London (CNN)Survivors of London's Grenfell Tower fire are among those banned from a local authority meeting Thursday about the disaster because of "security and public safety concerns."
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which has been criticized for its handling of the tragedy's aftermath, published an agenda stating that the council cabinet meeting would meet "entirely in private ... in the light of the risk of disruption." Council members are due to hear an oral update on the fire during the session.
At least 80 people died at Grenfell Tower as a massive fire engulfed the 24-story apartment block in the early hours of June 14, though UK police have warned that a final death toll may not emerge until "the end of the year."
British Prime Minister Theresa May has apologized for what she called "a failure of the state -- local and national -- to help people when they needed it most," adding that "the support on the ground...was not good enough."
The council's agenda cited a previous protest against the council's handling of the tragedy as the reason behind the decision.
The earlier protest took place at the authority's headquarters in west London on June 16, when residents entered the town hall shouting: "We want justice."
Evacuee: 'Not surprised' by council decision
There are differing views in the local community about the council's behavior.
"I was not surprised in the slightest because no one from [the] council has spoken to residents" said Joe Delaney, a Grenfell estate resident and evacuee. 'It is cowardice. [The council] don't want to slip up.'
Delaney said he "cannot look" at the shell of the tower, which remains standing.
He dismissed the idea that a meeting open to all posed a security risk. "Even when town hall was stormed, the only damage was to the front door," Delaney said. "If [the] council put 1% of their effort they do for Notting Hill Carnival we wouldn't be where we are now."
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