Decision details

The Cabinet Member with the Health and Housing Portfolio introduced the report of the Group Director of Operations (previously circulated) requesting that consideration be given to the Housing Services Fire Safety Policy 2022/27 (also previously circulated).

The submitted report stated that this Council provided 355 homes for local residents in seven Sheltered Housing schemes and three Extra Care schemes and that the Housing Services Fire Safety Policy 2022/27 set out how the Council would provide staff, residents, visitors and partner organisations, in those Council owned schemes, with clear guidelines as to how to prevent fires and what action to take in the event of a fire, to protect themselves and others.

It was reported that the Tenants Panel and Health and Housing Scrutiny Committee had been consulted on the draft policy and it had received overwhelming support.

RESOLVED – That the Housing Services Fire Safety Policy 2022/27, as appended to the submitted report, be approved.

REASONS – (a)  Darlington Borough Council has a duty to comply with fire safety legislation.

(b)  The Social Housing Regulator’s Consumer Standards places a duty on social housing landlords to provide their tenants with quality, safe accommodation.

(c)  The adoption of a formal Fire Safety Policy is one of the ways to demonstrate how we will achieve both compliance with the legislation and the Social Housing Regulator’s Consumer Standards.?????