Press release

Independent Recovery Taskforce for Kensington and Chelsea council

Communities Secretary announces an independent Recovery Taskforce for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

From:
Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and The Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP
Published
5 July 2017

Communities Secretary, Sajid Javid, has today (5 July 2017) announced that he is putting in place an independent Recovery Taskforce to help the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) deal with the longer term recovery of the Grenfell Tower fire.

This follows the government’s commitment to do all that it can to support those who have been affected by the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower.

Communities Secretary, Sajid Javid said:

The scale of the recovery effort needed on the Lancaster West estate in the months to come cannot be underestimated. Support to survivors, the families and friends of those who lost their lives and residents in the wider community must and will be ongoing. The challenge of providing that support is and will continue to be significant. I want to help the council meet that challenge.

The immediate response to the disaster is being coordinated by the Grenfell Response Team, headed up by John Barradell. He is ably supported by a number of colleagues drawn from London councils, the wider local government sector including the RBKC, the voluntary sector, police, health and fire services as well as central government. Their expertise and hard work is making a huge difference.

As well as providing that immediate support, we must have an eye to the future. This intervention is putting in place the foundations that will support the longer term recovery.

Councillor Elizabeth Campbell, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea 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.

Further information and details of who will be a part of this taskforce will be announced within the following few weeks.

The full written ministerial statement is available on Parliament.UK.

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Published 5 July 2017

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