Fire safety inspection Hastings Pier - compliance
Dear East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service,
I recently made an FOI request https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/f...
this request gave me details of the inspections carried out on Hastings Pier in the last 2 years as requested.
Following this I now request under FOI any documents held that give information on whether the issues highlighted in the inspection reports were resolved and whether the requirements of the inspection reports have been complied with.
The inspection reports are:
The 20/07/2023 report
The 01/09/2023 report
The 24/05/2024 report
The September 2024 report
Thanks in advance.
Yours faithfully,
Chris Hurrell
Thank you for your email, this is to confirm that your email has been
received by East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service. We are looking into the
information you have requested and we will respond to you again as soon as
possible.
In the meantime, you may find some of the information you require on our
[1]website where we publish a range of [2]Financial Information & Notices,
[3]Strategies, Plans and Performance Information and [4]Asset Registers &
Lists. Our response to previous Freedom of Information requests are also
available in our [5]disclosure log.
Freedom of Information
East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service | Church Lane | Lewes | East Sussex |
BN7 2DZ.
E [6][East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service request email] : W
[7]www.esfrs.org
[8][IMG][9][IMG]
Dear Chris Hurrell,
I refer to your Freedom of Information Act request which was received by
East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service on 13 September .
Request:
I recently made an FOI request
[1]https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
this request gave me details of the inspections carried out on Hastings Pier in the last 2 years as requested.
Following this I now request under FOI any documents held that give information on whether the issues highlighted in the inspection reports were resolved and whether the requirements of the inspection reports have been complied with.
The inspection reports are:
The 20/07/2023 report
The 01/09/2023 report
The 24/05/2024 report
The September 2024 report
Response:
ESFRS do not follow up informal notices as the law assumes compliance and
the non-compliance was minor in nature.
Xtract from Manual Note Fire Safety Enforcement Policy and Procedures
The Service will seek compliance with the law by offering the responsible
person information and advice both verbally and/or in writing. This will
include an explanation of why any specified work is necessary and a time
period for completion. Legal requirements will be clearly distinguished
from best practice or non-statutory fire safety advice.
We may deal with this by informal means or where appropriate we may serve,
Alterations, Enforcement and Prohibition Notices, issue informal or simple
cautions, and may prosecute.
Before formal enforcement action is taken (unless immediate action is
required to reduce the risk to life or to prevent evidence from being
destroyed), Fire safety inspectors will provide the person responsible
with an opportunity to discuss the circumstances of the case and, if
possible, resolve points of difference.
Where deficiencies of a minor nature are encountered, an informal
notification identifying those matters considered to be failures to comply
and the steps considered necessary to remedy the failures will be issued.
This informal notification will take the form of an SF21 standard form or
FSO6 standard letter, this allows us to redirect our resources to other
premises that are potentially a higher risk
Also Link below to Outward facing Enforcement policy Page 9 (8.1) explains
informal
[2]Enforcement Policy Statement 19-09-01.pdf (esfrs.org)
If you are dissatisfied with this response you may request for an internal
review to be undertaken. A request for an internal review should be
submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your
original enquiry.
If, after an internal review has been conducted, you remain dissatisfied
with the handling of your request, you have the right of appeal to the
Information Commissioner at:
The Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 0303 123 1113
website: [3]https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/
There is no charge for making an appeal.
Freedom of Information
East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service | Church Lane | Lewes | East Sussex |
BN7 2DZ.
E [4][East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service request email] : W
[5]www.esfrs.org
[6][IMG][7][IMG]
This message is intended for the use of the addressee(s) only and may
contain confidential or privileged information. Any views or opinions
expressed in this e-mail or any files attached are those of the sender and
may not represent the views of East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service. If you
have received it in error please notify the sender and destroy it. You may
not use it or copy it to anyone else. E-mail is not a secure
communications medium, please be aware of this when replying. Although
East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service has taken steps to ensure that this
e-mail and any attachments are virus free, we can take no responsibility
if a virus is actually present and you are advised to ensure that the
appropriate checks are made. Further details on our processing of personal
data can be found at: www.esfrs.org/privacynotice
References
Visible links
1. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/f...
2. https://www.esfrs.org/sites/default/file...
3. https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/
4. mailto:[east%20sussex%20fire%20and%20rescue%20service%20request%20email]
5. http://www.esfrs.org/
6. https://www.facebook.com/eastsussexfirea...
7. https://twitter.com/EastSussexFRS
Dear East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service,
Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.
I am writing to request an internal review of East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service's handling of my FOI request 'Fire safety inspection Hastings Pier - compliance'.
The FOI states that ""ESFRS do not follow up informal notices as the law assumes compliance and the non-compliance was minor in nature.""
However the inspection reports highlight non compliance issues that are far from minor.
Can you please review the response to ensure that no follow up action was taken to confirm compliance and that no reports exist.
A summary of the inspection reports follows:
The initial inspection report in July 2023 (nearly 5 years after Mr Gulzar took over the pier) states that no Fire risk assessment exists.
A subsequent inspection report in September 2023 found a large number of issues. At this stage the pier had been running under Mr Gulzar’s management for 5 years and had included large events and the Pier bier garden. Issues included:
• Major deficiencies in Fire safety: ineffective management attitude to fire safety, emergency plan not in policy or kept under review, Responsibilities not clearly defined, No written policy available, Appropriate fire safety arrangements not in place
• Major Deficiencies in maintenance: No record of fire alarm being adequately maintained or regularly tested, No record of dry riser being used tested and maintained
• Fire Fighting Equipment: No records or evidence of maintenance of equipment such as sprinklers and dry riser equipment
• No records of electrical systems being tested
• Training: inadequate regular refresher training, inadequate training records maintained, no record of training given to staff
• Emergency procedures: communication across the whole pier is required with regards to everyone in each individual unit needing to know the emergency procedures and the role they play in the procedures
A further inspection in May 2024 found that fire alarm systems were still not fully working, that a new Fire Risk assessment was required due to the visitor centre being used as sleeping quarters and the need for infrared fire detectors in the kitchens.
The latest inspection in September 2024 found that some of the existing issues raised in September 2023 persisted. These included the lack of a fire safety policy document, no evidence of testing and maintenance of the dry rising main and sprinkler system.
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/f...
Yours faithfully,
Chris Hurrell
Dear Mr Hurrell
Thank you for your email, this is to confirm that your email has been
received by East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service.
In accordance with Service Policy your request for an internal review
which will be conducted by an Assistant Director not previously involved
in the request.
Kind regards
FOI Team
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This message is intended for the use of the addressee(s) only and may
contain confidential or privileged information. Any views or opinions
expressed in this e-mail or any files attached are those of the sender and
may not represent the views of East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service. If you
have received it in error please notify the sender and destroy it. You may
not use it or copy it to anyone else. E-mail is not a secure
communications medium, please be aware of this when replying. Although
East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service has taken steps to ensure that this
e-mail and any attachments are virus free, we can take no responsibility
if a virus is actually present and you are advised to ensure that the
appropriate checks are made. Further details on our processing of personal
data can be found at: www.esfrs.org/privacynotice
References
Visible links
1. https://www.facebook.com/eastsussexfirea...
2. https://twitter.com/EastSussexFRS
Dear Mr Hurrell
Corrected refence for Internal Review process FOI Request 132-24
The deadline is the 7 November 2024 for our response which is 20 working
days from receipt of you request for an internal review.
Kind regards
Freedom of Information
[1][IMG][2][IMG]
Proud - We are proud of the service we provide
Accountable - We are accountable for our actions
Integrity - We show integrity in our work
Respect - We respect our colleagues and members of the community
From: Freedom of Information Requests <[East Sussex Fire and Rescue
Service request email]>
Sent: 14 October 2024 09:00
To: [FOI #1174206 email]
Cc: Freedom of Information Requests <[East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service
request email]>
Subject: Internal review of FIO Request 125-25
Dear Mr Hurrell
Thank you for your email, this is to confirm that your email has been
received by East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service.
In accordance with Service Policy your request for an internal review
which will be conducted by an Assistant Director not previously involved
in the request.
Kind regards
FOI Team
[3][IMG][4][IMG]
Proud - We are proud of the service we provide
Accountable - We are accountable for our actions
Integrity - We show integrity in our work
Respect - We respect our colleagues and members of the community
This message is intended for the use of the addressee(s) only and may
contain confidential or privileged information. Any views or opinions
expressed in this e-mail or any files attached are those of the sender and
may not represent the views of East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service. If you
have received it in error please notify the sender and destroy it. You may
not use it or copy it to anyone else. E-mail is not a secure
communications medium, please be aware of this when replying. Although
East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service has taken steps to ensure that this
e-mail and any attachments are virus free, we can take no responsibility
if a virus is actually present and you are advised to ensure that the
appropriate checks are made. Further details on our processing of personal
data can be found at: [5]www.esfrs.org/privacynotice
References
Visible links
1. https://www.facebook.com/eastsussexfirea...
2. https://twitter.com/EastSussexFRS
3. https://www.facebook.com/eastsussexfirea...
4. https://twitter.com/EastSussexFRS
5. http://www.esfrs.org/privacynotice
Dear Chris Hurrell
The Internal Review of you FOI request 132-24 is still ongoing.
Please accept our apologies in the delay in this matter.
The FOI team will set a deadline of the 9 January 2025, with the aim to
response as possible.
Kind regards
FOI Team
East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service
[1][IMG][2][IMG]
Proud - We are proud of the service we provide
Accountable - We are accountable for our actions
Integrity - We show integrity in our work
Respect - We respect our colleagues and members of the community
This message is intended for the use of the addressee(s) only and may
contain confidential or privileged information. Any views or opinions
expressed in this e-mail or any files attached are those of the sender and
may not represent the views of East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service. If you
have received it in error please notify the sender and destroy it. You may
not use it or copy it to anyone else. E-mail is not a secure
communications medium, please be aware of this when replying. Although
East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service has taken steps to ensure that this
e-mail and any attachments are virus free, we can take no responsibility
if a virus is actually present and you are advised to ensure that the
appropriate checks are made. Further details on our processing of personal
data can be found at: www.esfrs.org/privacynotice
References
Visible links
1. https://www.facebook.com/eastsussexfirea...
2. https://twitter.com/EastSussexFRS
Dear Chris Hurrell
The Internal Review of your FOI request 132-24 is now completed.
Please find attached the outcome of that review and related documents.
Kind regards
FOI Team
East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service
[1][IMG][2][IMG]
Proud - We are proud of the service we provide
Accountable - We are accountable for our actions
Integrity - We show integrity in our work
Respect - We respect our colleagues and members of the community
This message is intended for the use of the addressee(s) only and may
contain confidential or privileged information. Any views or opinions
expressed in this e-mail or any files attached are those of the sender and
may not represent the views of East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service. If you
have received it in error please notify the sender and destroy it. You may
not use it or copy it to anyone else. E-mail is not a secure
communications medium, please be aware of this when replying. Although
East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service has taken steps to ensure that this
e-mail and any attachments are virus free, we can take no responsibility
if a virus is actually present and you are advised to ensure that the
appropriate checks are made. Further details on our processing of personal
data can be found at: www.esfrs.org/privacynotice
References
Visible links
1. https://www.facebook.com/eastsussexfirea...
2. https://twitter.com/EastSussexFRS
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