Housing Fire Safety Policy - Contractor arrangements, competence, quality control and performance

5. Contractor arrangements, competence, quality control and performance

5.1. We will ensure that we have suitably skilled and experienced staff and contractors in place to effectively organised and managed our fire safety activities. Through the procurement process and ongoing management of works, maintenance, or servicing contracts, we will require contractor/s and engineers: 

• To be suitably skilled and competent to inspect, repair or service fire safety installations and equipment.
• To follow industry guidance on unsafe situations wherever they find an unsafe situation.
• To report unsafe situations to the appropriate person in a timely manner
• Complete repairs, maintenance, component renewals, servicing, and safety checks to industry standards within the timescales required. 

5.2. The performance of the contractor/s involved in our fire safety work will be managed by the Building Safety and Compliance Manager, supported by external consultants and a suite of internal metrics and KPI dashboards. Monthly operational meetings will be held with the contractors at which performance will be discussed and documented. Action will be taken to address performance issues if required. 

5.3. All fire safety records are to be held in the council’s ICT system. The system includes: 

• Reconciliation of property list (UPRN) with required fire safety activities
• Scheduling of compliance checks
• Record completed compliance checks and certification
• Manage actions arising with identification of any activities showing as overdue