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Javid responds to councils on fire safety funding
Sajid Javid has written to councils and housing associations responding to requests for help funding fire safety works, having falsely claimed none had contacted him last week.
Last Thursday, the communities secretary told parliament that no local authorities had asked for financial assistance from the government to pay for the measures.
But Inside Housing revealed that at least five councils had already contacted the government seeking cash when he made the statement, prompting the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to admit Mr Javid was “not aware” of the requests.
Housing minister Alok Sharma – who had been sat next to Mr Javid when he made the claim – had responded to Croydon Council’s request a day before.
Inside Housing has obtained a letter (below) addressed to local authority and housing association chief executives dated 26 July and signed by Mr Javid.
In the letter, he wrote: “I thought it would help to outline the position on the funding arrangements for work that might be necessary.”
“Our expectation is that, as a building owner responsible for your tenants, you will fund measures designed to make a building fire safe, and will draw on your existing resources to do so,” the letter reads.
“Where a local authority has concerns about funding essential fire safety measures, they should approach us as soon as possible to discuss their position.
“Where works are necessary to ensure the fire safety of a building, we will ensure that lack of financial resources will not prevent them going ahead. It would not include general improvements or enhancements to buildings which go beyond this.”
The letter was sent to Brent Council, which sent an “official request” for financial support for fire safety work a week before he told parliament no councils had asked for funding.
At least six other councils – including Conservative-led Portsmouth City Council – had written to the government before last Thursday.
Three of these – Lewisham Council, Southampton City Council and Portsmouth City Council – said they had not heard back as of Thursday morning, despite the DCLG saying it aimed “to respond to each letter we have received within the next 24 hours” on Monday.
Mr Javid’s letter adds that the regulator is planning to write to housing associations “to give further clarity” on the situation.
