Council catch up at last on cladding
HUNDREDS of Glasgow residents were finally being told if they live in high-rises with Grenfell-style cladding last night – nine days after the scandal erupted.
The city council also downgraded the final tally of privately-owned buildings affected from 57 to 19.
Officials always insisted there was no major risk of a fire like the one at Grenfell Tower, which went up in flames with the loss of nearly 80 lives in June.
But the fire brigade union, the Scottish Government and a Holyrood committee were furious at the way the review was bungled, with half-complete information spreading alarm.
Council leader Susan Aitken broke her silence to apologise on Wednesday after officials belatedly accepted Government help to finish the review.
Housing Minister Kevin Stewart also warned he would strip the council of enforcement powers if they didn’t show they understand building rules.
The final report was sent yesterday to a ministerial working group set up in the wake of the Grenfell tragedy.
All other councils responded on time with information on any tall buildings containing elements of aluminium composite material.
A council spokesman confirmed the report was finished by yesterday’s deadline.
He said: “The final report shows that the residents and owners of 19 addresses will be notified, with the completed information bringing this down from the 57 identified when the examination was partially complete.”
Residents will be informed by Monday afternoon and the fire brigade have been given the updated list.
Who cares really?
An ex-Army officer called Henry Bolton yesterday became the latest leader of Ukip. We could tell you more about him but we suspect no one really cares that much.