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Council leaders join pledge to continue vital building safety work during pandemic
Leaders from 25 councils in England have vowed to ensure that vital building safety work continues during the coronavirus outbreak where it can be done safely.
The pledge follows on from a promise initially made in mid-April by the six regional mayors alongside housing secretary Robert Jenrick, to ensure high-rise buildings with unsafe cladding are prioritised.
It sets out a commitment to improve the safety of residential blocks during the COVID-19 crisis, and to ensure that those working on site are given clear information and support to guarantee their own safety and limit the spread of COVID-19.
New signatories to the pledge include leaders of 18 London boroughs as well as representatives from Manchester, Slough, Leeds, Sheffield, Salford and Liverpool.
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Lord Greenhalgh, building safety minister, said: “The agreement reached with local leaders from across the country is an important step that demonstrates a shared commitment to ensuring this vital work continues during the pandemic.”
To support building safety during the crisis, the government has appointed construction consultants Faithful & Gould to advise those carrying out aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding remediation work.
John Biggs, mayor of Tower Hamlets, said: “Almost three years on from the Grenfell Tower tragedy, delays and inaction on the part of private property owners means there are still too many people forced to go to sleep at night not knowing if they are safe in their homes.
“It is right that we are focusing as many resources as possible on our coronavirus response, but where work can continue safely, it is also essential that we continue to make progress on vital fire safety work.”
In the Spring Budget the government announced a £1bn Building Safety Fund to fund the removal and replacement of unsafe non-ACM cladding systems.
However, respondents to a select committee survey published today have expressed concern that this fund will not be enough to cover costs.
