The deputy leader of Hillingdon Council has confirmed the council is in possession of drawings of residential developments on the Beck Theatre site before accusing theatre operators Trafalgar Entertainment of purposefully running it at a loss in order to receive subsidies from the council. At the meeting of full council last Thursday (November 28) a member of the public asked: “Can the council categorically confirm or deny that they are in possession of drawings showing a new residential development scheme on the Beck Theatre site?”
Councillor Jonathan Bianco confirmed that a feasibility study ‘which included some outline high level option plans and drawings was prepared in early 2023 as part of a wider piece of work looking at the surrounding area.’ He added: “However, I can confirm also that the site was unsuitable for residential from planning perspective as it is regarding as open space and that if residential was to be allowed it would only have been on a small scale making it unviable.”
He then noted that these drawings predate the dispute with Trafalgar adding: “The council has no intentions at this time of residential developments on this site.” The Local Democracy Reporting Service has contacted Hillingdon Council to find out why the land was surveyed, and whether any future residential development on the site can be ruled out. The council were also asked to share the drawings, however at the time of writing, Hillingdon Council has not responded.
Later in the meeting, the Deputy Leader claimed it is his understanding that current operators, Trafalgar Entertainment, have purposefully operated the theatre at a loss in order to receive financial subsidies from the council. He said: “Our consultants [Blue Horizon] are of the view that Trafalgar have taken careful steps over many years to ensure that the Beck has made a loss in order to ensure that the subsidy has continued to be paid.
“Trafalgar are a profit making organisation and clearly there is nothing wrong with that, but they are doing so now at our expense… they ultimately only wanted to stay… if they could enjoy the cushy ride they have been on for a number of years.”
The comments come following a public dispute between the operators and the council over the last few months over an extension to their current agreement which is due to expire in January 2025 – seeing the theatre close. This has led to a number of protests and demonstrations outside Hillingdon Council by the ‘Back the Beck’ campaign.
Trafalgar Entertainment reportedly offered to operate without any financial subsidy under new terms, however, talks broke down between the operator and the council on the question of who is liable for site renovation costs. In response to a statement released by the council in October in which it accused the operators of asking for a ‘considerable subsidy’ in addition to the ability to walk away from a three-year deal, with rolling break clauses, Trafalgar hit back claiming: “We maintained dialogue precisely because we wanted to explore every available option.
“Hillingdon Council asked us to assess the level of financial support that would be required to prevent us finding ourselves in a loss-making position at The Beck next year. We presented that position and it was rejected. The alternative they put forward was not workable.”
The ongoing debacle has led to the very future of the beloved theatre being at threat, with doors set to close on Monday, January 13. However, the council maintain it does not want to see the theatre close and has bought in external consultants to find a new operator. At the time of writing it is understood there are six operators ‘interested’.
The LDRS contacted Hillingdon Council requesting clarification whether it was the council’s position that the theatre was purposefully being run at a loss. Evidence of the claim was also requested, however at the time of writing Hillingdon Council has not provided a response.
Trafalgar Entertainment declined to comment on the accusation.
Philip is a Local Democracy Reporter covering Ealing, Hillingdon and Hounslow, with a focus on council decisions, housing, planning, licensing and community stories across west London.
