The Grenfell Tower Inquiry
The Grenfell Tower Inquiry was established to investigate the circumstances leading up to and surrounding the Grenfell Tower fire. The Inquiry is completely independent of the Council.
The Inquiry’s Phase 1 report was published in October 2019.
The final Phase 2 report was published on Wednesday 4 September 2024.
In 2017, the Council adopted the Hillsborough Charter (see below), committing to approach the Inquiry with candour and in an open and transparent way. We have cooperated fully with the Inquiry at every stage in an open, honest and transparent way, making full disclosure of all relevant documents, materials and facts, and admitting where the Council failed.
In the council’s opening statement to Phase 2 of the Grenfell Inquiry, it said:
“We wish to state on behalf of the Council that it is truly sorry for what happened at Grenfell Tower on 14 June 2017. The tragic events of that night and the people who lost their lives will never be forgotten. The bereaved, survivors and residents will forever be in the thoughts of those who work within the council.”
More information, including the council’s full statements and all the evidence considered by the Inquiry, can be found on the Inquiry’s website.
If you have questions about the Council’s response to the Inquiry, please email [email protected].
Phase 2 report and recommendations
The final Phase 2 report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry was published on 4 September 2024.
The Council will publish an initial statement on the day, followed by a full response to the Inquiry within 12 weeks of the report being published. The Leader of the Council has committed to ensuring the Council’s response reflects what matters most to the communities we serve.
Bereaved, survivors and residents will be invited to attend community sessions about the Inquiry’s findings and what they mean for the Council.
On 16 September 2024, the Council published a report which summarises the main implications of the Inquiry report for the Council. This report is for further discussion with communities and elected members and sets out the plans for a full and final response later in Autumn 2024.
Phase 1 report and recommendations
The Grenfell Tower Inquiry published its Phase 1 findings and recommendations in October 2019. The council accepted the findings fully and committed to implementing the recommendations.
You can read more about this in our newsroom and in a speech the Leader, Cllr Elizabeth Campbell made to full Council on 24 July 2024.
A report was also provided to the Housing and Communities Select Committee on detailed progress regarding fire safety in council properties in November 2023.
The Hillsborough Charter
In 2017, following the Grenfell tragedy, the council adopted the Charter for Families Bereaved through Public Tragedy (the Hillsborough Charter), proposed by the Right Reverend Bishop James Jones KBE, former Bishop of Liverpool and chair of the Hillsborough Independent Panel.
In adopting the charter, the council committed to ensuring it learns the lessons of the Hillsborough disaster and its aftermath, so that the perspective of the bereaved families is not lost.
The Council committed to becoming an organisation which strives to:
- In the event of a public tragedy, activate its emergency plan and deploy its resources to rescue victims, to support the bereaved and to protect the vulnerable.
- Place the public interest above our own reputation.
- Approach forms of public scrutiny - including public inquiries and inquests - with candour, in an open, honest and transparent way, making full disclosure of relevant documents, material and facts. Our objective is to assist the search for the truth. We accept that we should learn from the findings of external scrutiny and from past mistakes.
- Avoid seeking to defend the indefensible or to dismiss or disparage those who may have suffered where we have fallen short.
- Ensure all members of staff treat members of the public and each other with mutual respect and with courtesy. Where we fall short, we should apologise straightforwardly and genuinely.
- Recognise that we are accountable and open to challenge. We will ensure that processes are in place to allow the public to hold us to account for the work we do and for the way in which we do it. We do not knowingly mislead the public or the media.
The bereaved and survivors of Grenfell
Read the Open letter to the bereaved and survivors of Grenfell.