Andrew Dismore

Dear editor,

The unexpected but welcome decision of Benugo to withdraw from taking over the Parliament Hill café ( and indeed the Golders Hill and Queen’s Wood cafes too) is a real tribute to and recognition of ‘people power,’ in forcing a change of mind.

However, this not yet the end of the story, as the City of London Corporation have said they will again start the process from the beginning.

The City says it costs £5 million to run the Heath and they need to bring in revenue to bridge the gap, but income must not be the be all and end all: it is  not as though the City is badly strapped for cash compared to other local authorities.

This time, the City  have said they will consult the local community and park users properly: but what will we be consulted  on, and in particular will this include consultation on  the specifications for the tender? If the same criteria are applied, then the result risks being the same.

For example, will there be weighting to ensure support for small businesses, like the D’Auria’s? Will there be a reflection of long, popular and successful service? Will there be a presumption in  favour existing satisfactory operators? Will all the cafes be tendered separately, so they are not batched up in a way that   favours big business? And will the tender specification and assessment   give due consideration to social value and the special nature of the Heath?

yours sincerely,

Andrew Dismore

Labour London Assembly Member and candidate for Barnet and Camden