Wharf Comment: Moore is less than helpful

By Giles Broadbent on March 16, 2010 12:43 PM |

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There is a school of thought which demands that public authorities divest themselves of all interests that could be considered peripheral, frivolous or beyond the ken of bureaucrats.

Anything from Christmas lights to Town Hall portraits should go in some kind of Cromwellian austerity drive, paring down council tax to fund just the routine basics.

That notion denies the ability of councils to pursue their all-important role in widening the horizons of their deprived citizens.

However, Tower Hamlets Council somewhat stretches the logic to breaking point with its Henry Moore statue, worth many millions.

Placing the statue more than 200 miles away in a sculpture park, for whatever reason, undermines any claim to cultural enhancement and democratic access.

No council should be involved in a fire sale to fund the latest fly-by-night vote-hunting fad. But the council should re-consider the value (not monetary) of this long-distance relationship.

The Tories would buy social housing. Fair enough. However, securing the future of the borough's Ideas Stores would be a more equable cultural swap.