Liberal Democrat councillors were pleased to receive the news that the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny (O&S) committee will be monitoring the project to create the Bernie Grant Centre (BGC) in Tottenham. The news comes four months after Lib Dem deputy leader Wayne Hoban raised concerns about a number of assumptions in costings and the role and accountability of the management board to the O&S committee via the ‘call-in’ procedure.

The development planned for Tottenham is being hailed by the Council as a centrepiece to the regeneration programme in the east of the Borough. However, following a meeting on the BGC committee on Tuesday (2nd September) it was announced that the O&S committee would be monitoring the project to ensure that many of the concerns raised by Cllr Hoban are adequately addressed.

The Lib Dems claim that much of the development plan is based on ‘assumed’ funding and tax breaks, although none had been confirmed at the time of the decision. Their concern has been that, far from regenerating the borough, the project could plunge the Council further into debt with a potential liability of up to £3 million if the project failed.

Cllr Hoban is pleased that the project will be monitored closely but is keen to emphasise the importance of ensuring the management board is fully accountable, representative and has the necessary skills to make this regeneration project a success.

Cllr Hoban (Alexandra ward) comments:

“I am pleased that O&S have committed to scrutinising decisions made by the Executive committee on this project. However, we want to ensure that plans do not expose the Council to significant financial risk.

“It is also essential that we have a fully representative, accountable and skilled board that will make the Centre a real asset to Tottenham and the borough as a whole. We will continue to work hard to make sure that this project is developed with the interests of Haringey’s residents in mind.”