Purpose

The proposed new policies support development across Homes & Neighbourhoods building safety processes reflecting recent changes in legislation.  They ensure ongoing compliance with the RSH Consumer Standards and wider building safety legislation.

The policies to be presented to Cabinet seek to ensure:

·       Continued legal compliance;

·       Improved consistency across H&N policies, including recognition of the need to personalise services to meet individual tenants’ needs;

·       Improved document accessibility.

A summary of the proposed policies, their purposes and relevant considerations is set out in the Cabinet Report.

Approval to implement and publish the policies is sought, along with subjective delegated authority to the Service Director for Homes & Neighbourhoods to oversee and approve future updates such as minor, legislative or annual updates of these policies. Any substantial changes remain subject to Cabinet approval.

Background papers

Report to Growth and Regeneration Scrutiny Panel 20 July 2026: New H&N Building Safety Policies

Integrated Impact Assessment 12 June 2026: IIA-830941977 MOR/Lifts/Building Safety/Golden Thread and RPEEPs IIA

Engagement and Consultation

Alongside approval of the draft Building Safety policies, a structured Building Safety Engagement Strategy will be developed, in collaboration with tenants and other stakeholders to support effective implementation across the organisation and with tenants.

The engagement plan will focus on ensuring that staff understand their roles and responsibilities under the updated policies, and that tenants are aware of how building safety is managed, what they can expect from the council, and how they can raise concerns. This will include proportionate and accessible communications, supported by targeted briefings and guidance for relevant staff groups.

For tenants, engagement will be designed to raise awareness of building safety arrangements in a clear and accessible way, using appropriate channels and formats. This will align with existing tenant engagement activity and “You Said, We Did” approaches, to ensure messages are understood and feedback is captured and acted upon.

The engagement and embedding plan will be aligned to the final approved policies and will be delivered on a phased basis, with assurance provided through existing governance arrangements. Progress and impact will be monitored to ensure the policies are consistently applied in practice and embedded into day?to?day delivery.

The policies will be considered by Growth & Regeneration Scrutiny Panel on 20 July 2026 before being presented to Cabinet.

Decision

RESOLVED –

1)    That approval be given to the implementation and publication within Kirklees Council internal systems and website of the following new Homes and Neighbourhoods policies: (i) Building Safety Policy (ii) Golden Thread Policy Higher-Risk Residential Buildings (iii) Mandatory Occurrence Reporting (MOR) Policy (iv) Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessments (PCFRA) and Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (RPEEP) Policy and (v) Lift Safety Management Policy and Management Plan

2)    That authority be delegated to the Service Director for Homes & Neighbourhoods, authority to oversee and approve future minor, legislative or annual updates of these policies and that any substantial changes remain subject to further Cabinet approval.

3)    That the contentment within the Integrated Impact Assessment within section 3.5.2 of this report be noted.