Grenfell Tower: Tenant Management Organisation to lose role
Those responsible for the tower block's management will be stripped of their duties, the Prime Minister has told residents.
Wednesday 23 August 2017 15:51, UK
Theresa May has told residents those responsible for Grenfell Tower's management will be stripped of their roles in the wake of the tragic fire.
The Prime Minister met residents of the 24-storey tower block on Tuesday night to hear their ongoing concerns following the 14 June blaze, which killed at least 80 people.
Acknowledging authorities' slow response to the disaster, Mrs May confirmed the local Tenant Management Organisation (TMO) will be removed from the management of the Lancaster West estate, where Grenfell Tower is situated.
::
Following the fire, it emerged residents had raised safety concerns with the TMO in the months prior to the tragedy.
The disaster raised public anger over social inequality and prompted debate over the impact of public spending cuts, while Mrs May herself was criticised for lacking empathy in her initial response to the fire.
Speaking on a visit to Guildford on Wednesday, the Prime Minister said: "It was a very good meeting last night, it was very dignified, a very respectful meeting.
"Obviously people did have concerns that they were raising and I was pleased that I was able to tell them - because the Tenant Management Organisation is one of the issues that residents have been very concerned about - I was able to tell them that the Tenant Management Organisation will no longer have responsibility for the Lancaster West housing estate.
"People were pleased to hear that."
After the private meeting with around 60 or 70 residents, which Downing Street said was at the invitation of the residents themselves, Mrs May passed on their concerns to the leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council.
Number 10 added the Prime Minister had discussed how charitable funds raised in the wake of the fire could be distributed "quickly and fairly".
Mrs May also addressed criticism of an inquiry into the tragedy, to be headed by retired judge Sir Martin Moore-Bick, following calls for the probe to broaden its terms of reference to include wider questions over social housing.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn recently wrote to the Prime Minister, suggesting the nature of the inquiry is a signal Mrs May's priority is "to avoid criticism" of policy failures "rather than secure justice for Grenfell survivors".
A Downing Street spokesperson said: "The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of the independence of the inquiry, including on questions about how it was run.
"She reiterated that any resident who wanted to take part would be able to, and that the Government would fund any legal representation required.
"She explained that while the judge had not proposed including wider questions related to social housing within the terms of reference, the Government recognised that these should be taken forward elsewhere and had asked the minister for housing Alok Sharma to begin this by holding conversations with social housing tenants across the country."
On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Police announced one of the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire had been formally identified as 50-year-old Ernie Vital.
Mr Vital's family described him as "a proud, humble, mature and independent man".
They added: "He will be remembered as a kind, sensitive and caring person with a warm-hearted smile.
"His pursuit of happiness has been abruptly and dramatically stopped by the Grenfell Tower tragedy. His family and friends will miss him dearly."