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Questions were asked at a Hillingdon Council meeting over the Conservative administration's decision to write off the debt of a former Tory colleague.
On Friday, January 23, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) revealed that the Cabinet had voted in private to write off former Councillor Alan Deville's rent arrears on Cowley Meeting Hall, occupied by and sublet to Theo's Cafe which appears to be in breach of the original lease. The council argued that it was not cost-effective to recover the debt.
However, after becoming aware that the LDRS had obtained a council document proving this, the council appeared to change course, and is now considering pursuing legal action against Mr Deville. The issue came to light after the council discussed a plan to sell off Cowley Meeting Hall, which could mean Theo's Cafe being forced to shut down.
On Thursday, January 22, at a meeting of the Full Council, Cllr Jonathan Bianco, as Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Property, was asked whether this "disproportionate cost test" was applied to every case of rent arrears.
Cllr Tony Burles then asked if not, why this case was deserving of leniency. Cllr Bianco said: "I think it's probably best to start by saying that this asset in which he refers sits in a public open space, and any decision to sell or market requires a public open space consultation.
"That is something we have set in motion, we have also considered the marketing of the property, and at present, preliminary marketing advice has been obtained, and draft particulars are of course in preparation. But as of yet, no firm decision has been made on marketing the property, and in particular, we are keen to await the outcome of the public space notification."
However, Hillingdon Council did place it on the open market on January 12 and it was not until January 15 that a notification was published in the Uxbridge Gazette.
The property was withdrawn from the market a few days later, following enquiries made by the LDRS around the rent arrears owed by Mr Deville and the lease itself. Cllr Bianco went on to say that an investigation would be launched into how the LDRS obtained the private council document which was discussed in private under legitimate use of the Local Government Act.
When initial enquiries were made by the LDRS about the arrears, Hillingdon Council said it could not comment, citing commercial and data protection. Cllr Bianco named three other organisations in the meeting where it had successfully chased rent arrears - Stockley Park Golf Club, the NHS, and Uxbridge Market Traders.
Cowley Meeting Hall is leased to Alan Deville, as trustee of Hillingdon Foster Carers Association, for £5,655 a year. In turn, Mr Deville sublets it to Theo's Cafe for £18,000 a year according to lease agreements seen by the LDRS. It's unclear how much unpaid rent is owed by Mr Deville, but Erhan Sahin who runs Theo's Cafe says he has never missed a payment to Mr Deville.
At every council meeting, local residents have the opportunity to raise questions to be answered by a Cabinet Member. Around 15 minutes into Thursday's meeting, one resident stood up and asked a question which was not on the agenda.
Mayor Cawthorne attempted to make clear that this was not allowed, before a group of around 15 people began to shout 'shame on you'. Shortly after, most Conservative councillors and the Mayor left the chamber.
The disruption lasted around 15 minutes before security escorted the demonstrators out of the council chamber, as they continued to chant 'shame on you Hillingdon Council'. Once removed from the Civic Centre, the council meeting resumed as planned.
Have a story you want to share? Email philip.lynch@reachplc.com or @pjlynchjourno on X.
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