Birmingham City Council has successfully prosecuted a company for failing to comply with an Improvement Notice for fire safety measures.

Freehold Managers (Nominees) Limited -the company responsible for Centenary Plaza on Holliday Street – pleaded guilty to failing to comply with an Improvement Notice and was fined £50,000 at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court.

It was only the second such prosecution by a local authority using powers provided under the Housing Act 2004 – and the first in the West Midlands.

The council acted after City of London based Freehold Managers (Nominees) Limited failed to undertake the necessary improvement works required to make the building safe detailed in the Improvement Notice issued in September 2023.

Works included the repair of fire doors, improvements to emergency lighting, and the provision of suitable means of escape from the building in the event of a fire.

After the Grenfell Tower fire, the council formed a team of specialist officers to address fire safety in high-rise buildings.

Councillor Nicky Brennan, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, said: “We have zero tolerance for owners of buildings delaying essential life-saving fire safety work.

“Delaying urgent safety measures is unacceptable. Lives are at risk. Where needed, we will use our full powers to protect residents.

“This decision represents a milestone in our drive to raise standards and hold building owners to account in Birmingham. It will also help set an example for other authorities across the country in safeguarding their residents’ interests using the powers available under housing legislation.

“This sentence sends a clear warning to all building owners operating in Birmingham that they must act swiftly in the interest of our residents’ safety first and always, otherwise we will take decisive action against you.”