Grenfell: inquiry hears council at heart of cost-cutting decisions

RBKC used decisive influence' to remove original contractor over budget concerns

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) used decisive influence" to remove the original contractor on Grenfell Tower despite its claims to have delegated responsibility for the works, the public inquiry into the disaster has heard.

In evidence that places the Conservative-controlled council at the heart of a key decision in the run up to the June 2017 fire, the inquiry was told that Laura Johnson, RBKC's director of housing, lost patience with Leadbitter when it said the project was going to cost 1.2m more than the budget.