previous fires would be taken into account but commented that none of them had behaved as had the recent fire. The lay-out of Lakanal House allowed two escape routes and was built to the standards applicable in 1959. The practicalities of improving to current standards were enormous. The Fire Brigade representative explained that home fire safety visits were regularly offered to residents to educate them about what to do in case of fire.
8.8 Members asked that ward councillors and the tenants and residents association be kept up to date as to the progress of investigations and re-housing of residents. Members also asked how the process of grants and donations was being managed. The deputy chief executive explained that the current intention was to put together a group including ward members and tenant representatives to prioritise and allocate money received. Legal officers were looking into the structure of donations and any benefits that could be obtained by forming a charity.