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Government to intervene in Kensington and Chelsea
The government will intervene to address “weaknesses” in Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO), communities secretary Sajid Javid has announced.
The Grenfell Recovery Taskforce will be based within the council and will advise the chief executive and the leader on its housing management policy across the borough, to ensure it can properly rehouse survivors of last month’s devastating fire.
The taskforce will be made up of four people with experience in local government, housing and the voluntary sector.
These are Aftab Chughtai of West Midlands Police; Javed Khan, chief executive of Barnardo’s; Jane Scott, leader of Wiltshire Council; and Chris Wood, partner at Altair housing consultancy and former director of housing for three London boroughs.
The rehousing effort has stalled since the fire – only 10 of the 158 families evacuated from Grenfell Tower have been rehoused.
Recent figures suggested that almost 2,000 homes in the borough stand empty, with most of these being found in more expensive wards.
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Mr Javid said: “I am determined that everything possible is done to support the local community following the disaster. This includes ensuring an effective recovery plan is developed that takes into account the views of the local community.
“The new taskforce has extensive experience in this area and will provide the council with the expertise needed to deliver this important work.”
In addition to its work on rehousing, the taskforce will address community engagement, council governance and a long-term plan for the site of Grenfell Tower.
It will have no power to make decisions on behalf of the council, but will play an advisory and mediatory role.
