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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/oct/19/former-grenfell-council-chief-nicholas-paget-brown-not-seek-re-election
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Former Grenfell council chief will not seek re-election as councillor | Former Grenfell council chief will not seek re-election as councillor |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| The former leader of Kensington and Chelsea council, who quit the post in the face of fierce criticism over the authority’s handling of the Grenfell Tower fire, is to step down as a councillor. | The former leader of Kensington and Chelsea council, who quit the post in the face of fierce criticism over the authority’s handling of the Grenfell Tower fire, is to step down as a councillor. |
| Nicholas Paget-Brown became the focus of protests over the Conservative-run council’s actions before and after the deadly inferno, culminating in a bungled attempt to hold a meeting about the blaze in private. | Nicholas Paget-Brown became the focus of protests over the Conservative-run council’s actions before and after the deadly inferno, culminating in a bungled attempt to hold a meeting about the blaze in private. |
| Paget-Brown stood down as council leader on 1 July, and on Wednesday he informed his local Conservative party that he would not stand again in next May’s borough elections after 31 years as a councillor in the Brompton and Hans Town ward. | Paget-Brown stood down as council leader on 1 July, and on Wednesday he informed his local Conservative party that he would not stand again in next May’s borough elections after 31 years as a councillor in the Brompton and Hans Town ward. |
| The decision comes two months after it was reported that he had set up a consultancy to advise firms on working with local authorities. | The decision comes two months after it was reported that he had set up a consultancy to advise firms on working with local authorities. |
| In a statement, he said: “The public inquiry into [the fire’s] causes, and the devastating speed with which it spread, is now under way and I will help it in any way that I can.” | In a statement, he said: “The public inquiry into [the fire’s] causes, and the devastating speed with which it spread, is now under way and I will help it in any way that I can.” |
| He later added: “I recognise the need to have a new team to rise to these challenges. I have greatly enjoyed my years on the Council representing the residents of Brompton & Hans Town and most recently serving as Leader of the Council. | He later added: “I recognise the need to have a new team to rise to these challenges. I have greatly enjoyed my years on the Council representing the residents of Brompton & Hans Town and most recently serving as Leader of the Council. |
| “However, my continuation as a councillor is likely to serve as a distraction as the council lobbies the government to address these issues and I have therefore decided not to stand again.” | “However, my continuation as a councillor is likely to serve as a distraction as the council lobbies the government to address these issues and I have therefore decided not to stand again.” |
| He used his final statement to once again deny accusations of “social cleansing” in the borough, prompted by a programme of regenerating and rebuilding post-war estates. | He used his final statement to once again deny accusations of “social cleansing” in the borough, prompted by a programme of regenerating and rebuilding post-war estates. |
| “All tenants and resident leaseholders would have been offered new homes in these developments and there would have been additional homes for sale or rent,” he said. | “All tenants and resident leaseholders would have been offered new homes in these developments and there would have been additional homes for sale or rent,” he said. |
| “So we would have built more homes of better quality for local people with sustained investment in the stock. Under this policy there would have been no ‘social cleansing’.” | “So we would have built more homes of better quality for local people with sustained investment in the stock. Under this policy there would have been no ‘social cleansing’.” |
| Paget-Brown said in July that he was stepping down as council leader to accept some responsibility for “perceived failings” by the council. | Paget-Brown said in July that he was stepping down as council leader to accept some responsibility for “perceived failings” by the council. |
| Days earlier he halted a cabinet meeting after failing to have the media barred. He said having journalists present could prejudice the public inquiry into the disaster, and blamed the advice of lawyers for his decision. | Days earlier he halted a cabinet meeting after failing to have the media barred. He said having journalists present could prejudice the public inquiry into the disaster, and blamed the advice of lawyers for his decision. |
| By then the council had been relieved of its direct role in caring for survivors of the 14 June blaze. A dedicated response team was created as concerns grew at the slow pace of efforts to provide survivors and bereaved families with housing and information. | By then the council had been relieved of its direct role in caring for survivors of the 14 June blaze. A dedicated response team was created as concerns grew at the slow pace of efforts to provide survivors and bereaved families with housing and information. |
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