Hiba Mahamadi 07 November 2017

Grenfell council asks government to step back

Kensington and Chelsea RLBC has asked the Government to water down its oversight at the council following the Grenfell Tower fire in June.

The recommendation was made in a report by the Grenfell Recovery Taskforce on its first nine weeks at the council.

The taskforce was appointed by the communities secretary Sajid Javid in July to oversee recovery work after the fire at the Grenfell Tower earlier this year.

The report acknowledged the importance of oversight, but said that Mr Javid’s weekly meetings with the council is interfering with its delivery of services.

It said: ‘Central government oversight was and remains necessary. However, the frequency and intensity is having an impact on the ability of RBKC to deliver on the ground.

‘We suggest the weekly ministerial recovery groups, chaired by the communities secretary, should be reduced in frequency.

‘The council has suggested to us that the current level of oversight is a distraction from delivery.’

Following on from the report, Mr Javid has ruled out intervention at the council in his speech to the Commons yesterday.

However, the taskforce has warned the council that its needs to do more work to develop a plan to manage its housing stock now that its contract with the tenant management organisation (TMO) has been terminated.

It does not believe the council will be any better than the TMO as a landlord, and advised the council to conduct a full appraisal of its housing stock.

The report added: ‘The haste in making the decision without a detailed plan has been exposed at the recent annual general meeting where the recommendation to bring the TMO to a close was not carried.

‘There may be a tendency to assume that the council can take over where the TMO leaves. If this is the case then the Taskforce believes this to be flawed and a wider range of options need to be considered.’

The new chief executive Barry Quirk and new leader Elizabeth Campbell were praised by the taskforce for the work they have done so far.

This story first appeared on The MJ

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Family Support Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 6 - £27,269 - £30,060 (Pay award pending)
Do you have a real passion for helping families to make positive changes for themselves and their children? This might be the right role for you!   WH Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Clerical Officer Receptionist

Durham County Council
Grade 3 £24,404 - £25,183 Pro Rata to hours worked Pay award pending
WHAT IS INVOLVED? We are looking to appoint a part time Clerical officer/Receptionist within Business Services to provide a professional, effective a Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Administration Assistant

Durham County Council
£25,584 - £27,711 pro rata
Administration Assistant Grade 5    £25,584 - £27,711 pro rata Temporary – required from 1st October 2025 until 31 December 2025 37 hours per week, Te Consett
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Support Assistant

Durham County Council
£24,027 pro rata
Support Assistant Grade 1 £24,027 pro rata Temporary – required from 1st October 2025 until 31st October 2026 Part Time, 32.5 hours Mon - Fri 9am -4pm Consett
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Lecturer in Foundation Learning -Maths, English and Digital

Durham County Council
Grade 9 £34,314 - £37,938 pro rata for part-time term time working PAY AWARD PENDING
The DurhamLearn Foundation Learning programme area delivers Digital Skills, English and Maths Functional Skills.   An opportunity has arisen for a Lec Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner