Hillingdon Council Faces Questions Over Ex-Councillor's Rent Debt Write-Off
Hillingdon Council's Conservative administration has come under fire following revelations about a planned debt write-off for a former Tory colleague. At a recent council meeting, questions were raised about the decision to forgive rent arrears owed by ex-Councillor Alan Deville on Cowley Meeting Hall, which is sublet to Theo's Cafe.
Council's U-Turn After Media Exposure
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) uncovered that the Cabinet had privately voted to write off Mr Deville's rent arrears, with the council arguing that debt recovery would not be cost-effective. However, after the LDRS obtained a council document confirming this decision, the authority appeared to change course and is now considering legal action against the former councillor.
Cllr Jonathan Bianco, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Property, faced direct questioning during the Full Council meeting on Thursday, January 22. Cllr Tony Burles asked whether the "disproportionate cost test" used to justify the write-off was applied consistently to all rent arrears cases, and if not, why this particular case deserved special leniency.
Property Sale Plans and Public Consultation
Cllr Bianco responded by emphasising that Cowley Meeting Hall sits on public open space, meaning any sale or marketing requires public consultation. He stated that preliminary marketing advice had been obtained and draft particulars were being prepared, but no firm decision had been made about selling the property.
However, documents show the council placed the property on the open market on January 12, with a notification published in the Uxbridge Gazette on January 15. The property was withdrawn from the market days later following LDRS enquiries about the rent arrears and lease arrangements.
Lease Arrangements and Unpaid Rent
Cowley Meeting Hall is leased to Alan Deville as trustee of Hillingdon Foster Carers Association for £5,655 annually. Mr Deville sublets the property to Theo's Cafe for £18,000 per year according to lease agreements seen by the LDRS. While the exact amount of unpaid rent remains unclear, Erhan Sahin, who runs Theo's Cafe, maintains he has never missed a payment to Mr Deville.
Cllr Bianco mentioned three other organisations where the council had successfully pursued rent arrears: Stockley Park Golf Club, the NHS, and Uxbridge Market Traders. He also announced an investigation into how the LDRS obtained the private council document discussed under the Local Government Act.
Meeting Disruption and Protests
The council meeting was interrupted by protests when a resident asked an unscripted question about the debt write-off. Mayor Cawthorne attempted to clarify that this was not permitted, prompting around 15 people to shout "shame on you." Most Conservative councillors and the Mayor temporarily left the chamber as security escorted demonstrators out while they continued chanting against the council.
The disruption lasted approximately 15 minutes before the meeting resumed as planned. This incident highlights the growing public concern over the council's handling of the debt write-off situation and its broader implications for transparency and accountability in local government decisions.
