Questions asked over cladding legal bill

SHEFFIELD COUNCIL spent £ 38,049 on solicitors to find out if it could sue anyone in relation to dangerous cladding put on a council tower block.

The report was the result of a three- year investigation into why combustible cladding was put on Hanover Tower in Broomhall.

The 15- storey twin building failed fire safety tests introduced in the wake of the Grenfell disaster in 2017.

The report implied part of the reason for the delayed release was caused by this solicitor review carried out between September 2019 and June 2020.

A Freedom of Information Act 2000 request has now revealed the cost totalled £ 38,049 across 18 payments to Geldards LLP.

Coun Douglas Johnson, leader of the Sheffield Green Party whose ward councillors supported Hanover Tower residents, said: “It is clear the council consulted its external solicitors a lot. What they were consulted about is a lot less clear – the council had already made clear it was not bringing any legal claims against the original contractors before the solicitors were appointed. So you have to ask for whose benefit this money was spent and who is paying for it?”

The report stated external solicitors were appointed in February 2019, adding: “The council decided an external assessment of the material collected was necessary to consider if there were any grounds for taking legal action against any party.”

Solicitors found there was not enough evidence for the council to make a claim against either the contractor or sub- contractor.

Sheffield Council was unavailable for comment.