Ex-Grenfell housing chief who oversaw cost-cutting leaves £157,000-a-year council role after backlash

Ex-Grenfell housing chief who oversaw cost-cutting leaves £157,000-a-year council role after backlash Laura Johnson was the housing chief at the Borough of Kensington and Chelsea at the time of the deadly Grenfell fire — she has left her new £157,000-a-year council role just two months in An-ex housing chief who oversaw cost-cutting measures at Grenfell Tower before the deadly fire has left her new £157,000-a-year council role amid fierce backlash. Laura Johnson had been the director of housing at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) at the time of the fire that killed 72 people, in 2017. The inquiry into the blaze criticised Johnson for her cost-cutting decisions that included changing contractors for renovation works. Johnson, in August, landed herself a role as the permanent director of development and property at the Barnet Group - which manages the borough's 13,000 council homes. It has now been revealed that Johnson is not longer in the role, though there is no suggestion this is due to the criticism of the appointment itself. To see more of the stories you love from The Mirror and to find them easily in Google then make us your preferred source. Free and easy-to-do, just click on the link here to find more from The Mirror at the top of your feed. The job for Johnson at Barnet Group, which came with a salary of £157,078-a-year, was slammed by some of the bereaved families of Grenfell victims. Grenfell United, the group of families and survivors from the fire, called the move by Barnet Council a "slap in the face". At the time, the group wrote: "This appointment shows a complete disregard for the findings of the Grenfell Inquiry. Yet another slap in the face for bereaved and survivors whilst we continue to wait for justice." Barnet Group in a letter to Joe Powell, the Labour MP for Kensington and Bayswater where Grenfell was situated, confirmed Johnson was "no longer employed" by the company, according to The Guardian. The chair of the Barnet Group board, Eamon McGoldrick, wrote: "We fully recognise the depth of feeling surrounding the Grenfell Tower tragedy and its continuing impact on bereaved families, survivors, residents and the wider community. We also fully acknowledge legitimate public interest concerning governance of senior appointments." The Grenfell inquiry found Johnson used "decisive influence" to replace the original contractor due to carry out renovations on the tower. The inquiry heard evidence that Johnson lost patience with contractors Leadbitter after they said the plans would cost £1.2m more than the budget. At the time, the Tory-run council had delegated the responsibility for this decision to Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (TMO) but Johnson "overruled" their decision. The TMO later appointed Rydon to carry out the works at a cheaper price - it swapped metal cladding for combustible plastic-filled panels which led to the spread of the fire in June 2017. The inquiry also heard that Johnson changed the main priority of the Grenfell project from keeping to the works schedule to "value for money". It is not clear why Johnson is no longer in the role. It is reportedly thought that housing secretary Angela Rayner wrote to the Barnet Group last month following news of Johnson's job, according to The Guardian. A spokesperson for The Barnet Group told the Mirror last month that it was "aware of the Grenfell Inquiry findings and considered them carefully during the recruitment process". The group said: "Following a robust and publicly advertised recruitment process, we concluded that she was the strongest candidate and legally eligible to hold the position." A spokesperson for Grenfell United said the group welcomes the news and said: "The inquiry's findings are there for everyone to read, yet those criticised continue their careers as though nothing has happened. It is an outrage that such damning findings have done nothing to stop them being entrusted with public safety." The Mirror has reached out to the Barnet Group and Barnet Council for comment. [Image text:] GRENFELL Rsmebering Grenfell Promise ForSastice SEVENEYTWO