LGA respond to PAC report on cladding progress

Responding to the report by the Public Accounts Committee on progress to remove and replace cladding from unsafe buildings, Lord Porter, building safety spokesperson at the Local Government Association, said:

“The Committee is right to say that the failure to remediate all ACM cladding three years after the Grenfell Tower disaster is unacceptable. Social landlords have been quick to address the issue, but progress in the private sector continues to be unacceptably slow.

“We urge the Government to act on all the Committee’s recommendations without delay. Issues raised in the report around insurance, mortgages and the skills shortage rightly highlight the serious challenges that need to be overcome if all buildings are to be made safe.

“Leaseholders and residents have suffered enough. The Government has accepted that the building safety system has failed for decades and it must now deal with the consequences, which includes funding remediation in full and pursuing those responsible through the courts.

“The LGA would like to see the establishment of a fund to cover remediation costs and recommends that stakeholders examine how the industry might contribute to such a fund. This should allow building owners to spend the money in the most cost-effective way to ensure residents safety, for example, by installing sprinklers.”