The leader of Kensington & Chelsea council resigned on Friday citing his ‘perceived failings’ in the aftermath of the Grenfell tragedy as the reason.
The Government also announced over the weekend that tenants of Grenfell Tower who were unlawfully subletting would be protected from prosecution.
In his resignation statement, Cllr Nicholas Paget-Brown claimed he was taking responsibility for what he described as the ‘perceived failings’ of the council in response to the tower block fire which killed at least 79 people.
Cllr Paget-Brown’s announcement came shortly after the controversial decision to shut down a meeting of the council’s cabinet because journalists were present. He claimed this decision had become a distracting ‘political story’.
‘As council leader I have to accept my share of responsibility for these perceived failings,’ he said in a statement on the council’s website.
‘In particular, my decision to accept legal advice that I should not compromise the public enquiry by having an open discussion in public yesterday has itself become a political story and it cannot be right that this should have become the focus of attention when so many are dead or still unaccounted for.’
‘I have therefore decided to step down as leader of the council as soon as a successor is in place. They will appoint a new deputy leader and cabinet,’ he added.
The council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for housing, property and regeneration also announced his intention to resign last Friday.
‘It has been suggested several times since the tragic event of the 14 June that I should resign, but until now I have felt that it was my duty to do whatever I could personally to back the council’s efforts to help the fire’s victims, to encourage all of the dedicated officers within the council as they worked tirelessly for the relief effort, and to support the council’s leader,’ said Cllr Rock Feilding-Mellen.
Communities secretary Sajid Javid also announced guidance yesterday from the director of public prosecutions not to prosecute tenants at Grenfell Tower and Grenfell Walk for unlawful subletting.
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has also confirmed it will respect this guidance.
The Government hopes this will encourage people to come forward with information about who was in the building on the night of the fire and so help identify who is missing.
‘Supporting those affected by the tragic events at Grenfell Tower has been the absolute priority of the government,’ said Mr Javid.
‘That includes making sure that loved ones still missing are identified. Therefore I would urge those with information to come forward without fear of prosecution.’
Attorney general Jeremy Wright QC said: ‘Every piece of information will help the authorities accurately identify who was in the flats at the time of the fire.
‘I hope this statement provides some much needed clarity to residents and the local community, and encourages anyone with information to come forward.’
