At a sometimes stormy meeting of the Alexandra Park and Palace Board (APP Board), councillor trustees received evaluation reports in respect of the two final bidders – Earls Court and Olympia (ECO) and the leisure operator, Firoka.

The two Lib Dem councillors on the Board, Cllrs Bob Hare and Wayne Hoban, expressed their main serious concerns that the final stages of the process of selection of the bidder had been so compressed and inflexible that it had compromised the Board’s obligation to ensure that the final bidders had every opportunity to submit their full proposals to the Board prior to the deadline date set for the conclusion of the competitive process. On the basis of evidence submitted, it was clear that serious doubts had been raised as to whether both final bidders had been given an adequate opportunity to submit their proposals to the Board.

The Alexandra Palace Advisory Committee had also submitted a report to the meeting stating that it was ‘severely critical of the lack of a proper consultation process in respect of the proposal(s) and bid(s), namely a lack of a reasonable period of time, insofar as the period of consultation from the date on which the “bids” were made public lasted barely 6 days.’They also asked the Board to reconsider the issue of consultation, and whether there were any legal constraints to the period of consultation of both bids being extended for one further month.

Lib Dem councillors therefore felt that they had no option but to vote against the appointment of Firoka, with a request that their reasons be recorded, namely:

(i) The timetable set had been unnecessarily rapid and inflexible.

(ii) The public consultation process had been inadequate. No significant attempt had been made to seek the views of the public, with only one display panel displayed for barely 6 days, with practically no publicity.

(iii) That the concerns expressed to the Board by the Statutory Advisory Committee, and which the Board is required to take into account, had not been adequately responded to.

Nevertheless, Cllrs Hare and Hoban also asked that it be noted that they recognised the many largely positive features of the proposals made by both final bidders. They were grateful for the informed and careful advice of the consultants advising the Board. They also pledged to work constructively with the Board in the interests of the Palace in the detailed negotiations which will now take place with the preferred bidder.

Cllr Wayne Hoban said:

“We could not support the result of what was a completely inflexible and unnecessarily rapid timetable, insisted on by Labour members of the Board. This timetable meant there had not been a detailed presentation and public display from both final bidders, which meant that the public were unable to form a reasoned and informed view on the bidders proposals for the Palace.Moreover, there had been no real attempt to seek the views of local people, with only one display panel displayed for barely 6 days, with minimal publicity. In addition, I do not feel that the concerns on these points expressed to the Board by the Statutory Advisory Committee, which the Board is required to take into account, had been adequately considered or responded to.”

Cllr Bob Hare said:

“Despite our concerns, both Cllr Hoban and I fully recognise many positive aspects of the vision expressed by Firoka. The real work starts now to tie down the detail of the Firoka bid. Lib Dems on the Board will be doing everything we can to make sure that the Palace development is successful, in the interests of the people of the borough and North London”.