(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Theresa May has attended a private meeting for victims of the Grenfell Tower fire where she accepted that their Conservative-led council did not provide help quickly enough after the disaster that killed about 80 people.
The prime minister was invited to the meeting by residents to hear about the challenges they continue to face, amid some anger that the public inquiry into the fire will only look at the practical causes and not wider issues around the quality of social housing.
May, who was criticised for not visiting the scene quickly enough after the fire, spent time discussing support for bereaved families, housing, the inquiry and the distribution of charitable funds.
Speaking on Sky News from a bus factory in Guildford, May said that it had been a 'very good meeting, a very dignified meeting and she had relayed concerns of the residents to the leader of Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea council.
'Obviously people did have concerns they were raising, she said.
'I was pleased I was able to tell them … the tenant management organisation will no longer have responsibility for the Lancaster West housing estate.
'People were pleased to hear that … What I want to ensure is that the Grenfell United residents and others locally are given the support they need following this terrible tragedy that has so affected their lives.
The prime minister said one of the issues was about ensuring that charitable donations reached those affected and added that the Charities Commission was working to make sure that was happening.
A Downing Street spokesman said the prime minister acknowledged concerns about Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea council: 'She recognised that the council did not respond quickly enough after the fire … She agreed that it was important that the council listen to and respond to the issues residents face about the support and information they were receiving, including from key workers and housing officers.
Responding to concerns about the length of time taken to identify all the deceased, May promised residents that the coroners had all the resources necessary and were working as fast as they could.
May also took on board complaints that those being offered rental accommodation were not happy with the council's communication and agreed that offers should be discussed with residents face to face.
On the public inquiry, she pledged it would be independent and stressed that the government would fund any legal representation required.
The spokesman added: 'She explained that while the judge had not proposed including wider questions related to social housing within the terms of reference, the government recognised that these should be taken forward elsewhere and had asked the minister for housing, Alok Sharma, to begin this by holding conversations with social housing tenants across the country.
No 10 said no media personnel were present at the meeting at the request of the residents.
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