This is how much Sheffield Council spent on solicitors to find out if it could sue anyone in relation to dangerous cladding put on tower block

The report was the result of a three year investigation into why combustible cladding was put on Hanover Tower, on Exeter Drive, Broomhall.

The 15-storey twin building failed fire safety tests introduced in the wake of the Grenfell disaster in 2017.

The report implied part of the reason for the delayed release was caused by the review conducted by solicitors review between September 2019 and June 2020.

A Freedom of Information Act 2000 request has now revealed the cost totalled £38,049 across 18 payments to Geldards LLP.

Councillor Douglas Johnson, leader of the Sheffield Green Party whose ward councillors supported Hanover Tower residents throughout the saga, said: "It is clear the council consulted its external solicitors a lot. What they were consulted about is a lot less clear - the council had already made clear it was not bringing any legal claims against the original contractors before the solicitors were appointed. So you have to ask for whose benefit this money was spent and who is paying for it?"

The bulk of collating information, examining records and speaking to those involved took place between early autumn 2017 and March 2018. Then internal services within the council and Lovell, the contractor, were contacted between March 2018 and January 2019.

The report stated external solicitors were then appointed in February 2019, adding: "The council decided an external assessment of the material collected was necessary to consider if there were any grounds for taking legal action against any party."

As this work was being carried out the report could not be published 'in order to preserve the council's legal position in relation to any potential claims against third parties'.

Consideration was given to publishing the report early this year but it was decided to wait until the legal investigations were finished.

Solicitors found there was not enough evidence for the council to make a claim against either the contractor or sub-contractor, any claim would only be for cladding above 18 metres and the council had not suffered any financial loss on which to base a claim for damages.

Sheffield Council was unavailable for comment.

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