Forum Topic

Ealing town hall and the £350,000 pledge

Why on earth has Ealing Council committed itself to an indemnity clause that could see it pay up to £350,000 to developers Mastcraft if plans for the Town Hall to be turned into a hotel are stopped?Who sanctioned this clause?Why are the Council determined to push the proposed redevelopment through before the Charity Commission has made its findings on the status of the Victoria Hall?I asked Julian Bell just what financial benefit giving the Town Hall to Mastcraft would bring the people of Ealing. Needless to say he blathered on about ‘commercial sensitivity’. Apart from taking the upkeep of the building off taxpayers hands there is no gain to us, just a nice earner for Mastcraft.This is just the latest in a series of decisions that highlight how financially incompetent this Council is.

Simon Hayes ● 2221d5 Comments

That’s a very comprehensive letter to the Charity Commission and details just how far this Council is prepared to twist the truth for its own ends. And we are supposed to trust this mob with our tax money?!

Simon Hayes ● 2217d

My immediate concern is that by agreeing to pay Mastcraft such a large sum of money the Council will appear compromised in all its dealings over the Victoria Hall. As the Hall’s trustee the Council is required by law to act independently and solely in the interests of the charitable trust. How can it do that with £350,000 to pay if it decides against Mastcraft? The same goes for the current planning application. With the Council under severe budgetary pressures, how would the Planning Committee put the £350,000 out of its mind when it’s asked to approve Mastcraft’s plans? The potential conflicts of interest are plain to see.

NB: To learn more about the legalities of the case go to Save Ealing's Centre's website - www.saveealingscentre.com - and look for the letter from our lawyers to the Charity Commission.

Will French ● 2218d

There’s been indecent haste to push this through by the Council, pre-empting the decision of the Charities Commission by allowing planning applications to be lodged.Any sensible person would make sure they were allowed to dispose of assets before doing so.Of course, it’s all under the pretext of being ‘a great deal for the people of Ealing’. So will we all get to stay for nothing at this boutique hotel? Doubt it somehow. Good deal for Mastcraft I think....

Simon Hayes ● 2218d

Very True David. Looks very dodgy

Peter Chadburn ● 2219d

There are some troubling questions around Mastcraft, the would-be owner of the town hall. The company has a rather murky history, to put it mildly. See this article from the Evening Standard: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/revealed-the-asylum-tycoon-6943075.html

David Marshall ● 2221d