No confidence vote over Bothy dispute

10:32am Thursday 29th November 2007

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Members of The Finchley Society have passed a vote of no confidence in their president, claiming he has a conflict of interest as leader of another charity.

Bill Tyler is president of The Finchley Society and chairman of its home base, the Avenue House Estate Trust (AHET). AHET has been in dispute with the Finchley Arts Centre Trust (FACT) since January, when AHET evicted FACT from The Bothy building in its grounds. Since then, feelings have been running high in all three organisations .

While The Finchley Society does not have an official stance on the disagreement, many members believe it should be involved in mediation between AHET and FACT which, they say, is effectively impossible while Mr Tyler remains head of both AHET and The Finchley Society.

The motion, passed by just 44 votes to 41 at a meeting last week, established no confidence in Mr Tyler because of "abuse of his position".

Society secretary Robert Winton would not comment on any alleged abuses, but said: "From the beginning we have said we didn't want to be involved in this conflict, but we have been dragged in because we are unhappy with Mr Tyler's position."

At a meeting in June, members voted to call on AHET to reinstate FACT in The Bothy and resolve the difficulties.

Society member Chris Ower said he believed most members supported FACT. He added: "It doesn't look very good, one charity kicking out another. Feelings are very high over this. It is disgusting what has gone on and it's about time AHET was shown up for what it really is."

Mr Tyler declined to comment on the matter until after the trustees' meeting next Thursday, when the future of his position will be decided.

The Bothy is a Grade II-listed mock fortress in the grounds of Victorian mansion Avenue House, in East End Road, Finchley. FACT partially renovated the building to turn it into an arts and community centre at a cost of £600,000, but was evicted when AHET said it did not have valid insurance for its activities and had not met building regulations. FACT denies these claims.

Barnet Council has agreed to mediate between the parties and will publish a report on the dispute next week.