Grenfell surveyor had to handle 130 projects at once, inquiry hears

Council surveyor tasked with overseeing refurbishment tells inquiry his department was swamped' with work

The council department responsible for checking the safety of the Grenfell Tower refurbishment was swamped" with work as austerity-driven cuts slashed staff numbers and the key surveyor was left handling 130 projects at once, the public inquiry in the disaster has heard.

John Hoban, senior building control surveyor at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, said councillors had signed off substantial cuts to the building control department piling work on the remaining staff.