DLUHC has announced it is to make over £8 million available to local authorities to "bolster" their enforcement activity against owners and developers of high rise residential properties requiring repairs to be made to cladding post the Grenfell fire tragedy.

The funding is to be allocated to "dedicated" council enforcement teams to help them "to pursue freeholders who are dragging their heels and refusing to begin repairs" to the cladding on their buildings.

The funding will be split amongst the 59 English local authorities with priority going to those authorities with the highest number of unsafe buildings. Thus, the focus will primarily be on London, Manchester and Birmingham. Minister for Building Safety, Lee Rowley, said " Building owners must get essential cladding repairs done as quickly as possible .... We are bolstering council enforcement operations, making them better equipped to make the most of the powers they have to hold freeholders to account".

Cllr. Dora Dixon-Fyle, Southward Council's Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said "We've been taking enforcement action against private residential building owners who haven't completed necessary cladding work for some years now .... this funding will support a much needed expansion of our work".

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