Minutes of Berecroft meeting.

Residents Meeting at Berecroft 6.00pm 0n 3rd August 2009
Notes of Meeting


Panel members Cllr Lee Dangerfield
Cllr Sarah-Jane Dangerfield
Bill Rammell MP
Mark Grimwood South Anglia HA
Superintendant Simon Williams Essex Police
Jane Greer ( taking notes) Harlow Council

This meeting was called to address residents concerns.

Introductions
Cllr Dangerfield introduced panel members and set out the purpose of the meeting.

Main Meeting
Superintendant Simon Williams explained facts from the Police Services view as at the time of the meeting. The factual picture of the incidents is as follows:

11.30pm – Call received regarding a fire in Berecroft. Police responded along with other emergency services. The fire had affected 6 houses in one way or another and up to 150 people were evacuated.

Every request made to Berecroft residents was complied with and Superintendant Williams thanked residents for their co-operation which had made the emergency services job much easier.

The Fire Service had been called, put out the fire and gathered forensic materials.

The PCSO`s guarded the scene of the fire and work is currently ongoing.

One man has been arrested who is linked to the address of the fire. This man has been charged with serious offences; these offences have significant penalties attached to the charges. Currently a man is in prison on remand based on evidence gathered by the police.

At this point in the meeting Superintendant Williams invited questions.
Q. Was anyone hurt?
A. No – except a Fireman tripped over his equipment.

Superintendant Williams thanked residents who evacuated quickly.
Comment made by resident – Police and Fire Services and workers at Latton Bush Centre were wonderful and thank you to them.

Q. Was the person who threw the brick through the window the same person who set the fire?
A. Yes, apparently to alert individuals that the fire had been set.

Comment made by Superintendant Williams – There are no wider issues. It is one individual and we are confident that no one else needs to be dealt with.


Mark Grimwood from South Anglia Housing gave an update.
Mark advised that his role in South Anglia Housing is resident based rather than property based but he would do his best to answer questions.




Mark advised that the South Anglia Managing Director and Assistant Directors were on site all day. They ensured residents had support.

Tenders on uninhabitable properties will be let in the next month and both badly affected properties will be repaired by January 2010.

Three owner occupied properties will be dealt with by the owner’s insurance companies but South Anglia will help if possible.

South Anglia is in contact with tenants and private residents affected.

Q. Will the properties be re-built.
A. Yes, within current regulations.

Q. The fire spread rapidly, can you (SA) do anything whilst we are waiting for the fire report.
A. No specific answer given

Q. What about the tarmac on the roof, is it an issue?
A. These properties were built in the 60’s/70’s and since then the regulations have changed. The Fire Service report has not been received yet. The properties need to meet the regulations from when they were built. They do meet the lettings standard.

Q. Were they built to the required regulations?
A. At the time of construction these properties would have been built to the then regulation.

Q. If there are any concerns on the properties will they all be put right?
A. We (SA) will look at what’s feasible when more information is known.

Cllr Lee Dangerfield stated that it’s too early to comment and need to wait for the official report.

Comment from Resident – Rockwool has not been put into a few properties.

Q. There is a gap in the fire walls in the ceilings/roofs of everyone’s property. How safe are the roofs?

Q. Can we have smoke alarms in the roof?

Q. My radiator is on plasterboard and fell off.
A. MG will get a surveyor to look at the radiator.

Q. re: guttering

Cllr L Dangerfield reminded residents that the meeting had been called to discuss the fire.

Bill Rammell stated that once the fire report had been completed and received it would be communicated to everyone along with a list of what is going to be done.

Mark Grimwood advised that it was the way the fire had been constructed that had made it spread quickly.

Q. What happens if the properties are not constructed properly?






A. The fire report will go to South Anglia’s Managing Director and others. A plan will be constructed regarding the actions South Anglia will take.

South Anglia will look at the properties across the estate, they may need to look at all properties but will need to read the fire report first.

South Anglia will circulate the report from the Chief Fire Officer.

Q. Can the report go to tenants and home owners?
A. Yes

Cllr L Dangerfield suggested that another meeting be called once the fire report is available.

Q. Will South Anglia do repairs to the homeowner’s properties?
A. Can’t answer that yet as need to wait for fire report and then take this forward.

Bill Rammell stated that the fire regulations are changing all of the time and the regulations in force will depend on when the property was built.

Comment from Cllr L Dangerfield – The fire report is needed and then if dissatisfied with the response from South Anglia Cllr L Dangerfield, Cllr S Dangerfield and Bill Rammell will take up.

Comment from resident – The guttering issue needs to be resolved.
Response from Cllr L Dangerfield . Cllrs L & S Dangerfield and Jane Greer have taken this work up with South Anglia and there has been some progress. However, we need to keep to the fire issue at this meeting.

Q. What about the people who are deaf?
A. Cllr S Dangerfield said that she would talk to them later. The resident concerned has been passed over to Harlow district council`s outreach service.

Q. Do current regulations allow for the tarmac to be there?
A. Not known at present. South Anglia will need to find out.

Cllr L Dangerfield said that residents must wait for the report. It will give detailed guidance on what has happened.

The report will go to South Anglia’s Managing Director, The South Anglia Board and then to Residents. There will be another meeting where residents can highlight what they want to know. It’s likely that the next meeting will be held at a local school or the Latton Bush Centre.

Q. What is the ‘status’ of South Anglia?
A. Mike Grimwood confirmed that South Anglia is a registered social landlord and a not for profit organisation.

Q. Residents know there is a problem so why is there a need to wait for the report? Something might happen?
A. Superintendant Williams said that the Chief Fire Officer had said “There are some concerns about the roofs but they are safe”.

Cllr L Dangerfield stated that it is too early to say what’s right or wrong but there



had not been a fire since 1970/71. Cllr L Dangerfield asked whether residents were prepared to meet in a couple of weeks. Residents confirmed they were.




Q. The Fire Service had problems reaching some of the properties.

A. Suggestion that some of the fencing be replaced by gates so that fire engines can get closer. Hedgerows and cars will be removed by the fire brigade by whatever means necessary if emergency access is required.

Q. Why did it take 4 hours for a coach to arrive to take residents to Latton Bush?
A. The Emergency Plan is linked to the Essex County Council Emergency Plan. An Emergency Planning Officer from Harlow Council has to contact Essex County Council. The bus was at Stansted Airport at the time of the fire. Lessons will be learned from this emergency and this may be one of them.

Comment by Cllr L Dangerfield – Essex County Council, Ambulance Service, WRVS, Harlow Council, South Anglia Housing, Police and Fire services, Bill Rammell and Residents all pulled together. Cllr L Dangerfield wished to applaud everyone involved and is proud to live at Berecroft.

Cllr L Dangerfield said that any comments here would be fed back.

Bill Rammell stated that the Emergency Plan is normally theoretical. It’s now been put into practice and we will now look at specific issues.

Q. Is Counselling available?
A. Yes, contact Harlow Council or south Anglia Housing and details would be posted through letter boxes.

Q. The bungalow at 65 was burned and a car was torched and so there have been incidents.
A. We need to consider issues that have affected the whole community.

Q. The Police Officer attending on the night made a comment on the number of Police Officers in Harlow (15 in total)
A. Bill Rammell and Superintendent Williams said this is not true.
Bill Rammell stated that there are more than 15 Police Officers in Harlow and he will get detailed information regarding the number of Police Officers in Harlow for the next meeting.

Cllr L Dangerfield, Cllr S Dangerfield and Bill Rammell will not make this a political matter but will work together for positive outcomes and actively make community better in conjunction with Harlow Council and South Anglia Housing.

Cllr L Dangerfield needs to look at whole structure of the plan and will need residents input on how to make it better i.e. where do the gates go?

Comment – Before South Anglia Housing became landlord there were slam plates in- situ which was much better.

Q. Looking at property are people concerned about living on the estate?
A. Yes, but if anything needs doing will ensure everything is done.




Q. Is it safe to live along the actual row and the row in front of where the fire took place
A. Yes, all structurally safe.

Q. Has large wooden beam got to be removed?
A. Yes, it will be replaced in new spec.

Q from Cllr L Dangerfield – Has everyone got fire detectors on?
A. Yes, sure that they are not switched off.
A. Yes, all on

Q. Two in each house?
A. Some people turn smoke detectors off.



Comment – Everyone check smoke detectors and if an issue or don’t work telephone Cllr L Dangerfield.


Comment for clarification. There are .2 smoke detectors in houses and 1 in Bungalow.

Fire Brigade will put them up if requested.

Q. Are there any private houses with no detectors? Are the detectors in the right places? Do people want the Fire Brigade to check?
A. Let Cllr L Dangerfield know and he will arrange for the Fire Brigade to come back and check.

Next Meeting at the Latton Bush Centre on the 19th or 20th August if report has come through.

Cllr L Dangerfield thanked everyone for attending, and advised residents not to believe rumours. He advised that all information will be put on the Berecroft website.

Meeting Closed at approx 7.00pm.

Counsellors Details
Age concern - 01279 415553
Samaritans - 01245 357357 / 08457 909090
Victim Support (specialise in victims of arson) - 0845 456 5995, supportline@victimsupport.org.uk
Counselling 0208 302 2956 or Mobile 07740 537760 (supplied by Anglia Housing)Alternatively, the individual could request a counselling service from their own GP,or go online to http://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/ to find one.