GREATER Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has announced a new task force to inspect the region’s high-rise buildings in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster.

In response to the tragedy the mayor has held a safety summit with representatives of the fire service, local authorities and landlords.

Speaking after the meeting Mr Burnham said the task force, headed by the Mayor of Salford Cllr Paul Dennett, will work through all buildings of six storeys and above.

Bury Council does not have responsibility for any such buildings.

“The task force will work through Greater Manchester building by building to provide reassurance about fire safety standards,” said Mr Burnham.

He added that landlords of tall residential buildings in the area have also agreed to urgently review and update advice given to residents in event of a fire.

And he said the information gathered by the new task force will form the basis of a “robust response” from the region to the public inquiry into the London fire disaster set up by the Government.

Prestwich councillor Eamonn O’Brien said the meeting was “very constructive”.

He said one of the main things discussed at the meeting was the fact that there is not a “one size fits all” solution to fire safety.

For example, staying put during a fire in a property might be good advice in one block, but unsafe in another.

Cllr O’Brien said: “While on the one hand this could mean it is going to be a complicated process, at least we know that we are going to have to treat each building individually.

“There cannot be a single piece of advice for each building.

“I think it is strange in Bury because the council does not have any direct responsibility for any high rise buildings.

“But we do have a broader obligation to make sure that some of the privately owned high rises are safe and secure, just because of a regard for people’s safety.

“There are also buildings that are not high rises which, nonetheless, we will take extra care to ensure are safe, such as care homes or any buildings where vulnerable people live.”

Cllr O’Brien, whose ward includes The Radius private apartments development above the Longfield Centre, added that if any private tenants have concerns at all about fire safety they should get in touch with the fire service.

It is presumed nearly 80 people died in the fire in Grenfell Tower, in West London, last week.

Mr Burnham stressed that the tragedy has highlighted concerns about cuts made to the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service’s budget.

“We have here, in Greater Manchester, a significant reduction in the size of the fire and rescue service,” he said.

“We have lost a number of fire enforcement officers across Greater Manchester which, of course, limits their ability to provide the reassurance that residents are looking for.

“So we will be making a strong submission to ensure our fire service has the resources it needs.”

Greater Manchester County Fire Officer Peter O’Reilly paid tribute to the firefighters who tackled the London blaze.

He added: “Grenfell is a game changer in relation to how the fire and rescue service will engage with residents of tower blocks across Greater Manchester.

“ I have assured the Mayor that we will put every resource we have into making sure the buildings residents are concerned about are safe for them to live in.”