Kensington and Chelsea Council Extends Ban on Grenfell-Linked Contractors

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) has announced that contractors implicated in the Grenfell Tower fire will remain prohibited from securing future council contracts. This permanent prohibition affects Kingspan, Celotex, Arconic, and Rydon, forming part of a wider set of initiatives that also involve a pledge to assess and enhance the council’s internal culture. A public inquiry had previously determined that cladding played a significant role in the rapid spread of the 2017 fire within the tower, located in north Kensington, west London, which resulted in the deaths of 72 individuals. The 24-storey building, owned by RBKC, underwent refurbishment in the period preceding the catastrophe. The declaration of this ban occurred during a recent council meeting convened to deliberate RBKC’s official response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s final report, three months following its initial release. A 92-page document from the council, presented during the session, stated that the inquiry “laid bare catastrophic failures that occurred… in circumstances that were entirely preventable”. Kingspan, Celotex, Arconic, and Rydon, all contractors implicated in the Grenfell incident, had already faced a prohibition from council contracts in 2021. Arconic, a manufacturer of components for the cladding material, did not offer a direct comment regarding the extended ban. The company affirmed its cooperation with the inquiry, noted it had provided financial settlements to those impacted by the fire, and disputed assertions that its product was unsafe. Arconic Architectural Products SAS (AAP) further stated: “AAP did not conceal information from or mislead any certification body, customer, or the public.” Saint Gobain, the parent company of Celotex, chose not to comment. Kingspan and Rydon also did not provide a response. At the meeting, RBKC’s leader, Elizabeth Campbell, affirmed the council’s complete and unquestioning acceptance of the inquiry’s conclusions, expressing a desire to “really improve this organisation for the long term, and quickly.” She further remarked, “In the same way our communities show their commitment to us, we must demonstrate our commitment to them.” She also mentioned that the council was undertaking a fresh commitment to examine and enhance its organizational culture. This follows the inquiry report’s recognition of what it termed the “searing effect” that the fire continued to exert on the north Kensington community. The report further noted that as emergency services battled the blaze, “survivors, residents of the tower and those evacuated were abandoned.” It concluded: “It is clear to us that they were and most importantly felt themselves failed by those to whom they looked for protection in the wake of a major disaster.” As part of its overall response, the council is establishing a corporate resident procurement panel, designed to provide residents with input in the selection and oversight of contracts. Additionally, it is undertaking a review of its complaints handling procedures. An independent advisory panel, comprising bereaved family members, survivors, residents, and experts in social housing and safety, among other fields, is also slated for creation. The council’s response document stated: “We failed in our most basic duty – to keep people safe in their homes. We failed to listen to residents who raised concerns. We failed to respond with adequate urgency and humanity when disaster struck. “These failures reflected deep-rooted problems in our culture and practices that we must continue to challenge and address.” It further declared: “We invite residents to hold us to account, to tell us when we fall short, and to work with us in building lasting change.” The specific details of the contractor ban are scheduled for finalization at a meeting in December. The council also indicated that a comprehensive action plan, outlining timescales, roles, and responsibilities, will be released in early 2025. The Lancaster West Residents’ Association has acknowledged the council’s apologies and pledges, but stated that progress has been “agonisingly slow” and that the community “remains trapped in uncertainty and frustration.” Alderman Mushtaq Lasharie CBE, the association’s Chairman, commented: “While these gestures are welcome, they must translate into real, tangible actions that improve the lives of those affected.” He continued, “We are ready to work with the Council to achieve these goals, but we will not hesitate to challenge them when they fall short.” He further urged, “We call on all parties, at every level of government, to prioritise the promises made to our community and deliver on them urgently.” Grenfell United was also approached for a statement.