Out there in the real world, if an elected mayor had invested thousands of pounds of public money in promoting a joint venture with a local private business (a venture that, although committing millions of pounds of public funds, was shrouded in secrecy because of an alleged need to protect the commercial confidentiality of the financial dealing of the private sector partner), and that intended joint venture did not come about, the opposition (or even responsible members of the mayor’s own party) would call for a full scrutiny commission to examine the finer details of the decision to move forward with the venture. But not here in Newham – or Lesser Westfield as it is more commonly known.And, looking at the paperwork placed on the Council’s web-site for next Monday’s rubber-stamping exercise, there is one small entry that I would say presses the case for scrutiny of the Newham Council/West Ham United FC bid. As a part of the background briefing, section 1.3.4. states “Negotiations took place between LBN, WHU and LSP [Legacy Stadium Partnership – the limited liability partnership set up by the Council and WHU] over the terms of WHU’s presence at the stadium and their role in the LSP (March 2011 – October 2011).” What?
As Newham and WHU were announced as the preferred bidders in March this implies that it was only after that date that the “partners” decided to “negotiate” the finer details of their partnership. So much for the comedy mayor’s assurances that the football club would guarantee the repayments for the £40 million loan!
Yet here we go again with a slightly different shine to the same old bullshit.
This morning a Newham resident stopped me and asked why I think the comedy mayor is so obsessed with the Olympic Stadium. I think he was (especially as he was going into partnership with Gold and Sullivan), but I think that now he’s scrambling around desperately, trying to find a way to make good on a promise he has made to the Conservative Mayor of London and the Conservative led government; that promise being that the residents of Newham will shoulder a large share of the future financial responsibility of the stadium. No wonder Boris and Hugh Robertson, the Minister for Sport & the Olympics, were so sure Newham would be mucking in.
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The council were tonight presented with the biggest ever petition - 5200 names - since the system that 1000 names triggers a debate in council was introduced - no other petition has come anywhere near this number.
Article in Evening Standard - 24/11/11
A council faces millions of pounds in penalties for demolishing the nearest swimming pool to the Olympic Park.
Previously unseen documents reveal a high-stakes contract between Newham council and funding body Sport England that penalises the borough for shutting Atherton Leisure Centre.
The pool in Stratford has been closed since May because of asbestos in the ceiling and problems meeting the maintenance bill. The rest of the centre's facilities, including a gym, indoor bowls and badminton courts, are due to close at the end of the year.
But documents released to campaigners under the Freedom of Information Act reveal penalty clauses in a £2.36million sporting grant awarded to Newham in 1999. The contract states that if Newham shuts the centre before 2020, it could be liable to refund "the full amount of grant" to Sport England.
Sir Robin Wales, Labour mayor of the Olympic borough, has given a "cast-iron guarantee" there will be a replacement facility but a top-level council report says Newham does not have the money. The council estimates that keeping the centre open for another 10 years would cost £2.2million, but wants a replacement costing up to £15million. It will take a further £80,000 to "decommission" the building, according to cabinet documents, while demolition would cost another £500,000.
Mubin Haq, 39, of Save Atherton Leisure Centre campaign group, said: "It's a travesty - there's no money earmarked for a new leisure centre and the costs of rebuilding are far more than refurbishing the pool."
Residents in Newham have been promised access to the Olympic aquatics centre after the Games, but Sarah Sutherland, 30, a school welfare assistant, said: "The aquatics centre isn't local and I don't think it will be an option for most people."
The council said: "This is a deliberate misinterpretation of a standard grant clause. We are consulting on replacing 80-year-old Atherton Leisure Centre with a new, accessible, modern facility."
Sport England said getting its money back from Newham was a "position of last resort" and talks were ongoing
Atherton:
I must admit I was surprised at the strength of opposition to the closure (and possible rebuilding of Atherton). Lots of people have spoken passionatly about saving the Atherton.
The Mayor is determined to bulldoze it and build a new leisure centre and mentioned an opening date of May 2014. Perhaps there is a significance about that date.
Anyways, I have no idea why Sir Robin Wales, is to determined to shut down the Atherton. Either there are serious health risks (and does not want the public to know) or he just wants a new building to leave as legacy.
It did not make sense, as the Myor admited the refurbishment is cheaper then building a new centre.
I am neutral on the matter.
Perhaps, the Mayor has another agenda and this is to p*** off anyone who oppose him.
Is there some connection between the collapsed West Ham sham, a £40m promise to Boris and the government, an Olympic pool, the complete farce of the aborted re-tender for management of leisure centres (all go in Dec 2010 and vanished till 2013 7 months later) and the sudden "discovery" of asbestos in the 80 year old Atherton leading to its closure ( which had major works done on the swimming pool area around 10 years ago) ? - it does make you wonder. Will anyone in a position to bother to ask?
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