Kensington & Chelsea cancels Cabinet meeting after press secures injunction

The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea cut short a planned private meeting of its Cabinet this week that was to discuss the Grenfell Tower fire, after the press secured an injunction over their original exclusion.

In a statement the council said: “The Cabinet meeting was arranged as a private meeting because of the potential public disorder and the assaults on staff after the protests at the Town Hall in the previous weeks. However, members of the press sought and acquired an injunction which was served on the council shortly before the Cabinet meeting started.

“Members of the press therefore joined the meeting after it had started.

“The Cabinet received legal advice that in order not to prejudice the public inquiry the meeting could not proceed as it would not be possible to restrict the discussions without straying into areas that would fall within the remit of the public inquiry. The Leader of the Council therefore closed the meeting. We will explore opportunities for open discussions that do not prejudice the public inquiry.”

The meeting had started with a minute’s silence in memory of the victims of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

Cllr Nick Paget-Brown, RBKC’s Leader, then read out a statement, which can be viewed here. This covered: fire safety; housing assessment and allocation; support for individuals and families; other partners who have offered assistance; and changes to the way the council operates in response to the fire.

Dr Barry Quirk, chief executive of Lewisham Council, has agreed to act as an interim Chief Executive. This follows the resignation of Nicholas Holgate as town clerk.

Cllr Paget-Brown said in his statement he would announce a sub-committee of Kensington & Chelsea’s Cabinet “to oversee the specific challenges posed by the fire and to ensure that we have a co-ordinated and visible response that is respected by the survivors”.

He added that he thought the council would also need a dedicated scrutiny committee to oversee this work and to ensure that community representatives are properly heard. The officer team is also expected to consider how it is best configured to respond – this is likely to involve staff dedicated to a specific Grenfell Tower unit, the Leader suggested.

Cllr Paget-Brown said: “At present the name of Kensington and Chelsea stands tarnished and diminished. Our plans to transform housing are currently on hold. Our reputation with the wider community in North Kensington is damaged and in some cases fractured. Our tenants and leaseholders have questions for us and KCTMO [Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation].

“We are under sustained media criticism for a slow reaction to the Fire, non-visibility and for failing to invest in North Kensington. I believe that many of these criticisms need to be challenged and over time they will be, but I can think of nothing more demeaning to the memory of those lost and missing in the fire than seeking the resolution of political scores.”

The Leader added: “This is a huge event in the contemporary history of London. The horror to befall Grenfell Tower has been seen around the world. The challenge now is to ensure that the strengths which also characterise this place, and North Kensington in particular, are seen to play their part in bringing the community together and ensuring that one of the most diverse parts of a great City can start to move forward from this tragedy.”