At the September meeting of Sutton Local Committee, Steve Tucker, Chief Executive of Sutton Housing Partnership and Simon Latham of Sutton Council updated those present on the impact of the Grenfell fire disaster on high rise blocks in Sutton.  Steve told us that the new cladding at Chaucer House had passed the government’s safety test.  The block has already got sprinklers and alarms, but safety visits have been stepped up, and residents have had home visits to outline fire risks and safety procedures.

Residents raised questions about private sector flats.  Here the Council has little authority.  Margaret Thatcher largely dismantled building control regulations in the 1980s, as part of her drive to ‘reduce bureaucracy’.  Now we are seeing the effects. The hope is that the review into the Grenfell fire will recommend that building controls be again tightened up.