"In 2016, as chair of the Hampstead Heath management committee, I voted against the proposal to take the running of the Parliament Hill cafe away from the D'Auria family and hand it to the Benugo chain, but the proposal was initially agreed (albeit by only one vote). There was a predictable outcry against this decision, and I found myself confronted by angry protesters at a meeting chaired by the local MP, Keir Starmer."
"We brought in a consultant to conduct a full and inclusive consultation, and all the existing leaseholders were left to get on with running the cafes, at least for the time being. I always knew the subject would come up again as, despite popular belief, the City Corporation's funds are not bottomless, and the cafes do need to pay their way."
In 2016 the Hampstead Heath management committee considered transferring the Parliament Hill cafe from the D'Auria family to the Benugo chain; the proposal initially passed by one vote. Strong public opposition and protesters at a meeting chaired by Keir Starmer led to a reversal and Benugo’s withdrawal. A consultant was hired for a full, inclusive consultation and existing leaseholders continued running the cafes temporarily. Financial realities mean the City Corporation cannot subsidize losses, so cafes must be viable. There is concern that financial planners and spreadsheets have overridden communication, community priorities, and genuine listening to users.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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