Grenfell Survivors Condemn Appointment of Former RBKC Housing Director to Senior Council Role
Quick Brief
Bereaved families and survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire have strongly criticized the appointment of a former housing director to a senior council housing position. Laura Johnson, who directed housing at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea during the 2017 disaster, has been hired as the permanent director of development and property for the Barnet Group. Critics have urged the organization to reconsider the £150,000-a-year appointment.
What Happened?
Laura Johnson, the former director of housing at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea during the 2017 Grenfell fire, has secured a permanent £150,000-a-year position as director of development and property at the Barnet Group. The organization manages approximately 13,000 council homes in Barnet. In response to the decision, bereaved relatives and fire survivors publicly condemned the hiring due to her past oversight of cost-cutting measures at Grenfell Tower, calling on the group to reverse the choice.
Why It Matters
The appointment has sparked intense backlash from Grenfell survivors and families who hold accountability for the decisions made leading up to the 2017 tragedy. It highlights ongoing public sensitivity regarding the career trajectories of officials who oversaw public housing policies prior to the fire.
Key Facts
- Laura Johnson has been appointed as the permanent director of development and property at the Barnet Group.
- The role pays £150,000 a year and involves managing 13,000 council homes.
- Johnson previously served as the director of housing at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea during the 2017 Grenfell fire.
- She was noted for pushing for cheaper contractors and overseeing cost-cutting measures at Grenfell Tower.
- Grenfell survivors and bereaved relatives have publicly criticized the decision and urged the Barnet Group to reconsider.
Compiled from 2 outlets
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