Councillors urged to carry out further cladding checks on Calderdale buildings

During Calderdale Council Cabinet’s debate on the authority’s annual Health and Safety report, Coun Steven Leigh (Con, Ryburn), raised the issue following a fire at student accommodation in Bolton late last year, and recalling the Grenfell Tower disaster in London in 2017, in which 72 people lost their lives.

“Can we have just another check so we are satisfied in our own minds that we have done everything possible to ensure safety, not just to the letter of the law but the spirit, to keep our residents safe?” he said.

The council’s Chief Executive, Robin Tuddenham, said no buildings run by the council had that kind of cladding and there were no Calderdale buildings in a recent West Yorkshire Fire Service report on 13 apartment blocks in the region which still had issues with “flammable” cladding.

The council’s work over the past three years had focused on different types of cladding, not just the type seen at Grenfell, he said.

Cabinet member for Regeneration and Resources, Coun Jane Scullion (Lab, Luddenden Foot), who presented the report, said: “We have worked very hard not just for our own local housing estate but with partners in the wider public estate, and given advice to partners.

“There is absolutely no complacency in keeping our eye on fire safety.”

The report does recommend the fitting of sprinklers to buildings housing vulnerable residents.

She said the council remained vigilant in all areas of Health and Safety.

Cabinet agreed to undertake a full security review of town centre premises where front-facing service and reception points were available following “a number of significant threats, abuse and physical violence to staff reported to the Health and Safety team.”

Councillors were advised in the report: “The solutions are not simple but the financial risks alone of not protecting staff from assault are high in terms of potential HSE fines, self-insured civil claims and litigation and insurance premiums.”

They also supported a recommendation to employ additional security personnel to support staff working in these spaces – “while still ensuring the public get the support they need and the services they require,” said Coun Scullion.

Detailing health and safety measures which are in place across council settings, the paper also includes breakdowns of the type of injuries which have been reported in a range of council spaces including schools.