Yesterday the Council published the second report by the Housing and Regeneration Scrutiny Panel which has been scrutinising the Haringey Development Vehicle (HDV) and its implications for the last eight months.
Our first report was published on January 9 and had wide circulation. In that report we called for a halt to the HDV largely because of the very high risks involved in this venture. Our second report was published yesterday, June 9, as soon as election purdah was over. I have posted the report below. It starts on page 71 of the pack. It contains over 25 recommendations. The first set of recommendations urge that the decision is deferred until a fully updated business case is prepared and evaluated.
The business case, on which the HDV relies, was approved in November 2015 and is now obsolete. We also recommended that a redrafted business case be undertaken by an independent external advisor to bring a fresh view. Given the volatility of both politics and the economy at present and the uncertainties around Brexit, we say in paragraph 8.3 of the report that
'There was consensus that the Business Case needed to be revisited. This preceded the announcement of the unexpected general election, which has brought further uncertainty and will mean further change. It was noted that this should be made a priority in order to limit the risks and uncertainties faced by the Council'.
The link to the report is here
We heard extensive, detailed evidence from a vast range of experts covering finance and risk, urban regeneration, housing, local government and planning, and their written evidence is published as an appendix. Please do read the report and make your judgment.
Zena Brabazon
Cllr, Harringay Ward
Tags for Forum Posts: haringey development vehicle, hdv
Dear Zena
Thank you for the link to the report, and to the whole Panel for your forensic examination of the HDV proposals (and the huge risks they pose to taxpayers and tenants) but can you tell me if Haringey Council bound by your recommendations, or can they simply ignore them?
Thanks in anticipation
Hi Richard
Thanks for your kind words. We have worked really hard and the truth is the HDV has demanded a massive amount of time and effort. Our report was agreed by the overview and Scrutiny Committee of the Council on Tuesday evening and will now go to the Cabinet. It will be on the same agenda when the Cabinet will be voting to go into the HDV with Lendlease. If they agree our main recommendation for delay then the HDV won't be going ahead so I guess you can work out from that what is likely to happen. They are not bound in any way by our recommendations and yes, they can ignore them and the evidence on which they rely.
But this is a long term project so it will remain under scrutiny.
Best wishes
Zena
Zena Brabazon
Cllr, Harringay Ward
© 2024 Created by Hugh. Powered by
© Copyright Harringay Online Created by Hugh