Grenfell boss denies pre-appointment talks with contractor were ‘improper’

摘要

A director at the organisation responsible for overseeing the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower has admitted instigating talks with future main contractor Rydon before its appointment had been confirmed but rejected the suggestion his actions were “improper”. Peter Maddison, who was director of assets and regeneration at Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation for the duration of the ill-fated project, which led to 2017’s fire and 72 deaths, told the inquiry into the disaster the contact was vital to move the project forward. Maddison told Thursday’s session of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry that he had known Rydon head of regeneration Stephen Blake and managing director Jeff Henton before he joined KCTMO in 2013. The inquiry heard in earlier sessions that Blake was tipped off by someone at “K+C” that Rydon was in “pole position” to win the Ojeu procurement process for the Grenfell Tower refurbishment in early March 2014.