Head of Assurance
Lewisham Council's Head of Assurance is currently addressing a 460% rise in fire safety actions and managing heat issues in public buildings.
Lewisham Council is currently addressing a significant 460% increase in identified fire safety actions, which is straining resources. This surge, primarily due to more fire risk assessments, was detailed in a Corporate Health and Safety Update presented by the Head of Assurance, Richard Benjamin, to the Health and Safety Committee in July 2026. The Housing and Place directorates contribute to the majority of this increased workload.
The Head of Assurance, Richard Benjamin, also confirmed in July 2026 that Lewisham Council is taking steps to manage heat in its public buildings. The need for adequate cooling measures and risk assessments for heat-related issues has been discussed at the Council Resilience Board, with services expected to have these assessments in place.
The Head of Assurance is the individual responsible for presenting the corporate health and safety update at Lewisham Council. In February 2026, the Health and Safety Executive confirmed Lewisham Council had complied with an asbestos improvement notice issued in March 2024, following an inspection focusing on asbestos and legionella.
Key facts
- Lewisham Council reported a 460% surge in identified fire safety actions in July 2026. Source
- Richard Benjamin, Head of Assurance, presented the Corporate Health and Safety Update in July 2026. Source 1 Source 2
- The Health and Safety Committee discussed the corporate health and safety update on 9 July 2026. Source
- The Health and Safety Executive confirmed Lewisham Council complied with an asbestos improvement notice in February 2026. Source
- The asbestos improvement notice was issued following an inspection in March 2024. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.