WORKING TOGETHER TO Laura Barker from the Resident Engagement Team out and about meeting tenants with Cllr Terrry Paul, Mayoral Advisor for Housing and London Fire Brigade
In the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster, Newham Council is doing all it can to keep residents living in tower blocks safe. A Resident Engagement Team was set up last year to work with council tenants and leaseholders to ensure that all the necessary safety measures were in place, both in communal areas and all individual flats and implementing anything further which might be required. A robust programme is now well under way to carry out this work, in partnership with the London Fire Brigade. The team has been visiting blocks across the borough, carrying out vital fire safety checks. So far the following has been achieved as part of this work: • All 83 council managed tower blocks have been inspected by officers following the Grenfell disaster • 1,523 council managed low-rise blocks have been inspected by officers • All Fire Risk Assessments are up to date and have been published on www.newham.gov.uk • 2,168 enhanced fire safety visits to individual residents. These visits check smoke alarms are working, whether correct fire doors are in place and fire safety advice is issued. The team also ensures that any vulnerable residents have been identified and has provided them with information about what they should do if there is a fire in their block, helping them with an escape route if necessary. 14
Newham Council has been awarded funding from the London Fire Brigade to fund a range of fire safety equipment which will be distributed to older residents and other vulnerable people including those with mobility or mental health issues. The £20,000 funding has been given to the council as part of the Community Safety Investment Fund, set up to reduce fire risk in the home. The funding will be used to supplement the work already carried out by the council and will be spent on fire retardant bedding packs, personalised sprinkler systems and electric cooker guards. London Fire Brigade Commander for Newham, Spencer AldenSmith, said: “By working together with Newham Council, we can improve safety, reduce risk and protect those who are the most vulnerable.”
Mayor Sir Robin Wales welcomes the funding announcement