Kensington & Chelsea RLBC has announced a ‘thorough and far-reaching’ review into the arms-length organisation that managed Grenfell Tower.
The borough has taken over direct control on an interim basis of Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO), which was responsible for maintaining the tower block when a fire killed 71 people in June.
The KCTMO board will continue to exist as a legal entity, which means its board of directors can still be questioned by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, be prosecuted by the police if evidence of wrongdoing emerges or be sued as part of a civil claim.
Deputy council leader, Cllr Kim Taylor Smith, said: ‘I am pleased today to be able to announce a wide-ranging and comprehensive review of the work of KCTMO, as we eventually regain control over the management of our houses in the wake of the tragic Grenfell fire.
‘The TMO has lost the trust of residents, the council and government so today’s news should go some way towards restoring confidence that the management and maintenance of social housing in the borough is being thoroughly reviewed and reformed.
‘We’ve listened to residents and are taking back control of delivering services on an interim basis before we consult with all residents on a long-term solution for how they would like housing to be run in the borough.’
He said that the current KCTMO would be 'dismantled once it's fulfilled all its current obligations,' adding that decisions about what will replace it would be made by the 'residents themselves with proper, independent consultation'.