Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council have set aside £3,520,000 in legal fees for the Grenfell Tower fire.
The amount is twelve times more than the council saved by installing the less expensive cladding, which allegedly allowed the devastating fire to spread so quickly.
Dad blamed drinking Oasis on wee turning red – but it was bladder cancer
The council reportedly saved £293,000 by using the cheaper cladding.
The decision comes after £1,787,133 has already been spent on outside counsel for representation in the police investigation and public inquiry, reports The Huffington Post.
The council was drowned out by a chorus of heckling as council leader Elizabeth Campbell said money had to be spent on those investigating the tragedy.
She said: ‘We’re not judges. We can’t do that and we can’t do that tonight.
AdvertisementAdvertisement
‘I understand there is concern about the amount of money being spent but our priority is the inquiry and the police investigation have all the material to make that judgement.
‘We are not here to defend anyone. We are here to provide the documents so that judges can make the judgement.’
After spending half an hour arguing with the residents in the public gallery, the money was signed off as people shouted: ‘Shame on you!’
Campbell pleaded with the audience to ‘give us some peace’ and tried to move the meeting onto the next agenda.
Joe Delaney, a campaigner who lived by the Grenfell Tower, was applauded by the public for asking how expensive the council’s lawyers were.
He asked: ‘What hourly rate are you giving barristers? Is it more than those on legal aid are allowed to pay? Surely you should be going and finding a firm willing to use legal aid hourly rates?’
Campbell said the council would provide monthly updates on the spending.
‘We can’t give you justice tonight,’ she said.
More: UK
AdvertisementAdvertisement
[contf] [contfnew] 
METRO
[contfnewc] [contfnewc]
