MQ answers Jan 19 fire and resilience

January 28, 2019 office

Question No: 2019/0357

Andrew Dismore

How many a) operational firefighters and b) members of staff in the London Fire Brigade are nationals of other EU countries; what estimate have you made of the likely number who will return home in the event of a hard Brexit; and what are you doing to provide assistance and reassurance to them?

Nationals of other EU countries [7]

The Mayor

Last updated: 22 January, 2019

At present London Fire Brigade (LFB) staff data sets do not record nationality or allow LFB to distinguish between UK, EU (excluding UK), and other nationals. This information could only be determined by checking individual staff files. LFB has undertaken an exercise in reviewing current staff based on the information available and believes there are a small number of staff of 100 or less who are likely to be nationals of other EU countries and will be required to apply for pre-settled or settled status. LFB is now explaining to those members of staff the process they will be required to go through in attaining settled status which, as I announced in December, will include paying for the application process if the Government does not scrap the settled status application fee for EU citizens living in Britain after Brexit.

Nationals of other EU countries [8]

Question No: 2019/0358

Andrew Dismore

What estimate have you made of the impact of a hard Brexit on the London Fire Brigade’s ability to recruit a) operational firefighters and b) members of staff in who are nationals of other EU countries?

Nationals of other EU countries [8]

The Mayor

Last updated: 22 January, 2019

The full details of changes to immigration rules in relation to a range of Brexit scenarios are not yet known but the London Fire Brigade will continue to monitor this. No formal estimates of the impact on recruitment has been made as this is not possible to undertake accurately at this stage. LFB appoints a relatively low number of recruits who are from other EU countries, and so does not believe there to be a material risk to recruitment or the establishment overall. LFB will continue to provide support and advice to existing staff who are nationals of other EU countries to ensure they have as much information as possible.

Flammable cladding on office blocks

Question No: 2019/0363

Andrew Dismore

The Government’s ban on some forms of flammable cladding on some residential buildings is welcome. But the TUC has pointed out there is no protection for offices, stadiums, music venues and other commercial premises. Will you a) support the TUC’s call for flammable cladding to be banned on commercial tall buildings as well as residential in London, and b) ensure that GLA family organisations share TUC guidance on fire safety with relevant union representatives?

Flammable cladding on office blocks

The Mayor

Last updated: 22 January, 2019

Yes, I agree that the ban should apply to commercial buildings. In my response to the consultation on banning combustible materials, I called for the ban to apply to all new buildings regardless of height or use.

I am aware however that commercial buildings often have arrangements to facilitate evacuations in the event of a fire. That is one of the reasons why it is appropriate to prioritise residential buildings where dangerous cladding on existing buildings is being remediated.

Thank you for raising the important issue of fire safety in the workplace. The London Fire Brigade has a range of information and resources available on their website: https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/safety/the-workplace/. I will ensure a link is circulated to relevant union representatives.

LFB recruitment targets

Question No: 2019/0364

Andrew Dismore

The Fire, Resilience and Emergency Planning committee heard from the London Fire Commissioner that London Fire Brigade is on target to be at full strength in 2019. Is this prediction still accurate?

LFB recruitment targets

The Mayor

Last updated: 22 January, 2019

London Fire Brigade’s workforce modelling demonstrates that they are on target to achieve a full establishment of staff in 2019.

LFB’s Grenfell taskforce

Question No: 2019/0365

Andrew Dismore

London Fire Brigade say they have thirty staff working on their response to the Grenfell Tower fire. Please provide a breakdown of the work programme of this unit since its establishment and for the next year.

LFB’s Grenfell taskforce

The Mayor

Last updated: 22 January, 2019

Since its inception, the Grenfell Tower Investigation and Review team has been gathering, recording and reviewing information to understand what happened during the first seven hours of the incident, leading to the production of two factual narrative reports. In addition. it has supported the Brigade’s participation in and disclosure to the Public Inquiry while also supporting the Metropolitan Police Service’s criminal investigation.

In 2019, the team will undertake an analysis of the first seven hours of the incident to identify adverse events and the immediate and underlying causes while continuing to build the timeline and factual narratives beyond the first seven hours. The team will continue to support the Inquiry and police investigations and support the Brigade’s preparations for Phase 2 of the Inquiry which will include the production of corporate statements produced in response to Rule 9 requests.

ACM cladding on GLA land (1)

Question No: 2019/0366

Andrew Dismore

In your position statement to the Grenfell Tower inquiry, you stated that there are three sites where the GLA owns the freehold that currently have occupied residential blocks with aluminium composite panel cladding. There is a further site owned by London Legacy Development Corporation where an unoccupied building has ACM cladding.

Please provide the following information:

The address of each site, or as precise location information as can legally be provided

The identity of the leaseholders or as precise information about each organisation as can be provided

When the sites were leased

Answer for ACM cladding on GLA land (1)

The Mayor

Last updated: 22 January, 2019

Officers are drafting a response

ACM cladding on GLA land (2)

Question No: 2019/0367

Andrew Dismore

Please provide the following information on the three sites owned by the Greater London Authority where aluminium composite panel cladding is present, plus the one London Legacy Development Corporation site currently unoccupied where relevant:

When the ACM cladding was installed
The date on which you became aware that each site had ACM cladding
The date on which residents at each site were made aware of the cladding

Answer for ACM cladding on GLA land (2)

The Mayor

Last updated: 22 January, 2019

Officers are drafting a response

ACM cladding on GLA land (3)

Question No: 2019/0368

Andrew Dismore

Please provide the following information on the three sites owned by the Greater London Authority where aluminium composite panels cladding is present, plus the one London Legacy Development Corporation site currently unoccupied where relevant:

The date on which interim fire safety measures were put in place
The nature of these interim measures
The cost of these interim measures
How the cost has been met

Answer for ACM cladding on GLA land (3)

The Mayor

Last updated: 22 January, 2019

Officers are drafting a response

ACM cladding on GLA land (4)

Question No: 2019/0369

Andrew Dismore

Records of discussions between the GLA and the leaseholders regarding the replacement of the ACM cladding
Any plans, budgets and timelines for the replacement of the cladding

Answer for ACM cladding on GLA land (4)

The Mayor

Last updated: 22 January, 2019

Officers are drafting a response

ACM cladding on GLA land (5)

Question No: 2019/0370

Andrew Dismore

The planned occupation date for the unoccupied block on LLDC land
The number of residents living on each site
The total number of housing units on each site
Details of any other premises, for example commercial space

Answer for ACM cladding on GLA land (5)

The Mayor

Last updated: 22 January, 2019

Officers are drafting a response

Stopping abuse of London Fire Brigade staff

Question No: 2019/0371

Andrew Dismore

You supplied data showing that 76 recorded incidents of abuse of firefighters occurred in 2018. That is up from 57 in 2015. Please state what is being done to reduce this count and ensure the perpetrators face consequences. Please also provide detail on what falls into the “other” category of abuse, which made up nearly a third of total incidents.

Stopping abuse of London Fire Brigade staff

The Mayor

Last updated: 22 January, 2019

It is London Fire Brigade policy to report work-related violence to the police so they can investigate and take appropriate action, including giving consideration to offences under the Assault on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018, and will work closely with the police throughout any criminal proceedings.

The “other” category is not broken down into sub-sections but when crews select this category to report violence or abuse towards firefighters they can enter free text to describe the incident. The descriptions of these incidents can broadly be broken down into threats/aggressive behaviour, objects fired or thrown (e.g. fireworks) and obstructing firefighters in the course of their duties.

Resilience and the draft EU withdrawal agreement

Question No: 2019/0372

Andrew Dismore

What assessment have you made of the impact on London’s resilience of exiting the EU on the terms set out in the Government’s draft withdrawal text that was agreed with the EU?

Resilience and the draft EU withdrawal agreement

The Mayor

Last updated: 22 January, 2019

The focus of preparations for the EU Exit has been against the no-deal scenario as this presents the Reasonable Worst Case Scenario to prepare against. Some of the most significant implications for resilience as a result of the EU Exit arise from the disruption at borders. These would be negated under the withdrawal agreement in so far as they provide additional time for the government to negotiate longer term solutions with the EU. Therefore, with limited time and resources to plan during this period of uncertainty, the focus has remained upon planning for a no-deal scenario rather than assessing the potential impact of the implications of the withdrawal agreement.

Resilience and outsourcing (1)

Question No: 2019/0373

Andrew Dismore

What work have you and the London Resilience Forum done on the risks to resilience posed by arm’s length companies set up by councils to manage certain services?

Resilience and outsourcing (1)

The Mayor

Last updated: 22 January, 2019

The LRF continues to take part in the national assurance mechanisms that review the collective assurance of the partnership against their ability to support pan London Multi-Agency responses.

It is the responsibility of individual organisations as defined within the Civil Contingencies Act to be able to maintain their statutory and critical services regardless if the provision of the service is outsourced through their business continuity arrangements.

The Local Authorities’ Panel is represented at the Local Resilience Forum. It has carried out its own assurance process to satisfy itself of the arrangements for some years of the borough’s individual resilience plans and is putting in place a more rigorous assurance process.

Resilience and outsourcing (2)

Question No: 2019/0374

Andrew Dismore

What work have you and the London Resilience Forum done on the risks to resilience arising from outsourced services in the public sector?

Resilience and outsourcing (2)

The Mayor

Last updated: 22 January, 2019

The LRF continues to take part in the national assurance mechanisms that review the collective assurance of the partnership against their ability to support pan London Multi-Agency responses.

Recladding residential buildings over the winter

Question No: 2019/0375

Andrew Dismore

On 18 November I wrote to Deputy Mayor James Murray asking what was being done to address the following matters on the removal and replacement of flammable cladding:

To ensure that costs are met centrally, not from Housing Revenue Account budgets, for replacement of non-ACM but still flammable cladding
To ascertain the number of residential blocks with non-ACM but still flammable cladding
To provide residents with a subsidy or other settlement to protect them from high winter fuel bills

Please provide an update on these matters.

Answer for Recladding residential buildings over the winter

The Mayor

Last updated: 22 January, 2019

Officers are drafting a response

LFB rank structure

Question No: 2019/0379

Andrew Dismore

What progress is being made with the new LFB crew, watch and station rank structure?

LFB rank structure

The Mayor

Last updated: 22 January, 2019

A project board of key stakeholders including the Fire Brigades’ Union has been set up to deliver this. The detailed implementation plan is subject to formal approval through the London Fire Commissioner governance process in March. Updates on the project will then form part of the quarterly performance reports to the London Assembly’s Fire Resilience and Emergency Planning Committee. The current expected implementation date is towards the end of 2019.

fire safety non-compliance in social housing

Question No: 2019/0380

Andrew Dismore

How many local authority homes and blocks of flats have been assessed as non-compliant with fire regulations in the last three years? Please break down the numbers by borough and by the reason for non-compliance.

fire safety non-compliance in social housing

The Mayor

Last updated: 22 January, 2019

The information requested is not readily available. Work is underway to see how this information might be provided in the future.