London Fire: Kensington Council Chief Quits Over Grenfell Tragedy

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40362317

"Nicholas Holgate said Local Government Secretary Sajid Javid asked for him to go - this is denied by the government"

So he has fallen on his sword then. Not remotely surprised.

[jno]

well, he fell or he was pushed. I'm not really happy with the idea of the government firing council officers, however badly Holgate did his job.

[mikey4444]

jno....I don't think Javid sacked him as such....he just made him an offer he couldn't refuse !

[Old_Geezer]

Wow, was that Mafia involvement or a golden handshake ?

I reckon any normal person might want to call it a day rather than continue with the excess stress.

[douglas9401]

Who wouldn't take the chance to put some distance between themselves and this disaster.
I'm sure he'll be suitably compensated and won't have to be on call to every earnest soul with an axe to grind or yet another bright idea to help the victims.

[jno]

i doubt Javid has much to offer him except a pension. Councils do well or do badly mostly without interference from Whitehall, but this one has embarrassed the government. Holgate must lose his job so May can keep hers.

[agchristie]

I suppose some might refer to this as the 'Hol-gate' scandal...

[jno]

good thinking - Holgategate

[youngmafbog]

As there has not been any proper investigation I can't see how you can say anyone in particular must go. And why would May have to go over this? You may be surprised to know she does not approve all building changes neither does she inspect them. But then why let common sense get in the way of a dig at the Tories eh jno?

If he is at all culpable I hope he realizes he could still face jail time, in the job or not.

[mikey4444]

YMB....I am not suggesting that May should go over the Grenfell Tower episode. She didn't act very quickly at the beginning, but she appears to be doing rather better now. Whether she survives for very long into the near future depends on the DUP.

As regards Holgate, he has gone because he presided over complete chaos after the fire broke out. So much so that May had to effectively side-line him and the Council, in order to get things done. He has gone because of his incompetence, not his culpability for the fire.

[Peter Pedant]

I thought this was

London : Kensington Council Chief Quits Tragedy

and I regret I thought 'off the top of the roof I hope

I thought they did a bad job. They were told they were doing it and now have to go - - week end last - they all went home didnt they ?

He hasnt fallen on his sword but rather been run thro perhaps by a well wisher

I surmise / imagine /speculate the sugar'd pill was :
if you dont go now something awful will happen to your pension

[dave50]

He can always retire on his taxpayer subsidised pension or more likely he will stay on the gravy train and move to another authority on the same over inflated salary.

[Peter Pedant]

hugely detailed piece here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grenfell_Tower_fire