Agenda and minutes
Extraordinary, Fire, Resilience and Emergency Planning Committee - Tuesday 5 November 2019 10.00 am

The Chair has agreed that this meeting be called as a matter of urgency in order to consider the Phase 1 report from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry at the earliest opportunity, in accordance with section 100B(4)(B) of the Local Government Act 1972.

1.1  In accordance with paragraphs 1.7 and 1.10A of the Authority’s Standing Orders the Chair stated his agreement that the meeting be called as a matter of urgency to consider the Phase 1 report from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry at the earliest opportunity, in accordance with section 100B(4)(B) of the Local Government Act 1972.

To receive any apologies for absence and any announcements from the Chair.

2.1  Apologies for absence were received from Gareth Bacon AM, for whom

Shaun Bailey AM substituted, Florence Eshalomi AM, and David Kurten AM. Len Duvall AM attended the meeting as substitute for Florence Eshalomi AM, for Items 1 through to part way through Item 4. At 11.30am, after Len Duvall AM had left, Navin Shah AM attended as a replacement substitute for Florence Eshalomi AM until the end of the meeting.

2.2  At the outset of the Item 4, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of those who had lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower Fire.

Report of the Executive Director of the Secretariat

Contact: Jonathan Baker, [email protected]; 020 7084 2825

The Committee is recommended to:

(a)  Note the list of offices held by Assembly Members, as set out in the table at Agenda Item 2, as disclosable pecuniary interests;

(b)   Note the declaration by any Member(s) of any disclosable pecuniary interests in specific items listed on the agenda and the necessary action taken by the Member(s) regarding withdrawal following such declaration(s); and

(c)   Note the declaration by any Member(s) of any other interests deemed to be relevant (including any interests arising from gifts and hospitality received which are not at the time of the meeting reflected on the Authority’s register of gifts and hospitality, and noting also the advice from the GLA’s Monitoring Officer set out at Agenda Item 2) and to note any necessary action taken by the Member(s) following such declaration(s).

3.1  Resolved:

That the list of offices held by Assembly Members, as set out in the table at Agenda Item 3, be noted as disclosable pecuniary interests.

Report of the Executive Director of the Secretariat

Contact: Janette Roker, [email protected]; 020 7983 6562

The Committee is recommended to:

(a)  Consider the detail of the Phase 1 report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and consider the Committee’s next steps.

(b)  Note the report as background to the discussion on Phase 1 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and the subsequent discussion.

(c)  Delegate authority to the Chair, in consultation with party Group Lead Members, to agree any output from the meeting.

4.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat, as background to putting questions to the following invited guests on the Phase 1 report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry:

·  Dany Cotton QFSM, London Fire Commissioner, London Fire Brigade (LFB);

·  Dr Fiona Twycross AM, Deputy Mayor for Fire and Resilience; 

·  Andy Bell, Assistant Commissioner, LFB.

·  Roy Wilsher, Chair, National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC);

·  Mark Hardingham, Chair of the NFCC Protection and Business Safety Committee and Chief Fire Officer, and Executive Director, Fire and Public Safety, Suffolk County Council; and

·  Matt Wrack, General Secretary, Fire Brigades Union (FBU).

4.2  The London Fire Commissioner, the Deputy Mayor for Fire and Resilience and the General Secretary, FBU, made brief opening statements regarding the Phase 1 report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

4.3  A transcript of the discussion is attached at Appendix 1.

4.4  During the course of the discussion, the General Secretary, FBU, undertook to provide details of the times when the FBU submitted information warning of the risk of external cladding fires, including who was written to.

4.5  During the course of the discussion, the Deputy Mayor for Fire and Resilience undertook to consult on the format and report back  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.1  The meeting ended at 12:31pm.