Issue - meetings

Cabinet discussed proposals for the tower block refurbishment and retrofit programme that would see transformational works to five of the tower blocks owned by Thanet district council. Some of the work being carried out was essential for health and safety. For example, the replacement of the external wall insulation. The increased scope of this project was due to the discovery of essential fire safety works, which had contributed to the additional costs.

Most of the increased cost was due to the external wall system remediation. A more expensive system had been chosen for its improved fire rating, reduced ongoing maintenance requirement and increased durability. The cost of this would be fully funded by Homes England. These works were non-negotiable and the Building Safety Regulator would not give approval for the project without addressing these issues. Once the health and safety works were completed, the waking watch could step down. The waking watch had been posted at each tower to mitigate the fire risk. This would mean the HRA revenue account could move from deficit to surplus.

Other works would ensure the buildings were fit for purpose into the future, for example the replacement of windows and the roof. It was recognised that costs may be a challenge for some leaseholders, but they would benefit from the improvements to their homes, which would include the energy efficiency measures that will contribute to lower energy consumption. During this project, there had been a lot of consultation with residents, for example, the consultation to choose the colour and design for the outside of the towers. At key stages in the project, there had been face-to-face events at the blocks so residents had an opportunity to speak to council officers, architects, contractors and consultants.

The two Resident Liaison Officers held a large estate presence and were on hand to answer questions. There was a new High Rise Living resident group that met once a quarter. At these meetings they discuss issues regarding building safety but this was also a forum to discuss concerns regarding the project.

Finally, much of this project was externally funded. The Building Safety fund was provided to resolve safety issues with cladding in buildings over 18 meters and would fund 100% of the cost of the work to remediate the external wall system. £4.2 million had been awarded from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, which was in place to address energy efficiency measures in the blocks. It was the award of the funding that made this programme of work affordable to the council, which would ultimately provide cost efficiencies when completed, as the Council should not have to carry out scaffold dependent cyclical works, like window replacement or balcony refurbishment for 30-40 years.

Councillor Bayford spoke under Council Procedure Rule 20.1.

Councillor Whitehead proposed, Councillor Yates seconded and Cabinet agreed the following:

1.  An increase in the scope of the project to include emergency health and safety work;

2.  Note the increase in the value of the overall project, in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18

Report to follow

Sally O’Sullivan, Head of Tenant and Leaseholder Services, introduced the report and made the following points:

·  The Tower Block and Retrofit Programme involved the transformative works of the five tower blocks owned by Thanet District Council;

·  Works that were being carried out were primarily for safety, including external insulation;

·  The scope of the project increased when the discovery of essential fire safety works contributed to additional costs;

·  Due to the increase of fire safety works, a more expensive system with an improved fire rating was chosen, this also helped with ongoing maintenance costs and durability;

·  The costs of the works was fully funded by the Homes England Grant;

·  The works themselves were non-negotiable and would have resulted in the non-approval of the Building Safety Regulator if left unanswered;

·  When works were fully completed, the Council was be able to step down the Waking Watch posted at each of the 5 tower blocks, this was to help move the HRA revenue accounts from deficit to surplus;

·  The works were also benefit Leaseholders as the energy efficiency measures would bring down energy costs;

·  Consultation with residents resulted in the choices of the colours for the designs of the works with events that were carried out at the tower blocks themselves to give residents the opportunity to address the architects and contractors. Resident Liaison Officers were also available for contact during this time as well as a high-rise living residents group that met once per quarter;

·  The external funding through the Homes England Grant contributed towards the cladding part of the project;

·  A contribution of £4.2 million was provided by the Social Housing Decarbonation Fund to reduce the energy needs of the blocks;

·  The concluded works resulted in no scaffold dependent works to be carried out on the blocks for the next 30-40 years.

The Panel discussed the report, made comments and asked questions as follows:

·  Councillors asked how the leaseholders themselves felt about the plans. Officers replied that the residents were positive about the plans, noting fire safety as one of the benefits, however some concerns remained from the leaseholders themselves regarding the costs associated which were paid through service charges;

·  Officers informed the panel that the cost for leaseholders was between £25,000 - £40,000, depending on the size of the property and how many properties were in the block. Leaseholders had the option to speak to Thanet District Council in an individual basis in order to arrange affordable repayment plans over a number of years;

·  Councillors asked what the total number of leaseholders were that have been affected. Officers responded that the total number was 32;

·  Councillors asked if the leaseholders were to possibly have the choice of an additional charge added against their property, rather than having to pay through repayments. Officers replied that there was no option for a charge against the property.

·  Councillors made note that the residents in the tower blocks that they engaged with appreciated the Waking Watch and expressed concerns that this could end up  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4