The government has released a response to the select committee report outlining recommendations about the removal of ACM from buildings across the UK.
The select committee set out to assess the progress of remediation work in relation to dangerous cladding in multi-occupational residential buildings.
As part of the report, the select committee put it to the government that Compulsory Purchase Orders could be used more in order to encourage building owners to speed up the process of making the residential buildings safe to live in.
The select committee suggested that a body could be set up with the sole purpose of buying the freehold of buildings in order to take the strain off of local authorities who may be overburdened with the task of making the buildings safe in such a short time frame.
The government responded by saying:
“Local authorities and fire and rescue services have enforcement powers and we have focused on supporting them in the use of those powers. In some cases, the threat of enforcement action has been sufficient to drive forward progress, in others enforcement action – which includes inspections of the hazard, enforcement or improvement notices, as well as more drastic measures like prohibition notices – has been taken on buildings.
We are aware that enforcement action has been, or is being taken, against at least 30 buildings with unsafe ACM cladding where remedial works have not yet started on site. Where they have wanted additional advice and expertise to help them take action, local authorities have been supported by the Joint Inspection Team, which was set up by the department.”
