The councillor in charge of planning and regeneration in Harrow says there is ‘absolutely no confusion’ over the state of Barnet Football Club’s tenancy at The Hive.

Councillor William Stoodley responded after Harrow Borough Council last week said an application to amend the original lease for the Camrose Avenue stadium – which would allow professional football to be played there – had been approved.

However, the authority later revealed the plans were never actually followed through and, as it stands, no Football League fixtures are permitted at the ground.

This newspaper submitted a number of questions to the council relating to the lease. This came after residents said they were concerned the amendment would have been finalised in May allowing the club to play league football at the stadium had they not been relegated.

Harrow Council has confirmed then leader Bill Stephenson signed a cabinet resolution in July 2012 which agreed league football matches could be played at The Hive.

The council says this on its own would not be enough to give the Bees permission to play professional football at the Hive. It adds a deed of variation of lease would have to be entered into by both parties for this to happen.

But this was never agreed. Barnet Football Club has, therefore, never been given permission to play league football at the site. No further consultations took place after the cabinet resolution was signed even though both parties last year stated Barnet would be playing home games at The Hive this forthcoming season.

When Barnet FC announced it was to leave Underhill, its home of 105 years, in July last year the club was preparing for another season in League Two.

In a statement made at the time, Barnet chairman Tony Kleanthous said: “Now that we know our immediate future is secure in the area we will continue to make sure that we do our utmost to respect the views of local residents and be the good neighbours that everyone knows us to be at Underhill.”

In July 2012 current council leader Thaya Idaikkadar, then cabinet member for major contracts, said he wanted the community to “embrace” the club’s proposal to play home matches at The Hive.

Cllr Idaikkadar said: “We are sorry to hear some residents do not feel adequately informed but we would like to reassure the local community that we are listening to them carefully.

“We will not make a final decision until their concerns are addressed and we have taken on board the feedback provided during the consultation, which included letters circulated to 2,500 households in the immediate area, and drop-in sessions.”

At the time Anne Morant, chairman of the Canons Park Residents’ Association, said: “I’m absolutely disgusted. Local residents have been completely railroaded.”

Others questioned what had changed since The Hive was given planning permission in 2006, when residents were assured the club’s training ground would not be home to league football matches.

During the cabinet meeting Councillor Keith Ferry, then portfolio holder for planning, said “much had changed since 2006” and the club’s request to amend the lease was “reasonable”.
He said: “I’m convinced that the agreement of this request will be a good thing for Harrow in the long term.

“I do not accept that there has been an absolute lack of consultation, we went out of our way to spend hours at drop-in sessions talking to people.”

It is not clear whether or not the amendment would have been given final approval in May this year had Barnet stayed up.

In a bid to clear up the confusion this newspaper asked Harrow Council:

  • Had Barnet Football Club stayed up how long would it have taken to push the amendment through?
  • Did the council plan to consult residents further about the changes given their strong objections?
  • What would have happened if they had objected?
  • Could this all have been done between mid May and early August (before the start of the season)?
  • If the council believes the amendment would have been pushed through in time for the start of the season, does that mean no further consultations with residents were planned?
  • If more consultations were planned why was it left until the end of the season when this move was announced in July 2012?
  • Why has the amendment been left since July 2012?
  • Would Barnet FC now be looking for a different stadium if they were still in League Two?

In response to the above questions Harrow Council’s Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regeneration, Cllr William Stoodley, said: “There is absolutely no confusion over the terms and conditions of the Lease of “The Hive” to Football First Limited; they prohibit the playing of Coca-Cola League 2 football (or equivalent).  

"What appears to be confusing some people is the Cabinet Resolution, agreed on 19 July 2012 and signed by the then leader Cllr Bill Stephenson, which agreed that Professional League football matches may be played at “The Hive”.  

"This does not, in itself, change the terms and conditions of the lease; what is known as a “Deed of Variation of Lease” has to be entered into by the parties concerned in order to affect this and as Barnet Football Club have since been relegated, this avenue no longer needs to be pursued at this time.”