Decision deferred until 13th September......

A great turn-out to support the deputation, over 30 people at short notice on a week day at 10am is pretty impressive. Many also attended the deputation - HCC had to move to a bigger room to accomodate us all! Thanks to all of you for your support.

Phrynette Dickens presented her objections - focusing on the absence of any public consultation and the fact that the HAT recommendations and the Arts Review Panel findings had been ignored. I presented my objections on a number of grounds - focusing on the lack of time to find alternative funding, the lack of a credible business case from Kings and the lack of due diligence in the process. I have posted a summary of the deputation at.....

Councillor Thornbers concluded by raising some concerns:

• We need to allay fears of staff by a broader consultation


• He accepted the point on the business case and wanted to seek assurances that community art activities will no be eroded under Kings'


• He was concerned that the view of HAT had not been taken into account


• He wanted more public visibility including meetings with user groups


• 
  
  He did not see due diligence as an issue – he saw the property as the asset rather than the intangible asset linked to the reputation of the Tower Arts

There was some encouraging signs at this point - until he wound up by saying that he would defer the decision until 13th September to address these issues. He did not see school holidays as a problem – as he worked through August!

Overall I am disappointed. I feel that we have brought some more time but nowhere near enough time to properly investigate alternate funding. I am pleased that Kings' have been requested to submit a business case for how they intend to meet there commitments and that HAT and the User Groups will be consulted with (albeit that a lot of the programmes have come to an end for the summer!!).

We have come a long way in the 5 weeks

Gotta go now - but will update later on the next steps