Camden New Journal - News: Rebellion over KX sell

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Camden New Journal - by RICHARD OSLEY
Published: 26 April 2007

Rebellion over KX sell-off is crushed

U-turn on High Court steps over demolition

SENIOR councillors late last night (Wednesday) crushed a unique backbench rebellion whipped up over the controversial sale of a listed building in King’s Cross.
The Town Hall’s Liberal Democrat and Conservative front bench unanimously refused to take a second opinion on the valuation of the Stanley Building, which is to be sold to developers Argent Limited for a figure rumoured to be around £3 million.
Their decision ignored calls from a group of councillors from all parties represented at the Town Hall that Camden needed the security of a second analysis amid claims that the council could have asked for as much as £7 million.
It is the first time in Camden’s history that Labour, Green, Conservative and Liberal Democrat members have unified over an issue.
Among those calling for a re-think were Tory Kirsty Roberts and Jane Schopflin, a long-serving and prominent Liberal Democrat on housing issues.
But the united stand is likely to become a forgotten footnote in parochial politics after the council cabinet refused to take further action on the sale.
Liberal Democrat council leader Councillor Keith Moffitt said he was not prepared to spend the estimated extra £10,000 needed for a second valuation.
He said: “I don’t think this is sensible use of tax-payers money.”
The circumstances of the Stanley sale were mired in controversy from the outset. Unlike other property sales, Camden did not put the building – architecturally important early workers’ housing – on the open market and instead identified Argent as the prospective buyer likely to pay the highest price.
Argent plan to demolish the building as part of its wider redevelopment of the King’s Cross railwaylands and agreed to pay a ‘premium’ – an extra payment thought to be worth £1 million.
Just days after that deal were struck, surveyors said Camden could have asked for more money from the developers and official protests were filed by backbenchers.
Liberal Democrat finance chief Councillor Janet Grauberg said: “I haven’t heard any evidence to suggest that there is a need for a second valuation.”
She supported advice from finance director Mike O’Donnell whose guidance was that a second valuation was “unnecessary and inappropriate”. The issue was discussed at a meeting for 40 minutes last night before the unanimous vote against the rebellion.
Labour councillor Julian Fulbrook said afterwards: “When they came in they said they would be a listening council. We are unified in our advice to them and they have ignored it. I’m amazed.”
He had told the council that public trust would be risked if Camden did not “put the matter to rest” by getting further expert advice.
Green councillor Adrian Oliver said he was “disappointed” by the cabinet’s refusal to accept their advice.
Argent backed down from a High Court appeal for permission to demolish the building on Tuesday, agreeing instead to strip out the inside and remove asbestos. It is now waiting for a result of a Judicial Review which will next month examine the way Camden Council gave permission for the overall £2 billion redevelopment.

* Planners gave permission for a new concourse at King’s Cross station on Thursday. The £400 million project will be funded by Network Rail and the Department for Transport.

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