A Libdem opposition motion was introduced for debate at Ealing Full Council on Tuesday 13 June.
The motion proposed that the current plans for restoration and conversion of Ealing’s Town Hall should be dropped.
£3m had been spent to date on these plans to date with no result.
The condition of the building is now so poor that it cannot be let commercially.
Councillors arrived in the chamber on Tuesday evening to find that the motion was to be proposed and seconded, but that the debate would be immediately closed down by the Labour portfolio holder Shital Manro.
Cllr Manro rose, spoke at length on the issue, then introduced a motion to close the debate on the grounds of commercial confidentiality. The motion was carried by Labour’s large majority.
Cllr Manro also referred to a long-awaited legal judgment expected in July, which will establish whether the Council had the right to sell off this key municipal asset.
Council Standing Orders state that a motion to close can be introduced and voted on, but that no speech can be made by the party who is proposing the motion.
Labour is therefore attempting to stifle public debate about the future of the Town Hall, one of Ealing’s key municipal assets.
Ealing residents can be assured that the Conservatives will continue to scrutinise the Council leadership over the redevelopment of the Town Hall.
