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Javid threatens to ‘name and shame’ associations over cladding samples
Sajid Javid stepped up his rhetoric against housing associations today as he threatened to “name and shame” those that have not sent in cladding samples for testing.
The communities secretary made the comments in response to a question in parliament from Conservative MP Robert Courts. Despite the government announcing new tests two weeks ago, it is still determined to complete its previous round of testing.
Calling the delay “simply unacceptable” in his statement, Mr Javid nevertheless accepted that the seven towers that have yet to submit samples are privately owned and simply managed by housing associations.
He said: “I understand they might be a bit difficult, a bit more complex than other situations, but still we expect that information to come in right away.”
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The government again revised its figure of the number of tower blocks fitted with aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding – the same kind as was used on Grenfell Tower – now saying there are 208 as opposed to 240 as it claimed earlier in the week. Previously, it had said there were 530 towers fitted with ACM cladding.
Gill Payne, executive director of public impact at the National Housing Federation, said: “Housing associations do not in fact own these buildings and therefore do not have the authority to extract the samples without the approval of the owners, which in this case are private companies.
“Our members have repeatedly written to the freeholders urging them to engage in the testing process but have yet to receive answers.”
Yesterday, the NHF suggested that the government’s recording of data has not been sufficiently prompt or accurate.
In his statement, Mr Javid also claimed that – despite widespread calls for the government to commit more funding to local authorities struggling to cover additional fire safety measures – no local authority had asked for assistance from the government.
Five councils, however, have told Inside Housing that they have contacted the government to ask for help with funding. These are Birmingham, Croydon, Southwark, Brent and Southampton councils.
Mr Javid’s statement also revealed that the first results of the new round of cladding tests should come in next week.
