Hornsey Town Hall scrutiny meeting - Nov 8th Civic Centre N22

The decision to appoint FEC as preferred bidder for the redevelopment of Hornsey Town Hall has been "called in", and so will be subject to a review by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. This process is described as "open and accessible" so we all have the opportunity to ask questions. Topics to be covered will perhaps include:

• lack of information ... the tendering process has been conducted in secret - all the public has been offered are vague and ambiguous promises
• a formal role for the public of Crouch End to be involved in the development - more vague promises have been made
• the restoration of HTH - it is said that £27m will be spent, but again we don't quite know how
• The Green - we are promised "no large scale development" and public access - but for what - taxis to drop off hotel guests?
• No consultation has ever identified a hotel as a suitable/viable use for the Hall - see for example this one by HTHCT and an OpinioN8 assessment of it
• It is said that FEC has a planning strategy that will not require a new planning application - this is very hard to believe 
• any change of use planning application should be accompanied by impact assessments - jobs, environment, economy, transport etc
• much has changed since the 2010 permission was granted - for example property prices - the role of the car park as dowry for the should be revisited
• Will there be a net loss of jobs as small businesses now in the hall are forced to relocate elsewhere
• FEC is a casino operator - might they choose to install a casino in Crouch End
• Just what is the "Arts CEntre" - at first glance it looks like a hall and a room for hire -
• HTHCT signed a non-disclosure agreement in respect of the procurement process - we need to know what they know.