tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post8852857067691443484..comments2024-01-30T07:41:20.885+00:00Comments on Broken Barnet: Inky Stephens and a blot on the Big Society LandscapeMrs Angryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-82590608928821649152011-02-20T14:11:26.402+00:002011-02-20T14:11:26.402+00:00hmmm: the new demand for market rent or sale merel...hmmm: the new demand for market rent or sale merely emphasises the purely monetary attitude of the Tory administration: if they were genuinely on message with their party's Big Society agenda, what you proposed would be encouraged.<br />I have a question for private discussion: can you email me?Mrs Angryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-91165753788765450182011-02-20T13:00:01.874+00:002011-02-20T13:00:01.874+00:00Mrs A
The building in Wood Street was given to th...Mrs A<br /><br />The building in Wood Street was given to the Museum back in the 1930's - the Borough of Barnet did not exist and Herts County Council and the Barnet Urban District Council were responsible for the area - so already there is an issue of title etc. Also, there are press reports at the time stating that the building was granted to the Museum "in perpetuity"; we are looking through archives to see where this came from, but as you can understand, some archives of this period and location are all over the borough/county. It has always been assumed that LBB owns the building, indeed they claim we cost the borough £23K - £28Kpa to maintain the building. As part of the consultation we devised a Business Plan that asked LBB to transfer the building to us (either freehold or a long lease at peppercorn rent) - which is allowed by Development Trust legislation. We would then take over the running cost of the Museum (difficult but not impossible for an entirely volunteer group) saving the Council its £28K. BUT NO! Neo-nasty Cllr Robert Rams, at a meeting before the Cabinet debacle, moved the goalposts and asserted that we would only get the building if we paid a market rent (some $40K) or if we buy the building (we cannot afford this at all). Hence the importance in establishing the true ownership and the real nature of our historical occupation of 31 Wood Street.<br /><br />On your second point, I agree that a Museum of the Borough of Barnet would be a good thing. Alas, I do not see it happening in the Age of the Philistine in which we now live. Barnet Museum shows that even a small enterprise like ours needs a some support (albeit minimal) from public funds. Something like you advocate would need to wait until we see the backs of Hillan, Rams and Coleman and the rest of their neo-nasty clan (something to look forward to perhaps?)MickeyNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14570868546328992414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-54507327050157052652011-02-20T10:39:41.267+00:002011-02-20T10:39:41.267+00:00hello Mickey: interesting points, and of course I ...hello Mickey: interesting points, and of course I can see the argument for wanting to retain the museum in its present location. I am intrigued by your comment that it is not even certain that the council owns it: what does this mean?<br />I would still like to see a museum that reflects the history and diversity of the borough's heritage,as well as offering exhibtion space: maybe something on the lines of Burgh House in Hampstead.Mrs Angryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-76172238663824904892011-02-20T00:39:44.479+00:002011-02-20T00:39:44.479+00:00May I just correct this otherwise excellent articl...May I just correct this otherwise excellent article in just one respect. Barnet Museum in Wood Street is actually the museum of Barnet Town (aka Chipping/High Barnet), NOT the borough of Barnet. Our collection (owned by the museum not the council) is specific to the town as we keep telling the neo-Nasty Cllrs Rams and Coleman. The building which we have occupied for 80 years is in many ways an exhibit so we are not for moving. It is not even certain that the council owns the building (which it wants either to sell or to lease at market rent) and we will take this all the way to court if we have to. We are an entirely volunteer organisation (registered charity)and if after 80 years of popular and cultural community service (at minimal cost to the council) we cannot survive, then the Big Society is dead in the water.MickeyNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14570868546328992414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-23464843545421220782011-02-17T19:39:53.182+00:002011-02-17T19:39:53.182+00:00There is a meeting planned on Thurs 24 Feb at 7 pm...There is a meeting planned on Thurs 24 Feb at 7 pm to explain the situation and gather support.<br /><br />Avenue House is an important local resource, which I hope can be secured.Jaybirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00837834833034746377noreply@blogger.com