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Morning Briefing: authorities’ response to Grenfell ‘badly flawed’
Public authorities’ responses to the Grenfell Tower fire were “badly flawed”, causing damage that “has been difficult to repair”, a new report has said
In the news
The BBC runs a story on the report, commissioned by Muslim Aid. The full report is available here.
It criticised “weak leadership” at Kensington and Chelsea Council which left volunteers “very much on the frontline”.
However, it emphasises the disaster should not be seen as “a one-off, compounded by the failings of a particularly flawed local authority” and that a similar disaster could still happen elsewhere.
The council said it would not comment on the report with the public inquiry into the fire ongoing, but confirmed it is planning to replace 4,000 fire doors across its housing stock at a cost of around £3.5m.
Manse Masterdor fire doors, which were used in Grenfell Tower and other parts of Kensington and Chelsea’s stock, have been found not to resist flames and smoke for the required 30 minutes.
Elsewhere, John Perry, policy advisor at the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), has written a piece for The Guardian about the government’s so-called “hostile environment” for migrants.
Leading on from the Windrush scandal, it’s a reminder to social landlords of the rules for giving vulnerable people tenancies.
In other news, The Municipal Journal reports that housing secretary James Brokenshire “dodged” a question about the Treasury’s take of Right to Buy receipts in a written answer last week.
Meanwhile, the owner of a controversial temporary accommodation scheme in London – described by residents as a “hell hole” – made £2.5m profit in its first year, per the SW Londoner.
Up in Scotland, The National runs a story on a report by the Homeless and Rough Sleeping Action Group arguing that strict benefit rules are leaving people stuck “on hold” in temporary accommodation.
Meanwhile, MSPs have called for “serious changes” to be made to planning reforms proposed by the Scottish Government.
Opposition party members described the Planning Bill as a “power grab” by ministers, according to the BBC.
And finally, The Big Issue runs a piece looking at the reasons for the housing crisis, while left-wing magazine Red Pepper has an article about how a housing action group in north London is trying to boost affordable housing on an ex-NHS Trust site.
On social media
The CIH and Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance have launched the Make a Stand campaign to support people experiencing domestic abuse:
This is being launched today... @CIHhousing’s #makeastand pledge!! As a #ukhousing provider, are you doing enough about domestic abuse? If you sign up to our pledge you’ll certainly be one step closer... t.co/X3RpVIJ2am
— Yoric Irving-Clarke (@YoricCIH)This is being launched today... @CIHhousing's #makeastand pledge!! As a #ukhousing provider, are you doing enough about domestic abuse? If you sign up to our pledge you'll certainly be one step closer... https://t.co/X3RpVIJ2am
— Yoric Irving-Clarke (@YoricCIH) May 30, 2018
#UKHousing now is your chance to Make A Stand with four simple pledges. Sign up to support those experiencing #domesticabuse. Click the link!!! @DAHAlliance @CIHhousing💕💕 t.co/3IzdaPPj4f
— Alexandra Gibson (@Alexmgib)#UKHousing now is your chance to Make A Stand with four simple pledges. Sign up to support those experiencing #domesticabuse. Click the link!!! @DAHAlliance @CIHhousing\uD83D\uDC95\uD83D\uDC95 https://t.co/3IzdaPPj4f
— Alexandra Gibson (@Alexmgib) May 30, 2018
4 simple steps to #makeastand against domestic abuse - #ukhousing organisations can sign up now. Nice work @Alison_Inman @SteveHayesCIH @womensaid @DAHAlliance t.co/lSdP89pU1k
— Louise Fisher (@LouiseFishe)4 simple steps to #makeastand against domestic abuse - #ukhousing organisations can sign up now. Nice work @Alison_Inman @SteveHayesCIH @womensaid @DAHAlliance https://t.co/lSdP89pU1k
— Louise Fisher (@LouiseFishe) May 30, 2018
What’s on
- The Grenfell Tower Inquiry will continue into its seventh day at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in Kensington, with another commemorative hearing
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