Issue - meetings

To consider the Notice of Motion proposed at Council on 20 July 2022 in relation to the fitting of sprinklers in buildings in the borough.

Councillor Nick Mannion attended the meeting as the original proposer of the Notice of Motion at full Council on 20 July 2022 and introduced the item to the Committee.

The Committee was advised that all Fire Authority Members had voted in favour of the motion, the other 3 Local Authorities within the Cheshire Fire and Rescue boundary (Cheshire West and Chester, Halton and Warrington) had formally adopted the motion through their own governance systems. 

The Committee was advised that sprinklers work and save lives and give Blue Light Services time to get to a fire without catastrophic consequences.

Visiting Councillor Sally Handley addressed the Committee and noted that the Beechmere fire in Crewe was a tragedy and the ongoing impacts on the victims and families needed to be kept at the forefront of minds of Members when making any decisions.

During the Beechmere Fire on 8 August 2019, 137 homes and contents were destroyed.  Councillor Handley paid tribute to the actions of Care workers, residents and emergency services in helping mitigate a worse tragedy.

Councillor Handley has been part of a campaign for sprinklers to be mandatory in all specialist care homes across Cheshire East, she noted that potentially, had Beechmere had a comprehensive sprinkler system the outcome of the fire would have been different.

Councillor Handley noted that formal adoption of this motion into planning policy would be positive for residents and was in favour of the recommendation.

Visiting Councillor Anthony Critchley addressed the Committee, he noted that the Beechmere fire in Crewe was a major incident that occurred in August 2019 and displaced approximately 150 residents from their homes, the majority older and vulnerable members of the community.

The design of the Beechmere Care Home used a significant amount of timber, however this was covered by the building regulations of the day – with planning permission granted in 2006, 4 years before the Building Regulations 2010 came into force.

Councillor Critchley had read interviews from the aftermath of the fire and noted a quote from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Services advocating for a sprinkler system as an effective method of controlling fires, extinguishing fires and saving lives and property.

Councillor Critchley noted that building regulations were amended last year to include the installation of sprinklers in buildings above 11m in height but consideration is being given to buildings under 11m especially housing those who are vulnerable

Councillor Critchley noted that at a local level, there was the opportunity to shape planning policy that promotes fire safety, and whilst any enforcement would be done through legislation above the scope of the planning Authority, this did not exclude exploration of the potential avenues set out by Officers.

Councillor Critchley suggested that the Committee may wish to seek the support of the Borough's 5 MPs and noted specifically that Dr Kieran Mullan MP is the Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) into Fire Safety.

Councillor Critchley commended the efforts of Cheshire Fire and Rescue not just for the work  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49