by A community theater in North -London served the local council with court files about plans for the rent and accused the theater “destroyed” by evaluating them.
Members of the East Lane Theater Company claim that they never “showed any evidence of Brent Council’s ratings”, which initially increased the annual rent by 73,500 GBP, but the local authority suggests that the theater has been “protected against increasing ownership costs in London for many years.
The East Lane Theater Company has been playing in Wembley for almost 90 years. 65 of these years are on the site of the Vale Farm. When Elms Hall – the event location for the club’s appearances – was demolished in 1988, members built their own 75 -seater -Theater in the Vale Farm Sports Complex near Wembley Stadium.
When the club’s rental agreement expired in 2022, the Council initially proposed that the Council paid £ 1,500 a year to hike to astonishing £ 75,000 – an increase of 5,000 percent. Last month, this offer fell significantly to £ 5,000 a year, but with one restriction – the building must also be used as a kindergarten.
Susan O’Connell, member of the East Lane Theater, claimed that the current buildings were “completely unsuitable for this use”.
She said: “It is one thing to be safe for adults, but the additional requirements for a kindergarten would mean that the theater is removed so that it would have to be removed and therefore stop to exist.”
Susan presented a petition that was signed by more than 1,700 inhabitants who asked the Council to apply for a “proper negotiation” by constructive dialogue before the matter went to the dishes. Members want to agree with a rental price that can be “realistically granted” by the club.
Susan spoke to the city councils, said: “The East Lane Theater Club is the only specially built theater in the district. We present the best of the theater, from the classics to modern dramatists in a variety of genres. The club, now a charity organization and totally voluntary run, is for everyone who is performing or help.
“We have a loyal and increasingly diverse audience who appreciates a reasonable price at the front door. The club has never received subsidies from the council, whereby all of our funds from ticket sales, member fees and donations come.”
After the rental agreement in 2022 “nothing from the Council in more than a year”, the city council served the club with a message from § 25 – a message that a landlord would like to end, and the proposed rent was revised to 75,000 GBP.
Susan said that it was an understatement to call this shock for membership and the audience.
The original demand of £ 75,000 was then reduced to £ 25,000 when the Council, according to Susan, “for reasons that never explained” before being deleted to £ 5,000 in mid -June, the conditions of the kindergarten were attached.
However, the Council refused to extend the announcement period according to Section 25, and with only three working days, the club said that this was not enough time to take the offer into account. Therefore, it claims to have had no other choice than to serve the Council with court files for “protection” [its] Position “and hopes that the council must justify its three” completely different ratings “.
In response, the cabinet member for regeneration, planning and property, Cllr Teo Benea, the petition shows “a depth of the feeling” that is recognized by the council, and this kind of “bourgeois spirit and community offer” is estimated by those who use it.
She added: “It is precisely because we appreciate our cultural sector and we want Brent to have expanded our cultural offer, but I also have to be honest with residents and groups – the financial situation with which the councils are confronted is grave.”
The cabinet member pointed out “more than a decade of austerity measures”, which meant that the Council has lost more than £ 200 million of state financing, which means that it is forced to make “impossible decisions” between the runs, apartment families and the maintenance of his assets.
She added: “[..] The officials checked the property as part of our district width strategy – one that applies to all assets in the municipality – and can discuss a new rent that reflects today’s realities and our legal obligation to ensure the best value for public property.
“We hope that the East Lane Theater will continue to work productively with the officers so that we can explore the available options. Perhaps ways through partnership, step -by -step agreements or support for external donations. However, they require cooperation and the desire to meet halfway.”
Despite the inquiries, Susan claims that the Council “has never proven evidence of its reviews, and the new real estate strategy” seems to work against small community groups like ours ” – those that cannot achieve commercial returns, but can offer community or cultural services.
She added: “We understand that the council must guarantee a maximum profit from its real estate, but would argue that every property should be taken into account for the unique advantages that it brings.[*] Brent can destroy [amateur theatres] through the back door process to evaluate it. “
Cllr Benea admitted that the increase “had come as a shock for the theater group”, and she appreciates the “strength of the feeling”, but claimed that the decision was not about pushing groups “, but” but “but”.[ensuring] their sustainability in a new financial reality “.
She said: “No decision is made from this Council and we have to protect public money, but I would like to assure all residents that this council will continue to support the art of the base.
“The East Lane Theater itself has benefited from a rental agreement for many years that was shielded from the rising real estate costs in London. Despite the financial restrictions with which we are confronted, we will always act in a way that is fair and sustainable for everyone.”
