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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/30/grenfell-fire-guardian-puts-council-on-notice-over-secret-meetings
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| Grenfell fire: Guardian puts council on notice over secret meetings | Grenfell fire: Guardian puts council on notice over secret meetings |
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| The Guardian has asked Kensington and Chelsea council to confirm that it will allow reporters to attend future meetings relating to Grenfell Tower in the interests of transparency and open government. The newspaper’s legal director, Gill Phillips, contacted the local authority on Friday to insist that it must make arrangements to “permit the media to access its meetings in a proper and timely way” in the future. | The Guardian has asked Kensington and Chelsea council to confirm that it will allow reporters to attend future meetings relating to Grenfell Tower in the interests of transparency and open government. The newspaper’s legal director, Gill Phillips, contacted the local authority on Friday to insist that it must make arrangements to “permit the media to access its meetings in a proper and timely way” in the future. |
| She added that the council cannot reasonably suggest that the media’s presence at the meeting risked prejudicing any future public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire. “[T]his approach can only be interpreted as suggesting that the council were wanting to discuss matters that they did not want the public inquiry to know about,” she added. | She added that the council cannot reasonably suggest that the media’s presence at the meeting risked prejudicing any future public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire. “[T]his approach can only be interpreted as suggesting that the council were wanting to discuss matters that they did not want the public inquiry to know about,” she added. |
| The Guardian and a group of other news organisations were forced to obtain a court order before they were allowed to attend Thursday’s meeting of the council’s cabinet in order to witness proceedings. The order was obtained less than half an hour before the meeting began, although the council only complied one minute before the cabinet’s deliberations began. | The Guardian and a group of other news organisations were forced to obtain a court order before they were allowed to attend Thursday’s meeting of the council’s cabinet in order to witness proceedings. The order was obtained less than half an hour before the meeting began, although the council only complied one minute before the cabinet’s deliberations began. |
| Kensington and Chelsea has come under increasing pressure over its handling of the fire and its aftermath. It was due to hold its first public meeting on Thursday night and initially said it had to hold it in private to avoid the risk of disruption by members of the public. It added that this extended to the media. | Kensington and Chelsea has come under increasing pressure over its handling of the fire and its aftermath. It was due to hold its first public meeting on Thursday night and initially said it had to hold it in private to avoid the risk of disruption by members of the public. It added that this extended to the media. |
| Once reporters were allowed in, the session descended into uproar as the council leader, Nicholas Paget-Brown, read out a brief statement and ended the meeting, saying he could not proceed with journalists present as this might prejudice the public inquiry. It is not clear exactly how the inquiry could be prejudiced by this means, as it will be led by Sir Martin Moore-Bick, a retired appeal court judge, rather than a jury. | Once reporters were allowed in, the session descended into uproar as the council leader, Nicholas Paget-Brown, read out a brief statement and ended the meeting, saying he could not proceed with journalists present as this might prejudice the public inquiry. It is not clear exactly how the inquiry could be prejudiced by this means, as it will be led by Sir Martin Moore-Bick, a retired appeal court judge, rather than a jury. |
| The decision to shorten the meeting to a single statement rather than proceed in front of journalists has provoked concerns about the council’s transparency as it grapples with the aftermath of the fire, in which at least 80 people are thought to have died. The meeting remained closed to the public, including the survivors of the blaze and families of those who died, although some appear to have made it in. | The decision to shorten the meeting to a single statement rather than proceed in front of journalists has provoked concerns about the council’s transparency as it grapples with the aftermath of the fire, in which at least 80 people are thought to have died. The meeting remained closed to the public, including the survivors of the blaze and families of those who died, although some appear to have made it in. |
| Downing Street and the Department for Communities and Local Government criticised the council for trying to hold a key committee meeting in secret. A Downing Street spokeswoman said on Friday: “The high court ruled that the meeting should be open, and we would have expected the council to respect that.” | Downing Street and the Department for Communities and Local Government criticised the council for trying to hold a key committee meeting in secret. A Downing Street spokeswoman said on Friday: “The high court ruled that the meeting should be open, and we would have expected the council to respect that.” |
| The communities secretary, Sajid Javid, said: “Access to the democratic process should always be open and transparent. I would urge all levels of government to always favour this approach so people can retain confidence in the system.” | The communities secretary, Sajid Javid, said: “Access to the democratic process should always be open and transparent. I would urge all levels of government to always favour this approach so people can retain confidence in the system.” |
| Robert Atkinson, the leader of the opposition Labour group, said the meeting had changed his mind on whether Paget-Brown should remain in his post. He said: “Until yesterday, I had some confidence that Paget-Brown was attempting to get a hold on the situation. But from his performance yesterday, he really does not have a clue. | Robert Atkinson, the leader of the opposition Labour group, said the meeting had changed his mind on whether Paget-Brown should remain in his post. He said: “Until yesterday, I had some confidence that Paget-Brown was attempting to get a hold on the situation. But from his performance yesterday, he really does not have a clue. |
| “He can read out a statement that someone else has written out for him, but the idea of thinking on his feet and actually communicating and showing some empathy with residents just isn’t there.” | “He can read out a statement that someone else has written out for him, but the idea of thinking on his feet and actually communicating and showing some empathy with residents just isn’t there.” |
| Paget-Brown had “hidden away for a week”, he said. “You cannot be the leader of a council and then not appear in public.” The council leader might have concerns about safety, given the public anger that followed the fire, Atkinson conceded, but added: “Even that can be organised. I think he can’t cope with the situation.” | Paget-Brown had “hidden away for a week”, he said. “You cannot be the leader of a council and then not appear in public.” The council leader might have concerns about safety, given the public anger that followed the fire, Atkinson conceded, but added: “Even that can be organised. I think he can’t cope with the situation.” |
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