By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
Mansfield District Council has outlined a series of planned works across its housing stock to prevent the risk of fires.
The authority is undertaking a programme of fire upgrade works across hundreds of council-owned properties, with inspections, fire stopping works and suppression systems outlined among measures to keep homes safe.
It comes as the council updates on its progress for an almost £9 million investment in fire protection programmes, aimed at improving protection in homes controlled under its housing revenue account.
A report published ahead of an overview and scrutiny committee this week states the council will soon need to review its fire risk assessments in properties with shared and common areas.
Assessments have already been conducted on sheltered schemes and blocks of flats, with a council-led group to work with Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service to ensure all future prevention work is fit-for-purpose.
The report states: “A programme for fire upgrade works, such as fire stopping works, fire detection, emergency lighting, fire door inspection and suppression systems to sheltered schemes has been developed.
“A fire upgrade and refurbishment project group exists and meets monthly to oversee the progression of this programme of work, with support from design services and finance.
“The group has initially focused its work on the progression of fire upgrade and refurbishment work to sheltered schemes, with close working with Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service.
“Regular meetings take place with the fire service at the schemes to ensure they are familiar with the progress being made and satisfied with the council’s response to, and management of, fire risk.”
The report adds a partial survey has been undertaken on every block of its general needs flats, of which the council owns about 350 homes.
This, the council says, was conducted to log the “presence of fire controls” including emergency lighting, fire detection and firefighting equipment on-site.
The information gathered within this survey, the council adds, will help the authority to design a future programme of works and could also lead to future refurbishment projects.
The authority has budgeted £8.923 million for the fire prevention work between 2020/21 and 2023/24, including works in Willingham Court, Beech Court, Roston Court and Tideswell Court.
Future works are also planned in New England Way and Vale Court, with proposals currently being drafted up by the authority.
It comes after a leading firefighter published a fatal fire review following a series of serious house fires across Nottinghamshire.
Fire fatalities rose in Nottinghamshire last year, with seven incidents resulting in seven deaths throughout 2021 compared to four deaths from three incidents in 2020.
And Bryn Coleman, area manager for prevention, protection and fire investigation at the fire service, said single males are the most likely victims.
Of the seven deaths in 2021, one incident took place in Nottingham city, one in Newark and Sherwood, one in Rushcliffe, two in Broxtowe and two within the Ashfield district.
Three fatalities were adult females, with the remainder being adult males. Four of the fire fatalities were over the age of 65; the youngest fatality was 53-years old, with the oldest being 85.
All of the seven victims lived alone, and all but one had underlying medical conditions, mobility impairments or mental health issues.
One fatality took place in a moving vehicle, whilst all others were within the home.
