Among the slew of resignations on Friday (June 30) in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire was deputy leader of Kensington & Chelsea Council Rock Feilding-Mellen.
The Conservative, who was also head of housing, property and regeneration, stepped down alongside council leader Nick Paget Brown following the fire and in the immediate aftermath of the Cabinet meeting on Thursday (June 29), which was abandoned when members of the press including getwestlondon were admitted against the authority’s wishes.
The 38-year-old’s portfolio has made him the focus of much of the anger following the blaze, with Mirror Online reporting that he was forced to move with his family from their £1.2 million home close to Grenfell Tower amid concerns for his safety.
In a statement he said he was “heartbroken” by the tragedy, and he ignored calls for him to resign earlier because “I would have found it hard to forgive myself if I had ducked out at such a moment of crisis for the borough”.
The Holland Ward representative said he intends to continue serving as a councillor.
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Opening his statement, he expressed his “deep sorrow, grief and shock”, and described the fire as “the most horrific and traumatic tragedy”.
“Like all my neighbours, I feel heartbroken and my most deeply felt condolences go out to those who have lost their loved ones,” he said.
Cllr Feilding-Mellen, first elected in 2006, oversaw the £10m Grenfell Tower refurbishment , though the redevelopment was actually initiated by his predecessor, which included cladding which may have accelerated the spreading of the flames .
In his statement, he continued: “I have always tried my utmost to meet my responsibilities with integrity, hard work, and a commitment to serving the interests of all residents of the borough.
“It has been suggested several times since the tragic event of the 14 June that I should resign, but until now I have felt that it was my duty to do whatever I could personally to back the Council’s efforts to help the fire’s victims, to encourage all of the dedicated officers within the council as they worked tirelessly for the relief effort, and to support the council’s leader.
“It will be for others to judge whether it would have been better for me to resign immediately, but I would have found it hard to forgive myself if I had ducked out at such a moment of crisis for the borough.
“ Nick has now announced his decision to resign as leader, and so I will no longer be deputy leader.
“I will continue to serve the residents of the borough as best I can as a councillor, and I will of course co-operate in full with the public inquiry.”
During the refurbishment of the 24-storey tower block, the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO) reported directly to Cllr Feilding-Mellen, it is understood.
His resignation came shortly after KCTMO chief executive Robert Black agreed to “step aside” so he can “concentrate on assisting with the investigation and inquiry”.
Addressing threats to Cllr Feilding-Mellen, a council spokesman said earlier said: “Following threats and vandalism outside his house, which has been reported to the police, he had to relocate his family – at his own expense – during the course of last weekend.
“He remained on duty and was working throughout.”
Scotland Yard confirmed: “Police were alerted on Saturday, 17 June, to reports of posters with allegedly abusive content displayed outside a residential address in the borough of Kensington.
“Officers who subsequently attended the scene did not find any evidence of posters at the scene, or any evidence of criminal damage at the property.
“Officers were subsequently sent photographs of the alleged posters. The individual property owner concerned was given advice by police. Enquiries continue.”
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