Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Wayne Hoban has expressed disappointment that Haringey Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee rejected a ‘call in’ of the Labour council’s controversial decision to agree to negotiate with the existing provider over another year of concerts in Finsbury Park – without the need for an open tendering process.

The move was rejected on technical grounds following concerns about the process from Lib Dem councillors, and complaints from local residents about the scale of events in the park, the damage to the environment and the misery caused to local residents.

Lib Dem Deputy Leader Wayne Hoban, who brought the issue before the council, expressed disappointment that the council had not reconsidered the decision, in view of residents’ concerns.

Wayne Hoban comments:

“It is very disappointing to see that the Labour council will not think again, and will not be pursuing an open tendering process for this in the coming year – especially given the sensitivities of the issues, and complaints from local residents about damage to the park. Local people should be properly consulted and all contractors must be kept on their toes by facing open competition.

“While we have failed to stop the council’s plans on this occasion, we will be considering how best to take this matter further. At least one outcome of the meeting was that the committee agreed that the Environment Scrutiny committee will be looking in to this matter – and we will make sure that it does.”