Decision details

The Chair welcomed County Councillor Matthew Tomlinson, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools, Martin Cooper, Property Asset Manager (Capital Programme), and County Councillor Jackie Oakes, Chair of the Fire Suppression Measures Task Group, to the table.

The final report of the Fire Suppression Measures Task Group was presented to the Scrutiny Committee on 13 November 2015. Following the meeting the report was provided to County Councillor Tomlinson to respond to the recommendations.

County Councillor Tomlinson informed the Committee that he had discussed the recommendations with officers and about two dozen head teachers. These two dozen head teachers would not want to have a sprinkler system in their school and would be more interested in other methods of fire suppression. These head teachers were concerned about three elements:

·  Cost of a sprinkler system

·  Risk of sprinkler system being accidentally set off

·  Maintenance of sprinkler systems

He asked the Committee to agree to two minor amendments to the report so as he could accept the report in full. His problem with the report was the element of compulsion. He felt it compelled LCC, head teachers and governors to agree to the fitting of sprinkler systems. These decisions he felt should be taken on a case to case basis taking into account the risk and cost. 

The Education Funding Agency (EFA) had stated there would not be any money in the fund for sprinkler systems because it did not see it as a priority.

County Councillor Tomlinson's amendments were regarding Recommendation 1 of the Task Group's report. His suggested alteration was:

"All brand new schools developed by LCC shall have a sprinkler system considered (rather than "installed") as part of their safety strategy. With regard to the extension of an existing school, where the capacity of a school is to increase by 50% or more, based on pupil numbers, then a sprinkler system shall be considered for (rather than "installed into") the resultant new facility (both the new and existing elements).

County Councillor Jackie Oakes stated that the report was completed with the evidence that the Task Group had been provided with and with the principal that the LCC standard should be the one aspired to and that a majority of the Task Group did not agree with the amendments.

Councillors were invited to ask questions and raise any comments in relation to the report, a summary of which is provided below:

·  Members enquired if when circumstances merited a sprinkler system then one would be fitted. If the amendments were made to the report then it would give Members reassurance that the fitting of a sprinkler system would be considered.

·  The Task Group felt that if the fitting of sprinkler systems was considered then the financial consideration became very important. The Task Group was concerned that finances should not be the important element of a decision of this nature.

·  The question of are fire drills was raised. Were fire drills being done at schools and was there a register of these drills? There was no central log of fire drills but each school should have their own register. County Councillor Tomlinson informed the Committee he would speak to governors about putting general information and updates on fire drills into the Yellow Book which was issued after every term.

·  Members were informed that finance was not the final arbiter in whether a sprinkler system should be installed or not. If it was deemed necessary to fit a sprinkler system on a health and safety risk assessment then one would be installed.

Resolved: That

1.  The Committee note and comment on the response provided by the Cabinet Member

2.  The Committee accept the Task Group report with amendments.