Ealing Council in 'Rotten Boroughs' Again
Private Eye discloses developers paid nearly £60,000 for Cannes trip
The conference venue in Cannes
Having covered the close relationship between Ealing councillors and A2Dominion in a previous edition, the Rotten Boroughs column in Private Eye has featured them again.
They have disclosed that the cost of sending the delegation from the borough led by Cllr Julian Bell to a property conference in the South of France earlier this year was £59,995. The annual MIPIM conference is held every March in Cannes and aims to bring together property professionals.
The cost of the four day trip was covered by developers rather than the taxpayer with flights and hotels paid for. The list of sponsors include many developers who are active in the borough including A2Dominion, St George, British Land, Catalyst, Galliford Try and Galliard Homes.
A council spokesperson told Private Eye with reference to the conference, “It helps the council showcase Ealing on a global stage and this year gave us the opportunity to meet potential partners to help deliver on our target of 2,500 genuinely affordable homes by 2022.”
Private Eye had previously highlighted the connections between the Council and A2Dominion which is building a large proportion of the new homes planned for the borough and has submitted plans for a controversial high rise development near West Ealing station. Cllr Bell rents a flat from A2Dominion and Cllr Bassam Mahfouz is employed by them. The Council told Private Eye that as Cllr Bell does not sit on the planning committee sponsorship in no way influences its decisions.
The consultation has concluded on the Hastings Road tower and the planning application is now being prepared by A2Dominion.
Plan for corner of Hastings Road and Drayton Green Road
We have asked Ealing Council for comment.
July 10, 2019