Ex-Grenfell housing chief given new council role

Bereaved families and Grenfell survivors have criticised the appointment of a former Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) housing chief - to a senior role at another London authority.

One survivor called the move a "slap in the face" for accountability over the disaster, which killed 72 people in June 2017.

Laura Johnson was housing director at the west London council at the time of the fire, but has now been appointed by The Barnet Group, which manages social housing for Barnet Council.

Barnet Council said it was legally entitled to appoint Johnson and believed she was well qualified for the role. The Grenfell police investigation remains ongoing.

More than nine years on from the fire, bereaved families and survivors say they are still waiting for justice and accountability.

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry found failings at multiple levels, including within RBKC.

Johnson was the council's chief housing officer at the time of the fire and gave evidence to the public inquiry over several days in 2021 and 2022 about her role at the authority.

Peter Apps, a journalist with Inside Housing who closely followed the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, said: "Laura Johnson was involved in the decision to overclad the tower.

"She got quite involved in some of the complaints that residents were making about it.

"She also was heavily involved where RBKC were asked to fix self-closing devices in fire doors across the 9,000 homes they owned.

"It's one of the very crucial elements of the inquiry because it had serious consequences later on the night of the fire. And it was very much that decision sat with Laura Johnson based on the evidence that we saw at the inquiry."

Survivor Ed Daffarn lived in Grenfell Tower for 16 years and now campaigns with Grenfell United.

"People that were named by the inquiry as being responsible for the failings of Grenfell are able to carry on with their lives and we are put in the position of absolute limbo with no justice and no accountability.

"It's a torture to live with that. It's cruel."

During the public inquiry, after several days of giving evidence, Johnson was asked by lead counsel Richard Millett KC: "Is there anything you would like to have done differently?"

Johnson replied: "Of course...if only we had more due diligence in relation to the cladding that was placed on the tower.

"The list is endless because you would never want anything of this type of thing to happen. It's just awful. Of course I look back and think what could I have done different to make sure this didn't happen."

The Barnet Group which manages social housing for Barnet Council confirmed it had hired Johnson as group director of development and property.

A Barnet Council spokesperson said: "Following a robust and publicly advertised recruitment process, we concluded that she was the strongest candidate and legally eligible to hold the position.

"We also took into account Ms Johnson's professional experience, subsequent performance, references, qualifications and overall suitability for the role."

Grenfell United, which represents bereaved families and survivors, said it was calling on Barnet Council and The Barnet Group "to urgently review this appointment and pause its implementation while that review takes place".

The Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government confirmed Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner had been made aware of the appointment by Grenfell United and would be responding in due course.

However, a spokesperson said: "Councils are responsible for their own employment decisions."

Barnet Council added: "We were aware of the Grenfell Inquiry findings and considered them carefully during the recruitment process.

"Our thoughts remain with the survivors and family and friends of all those affected by the tragic Grenfell Tower fire. The safety and wellbeing of our residents is our top priority."

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