Agenda item

5.1       The Head of Assurance presented the report. He referred to Appendix A in the report which detailed all the corporate estate assets that were part of a routine inspection programme. He wanted to make clear that none of the actions were severe. They were being monitored because they were minor and the objective was to encourage staff to complete the tasks.

5.2       Councillor Best referred to Appendix A and said that Campion Hall was in Sydenham ward and agreed to email officers with regard to the correct ward for Kirkdale Centre.

5.3       A question was asked about how officers could assure members that there was health and safety compliance response in all council owned buildings. Concern was expressed about recording incidents in swimming pools, the use of school facilities by the community, facilities in parks and whether Lewisham homes would be coming into the corporate estate. The Head of Assurance said that the answer to these questions was in development. In a trial run exercise, a sample of 20 properties were looked at last Autumn and all were found to be compliant. However, officers still needed to consider the compliance for another 280 properties. The Head of Assurance said that he was looking into how information could be gathered in a way that gave assurance. Officers had information about contracts and leaseholders but needed to develop ways of finding out the activity that takes place in these council buildings.

5.4       The Head of Assurance said that Lewisham Homes had their own Corporate Health and Safety team. He had met them recently and he would continue to work with them.

5.5       It was noted that when Lewisham Homes was brought in house, all of the assets and buildings would become the responsibility of Lewisham Council. This Committee would oversee all of those assets, including staff, once they were transferred back.

5.6       There was discussion about risk assessment and members were advised that a professional external risk assessor was engaged to undertake risk assessment in Lewisham. Risk assessments, shown as high medium and low, reflect the true use of a building to ensure that the remedial actions in place were proportionate. A library, for example, had a medium risk because of the nature of its use.

5.7       The Head of Assurance said that Deptford Lounge was not included in the list of Corporate Estates premises in the appendix to the report because Health and Safety requirements were overseen by a trust that occupied this building. He believed that the Albany oversee the health and safety for Deptford Lounge but he said that he would check this information and advise members accordingly.

5.8       The Albany was one of Lewisham’s library hubs. Catford library had moved to Catford Mews. Members were aware of changes to the hubs and agreed to email the Head of Assurance with any information they received. Downham Health and Leisure Centre was part of a shared building the library part included Lewisham staff. Members were mindful of where staff were working, and that proper health and safety checks were being carried out. The Chair suggested that members should email the Head of Assurance and the Committee Officer if any anomalies were found in this report. This was agreed.

5.9       The Head of Assurance said that the information he had received was that the upkeep of the fabric of the buildings listed in the Appendix, was the responsibility of this Council. This list did not include buildings that were not the responsibility of this Council. These properties had a contractual arrangement and officers were looking into ways of monitoring how effective these contracts were in practice.

5.10    In response to a question, members were advised that introductory training was generic, but fire wardens and fire risk assessment in person training was specific to the building where staff were fulfilling those roles. The Head of Assurance said that the fire risk assessment for the Broadway Theatre since its recent renovation, had taken place and he agreed to provide this information as part of this Committee’s Forward Plan.

5.11    Housing management services currently provided by Lewisham Homes would soon be brought under the control of Lewisham Council. The Head of Assurance agreed to report back to the next meeting of this Committee on the health and safety of staff transferred to this Council.

5.12    The Chair thanked the Head of Assurance and his staff, for all their hard work in producing these reports for this Committee

RESOLVED that

(i)   the report be noted;

(ii)  the Head of Assurance will investigate who was responsible for Health and Safety at Deptford Lounge and advise members accordingly; and

(iii) information on the fire risk assessment for the Broadway Theatre be sent to members of this Committee and included in this Committee’s Forward Plan.