Mr L Christie will propose, Mr G Cowan will second that:
This Council makes the installation of sprinklers a specific condition of a planning application:
Following the recent LGA Fire Conference and the introduction of the LGA Sprinkler toolkit this Council agrees that, in order to ensure the safest possible design and planning of buildings and to protect the public of Kent, that this council adopts a policy making it a compulsory planning condition that any new developments or substantially altered buildings especially schools and social care buildings including those that provide residential accommodation (paid or otherwise) must include the installation of a suitable sprinkler system for the intended use.
Where a planning applicant believes there are sound reasons for not including a sprinkler system, a written submission setting out a clear rationale, with details of the alternative measures to reduce the risk from fire for building occupants must be provided.
Minutes:
(1) Mr L Christie will propose, Mr G Cowan will second that:
This Council makes the installation of sprinklers a specific condition of a planning application:
Following the recent LGA Fire Conference and the introduction of the LGA Sprinkler toolkit this Council agrees that, in order to ensure the safest possible design and planning of buildings and to protect the public of Kent, that this council adopts a policy making it a compulsory planning condition that any new developments or substantially altered buildings especially schools and social care buildings including those that provide residential accommodation (paid or otherwise) must include the installation of a suitable sprinkler system for the intended use.
Where a planning applicant believes there are sound reasons for not including a sprinkler system, a written submission setting out a clear rationale, with details of the alternative measures to reduce the risk from fire for building occupants must be provided.
(2) Mr Sweetland proposed, Mr Brazier seconded the following amendment:
“Following the recent LGA Fire Conference and the introduction of the LGA Sprinkler toolkit this Council agrees that:
1. This Council has always stringently complied with building control and fire regulations. However in order to ensure the safest possible design and planning of buildings and to protect the public of Kent, this Council extends its current position of encouraging the installation of sprinklers in new school and social care premises where this is the most appropriate solution, and investigates the feasibility of adopting a policy for mandatory installation of sprinklers where the Council is the planning authority, recognising that water based sprinkler systems may not always be the best means of tackling fire. This issue should be brought forward for debate as soon as possible after the County Council elections to the relevant Cabinet Committee and the Kent Forum.
2. In order to supplement the Kent Design Guide, which provides essential information for planner and builders in relation to the standards expected of planning authorities within Kent, and to ensure that KCC provides the safest possible design guidance for planners and building occupants, this Council alongside Kent Fire & Rescue Service should ensure that the Kent Design Guide covers the installation of sprinkler systems.
(3) Following the debate the Chairman put to the vote the amendment set out in (2) above, when the voting was as follows:
For (48)
Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mr A Bowles, Mr D Brazier, Mr R Brookbank, Mr R Burgess, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mr A Chell, Mr N Collor, Mr G Cooke, Mr B Cope, Mr H Craske, Mr A Crowther, Mrs V Dagger, Mr M Dance, Mr J Davies, Mr R Gough, Mr M Harrison, Mr W Hayton, Mr M Hill, Mr D Hirst, Ms A Hohler, Mrs S Hohler, Mr P Homewood, Mr E Hotson, Mr M Jarvis, Mr A King, Mr S Manion, Mr R Manning, Mr A Marsh, Mr M Northey, Mr R Pascoe, Mr K Pugh, Mr L Ridings, Mrs J Rook, Mr A Sandhu, Mr J Scholes, Mr J Simmonds, Mr C Smith, Mrs P Stockell, Mr B Sweetland, Mr R Tolputt, Mrs E Tweed, Mr J Wedgbury, Mr M Whiting, Mr A Wickham, Mr A Willicombe
Against (7)
Mr R Bird, Mr L Christie, Mr G Cowan, Mr D Daley, Mr C Hibberd, Mr G Koowaree, Mr M Vye
Carried
(4) RESOLVED that the amended motion be agreed.