黑洞社区

Nicholas Holgate, the chief executive of Kensington & Chelsea council, has resigned in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster, effectively saying he was pushed by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid.

In a statement Holgate said Javid had 鈥渞equired the leader of the council to seek my resignation鈥�.

Council leader Nicholas Paget-Brown said he regretted Holgate鈥檚 departure, adding the local authority would now have to find a 鈥渘ew way with different partners鈥� to provide affected residents and survivors of the fire with the support they needed.

Holgate said that serving the families affected by the 鈥渉eart-breaking tragedy鈥� at Grenfell Tower remained the highest priority of the council.

鈥淒espite my wish to have continued, in very challenging circumstances, to lead on the executive responsibilities of the council, I have decided that it is better to step down from my role, once an appropriate successor has been appointed,鈥� he said.

Kensington and Chelsea council has come in for intense criticism over the way it handled the aftermath of the fire, its dealings with survivors, and for the way it dealt with concerns about the building before last week鈥檚 blaze, which has so far claimed the lives of at least 79 people.

In his statement, Holgate said: 鈥淪uccess in our efforts requires leadership across London that sustains the confidence and support of central government. There is a huge amount still to do for the victims of the fire, requiring the full attention of this Council and many others. If I stayed in post, my presence would be a distraction. 

鈥淲hilst the public inquiry and other investigations will get to the truth of the causes of this tragedy and the management of its aftermath, I strongly believe that Councillors and officers have always endeavoured to have the interests of our residents at heart and will continue to do so.

Paget-Brown said he had accepted Holgate鈥檚 resignation with 鈥済reat regret鈥�.

Paget-Brown said: 鈥淟ike everyone else, the council has been grief stricken by the tragedy of the Grenfell Tower fire and has sought to provide the greatest level of support we can to victims.

鈥淭hat is a huge challenge and Nicholas has led from the front in seeking to do this. However, the council will now need to work in a new way with different partners to take this forward. 

鈥淣icholas has made a huge contribution to Kensington and Chelsea during his eight years with us and is greatly admired by staff and members. I am enormously grateful to him.鈥�