AN interim report on the safety of high flats in Clydebank in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy found them to be “generally satisfactory”.

But West Dunbartonshire Council officers described the outcome of the progress report as “as good an assessment as they can expect” while the process is ongoing.

They said all new measures including building-wide alert systems will be considered as they focus on “people safety”, not just the safety of the structure.

There are 1,670 flats across the 22 high rise blocks in West Dunbartonshire and the council instructed enhanced fire safety risk assessments on each structure in the aftermath of the deadly London blaze in June that left more than 80 people dead.

In the disaster, fire spread quickly up the outsides of the building leading to subsequent checks of other high flats in the UK, stripping similar cladding from other structures and even evacuations.

Last week it was announced different, but similar, cladding on the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital would be removed as a precaution.

There has also been criticism of instructions to Grenfell residents to “stay put” even as the fire spread.

The interim consultant report on West Dunbartonshire safety, which was not disclosed in public papers at the West Dunbartonshire housing and communities committee meeting last week, was summarised for councillors as based on “brief” surveys of the first three blocks.

It stated: “This has determined that the fire risk to occupants of the buildings is generally satisfactory and that West Dunbartonshire had proportionally fewer fires than the average in Scotland and suffered no fatalities in 2015/2016.

“It is further detailed that the external cladding is of an entirely different type to that used in Grenfell Tower, with the external surface being a 22mm thick concrete screed and the whole insulation system, which was applied in recent years, being directly attached to the existing concrete or block walls of the building and that the risk of vertical fire spread via the cladding system is not anticipated based on current information.”

It continued: “The buildings have good access for the fire and rescue service’s vehicles and the initial fire risk assessments confirmed that the stay put policy is appropriate when taking into account the construction and complementation of the buildings, which they have emphasised should be clearly communicated in a way that all tenants will understand.”

The committee heard tenants and residents groups were informed of the report findings before the meeting.

Councillor David McBride praised staff for reassuring residents in light of Grenfell.

But he raised concern about the term “generally satisfactory”, which council officers said was the only possible phrase given the assessment is still ongoing.

CCTV is being added to all high flats at entrances, exits and communal areas.

Cllr McBride asked how mobility issues of some tenants were being considered or “intumescent shields” on individual flat doors to keep out smoke.

He said: “Can you draw up a programme to visit every person’s house and speak to them about their needs?

“Should there be some sort of warning system in place, even if they should stay put?”

Peter Barry, strategic lead for housing and employability, said the council has asked the consultants to move beyond just the infrastructure of the buildings to the needs of people.

He said evacuation drills, household visits, appliance testing, and other measures would all be up for debate after the final report.

Mr Barry said: “We are not just in the business of making the building safe – we are making the people safe. Whatever we do, our primary role is to make sure our people are safe. The review will come up with facts and we are trying to improve step by step.”

A final report and new standards for fire safety will be presented to the committee in May 2018.