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Government appoints taskforce to Kensington and Chelsea Council
The government will intervene at Kensington and Chelsea Council after Theresa May criticised the council’s slow response to supporting residents affected by the Grenfell Tower fire.
Communities secretary Sajid Javid announced an independent taskforce will be put in place at the council.
Sadiq Khan, mayor of London, had called for the government to take over the running of the entire council.
Both the council’s chief executive and leader have resigned following the fire.
The taskforce will have a particular focus on housing, regeneration and community engagement, Mr Javid said in a written statement to parliament. It will also consider the governance of the council and the way that it operates “to ensure it is able to provide effective leadership through trying and difficult circumstances”.
It will report to Mr Javid directly and will be made up of experienced and senior people with a track record in delivery, including from local government. The chair and membership of the taskforce will be announced “shortly” and will be in place “as long as is required”.
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Elizabeth Campbell, the new leader of the council, said: “We have a lot of very dedicated council staff working to provide help and support to those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire. But the unprecedented scale of this incident makes it impossible for one organisation to cope on its own.
“That’s why my first action as leader was to ask DCLG for help, and I’m delighted they have been so swift to respond. I look forward to working with their staff as we all concentrate our efforts on healing the wounds in the north of our borough and to regain the trust of a community traumatised by disaster.”
