Agenda and minutes
Fire, Resilience and Emergency Planning Committee - Wednesday 25 May 2022 10.00 am

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

1.1  There were no apologies for absence. In accordance with Standing Order 2.4, with the permission of the Chair, Léonie Cooper AM participated in the meeting remotely.

Report of the Executive Director of Assembly Secretariat

Contact: Diane Richards, [email protected],  07925 353478

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).

2.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Assembly Secretariat.

2.2  Resolved:

That the list of offices held by Assembly Members, as set out in the table at Agenda Item 2, be noted as disclosable pecuniary interests.

The Committee is recommended to note its membership and chairing arrangements, as agreed by the London Assembly at its Annual Meeting on 9 May 2022.

Anne Clarke AM (Chair)
Susan Hall AM (Deputy Chairman)
Shaun Bailey AM
Hina Bokhari AM
Léonie Cooper AM
Len Duvall AM
Sem Moema AM
Zack Polanski AM
Nicholas Rogers AM

3.1  Resolved:

That the membership and chairing arrangements for the Committee, as agreed by the London Assembly at its Annual Meeting on 9 May 2022, be noted, as follows:

  Anne Clarke AM (Chair)

  Susan Hall AM (Deputy Chairman)

  Shaun Bailey AM

  Hina Bokhari AM

  Léonie Cooper AM

  Len Duvall AM

  Sem Moema AM

  Zack Polanski AM

  Nick Rogers AM

The Committee is recommended to note its terms of reference, as agreed by the London Assembly at its Annual Meeting on 9 May 2022, as follows:

1. To review and make a report or recommendation to the Mayor on any draft document or revision given to the Assembly by the London Fire Commissioner which is prepared and published by the London Fire Commissioner in accordance with the Fire and Rescue National Framework in accordance with the provisions of the Policing and Crime Act 2017.^[1]

2. To keep under review the exercise of the functions of the London Fire Commissioner.

3. To investigate, and prepare reports, as necessary, in accordance with the relevant provisions of section 327I of the Policing and Crime Act 2017.^[2]

4. To submit proposals to the Mayor/London Fire Commissioner in relation to fire and emergency matters in London as necessary.

5. To investigate, and prepare reports, as necessary, about the exercise of the Mayor’s statutory resilience responsibilities and activities. 

6.  To hold confirmation hearings in respect of the Mayor’s proposed candidate for the London Fire Commissioner and Deputy Mayor for Fire.

[Note: The Committee functions must be exercised with a view to supporting the effective  ...  view the full agenda text for item 4.

4.1  Resolved:

That the following terms of reference, as agreed by the London Assembly at its Annual Meeting on 9 May 2022, be noted:

1. To review and make a report or recommendation to the Mayor on any draft document or revision given to the Assembly by the London Fire Commissioner which is prepared and published by the London Fire Commissioner in accordance with the Fire and Rescue National Framework in accordance with the provisions of the Policing and Crime Act 2017.^[1]

2. To keep under review the exercise of the functions of the London Fire Commissioner.

3. To investigate, and prepare reports, as necessary, in accordance with the relevant provisions of section 327I of the Policing and Crime Act 2017.^[2]

4. To submit proposals to the Mayor/London Fire Commissioner in relation to fire and emergency matters in London as necessary.

5. To investigate, and prepare reports, as necessary, about the exercise of the Mayor’s statutory resilience responsibilities and activities. 

6.   To hold confirmation hearings in respect of the Mayor’s proposed candidate for the London Fire Commissioner and Deputy Mayor for Fire.

[Note: The Committee functions must be exercised with a view to supporting the effective exercise of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The Committee is recommended to note the following standing delegations of authority to the Chair of the Committee:

a)  At its Annual Meeting on 1 May 2013, the Assembly agreed to delegate a general authority to Chairs of all ordinary committees and sub-committees to respond on the relevant committee or sub-committee’s behalf, following consultation with the lead Members of the party Groups on the committee or sub-committee, where it is consulted on issues by organisations and there is insufficient time to consider the consultation at a committee meeting.

b)  At its Meeting on 6 June 2019, the assembly agreed to delegate authority to Chairs of ordinary committees, sub-committees and working groups to agree, in consultation with the relevant party Group Lead Members and Deputy Chairs:

  (i)  The detailed terms of reference for any investigation to be undertaken by the relevant committee, sub-committee or working group within its work programme as agreed by the GLA Oversight Committee, and any related project plans and arrangements for related site visits or informal meetings; and

  (ii)  The topic and scope for any additional projects to be added to its work programme, where it is not practicable to secure prior approval from the GLA Oversight  ...  view the full agenda text for item 5.

5.1  Resolved:

That the following standing delegations of authority to the Chair of the Committee, as agreed by the London Assembly at its Annual Meeting on 9 May 2022, be noted:

a)  At its Annual Meeting on 1 May 2013, the Assembly agreed to delegate a general authority to Chairs of all ordinary committees and sub-committees to respond on the relevant committee or sub-committee’s behalf, following consultation with the lead Members of the party Groups on the committee or sub-committee, where it is consulted on issues by organisations and there is insufficient time to consider the consultation at a committee meeting.

b)  At its Meeting on 6 June 2019, the assembly agreed to delegate authority to Chairs of ordinary committees, sub-committees and working groups to agree, in consultation with the relevant party Group Lead Members and Deputy Chairs:

  (i)  The detailed terms of reference for any investigation to be undertaken by the relevant committee, sub-committee or working group within its work programme as agreed by the GLA Oversight Committee, and any related project plans and arrangements for related site visits or informal meetings; and

  (ii)  The topic and scope for any additional projects to be added to its work programme,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Committee is recommended to confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 3 February 2022 to be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

6.1  Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 3 February 2022 be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Report of the Executive Director of Assembly Secretariat

Contact:  Diane Richards, [email protected], 07925 353478

The Committee is recommended to note the completed, ongoing and closed actions arising from previous meetings of the Committee and the additional correspondence sent and received.

7.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Assembly Secretariat.

7.2  Resolved:

That the completed, ongoing and closed actions arising from previous meetings of the Committee, and the additional correspondence sent and received, be noted.

Report of the Executive Director of Assembly Secretariat

Contact:  Diane Richards, [email protected], 07925 353478

The Committee is recommended to:

(a)  Note the action taken by the Chairman under delegated authority, in consultation with party Group Lead Members, namely to agree the Committee’s letter to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities regarding progress on recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry; and

(b)  Note the response from the Minister of State for Building Safety and Fire to the Committee’s letter to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities regarding progress on recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, as attached at Appendix 2.

8.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Assembly Secretariat.

8.2  Resolved:

(a)  That the action taken by the former Chairman under delegated authority, in consultation with the party Group Lead Members, namely to agree the Committee’s letter to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities regarding progress on recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, be noted.

(b)  That the response from the Minister of State for Building Safety and Fire to the Committee’s letter to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities regarding progress on recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, be noted.

Report of the Executive Director of Assembly Secretariat

Contact:  Janette Roker, [email protected], 07511 213748

The Committee is recommended to:

(a)  Note the report as background to putting questions to invited guests and note the subsequent discussion; and

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

9.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Assembly Secretariat as background to putting questions to the following invited guests:

·  Andy Roe, London Fire Commissioner (LFC);

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

·  Kate Bonham, Assistant Director of People Services, London Fire Brigade (LFB).

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

9.3  During the course of the discussion, the LFC agreed to provide the following:

·  A copy of the culture review terms of reference;

·  Results of the LFB employee surveys by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services and as part of the culture review;

·  To facilitate conversations with some of the support groups for Committee Members. to help them confirm information heard in their formal meetings regarding LFB culture and performance;

·  The outcome of the work looking at the prevalence of suicide among Fire and Rescue Services nationally and what long-term resilience programmes LFB could put in place;

·  Performance data on recruitment from LGBT+ communities as part of the Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP), with data provided to the Committee in the interim period before the CRMP comes into effect;

·  Detail on particular communities that are  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Report of the Executive Director of Assembly Secretariat

Contact:  Janette Roker; [email protected]; 07511 213748

The Committee is recommended to note its work programme, and its meeting dates as agreed by the London Assembly at its Annual Meeting on 9 May 2022, and the informal activity undertaken since its last meeting, namely the visit to Paddington Fire Station.

10.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Assembly Secretariat.

10.2  Resolved

That the work programme, and the meeting dates as agreed by the London Assembly at its Annual Meeting on 9 May 2022, and the informal activity undertaken since its last meeting, namely the visit to Paddington Fire Station, be noted.

The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled for 15 June 2022 at 2.00 pm in the Chamber, City Hall.

11.1  The next meeting of the Committee was scheduled for 15 June 2022 at 2.00 pm in the Chamber, City Hall.

12.1  There were no items of business the Chair considered to be urgent.

13.1  The meeting ended at 12.05pm.