Essential maintenance is being carried out on the forms you use to contact us.
This evening (Tuesday 27 June) we are updating the online forms you use to get in touch with us.
The updates include changes to the layouts so they are easier to use.
If you can’t access our online forms, it could be that they are still in maintenance mode. Just try again at a later time.
We will let you know when the maintenance is complete.
Communities Secretary Sajid Javid today (27 June 2017) announced a new independent expert advisory panel to advise on any immediate measures that can be put in place to make buildings safe following the Grenfell Tower fire.
A separate independent Public Inquiry will investigate what happened and who was responsible for the disaster. This expert panel will look at any immediate action that is required so the public can be confident everything possible is being done to make all public and private buildings safe as quickly as possible.
The Panel will be made up of a range of building and fire safety experts, and will be chaired by Sir Ken Knight, former London Fire Commissioner and former Government Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser.
Other core members of the panel will be Dr Peter Bonfield, Chief Executive of the Building Research Establishment, Roy Wilsher, Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council and Amanda Clack, EY partner and President of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. The panel have a wealth of experience in fire and building safety, including testing processes. They will also draw in wider technical expertise as necessary to inform their advice to the Communities Secretary. It is intended that a first meeting of the Panel will take place this week.
Sajid Javid said:
It’s absolutely right that there will be an independent public inquiry to get to the truth about what happened and who was responsible for the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
However, I want to know if there are measures we can put in place now to keep people safe and I want them done immediately. I want the public to be confident everything possible is being done.
That is why I am announcing a new expert advisory panel to advise government on any immediate action that is required to ensure all buildings are safe.
Sir Ken Knight said:
I thank the Secretary of State for appointing me to chair this panel and welcome the opportunity to work with other experts to ensure that our buildings are safe and that we take whatever steps are necessary to ensure such a dreadful incident never happens again.
Dr Peter Bonfield said:
It is important that the best expertise from across our industry, the research communities, the professions and the public sector is drawn out to support the government and society at this critical time of need. I look forward to working with Sir Ken and drawing in expertise which will help address the challenges faced. I know that the will to positively contribute from professional bodies and others is strong and we will deploy this to support our work.
Rollout of improvement work to the LAA Portal has been delayed.
The original intention was to complete this work in May 2017. But we are now working on a new rollout schedule and will be providing updates on GOV.UK.
Keep an eye on our e-alerts and GOV.UK news stories in the coming weeks. These will give you the information you need on accessing the Portal.
As we told you in April, the upgrade will require an IT outage to the Portal and all the applications accessed through it. This will be done during an off-peak period in order to cause minimal disruption.
Once the work has been finalised you should see the following improvements:
You will need to reset your password once the upgrade has been completed.
It is vital that that you know your password for the current Portal in order to do this. If you cannot recall your current password you will need to use the ‘Password Resets’ link below.
If you know your password you will not need reset it at this stage.
Password Resets – use this link and select the password reset video from the list of options
Portal upgrade guidance – advice on logging into the new Portal and frequently asked questions
Upgraded Portal password resets – a short video on what to do if you forget your password in the upgraded Portal (video will load automatically).
On 21 June 2017 James West, owner of the vessel Replenish and its master Stanley Ross pleaded guilty to a breach of the Fisheries Act 1981 at Bodmin Magistrates’ Court.
The court heard that in May 2016 when the vessel was fishing in a Biologically Sensitive Area (BSA) in the Celtic Sea targeting nephrops, it was boarded by officers from the Royal Navy vessel HMS Tyne which was carrying out fisheries enforcement duties in the area. During a gear inspection it was found that both port and starboard net codends were within a prohibited mesh size for the BSA, contrary to Section 30(1) Fisheries Act 1982 as read with Article 5(2) of Council Regulation (EC) 494/2002. .
The vessel owner James West was fined £1,000, with £2,051.50 costs and a victim surcharge of £100.
The vessel master Stanley Ross was fined £500, with £2,051.50 costs and a victim surcharge of £50.
A spokesman for the MMO said:
“Nets used in this kind of fishery can shrink over time; as a result nets that were made in permitted mesh size range may shrink to a size that is considered damaging to juvenile fish stocks. It is the responsibility of the vessel master and owner to allow for this and ensure the gear is correct according to the fishing area the vessel is operating in.
The Replenish was fishing in a Biologically Sensitive Area and it is therefore critical to ensure the appropriate fisheries regulations are adhered to in order to protect juvenile fish. This prosecution shows that when they are not the Marine Management Organisation will take the appropriate action.”
On 21 June 2017 James West, owner of the vessel Replenish and its master Stanley Ross pleaded guilty to a breach of the Fisheries Act 1981 at Bodmin Magistrates’ Court.
The court heard that in May 2016 when the vessel was fishing in a Biologically Sensitive Area (BSA) in the Celtic Sea targeting nephrops, it was boarded by officers from the Royal Navy vessel HMS Tyne which was carrying out fisheries enforcement duties in the area. During a gear inspection it was found that both port and starboard net codends were within a prohibited mesh size for the BSA, contrary to Section 30(1) Fisheries Act 1982 as read with Article 5(2) of Council Regulation (EC) 494/2002. .
The vessel owner James West was fined £1,000, with £2,051.50 costs and a victim surcharge of £100.
The vessel master Stanley Ross was fined £500, with £2,051.50 costs and a victim surcharge of £50.
A spokesman for the MMO said:
“Nets used in this kind of fishery can shrink over time; as a result nets that were made in permitted mesh size range may shrink to a size that is considered damaging to juvenile fish stocks. It is the responsibility of the vessel master and owner to allow for this and ensure the gear is correct according to the fishing area the vessel is operating in.
The Replenish was fishing in a Biologically Sensitive Area and it is therefore critical to ensure the appropriate fisheries regulations are adhered to in order to protect juvenile fish. This prosecution shows that when they are not the Marine Management Organisation will take the appropriate action.”