The second Independent Grenfell Recovery Taskforce report
The Housing Secretary Sajid Javid gives a statement following the second report from the Independent Recovery Taskforce.
Mr Speaker, with permission, I would like to make a statement to update the House on support for those affected by the Grenfell tragedy鈥�
鈥� and on the second report from the Independent Recovery Taskforce.
This report will be published in full on Gov.uk and placed in the Library of the House.
Nine months on, the shocking and terrible events of 14 June continue to cast a long shadow.
I know that it can鈥檛 have been easy for the survivors and the bereaved hearing last week鈥�
鈥�.about the failure of a fire door from the tower that was tested as part of the Metropolitan Police Service investigation.
I am confident that the police and Public Inquiry will, in time, provide answers.
But, having met survivors and heard their stories鈥�
鈥 know that doesn鈥檛 take away from the pain and the loss being suffered by those left behind.
Their welfare remains our highest priority.
Through our continued work supporting the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC).
And through my Right Honourable Friend鈥檚 valuable work as Grenfell Victims鈥� Minister鈥�
鈥� ensuring that their voices and concerns are heard right across government.
Work that鈥檚 supported by my department and, more widely, by the NHS, by local government and by the voluntary sector.
My thanks to everyone who has gone the extra mile to be there for a community which has gone through so much.
And to the Taskforce for its work in helping to ensure that - after a slow and confused initial response to the disaster鈥�
鈥hat the people of North Kensington are receiving better support from RBKC to help them recover and to rebuild their lives.
I was clear, when I reflected on the Taskforce鈥檚 first report in November, that, while progress was being made鈥�
鈥 expected to see swift, effective action to address all the other the issues highlighted鈥�
鈥articularly the slow pace of delivery and the need for greater empathy and emotional intelligence.
Two things that are absolutely vital if RBKC is to regain the trust of the people it serves.
My department has been working closely with RBKC throughout to provide the support and the challenge necessary to drive this work.
And I鈥檓 pleased to see, from the Taskforce鈥檚 second report, that some important progress has been made.
RBKC 鈥� alongside the government 鈥� has put in significant resources鈥�
鈥nd increased its efforts to provide those affected with greater clarity about the support that鈥檚 available to them.
We鈥檝e also seen a stronger focus on implementing new ways of working鈥�
鈥o drive much-needed cultural change across the council and collaboration with external stakeholders.
Plus greater candour about the improvements that still need to be made.
But there is much more to do to ensure that residents can see and feel that things are getting better on the ground.
Nowhere is this more important than the vital task of rehousing those who lost their homes鈥�
鈥 task that, I鈥檝e always been clear, must be sensitive to individual needs, but not use these needs as an excuse to justify any type of delays.
Five months on from the fire 鈥� at the time of the Taskforce鈥檚 first report鈥�
鈥�122 households out of a total of 204 had accepted an offer of temporary or permanent accommodation.
Only 73 households had moved in 鈥� and only 26 of those into permanent homes.
Today I can report that 188 households have accepted an offer of accommodation.
Just over two thirds of these, 128 households, have already moved into new accommodation, 62 of these into permanent homes.
This is welcome news, but as the Taskforce鈥檚 second report highlights, progress has been far too slow.
It was always going to be a challenge to respond to an unprecedented tragedy on this scale鈥�
鈥nd to secure new accommodation in one of the country鈥檚 most expensive locations.
But progress has not been made as quickly as it should have done.
There are still 82 households in emergency accommodation, including 15 in serviced apartments.
With 25 families and 39 children among them.
This is totally unacceptable.
The suffering that these families have already endured is unimaginable.
Living for this long in hotels can only make the process of grieving and recovery even harder.
As the Taskforce has said, it鈥檚 unlikely that all households will be permanently rehoused by the 1 year anniversary of the fire.
This is clearly not good enough.
I hoped to have seen much more progress.
And it鈥檚 very understandable that the people of North Kensington will feel disappointed and let down鈥�
鈥ven if there are encouraging signs that the pace of rehousing is speeding up.
The council now has over 300 properties that are available to those who lost their homes.
So each household can now choose a good quality property that meets their needs.
With the option of staying in the area if that鈥檚 what they wish.
To ensure that these homes are taken up, I expect all households鈥�
鈥egardless of their level of engagement鈥�
鈥�.to be given whatever support they require to be rehoused as quickly as possible.
The government will continue to play its part and provide help with rehousing and other support for survivors鈥�
鈥ncluding financial support currently worth 拢72 million to date.
The weeks ahead will be critical for ensuring that efforts to rehouse survivors go up a gear.
I will be closely monitoring this progress and will of course keep this House updated.
Mr Speaker, as I said earlier, it鈥檚 paramount 鈥� that if the council is to regain trust鈥�
鈥hat the Grenfell community are not just being told that things are changing鈥�
鈥ut they can see that their views and concerns are being heard and that they are being acted upon.
A good example of this 鈥� as has been highlighted by the report 鈥� is鈥�
鈥he transfer of responsibilities from the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO) to RBKC鈥�
鈥n an interim basis.
This happened after residents made it clear that the Tenant Management Organisation could no longer have a role鈥�
鈥ot only on the Lancaster West estate, but more widely in housing management throughout the borough. Residents have also been engaged in the process of refurbishing the Lancaster West estate鈥�
鈥ith the government matching the 拢15 million that the council is investing in this programme.
Alongside this, the council will shortly be consulting with residents on the long-term delivery of housing management needs across the borough.
And their voices and needs will also be at the heart of the process to determine the future of the Grenfell site and the Public Inquiry鈥�
鈥� which has just began its second procedural hearing.
There must be an even stronger focus on needs as we go forward and we step up efforts not just on rehousing survivors鈥�
鈥ut also in helping them to rebuild their lives.
And, vitally, rebuilding trust.
It鈥檚 a process that will clearly take time and unstinting commitment on all sides.
As the Taskforce has noted, some progress has been made, but there is no room for complacency.
I expect the council to take on board its recommendations鈥�
鈥nd do more to listen to the community, to improve links with the voluntary sector and to act on the feedback that it gets from the frontline.
And I want to thank the Taskforce鈥檚 members once again for their valuable contribution鈥�
鈥 contribution which will continue for as long as it鈥檚 needed.
As they have noted, despite the many challenges, there is, I quote鈥�
鈥︹�渁 level of community spirit and attachment not often seen in local communities in London鈥�.
It鈥檚 a dynamic and diverse community spirit made stronger during the darkest of days.
A spirit that is determined to secure a brighter future for the people of North Kensington.
We share that determination and will continue to work with the bereaved, survivors and others.
I commend this Statement to the House.