BE has therefore still not been able to launch the call for tenders as the days pass. It takes time for candidates to apply, then to select one and take the necessary steps, particularly in terms of permits, to set up the taverns for the spring (end of April-beginning of May for the first ones last year). “There is a risk that we will no longer be on schedule,” notes a regional source. “The appeal must be made now.” Usually, the call is even launched in the fall.
We tried the tavern at the Ferme de Petit Bomal: welcome to paradise
The decision, “given the derisory amounts we are talking about compared to what this brings to thousands of Brussels residents,” is not supposed to pass before the Brussels government. It usually remains at the administration level but the latter is now constrained by the opinion of the financial inspectorate. “It’s a peculiar reading of current affairs on the part of the inspector, continues our source. These taverns have not been criticized by any political party and have existed for years. This is simply a matter of continuing the same policy already in place. Stopping the taverns, on the contrary, would be a political choice that could be contested in times of current affairs.”
“No party will want to take the risk”
More broadly, the file raises the question of the management of current affairs. A source close to the government analyzes: “This file is being treated as if the current affairs period would last a few weeks. But it’s been months already and it’s likely to last for some time. The government will inevitably have to make decisions. We cannot hand over the files to the next Brussels government as if it were going to arrive tomorrow. It’s turning a blind eye. And, by the way, saving on this expense would clearly not have an impact on the budget.”
For his part, Alain Maron (Ecolo), outgoing minister in charge of supervision of BE, assures that “the objective is still and above all to find a solution for the taverns“. BE is still discussing with the financial inspectorate to convince them but in the worst case, the file will be passed on to the outgoing Brussels government which, for its part, can technically override the opinion of the financial inspectorate, especially with the return this week of Sven Gatz around the table Absent for health reasons for several weeks, he announced that, in his absence, he. would block all files rejected by the financial inspectorate.
-The summer spot: Hors-Champs, at the Boitsfort Hippodrome, a tavern-style restaurant
“No party will want to take the risk and responsibility of depriving the people of Brussels of their tavernsassures someone close to the case. The blockage is therefore rather theoretical.” Theoretical yes, but also very real for the moment and the clock is ticking before summer arrives. At this time last year, permits were starting to be released, and their processing period cannot be reduced. “We’re already late.” But there is the possibility of introducing simplified procedures, reassures Brussels Environment.
While traveling abroad, François de Villers, from the Barc company, which until then managed the taverns, did not respond to our requests.
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