Plea to May for sprinkler funding after Grenfell

BIRMINGHAM’S Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders have issued a joint plea to Prime Minister Theresa May to provide funding to make the city’s tower blocks safe.

But seven months after the Grenfell fire tragedy in London, Birmingham is still waiting for the government to confirm whether or not it will provide the money.

MPs have accused it of treating Birmingham “with contempt”, after it initially said it would help pay for the work.

Ian Ward, Birmingham City Council’s Labour leader, wrote a joint letter to Theresa May along with Robert Alden, the leader of the opposition Conservative group, and Jon Hunt, the leader of the Liberal Democrat group, asking the Government to provide funding of £19.4 million.

The council is ready to pay £11.6 million towards the £31 million cost of fitting sprinklers to 213 tower blocks, which are home to 10,000 households.

But it says the rest of the funding must come from the government. The alternative would be to borrow the money, and pay it back in years to come from tenants’ rents.

The three councillors said in the letter: “In the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy last June, you will be aware that Birmingham has identified the requirement for an additional £31 million to ensure the safety of our tenants.

“In view of the fact that the council has identified £11.6 million contribution we believe it is fair for the Government top share the financial burden and grant fund the £19.4 million.”

The government appeared to promise that it would make funding available shortly after the Grenfell fire, which killed 71 people in June 2017.

Speaking on June 26 last year, Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said: “If there is an issue with funding for necessary works, we will provide the support.”

But city MPs say the council has been kept waiting and Government Ministers now talk of providing “financial flexibiity”. It is unclear whether this means funding is on offer, or simply permission to borrow money.