Final closing statements from legal representatives and bereaved families, addressing policy failures, stay-put guidance, and systemic building regulation failures.
00:14:01 yes mr. Mansfield you ready to carry on yes thank you home the reference is uh if the list could be put up again I'm sorry I should have said well these lists June 7th to D appendix one we've
00:14:16 lists June 7th to D appendix one we've got down the list to the element of ventilation two-thirds of the way down there's only one point after this I want to address you about the references to
00:14:27 to address you about the references to the ventilation problem comes in the position statement by PSB earlier this year and it's page 19 paragraph 1771 I'm
00:14:41 year and it's page 19 paragraph 1771 I'm so sorry 71 through 276 basically Ryden had reported a fault potential fault with the air of ease the automatic
00:14:52 with the air of ease the automatic opening vents that they weren't operating at but in particular not opening and that was followed up with a series of letters just before the fire six the 8th of June the 12th of June to
00:15:04 six the 8th of June the 12th of June to on the 12th where there was conversation effectively about who's got the maintenance contract but nothing was actually done so therefore may I pass
00:15:17 actually done so therefore may I pass from a non effective ventilation system to the next item on the 7 to D now make
00:15:28 to the next item on the 7 to D now make it clear that I'm not suggesting it's a statutory provision but it is referred to in the statute so it's a really guidance which we say effectively has
00:15:40 guidance which we say effectively has that as that's stages evacuation arrangers I'm not going to take time on it because you've heard the word any there was no plan for evacuation there was no training for evacuation and fire
00:15:52 was no training for evacuation and fire officer after fire officer really knew nothing about it however linked to that one is the question of stay put and I do want to address you in the final moments of what
00:16:04 address you in the final moments of what I have to say on that topic because we are suggesting a reversal of that policy in other words that the
00:16:18 of that policy in other words that the emphasis is put on get out and stare which used to be the cry from many fire brigades across the United Kingdom and was the policy at the tower before the
00:16:34 was the policy at the tower before the refurbishment could we have a Ralph the next document I think you have a slightly different reference this say you have seen this before mr. millet has put it here witnesses it's a notice to
00:16:48 put it here witnesses it's a notice to residents this one that I'm using is attached to mr. Shah he's our meds statement
00:16:56 statement he's been referred to more than once and mr. Leslie Thomas did as well he recorded a great deal of material this being one of them in case of fire this
00:17:08 being one of them in case of fire this comes from the RB KC essentially used the nearest telephone and call the fire brigade da 909 and asked for that's gone blank state clearly presumably where the
00:17:20 blank state clearly presumably where the fire is inform the porter which I've already mentioned there wasn't one by the after refurbishment do not use a lift leave the building using the staircase close all doors do
00:17:32 using the staircase close all doors do not re-enter the building so that was done at a time when there was a single staircase and so forth and we say that should be reconsidered as the way
00:17:43 should be reconsidered as the way forward and we say it has to be reconsidered right now because there is real confusion about the situation now
00:17:54 real confusion about the situation now as mr. Walsh said yesterday it's counterintuitive to stay in the building you want to get out and as mr. Menon said today that is in fact what people are doing the fires on June the 14th
00:18:05 are doing the fires on June the 14th this year too on the same day one in Scotland one in London in fact people took no notice of what they were being told to do they did not stay in they got out because Grenville the image of
00:18:16 out because Grenville the image of grandfather is far too great and we say quite rightly that it should be in their mind
00:18:22 mind and of course if it would be reversed there may be exceptions but if it were to be reversed it would make it much simpler for the residents because the emphasis will get out and of course it would also require a fire alarm that
00:18:35 would also require a fire alarm that sounds and communications within the building and all the rest of it because if you didn't know that was one you couldn't so you have to be alerted to this and that it is a premise that there
00:18:46 this and that it is a premise that there will be an way of alerting everybody in the block very important again if there are flaws beyond the tenth which cannot be served by the fire brigade putting
00:18:57 be served by the fire brigade putting out fires on the outside all the inside particularly important for them it's easier for the controllers because basically they have one line they're going to be putting get out is what we
00:19:08 going to be putting get out is what we are saying as a matter of policy don't stay in and also it would obviate this need when the controllers were answering questions are just as it were
00:19:19 answering questions are just as it were asked that this be considered in parentheses how many times were controllers making an assessment which was entirely false and disbelieving what the caller was saying now that can't be
00:19:32 the caller was saying now that can't be right
00:19:33 right they wouldn't need to go into all that because the policy is get out and interestingly a I don't think the person who saw it managed to get the registration number otherwise I think mr. Walsh or perhaps others will say
00:19:45 mr. Walsh or perhaps others will say where is this fire engine a London Fire Brigade fire engine was noted very recently to have on its side you know if there's a fire get out so there are mixed messages
00:19:59 get out so there are mixed messages being handed out at the moment never mind the intuition and never mind past policy it has to be addressed so that the public facing as everybody's
00:20:10 that the public facing as everybody's admitted there's likely to be as there has been this year more fires unfortunately and we say that if there's a presumption we put it that way a
00:20:22 a presumption we put it that way a presumption in favor of getting out then the all the difficulties although they're still difficulties facing people trying to get out at Lee as Hanan herself said to you who's part
00:20:37 as Hanan herself said to you who's part of her evidence I want to read in a moment that she she's riven by the death of her her brother who she overheard had been told essentially not to get out and
00:20:50 been told essentially not to get out and so it's had a searing effect on the families that this advice of staying put was being promulgated throughout these
00:21:01 was being promulgated throughout these calls while most of them anyway they're one or two exceptions and of course its premise Thanh something we say is flawed in other words the whole idea is built
00:21:13 in other words the whole idea is built on a building requirement of compartment Asian and that's too big a risk not every building is going to go up in the same way obviously but the variables
00:21:24 same way obviously but the variables that can go wrong because there's a human hand here in the building the maintenance and all the various other machinery involved in this but therefore
00:21:36 machinery involved in this but therefore being able to say well provided we have compartment ation that is sealed who knows that at the point of fire the controller no I don't think say the fire
00:21:48 controller no I don't think say the fire brigade they might assume it and those who live in it might assume it the problem is there are too many assumptions for the stay-put policy to
00:22:00 assumptions for the stay-put policy to remain and therefore the confusion in a sense is aptly Illustrated not just by the fire engine we've mentioned nor by the previous notice but we are obliged
00:22:12 the previous notice but we are obliged to the Royal Borough of Kensington I don't ask for the document to be put up but you will find in their recent response a letter dated the 8th of June
00:22:23 response a letter dated the 8th of June it comes in a sort of an attachment to their statement and I may I just read one paragraph one residence of the Royal Borough of Kensington are now being told
00:22:35 Borough of Kensington are now being told is this or some not all so there's no consistency about it there may be very good reasons why they're separating it out
00:22:43 out this is what it says fire procedure for Hampton houses as part of the council's ongoing commitment to meeting the most stringent standards in fire safety we are making sure that you're aware of a
00:22:55 are making sure that you're aware of a change to the fire procedure for your block if you are allergic to smoke or fire within your block notice and we we accept this as being sensible you should
00:23:06 accept this as being sensible you should immediately leave your flat closing your front door behind you and exit the block by the main entrance door say we say you have an example there of what should be
00:23:17 have an example there of what should be now considered and it's a bit I suppose like the moratorium are on combustible materials certainly on non combustible
00:23:29 materials certainly on non combustible if you don't use them there's in a sense of moratorium at this point we're in a transitional phase while this inquiry is going on and it would help if you were able to provide some guidance about how
00:23:42 able to provide some guidance about how this should move forward rather than as it were leaving it for a later period and just on that topic if I may we appreciate the pressure on time for you
00:23:54 appreciate the pressure on time for you and all the other things that you and your team have to deal with in the interim and that once we're not sitting it's not as though you're not addressing all the issues however the the latest
00:24:08 indication from you that you can't do the hearings in two interim recommendations one of which is going to be possibly the end of January or the other the beginning of February now the
00:24:20 other the beginning of February now the problem with this is really rather obvious that if we don't have the hearings fairly soon let us say March the hearings that is in relation to only
00:24:31 the hearings that is in relation to only entering recommendations and then that's got to wait until I obviously are advocating something different but that's got to wait for the phase one report which may or may not I'm not
00:24:45 report which may or may not I'm not wishing to preempt how long it's going to take to actually put that into format that can be received by the public possibly June July maybe later a matter which only you and you
00:24:56 a matter which only you and you team may be able to assist upon one can see two years have gone by since the fire and that is why we would say and I did say in August and I say again and
00:25:08 did say in August and I say again and I'm not embarrassed by having to ask you to reconsider the possibility of identifying within the recommendations
00:25:19 identifying within the recommendations those that you can do something about now we call them manifestly obvious now I appreciate in your ruling earlier you made a very pertinent point namely you
00:25:31 made a very pertinent point namely you know what's obvious to me may not be obvious to someone else and one appreciates there's always that however that's been the problem for forty five years people have been waiting for some kind of unanimity there never will be
00:25:43 kind of unanimity there never will be complete consensus and provided you're not proposing something that's completely mad and that is not plainly on the agenda if you're dealing with the kind of things that I've suggest you can
00:25:55 kind of things that I've suggest you can identify those hyv them off and have as it were a fast-track that allows the public to see we as an inquiry as a
00:26:06 public to see we as an inquiry as a whole as a collective are in business and the business of safety and it's in that light really I'd ask if you kindly put up its the last reference this is
00:26:19 put up its the last reference this is Hammonds calling a Hannah and I hope she does alive hello and were hobbyists which is on day 70 8th of November it comes on page pages one eight nine
00:26:30 comes on page pages one eight nine onwards could I have one eight eight I'm going to shorten it instead of reading a lot of it I'm just at the bottom of that
00:26:42 lot of it I'm just at the bottom of that page there line twenty one on that this witness you will remember clearly because of all the other circumstances surrounding her giving evidence and
00:26:53 surrounding her giving evidence and being able to give evidence and you very kindly indicated that it was percept perceptive and powerful at the end and what she said towards the end is at the bottom of that pay
00:27:04 bottom of that pay the impact it's had that's the 72 people who passed away we can't bring our loved ones back the impact it's had on our families and our community could have
00:27:15 families and our community could have been prevented we can't change that now but we can change the lives of those we've lost to count for their deaths not to have been in vain there has to be
00:27:27 to have been in vain there has to be change we have to learn from this life will never be the same for us we may find a new place to live but it won't be our home grandpa was at home the people
00:27:40 our home grandpa was at home the people who were there were our family the impact on me and my children all of those impacted will last a lifetime and I want to know that we will be supported for the rest of our lives as a result of
00:27:53 for the rest of our lives as a result of this inquiry I want the truth to be found and for change to happen and then she finally wants to thank all of the people including the inquiry team who
00:28:04 people including the inquiry team who have and continued to help us it makes a huge difference and then the words will never be enough but from my heart thank
00:28:15 never be enough but from my heart thank you and it is really in that context that I urge you to reconsider as it were the fast-track something is done now that can be seen that is perfectly
00:28:28 that can be seen that is perfectly acceptable reasonable and will not require too much extra effort but I think all of us here are quite prepared to lend our help to your team to ensure
00:28:41 to lend our help to your team to ensure that that product can be achieved thank you well thank you very much mr. Mansfield
00:28:50 now mr. beer is going to make statement on behalf of and make clg's I'm not gonna rise for a moment I'll just sit here quietly well you make your way up
00:29:01 here quietly well you make your way up mister
00:29:09 [Music]
00:29:16 but serve the department has been following the progress of the inquiry closely and it reiterates through me its commitment to supporting the inquiry in
00:29:27 commitment to supporting the inquiry in its twin objectives firstly that to get to the truth and secondly to ensure that lessons are learned so that a tragedy like Granville can never happen at Dame
00:29:38 like Granville can never happen at Dame Judith Hackett's independent review of the Building Regulations and fire safety highlighted that the current system is quote not fit for purpose nothing more is important than ensuring that people
00:29:51 is important than ensuring that people are safe in their homes the department is determined to learn the lessons from Grenville and to bring about a fundamental change in the building safety system accordingly the
00:30:03 building safety system accordingly the government will set out how it intends to take forward the recommendations of her independent review of Building Regulations and fire safety by the end of this year and so that everyone is
00:30:15 of this year and so that everyone is safe and feel safe in their homes a comprehensive building safety program was put in place within days of the Grenville tower fire the government is taking action to speed up the
00:30:28 taking action to speed up the refurbishment of unsafe cladding like the type used at Granville Tower the government is fully funding the replacement of unsafe ACM cladding on
00:30:40 replacement of unsafe ACM cladding on social sector buildings 18 metres or more in height in the private sector the government is supporting local authorities to take decisive enforcement action where remediation plans for
00:30:53 action where remediation plans for high-rise buildings with unsafe cladding are unclear and this includes providing additional guidance on the assessment of such buildings and the setting up of a local government Association hosted
00:31:05 local government Association hosted joint inspection teams local authorities are getting the government's full backing including financial support where this is necessary to enable them
00:31:16 where this is necessary to enable them to carry out emergency remedial work on affected private residential buildings and unsafe ACM clatter that they will recover the costs from building owners in doing so the
00:31:30 building owners in doing so the department wishes to ensure that all core core participants are aware before the 14th of December deadline that you have said for submitting submissions on
00:31:41 have said for submitting submissions on proposed interim recommendations that the department has acted to impose a clear ban on combustible cladding for high-rise and some other buildings but
00:31:53 high-rise and some other buildings but whilst the department is clear having taken advice from experts that unmodified polythene poured ACM cladding does not comply with the requirements of
00:32:04 does not comply with the requirements of the building regulations as they stand concerns have been expressed that combustible cladding is not explicitly banned under statute following detailed consultation earlier this year which
00:32:17 consultation earlier this year which attracted over 400 responses the department laid regulations on the 29th of November 2018 under these new regulations building work must be
00:32:29 regulations building work must be carried out so that only materials which meet classification a1 or a2 s1 do under european standard e-m1 3 501 one other
00:32:42 european standard e-m1 3 501 one other than certain components which are exempted become part of an external wall of buildings 18 metres or more in height which contained one of all flats a hospital residential care premises a
00:32:54 hospital residential care premises a dormitory in a boarding school or student accommodation in the meantime the government is not waiting for legislative change to begin fixing other
00:33:05 legislative change to begin fixing other parts of the system it is supporting the remediation of other buildings with unsafe cladding testing and improving the safety of fire doors and working with so called early adopters to test
00:33:18 with so called early adopters to test new approaches and to achieve change on the ground as soon as is possible we acknowledge that the inquiry has a course received written and oral expert evidence from a range of experts and the
00:33:31 evidence from a range of experts and the department will address the issues raised by those experts in their subsequent evidence as appropriate during phase 2 of your inquiry but finally the enquiry stands ready in
00:33:42 finally the enquiry stands ready in particular in phase 2 of the inquiry in any way that the inquiry sees fit and will take account of all issues raised by the inquiry through its work as it itself takes forward to building safety programme good thank you very much thank
00:34:01 programme good thank you very much thank you
00:34:04 now the next person I think the hair from is Miss stud Queen's Counsel on behalf of the mayor and again I'm not going to rise when we change out of it
00:34:15 going to rise when we change out of it take your time to study
00:34:34 yes when you're ready mr. chairman it does not go unnoticed but the hearings of phase 1 conclude just as those directly affected by the Grenville fire
00:34:45 directly affected by the Grenville fire commemorate 18 months since the tragedy it's appropriate that all those involved in this process should pause and reflect upon how much more needs to be achieved
00:34:57 upon how much more needs to be achieved to ensure that this can not happen again in this regard we support the call for increased candor from the core participants as we move forward to Phase
00:35:09 participants as we move forward to Phase two
00:35:11 two the mayor intends to divide his closing remarks into two parts the first part looking back and reflecting upon the work and investigation that is being
00:35:22 work and investigation that is being completed in Phase one of your inquiry and then secondly looking forward to Phase two and the change in emphasis from response to the tragedy on the
00:35:33 from response to the tragedy on the night itself to an examination of whom or what organizations should bear responsibility and be held accountable for the catastrophe of the 14th of June
00:35:47 for the catastrophe of the 14th of June 2017 in some respects the inquiries division of its work interphase 1 & 2 while pragmatic has
00:35:58 interphase 1 & 2 while pragmatic has been artificial and at times perhaps more than a little frustrating for a number of the core participants and perhaps even yourself because it's not
00:36:09 perhaps even yourself because it's not been in a position to answer some of the very obvious questions that have been raised relating to why phase 1 has
00:36:20 raised relating to why phase 1 has focused as it was intended to do on the events of the night and the immediate aftermath and it will no doubt conclude that there are lessons to be learned about what occurred on the night and
00:36:32 about what occurred on the night and perhaps what might have been done differently as the mayor said in opening and he repeats and it's been reiterated by other BS R's in there
00:36:45 by other BS R's in there closings it is incumbent upon each and every one of us with a role here to ensure that we learn every lesson even the difficult ones and the unpalatable
00:36:58 the difficult ones and the unpalatable ones with an aim to achieve the central objective which is to ensure that such an event can never happen again to quote others that this is the beginning of the
00:37:11 others that this is the beginning of the end phase one has highlighted the actions of very many individuals present on the night who disregarded their own safety in order to ensure the safety and
00:37:24 safety in order to ensure the safety and survival of others the inquiry has heard accounts from survivors and from individual firefighters who put their own personal trauma to one side to
00:37:37 own personal trauma to one side to prevent to provide evidence orally in writing illustrating for the inquiry and the public the very many who put their own lives at very great risk the mayor
00:37:50 own lives at very great risk the mayor was privileged to attend the inquiry in person and hear some of that very moving testimony it would be wrong to single out individual accounts but many of us
00:38:02 out individual accounts but many of us present or following the inquiry more remotely were and should be humbled by those testimonies and the illustration of human courage that has been portrayed
00:38:16 however what has been wholly absent from this phase of the inquiry has been any explanation for the seeming divergence of views between the TMO and ridin on
00:38:29 of views between the TMO and ridin on the one hand whose newsletter indicated that after the replacement of the flat doors Grenville tower was designed according to quote rigorous safety
00:38:40 according to quote rigorous safety standards and dr. Lane on the other who gave evidence that if the material used on the outside of the building had been known the building should not have been
00:38:52 known the building should not have been occupied because the fire brigade were then also
00:38:56 then also have known what was facing them if dr. lanes conclusions are correct then the renovated Grenville tower was unsuitable
00:39:08 renovated Grenville tower was unsuitable for occupation and absolutely unsuitable for occupation with a stay put policy in place she has given evidence that flat 16 could not maintain the required high
00:39:21 16 could not maintain the required high degree of compartment ation due to the failure of the building envelope to adequately resist the spread of fire her wider evidence of non-compliance was
00:39:32 wider evidence of non-compliance was damning obviously the mayor acknowledges that this is going to be the subject of detailed analysis in phase 2 when the inquiry will hear more by way of
00:39:45 inquiry will hear more by way of explanation from the corporate court participants as to why it was that they considered the design and renovation of Grenville Tower rendered it suitable and
00:39:56 Grenville Tower rendered it suitable and safe for the stay-put policy to be maintained it is of course a matter for you sir to consider how far you can go
00:40:07 you sir to consider how far you can go and how far you should go at this stage in fact-finding relating to the condition of the building on the night of the fire and prior to it however the
00:40:20 of the fire and prior to it however the mayor would invite you to consider that any criticisms you make of the first responders in the light of it must be made in the light of the oral and written evidence of dr. lane in
00:40:32 written evidence of dr. lane in particular we would ask you to note that doctor name did not consider it reasonable that in the event of the installation of a combustible rain
00:40:43 installation of a combustible rain screen system on a high-rise residential building the fire brigade should be expected to fully mitigate any resulting fire although phase one has heard some
00:40:57 fire although phase one has heard some evidence relating to the training and organization of the London Fire Brigade this was limited to the discussion of issues directly relevant - the brigades attendance at Grenville
00:41:09 - the brigades attendance at Grenville fire in its location in inner West London the mayor notes that further evidence on these matters including the expert evidence of mr. Steve McCurry
00:41:20 expert evidence of mr. Steve McCurry will be considered in court phase 2 the
00:41:26 enquiry will be aware that the organizational structure of the London Fire Brigade are not unique in the United Kingdom is organized in such a way as to take into account the
00:41:39 way as to take into account the demography and the geography of London and therefore recommendations that might work in London maybe less workable elsewhere given the importance of your
00:41:51 elsewhere given the importance of your recommendations and the fact that they are likely to be considered nationwide the mayor would urge you to exercise great care before making any
00:42:02 great care before making any recommendations on the fire and rescue service organisation training and operation at this stage and in the absence of any evidence in relation to
00:42:13 absence of any evidence in relation to the National position let us now look forward to phase 2 phase 2 must be about responsibility and accountability that
00:42:28 responsibility and accountability that will obviously include the adequacy of the response but the immediate focus must be on the design the construction the modification and the renovation of
00:42:41 the modification and the renovation of granville tower from its original construction in 1974 until its decimation by fire on the 14th of June 2017 in a letter dated at the 18th of
00:42:57 2017 in a letter dated at the 18th of May 2018 the Prime Minister indicated that the hearings of phase 2 that you will be sitting with two additional panel members how letter confirmed that
00:43:10 panel members how letter confirmed that the two additional panel members would be necessary in order to provide the necessary breadth of skills and diversity of expertise and she went on to say this
00:43:23 expertise and she went on to say this I hope this decision will provide reassurance to victims and survivors of the fire the local community and members of Grenville United who have been clear
00:43:35 of Grenville United who have been clear with me and the Minister for Grenville victims Nick heard that you are the right person to lead this inquiry but who also believed that in Phase two it will be beneficial to have power
00:43:47 will be beneficial to have power additional panel members recognizing the scale and breadth of the issues to be considered in the particular circumstances of these appointments the
00:43:59 circumstances of these appointments the inquiries Act requires that you give your consent the mayor would invite you to prioritize diversity when considering your consent
00:44:10 diversity when considering your consent to the appointments of panel members you have already appointed experts to assist you as your advisory panel the panel
00:44:23 you as your advisory panel the panel members for phase 2 should bring a different element to the proceedings diversity is not just about appearance phase two will require an examination of
00:44:36 phase two will require an examination of a number of issues relating to how and why Grenville tower rapidly became the serious danger to life that it was on the night of the fire
00:44:48 the night of the fire but it will also look at the governance and management of the tower the communication with residents the fire advice and the actions taken by the
00:44:59 advice and the actions taken by the various authorities in the aftermath in respect of all of these issues you will be hugely assisted by panel members with relevant life experience and not merely
00:45:12 relevant life experience and not merely relevant professional qualifications while it is of course a matter for the prime minister the mayor would also welcome and encourage any measure
00:45:24 welcome and encourage any measure consultation permitted to the core participants prior to these appointments without apologies mr. chairman I also
00:45:36 without apologies mr. chairman I also revisit the difficult issue of venue once again the mayor supports the bereaved survivors and residents plea for a more practical venue for phase 2
00:45:50 for a more practical venue for phase 2 which is able to accommodate more of their number in more appropriate surroundings and in particular nearer to the location of the Granville Tower this
00:46:03 the location of the Granville Tower this inquiry must prioritize public participation and be particularly concerned about the inability of a large number of core participants who resided
00:46:14 number of core participants who resided in the tower or adjacent to it to actively participate in this process very many of those important people are
00:46:26 very many of those important people are currently unable to do so due to the location of this inquiry at Holborn bars it is absolutely not enough for the
00:46:37 it is absolutely not enough for the inquiry to say that the venue is satisfactory because it is rarely full this is not about numbers and the venue being full it is about the convenience
00:46:50 being full it is about the convenience for the core participants when they have competing daily commitments in their locality and community close to their home and concerns about their mental
00:47:02 home and concerns about their mental health which have evolved directly as a result of the fire they need to be able to participate without having to travel an hour or more either way to do so we
00:47:15 an hour or more either way to do so we again urge the inquiry to relocate for Phase two and in the interest of transparency the mayor has previously invited the inquiry team to publish
00:47:26 invited the inquiry team to publish details of all of all venues already examined and rejected although this request has been refused on the grounds of commercial sensitivity in the event
00:47:39 of commercial sensitivity in the event that it is unable to be for phase 2 the mayor repeats his request and invites the inquiry to publish or provide to call participants the information of what steps have been
00:47:51 the information of what steps have been taken the premises that have been contacted to reassure core participants that the inquiry team have used their best endeavors to make efforts to relocate but they have been unsuccessful
00:48:03 relocate but they have been unsuccessful in their efforts we are appreciative of the scale of anticipated disclosure for phase 2 but nonetheless remain concerned
00:48:14 phase 2 but nonetheless remain concerned that it has yet to commence despite the inquiries recent letter indicating that the first charge of disclosure will be made before Christmas
00:48:25 disclosure will be made before Christmas it is essential that the core participants have a realistic working timetable including a timetable for rolling disclosure as soon as possible
00:48:36 rolling disclosure as soon as possible to prevent further delays in the inquiries work Public Safety demands that this inquiry proceeds as quickly as possible and the inquiry team must
00:48:47 possible and the inquiry team must ensure that slippage on dates does not derail the starting date of phase 2 and lastly this the inquiry must ensure that
00:48:59 lastly this the inquiry must ensure that in Phase two the bereaved survivors and residents remained central in phase 1 their voices have been heard both in the
00:49:10 their voices have been heard both in the touching memorials and in the evidence they gave in relation to their experience of the fire itself the inquiries experts have also expressed how valuable this evidence has been in
00:49:23 how valuable this evidence has been in assisting with their work in Phase two also their evidence needs to be placed right at the heart of the inquiries work
00:49:34 right at the heart of the inquiries work to provide justice for the dead and accountability for the living [Music]
00:49:44 [Music] thank you very much
00:49:55 and next mr. Maxwell Scott
00:50:05 [Music]
00:50:13 yes but when you're ready Thank You mr. chairman when I made oral submissions at the first directions hearing in December last year I emphasized the centrality to
00:50:27 last year I emphasized the centrality to this inquiry of the bereaved the survivors and of the former residents the council is and always will be deeply sorry but its residents suffered a
00:50:40 sorry but its residents suffered a terrible tragedy the Grenville tower fire at the first directions hearing I referred to the resolution passed unanimously by the full council on the
00:50:51 unanimously by the full council on the 6th of December 2017 which committed to council to openness candor and transparency that resolution also stated
00:51:02 transparency that resolution also stated the council's commitment to full cooperation with your inquiry and to assist the search for the truth over the last 12 months we have sought to honor that commitment by assisting your
00:51:15 that commitment by assisting your inquiry as best we can your team will be aware of the ways in which we have assisted but I will if I may mention some of them today we have provided the
00:51:28 some of them today we have provided the inquiry with a chronology relating to the flat entrance doors within Grenville tower this has since been disclosed by your team to all court participants we've provided inquiry with a building
00:51:41 we've provided inquiry with a building control chronology for the refurbishment we have worked with your team to identify councillors and officers from the council from whom the inquiry might
00:51:54 the council from whom the inquiry might wish to request rule 9 witness statements today 27 rule 9 witness statements have been provided from councillors and officers more than 20
00:52:06 councillors and officers more than 20 further witness statements addressing the council's response in the first week after the fire a due to be provided to inquiry in January 2019 in October we
00:52:20 inquiry in January 2019 in October we provided the inquiry with a position paper which summarized the fire safety related action taken by the council since the fire and exhibited relevant supporting documents
00:52:32 exhibited relevant supporting documents we have worked with your team on disclosure issues including electronic search terms and provided the inquiry with a 17 page statement summarizing the
00:52:46 with a 17 page statement summarizing the further steps taken to disclose relevant documents to the inquiry since November 2017 as at the date of that further
00:52:57 2017 as at the date of that further statement which is the 20th of November 2018 the council has disclosed a total of thirty eight thousand two hundred and ninety nine documents to the inquiry so
00:53:12 ninety nine documents to the inquiry so your team will be aware that our approach is to provide assistance to them and you rather than to duplicate your work and we take the same approach to the phase one closing statement as I
00:53:27 to the phase one closing statement as I mentioned at the outset of bereaved survivors and residents are central they are central to all aspects of inquiries work they are central to phase one and
00:53:38 work they are central to phase one and two phase two their experiences on the terrible night of the fire are obviously central to phase one over the past
00:53:49 central to phase one over the past months we have heard very moving evidence about the harrowing experiences of individuals on the night of the fire your team will be assisting you to
00:54:00 your team will be assisting you to analyze that evidence in order to enable you to write your phase 1 report your team will also be assisting you to analyze the detailed evidence of the actions of the lfb on the night of the
00:54:12 actions of the lfb on the night of the fire in both of those tasks you will be able assisted by the written and oral closing statements from the legal teams representing the bereaved survivors and
00:54:23 representing the bereaved survivors and residents and VLF B's legal team we do not intend to duplicate work our written closing statement as
00:54:35 work our written closing statement as you will have noted does not therefore seek to address every topic that falls within phase one it aims to provide you with assistance the issue of which
00:54:46 with assistance the issue of which topics to address in phase one and which to address in Phase two has been discussed on a number of previous occasions so you have always emphasized the importance of flexibility in
00:54:59 the importance of flexibility in addressing this issue in addition we have always understood that the fact that evidence was received on a particular topic in the course of phase one did not automatically mean that you
00:55:12 one did not automatically mean that you would address it in your phase one report the way in which the evidence has unfolded in phase one indicates the wisdom of the a flexible approach which you have favoured as you know the
00:55:26 you have favoured as you know the primary cause of fatalities was the spread of smoke within the building standing back from the detail of the phase one evidence on this issue define
00:55:37 phase one evidence on this issue define which emerges is that the chronology of smoke spread within the tower and the respective contributions made by the potential causative factors is more
00:55:48 potential causative factors is more complex than many of us might have imagined this complexity is perhaps best illustrated by the scale and range of further investigative work that you're
00:56:01 further investigative work that you're experts proposed to undertake in relation to this topic in Phase two to give just a few examples the smoke ventilation system requires substantial
00:56:12 ventilation system requires substantial further investigation dr. Lane has recommended the instruction of a specialist lifts expert there needs to be a location by location floor by floor
00:56:26 be a location by location floor by floor flat by flat analysis of smoke spread within the building which brings together the evidence of residence the evidence of firefighters the 999 calls
00:56:39 evidence of firefighters the 999 calls and the forensic evidence in relation to individual flats entrance doors dr. Lane captured the importance of not oversimplifying topics well when giving
00:56:52 oversimplifying topics well when giving oral evidence about the flat entrance doors she stressed the importance of location and said I don't want to give any kind of overall opinion on one
00:57:03 any kind of overall opinion on one measure I think there's a really important piece of analysis her flat per lobby required to give a fair view on what those systems did the g5 submission
00:57:17 what those systems did the g5 submission for the March 2018 procedural hearing invited you to seek to identify in your phase 1 report ways in which were specified or actual design of the
00:57:29 specified or actual design of the building works were non-compliant that remains a laudable a however what perhaps was not anticipated back in
00:57:40 perhaps was not anticipated back in March 2018 was the extent to which the experts would describe their phase 1 evidence as provisional and not provisional merely in the sense that the
00:57:52 provisional merely in the sense that the experts would as one would expect be willing to consider any new evidence that came to light in phase 2 before describing their views as final
00:58:03 describing their views as final provisional in a sense that the experts themselves have actively expressed the desire to carry out further investigate rework and identified in detail the
00:58:15 rework and identified in detail the additional work that they wish to do in our written closing statement we have sought to assist you by dividing topics into two categories those which we
00:58:27 into two categories those which we consider should be addressed in your phase 2 report rather than in your phase 1 report and those which it would be appropriate and fair for you to address in your phase 1
00:58:40 in your phase 1 we have then for understandable reasons focused our submissions on the second category mr. chairman the spread of fire on the outside of the tower is very
00:58:53 on the outside of the tower is very different to the spread of smoke inside the tower
00:58:57 the tower unlike the spread of smoke this is not a topic that requires a flat buy flat approach
00:59:04 approach unlike the spread of smoke the experts are not saying that they need to carry out substantial further investigations in my opening statement on the 6th of
00:59:16 in my opening statement on the 6th of June I said but it was clear that the cladding system as installed in the refurbishment did not satisfy the functional requirement of schedule 1
00:59:28 functional requirement of schedule 1 Part B 4 of the building regulations and that it was likely than a number of specific failures to comply with the provisions of approved document b would
00:59:39 provisions of approved document b would be identified by the inquiry questions about who bears responsibility for this state of affairs can only be answered in phase 2 not least because the
00:59:52 phase 2 not least because the potentially relevant witnesses have not yet given evidence to be inquiry however I believe that you can and should identify in your phase 1 report the fact
01:00:06 identify in your phase 1 report the fact that the cladding system did not satisfy the B four functional requirement and did not satisfy the requirements of approved document b stating this may be
01:00:21 approved document b stating this may be an important step that have bereaved survivors and residents who by the time of your report will have waited over 18 months but an authoritative judgment to
01:00:32 months but an authoritative judgment to be made but it will also have a wider significance as is well-known Grenville tower is far from the only building now considered to have been over clad with
01:00:44 considered to have been over clad with unsafe materials the latest monthly data released by MH CLG on the 8th for the indicates that as at the 31st of October
01:00:57 indicates that as at the 31st of October there were 457 high-rise buildings in England which had been identified as having cladding systems unlikely to meet the current building regulations
01:01:09 the current building regulations guidance 159 of these were social sector residential buildings nine were hospitals and schools but the majority
01:01:20 hospitals and schools but the majority 289 in total were private sector buildings this enquiry represents an opportunity to change many aspects of fire safety in a way which appears and
01:01:34 fire safety in a way which appears and nots have been done following previous fires a finding by you sir now raavan in your phase 2 report is likely to carry
01:01:45 your phase 2 report is likely to carry significant weight and to accelerate the process of improving fire safety in our country for the benefit of all of us as I said in my opening statement the
01:01:57 I said in my opening statement the ultimate achievement of this inquiry will hopefully be to ensure that when people design construct and refurbish buildings in future a disaster like this
01:02:10 buildings in future a disaster like this never happens again the council is totally committed to that aim making the finding now can only help to promote that aim thank you very much indeed
01:02:28 now we are running well ahead of schedule we were due to stew here tomorrow morning from the tenant
01:02:39 tomorrow morning from the tenant management organization represented by miss Jarrett's is Miss Jarrett yeah miss Jarrett before you come up are you ready to make your statement this afternoon
01:02:53 to make your statement this afternoon right well you're down in the running order to be allowed about an hour does that sound enough for you right well in
01:03:05 that sound enough for you right well in that case I'll rise for ten minutes gives you a chance to get you'll find your way out of the back of the room and we'll sit again at five past three and then we'll hear you then five pass three
01:13:10 yes mr. minute mr. chairman I wasn't expected to rise but given the fact that we have made significantly better progress in terms of timing today than we had anticipated
01:13:21 we had anticipated we have come to miss jeren submissions not just earlier than we would have expected but a day earlier than we would have expected I've spoken to miss Jarrett and it doesn't inconvenience her to do her
01:13:32 doesn't inconvenience her to do her submissions as slotted in tomorrow morning when most people were all people were expecting that to be done there is I think a view that is right to stick to
01:13:43 I think a view that is right to stick to the timetable as published people have made personal arrangements to come tomorrow to hear miss Jarrett and it's right that that should be respected and say I'm going to invite her and you to
01:13:54 say I'm going to invite her and you to defer her all submissions until tomorrow morning in accordance with the published timetable right thank you very much well miss cherry I'm grateful to you for being willing to carry on this afternoon
01:14:06 being willing to carry on this afternoon if I may say so in the best traditions of the bar being ready to address make your statements when that when called on to do so but I think in the light of what mr. millet has said and in view of
01:14:18 what mr. millet has said and in view of the fact that there are a lot of people here who've come to hear closing statements generally and I think several who were looking forward to hearing you and tomorrow may not be here today I
01:14:29 and tomorrow may not be here today I think you would no disrespect to you I think it wouldn't be better if after all I put you back to tomorrow I hope that wedding community of course not so entirely in your hands all right well then that's what I'll do
01:14:42 then that's what I'll do we will break now then for the day and we'll resume tomorrow at ten o'clock when we should look forward to hearing your statement right thank you very much
01:14:54 your statement right thank you very much ten o'clock tomorrow please