FAQs

To ensure the decision-making process for determining the long term future of the site is community-led, the Government has been discussing the detail of how the Commission will work with representatives of the bereaved, survivors and local community.

The Commission will determine a community-led proposal for the most fitting and appropriate way to remember those who lost their lives in the Grenfell tragedy. It will do this in consultation with the bereaved, survivors and North Kensington residents.

Two co-chairs have been selected by the community representatives:

• Michael Lockwood
• Thelma Stober

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The Memorial Commission is made up of representatives of the bereaved, survivors, residents of the Lancaster West estate. Along with an independent chair, the Commission also includes relevant public authority representatives including from Kensington and Chelsea Council, the local NHS and MHCLG. These public authorities do not have full membership on the Commission – they are ex-officio members and support community-driven decisions in good faith.

The Commission will include community representatives whose role is to represent the views of the bereaved, survivors, residents of the Lancaster West estate, as well as those in the immediate North Kensington area.

The Commission’s membership is structured to ensure the voice of the bereaved carries the most weight, equivalent to a 50% representative vote.

Together, the community representatives will hold two-thirds of the places on the Commission.

To ensure an inclusive approach, the Commission will seek the views of the bereaved, survivors and North Kensington residents through its consultation process.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is providing administrative support and will fund the Commission’s work.

Once the Commission has been set up its work is expected to take a minimum of a year, after which it will publish a report setting out its findings.

The Commission is supported by the Government but is independent of any organisation. The Commission includes ex-officio public authority representatives who are responsible for taking forward and implementing the findings from the Commission’s report.

The Commission’s scope is to determine the long term future of the site. Public Authorities with relevant responsibilities will take forward and implement the findings from the Commission’s report when the site is made ready and available for future use.

The Commission can be contacted via GTMCSecretariat@communities.gsi.gov.uk. Members of Grenfell Tower team will also be available at the Curve every Wednesday between 10 am and 2 pm to talk to local residents.

Following consultations with the bereaved families, survivors and local residents on a proposal for how they would choose their community representatives, it was felt that voting offered the greatest transparency and legitimacy. 

Voting opened on 21 June and closed on 22 July.  Following feedback, we opened the voting after the two year-on remembrance events and allowed 4 weeks for voting. 

Voting codes were sent to bereaved families (via the named next of kin)¹ ; households formerly living in Grenfell Tower and Grenfell Walk; and households living on the Lancaster West estate². Each family or household received two voting codes for them to decide who they wished to vote for. Bereaved families voted for their 5 representatives, Survivors for their 3 representatives and Lancaster west for their 2 representatives. 

¹In November 2018 we contacted all named next of kin (as determined by the Metropolitan Police) seeking contact information for those who wanted to be involved in the process to establish the Memorial Commission. A small number of families opted out of receiving further contact from us. The remaining families were invited to vote for their community representatives. We also wrote to close relatives to make them aware that voting codes had been sent out, to enable families to come together and agree how to vote. 

²The Lancaster West estate residents include the following blocks: Camborne Mews; Camelford Court; Clarendon Walk; Lower Clarendon Walk; Upper Clarendon Walk; Moreland House; Talbot Grove House; Treadgold House; Upper and Lower Camelford Walk; Upper and Lower Talbot Walk; Verity Close; Barandon Walk; Hurstway Walk; Testerton Walk.

We have followed the same definition for Next of Kin as used by the Metropolitan Police.

Voter turnout was 67% among the bereaved families¹. Turnout is calculated as the number of families that voted as a percentage of those families eligible to vote.

¹In November 2018 we contacted all named next of kin (as determined by the Metropolitan Police) seeking contact information for those who wanted to be involved in the process to establish the Memorial Commission. A small number of families opted out of receiving further contact from us. The remaining families were invited to vote for their community representatives. We also wrote to close relatives to make them aware that voting codes had been sent out, to enable families to come together and agree how to vote. 

All households formerly living in Grenfell Tower and Grenfell Walk were sent letters with their voting instructions. 17% of households voted.

All householders living on the Lancaster West estate were sent letters with their voting instructions. 4% of households voted.

We promoted the voting process through multiple channels, including letters, emails, phone calls, drop-in sessions and local communications to ensure voting was extensively publicised and to encourage participation. We allowed for both online voting and voting in person, and extended the voting period from three weeks to four to give as many people as possible the opportunity and time to vote if they chose to. 

We understand that there are different relationships within bereaved families and no one definition is appropriate for all the families. Publishing the total number of families, particularly when different definitions are used by public agencies, leads to insensitive speculation about those family relationships. Percentages are the best way to demonstrate comparisons and levels of engagement, whilst maintaining the privacy of those involved.

The long-term future of the Grenfell Tower site is extremely important for bereaved families and the whole community. To protect the privacy of both unelected and elected individuals, we consider that it would be insensitive to release the number of votes each candidate received. 

Following consultations with the bereaved families, survivors and local residents on a proposal for how they would choose their community representatives, it was felt that voting offered the greatest transparency and legitimacy. Whilst we took steps to ensure that everyone had as many opportunities as possible to cast their votes, we recognise that the decision to vote is entirely a matter for each individual. We do not consider there needs to be a minimum voter turnout to demonstrate legitimacy.

Bereaved families, former residents of Grenfell Tower and Grenfell Walk, and residents of the Lancaster West estate have been informed about the outcome of the vote and who their community representatives are. Details about the Commission’s membership will be announced in due course.

We do not underestimate the importance of the work to determine a future memorial for all candidates and there will be many opportunities to contribute to the Commission’s work, in addition to serving as a community representative. We have also asked unsuccessful candidates if they would be willing to be part of a reserve list, in the event that a community representative position becomes available in the future.

Tpas, the tenant engagement experts, oversaw the voting process and verified the count. They have confirmed that they are content that the voting process was fair and open.  

This is expected to take place in the autumn once an independent Chair has been selected by the community representatives.

For information about the Memorial Commission please contact the Commission’s secretariat by emailing GTMCsecretariat@communities.gov.uk or calling 0303 444 4831. For press or media enquiries please contact MHCLG’s press office by emailing newsdesk@communities.gov.uk or ringing 0303 444 1209.

See who your community representatives are.

Public authority representatives are supporting the Commission as ex-officio members and are responsible for advising and supporting community-driven decisions in good faith. The ex-officio members are:

• The Government
• The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
• Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL)

The Commission is also supported by experts who assist and advise on all aspects of its work. The expert panel brings a wealth of experience, providing guidance on memorialisation.

As part of its work, the Commission will establish a community-led proposal for how the memorial site will be owned and sustainably managed for the long term.

The written principles commit that the site will not be developed for future housing if that is the wish of the bereaved, survivors and local community.