Challenge to Council's Victoria Hall Deal Continues
Friends group appeals against latest Charity Commission ruling
Victoria Hall. Picture: Roger Green
November 6, 2024
The Friends of Victoria Hall (FoVH) is continuing its challenge to the Charity Commission’s consent to the deal between Ealing Council and Mastcraft for the development of Ealing Town Hall.
The group acknowledges that the third version of the commission’s ruling is a step forward but still leaves the future of Victoria Hall uncertain. It claims that the latest version still leaves the Hall open to incorporation into a luxury hotel and the loss or reduction of community use of the facility which had previously been a venue for events including live music.
A request is being made for further changes to the draft which was published in September. The council agreed a deal with Mastcraft in 2016 which incorporated Victoria Hall even though it was owned by a charitable trust. It has since been seeking the authority of the commission for the transfer. The first version of the Charity Commission Scheme appeared in November 2019 which resulted in significant local opposition.
Roger Green, chair of FoVH said, “While we have welcomed some improvements to the wording of the Scheme, we’re continuing to challenge the Commission’s consent to the deal by drawing attention to certain significant aspects which need to be addressed - not least the proper definition of the charity’s property and the future community use of the space.
“It would be unfortunate if the bulldozers rolled in before Christmas just because of the poor wording of the Scheme.
“We are pleased that in the latest draft the Commission is now calling for the establishment of an independent committee to take over Trust decision-making from Ealing Council.
“The appointment of this committee is crucial to determining the future of the Hall. With a majority of independent members, the new Victoria Trust Committee would have the power to change the details of what the Council agreed with Mastcraft in July 2016.”
He added, “We are concerned, though, that no deadlines or time limits are present in the Scheme for the formation of the Committee to which Ealing Council has been instructed to delegate decision-making.
“And we note with concern that no effort has been made by Ealing Council to form this Committee. Indeed, the Victoria Hall Trust Committee has not met since April 2024 and is not scheduled to do so again until the end of February next year.”
Meanwhile, the Victoria Hall has been closed to the public, along with the rest of the Town Hall, for over a year with the council citing building safety issues as the reason.
A spokesperson for the Charity Commission said: “The Charity Commission can confirm that it authorised the Victoria Hall scheme on the 23 September 2024. We have now received notice of an appeal being lodged and cannot make any further comment at this stage.”
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