Issue details
The Spendells Cabinet Report for 24th May
2024, highlighted that matters concerning fire doors within the
Scheme were still subject to negotiation.
A Fire Safety Report dated 23 May 2024 for Spendells House carried
out by Fire and Security Ltd and subsequent advice from Mr. Tony
Fitch, Chartered Building Engineer employed by Babergh and Mid
Suffolk District Councils but who is working with TDC to provide
temporary support to TDC's Building Control team.
It has been identified that a number of fire doors do not meet
minimum standard of compliance with the national Building
Regulations and that, as a consequence, a Building Control
completion certificate cannot be issued unless and the facility
cannot be opened and used until those doors are replaced and any
other compliance issues are addressed.
One of the principal issues relates to the fact that whilst some
doors display the necessary certification labels, those that do not
cannot be assured to be Building Regs compliant and Mr. Fitch has
advised that any such door will need to be replaced. There have
been discussions as to whether those doors not displaying the
labels can be accepted as compliant on the basis that they appear
identical in all other respects to those that do display the
labels; however the advice is that this is not sufficient assurance
and completion certificates could not legitimately be issued on
that basis.
An Officer Decision (being made by Ian Davidson, as Chief Executive
in the absence of the Corporate Director (Operations and Delivery))
is required to move money from the Cash Incentives Scheme budget
within the Housing Revenue Account to fund the urgent requirement
for the replacement of fire doors within Spendells.
Constitutional Reference: Financial Procedure Rules Part 5.43
– Paragraph 6.3.5 - Virements and Approvals (d) Housing
Revenue Account Capital Schemes in this case £60,000 (being
under £100,000) upon the service confirming to the Section
151 Officer that this results in no adverse impact on the HRA
Capital Programme.
The Cash Incentives Scheme allocation within the Housing Revenue
Account has been unspent in past years. The scheme was intended to
provide a cash incentive for tenants to move to smaller properties
as their households decrease in size. The scheme has not been
active and the use of the funding in the current case is helpful in
avoiding a direct impact on other necessary work areas in the
programme. It is possible to replenish the scheme fund in the
future if the scheme itself becomes active.
Decision type: Non-key
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Notice of proposed decision first published: 11/06/2024
Decision due: 10 Jun 2024 by Chief Executive
Contact: Ian Davidson, Chief Executive Lisa Hastings, Assistant Director Governance Email: idavidson@tendringdc.gov.uk Tel: 01255 686007.
Decisions