LIBERAL Democrat and Labour politicians have called for an investigation into Brentwood Borough Council's decision to slash the length of a property lease offered to the town's Royal British Legion Youth Band.
The authority's asset, infrastructure and localism panel had agreed to offer the band a new 99-year lease with a peppercorn rent of £1 a year for its headquarters in The Drive, Warley, although this was subsequently reduced to 30 years, with an annual fee of £2,000.
The decision to cut the length of the rental agreement was taken by the leader of the council Louise McKinlay, following a telephone conversation with band founder John Wyndham.
Three councillors have now asked the authority's overview and scrutiny committee to review this decision, amid concerns that "due process might not have been followed". The members, namely Karen Chilvers (Lib Dem, Brentwood West), Phil Mynott (Lib Dem, Brentwood North) and Julie Morrissey (Labour, Brentwood South), are concerned because, among other things, when Mrs McKinlay discussed the issue of the lease with Mr Wyndham "there was no officer present and the discussions were not minuted".
Although the RBL will be charged £2,000 a year in rent, this sum will be reimbursed in the form of a grant.
However, Mr Wyndham told the Gazette he is concerned that this grant might not be honoured in the future should there be a change in administration at the council. He added: "I haven't agreed to 30 years and I haven't signed anything to that effect.
"I don't understand why the council agreed 99 years and then told us we could only have 30.
"I am not happy about that."
Lib Dem opposition group leader David Kendall said he was "very concerned" at the way Mrs McKinlay had handled this matter by "personally conducting negotiations with the Royal British Legion with no officer present".
He added: "We want to ensure openness and transparency on this issue and we believe that it will be best achieved by calling this in."
When a council decision is called in, it will automatically be discussed by the overview and scrutiny committee, the next meeting of which will take place later this month.
Mrs McKinlay said: "There is no doubt in my mind that due process was followed.
"We have had issues with leases before where buildings have gone to rack and ruin and whilst I don't think for a second that this will be the case with the RBL, we have got to be consistent across the borough.
"This decision gives the band what they need and protects the council and future generations of musicians."
The band, which has 100 members aged between 9 and 25, currently has a 25-year lease on its building, with 19 left to run.
For more information, visit www.brentwoodlegionband.co.uk
