Shelter’s chair and another trustee, who both have other links to organisations connected to Grenfell Tower, have resigned to avoid “any unnecessary distraction” from the charity’s work.
Derek Myers, former chief executive of Kensington and Chelsea Council, which owns Grenfell Tower, has resigned from his role as chair of housing charity Shelter.
Trustee Tony Rice, who is chair of Xerxes Equity, the sole shareholder in Omnis Exteriors – the company that sold the cladding used in the tower, has also resigned from his role on the charity’s board.
Graeme Brown, Shelter’s interim chief executive, said: “Tony Rice has resigned as a trustee of Shelter and the chair of the board of trustees, Sir Derek Myers, has also resigned. The role of trustee is entirely voluntary and unpaid, and we wish them the best for the future.”
The Guardian has reported that it has seen an internal staff email from Shelter union representatives sent last week. This email notes that although Shelter’s frontline services had been quick to provide practical help to those affected by the fire, many staff had expressed discontent that the charity “had been slow to speak publicly about the event”.
'To avoid unnecessary distraction'
When asked why the trustees resigned, a spokeswoman from Shelter said that they had no infomation on why they decided to resign, other than to say that they "decided to step away from their roles in the interests of the charity" and to avoid there being "any unnecessary distraction from the work we are doing to help people affected by the Grenfell fire”.
Brown also said: “Shelter continues to provide free expert advice to anyone in the country who needs help with bad housing or homelessness. This includes our work with Grenfell Tower residents whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the fire. We are working with partners to provide free advice clinics to those affected and our London Advice Line has been extended to seven days a week. We are also speaking to the relevant authorities to offer any other support that may be needed.
Myers jointly ran Kensington and Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham councils between 2011 and 2013. Until recently he led the intervention commission into Rotherham Council.
Both Myers and Rice had been on the board of Shelter since 2013. Rice was chair of the board’s audit, risk and finance committee.
There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing.
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