Grenfell Compensation Delay: Government Yet to Pay Agreed Settlement Share
The Grenfell support fund, a cornerstone of recovery efforts for survivors and the bereaved, is still missing a vital piece — the government’s promised contribution.
At a recent Kensington and Chelsea Council meeting, it emerged that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has yet to release its portion of the Global Settlement Agreement (GSA).
The delay is raising serious concerns among both council officials and community campaigners.
Behind closed doors, conversations are still “ongoing”. But there’s no confirmed timeline. No concrete answers. Just uncertainty. Campaigners are running out of patience.
Kimia Zabihyan, speaking on behalf of Grenfell Next of Kin, didn’t hold back: “Pay the victims. Streamline the system. Stop prioritising your own financial interests and deliver the compensation that victims rightfully deserve, allowing us to finally move forward with our lives.”
She further slammed the process, calling it “deeply flawed” and “inadequately managed.”
“The victims have become an exploitable commodity to be monetised by the entire system, from the lawyers who designed this compensation scheme and then left one of the principal defendants in charge of distributing the ‘Restorative Justice’ support part of the package.”
The Global Settlement Agreement, hailed as a long-awaited measure of justice, earmarked millions for those affected. But without the government’s contribution, it’s not complete.
During the council’s scrutiny committee session on Tuesday (July 15), alarm bells rang louder.
Cllr Claire Simmons pressed for answers: “It seems to me this report is saying His Majesty’s Government has not supplied that portion of the Global Settlement Agreement that was agreed as a legal agreement…
What I am understanding is that it is being mitigated somehow by the council pending the resolution of that?”
A council officer confirmed: “We don’t [have a timeline]… we are still working that through with MHCLG… But we are waiting for that to be resolved.”
No further detail. No deadline. Just more “discussions”. Despite the missing funds, the council says the support fund is currently stable — for now.
The broader support package, part of the GSA and scheduled for the 2024–2028 period, includes:
- £18 million in tailored support for bereaved families and survivors — regardless of location.
- £10 million for emotional wellbeing and local community recovery.
- £14 million set aside for education and training for survivors and their families.
This programme officially rolled out in the 2024/25 financial year. Funding is meant to come from multiple sources: the council, the government, and other third parties. But without full backing, especially from central government, its longevity and integrity are at risk.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has been approached for comment. No response has been received at the time of publication.
For a community still healing, delays like this feel like salt in the wound. The ask is simple: honour the agreement. Honour the people.
