Folkestone and Hythe Council Fire Risk Assessments

On Thursday, I asked F&HDC Cabinet Member for Housing David Godfrey and his Housing Team to clarify the current position on Fire Risk Assessments in Folkestone & Hythe District Council's blocks of flats, and how the the remedial work that those inspecitions have flagged up, are going.

In an email update this evening, Councillors have been told:

"East Kent Housing currently manages the Fire Risk Assessment process (FRAs) in respect of the 180 blocks of flats for Folkestone & Hythe District Council. The assessments are carried out by a qualified fire risk assessor and undertaken at between one and three year intervals; the frequency being determined by the assessor based upon their evaluation of the risk in each block. The assessments include the consideration of a wide range of factors including condition, fire alarms, emergency lighting, fire doors, escape routes, vandalism, fire safety advice on notice boards and general housekeeping issues.

"The current position is that all 180 blocks have in-date FRA's and there are 122 actions which are due to be completed by 31 October 2020. It is important to recognise that undertaking Fire Risk Assessments is a continuous process along with the work that is identified from that process.

"We continue to work closely with EKH and the Social Housing Regulator, and our new Housing Service will manage the process from the 1 October."

I hope therefore to hear by November that all blocks still have in date Fire Risk Assessments and that all those 122 actions have been completed. I've made a note to check.