Police were called after campaigners attempted to shut down a meeting needed to sell the Valley Social Club for council housing.
The Whitehawk and Manor Farm Community Association, which owns the Whitehawk Way community centre, called a meeting to vote on its dissolution ahead of its proposed sale to Brighton and Hove City Council which wants to build houses and new community space on the site.
Demonstrators interrupted the meeting minutes after it started to hold a vote of no confidence.
The trustees told the meeting the vote was invalid because none of those present were members of the association.
But residents said that the trustees never asked members to renew after the club’s bar was closed in 2012, and that the centre has been allowed to go into decline.
The campaign says it believes the charity’s constitution says that all residents of the BN2 5 postcode area are automatically residents – but the trustees say the constitution is worded to say that membership is open to all residents – but they must apply for this and pay subs.
When police arrived, they persuaded the demonstrators to leave the building and the trustees then voted to dissolve the association.
The trustees are currently consulting solicitors and the Charities Commission to check whether this vote will hold or the meeting has to be held again.
Councillor Mears said: “About 50 residents turned up, none of whom are members. Amanda Bishop proposed a vote of no confidence, which was passed, and she then demanded the keys.
“But the vote was invalid because none of the residents are members – there are no members to vote.
“The council is thinking of building flats above but having community space below it, which is important.
“I think there should be sheltered accommodation because you have got many elderly people living in family homes who don’t want to move out of their community but they would give those homes up if there was good quality sheltered accommodation there.
“Whatever money is generated from the sale has to go out in the community. We were going to discuss that at the meeting, but we never even got to that part of the meeting.
“Over many months myself and fellow trustees have received vicious and personal abuse on social media, including accusations of theft, fraud corruption and mismanagement.”
“Dan Harris even went up to the centre manager and asked her if she was related to any of the trustees. It’s so personal.
“It’s a bit like mob rule.
“So I was very surprised to receive an email the next day saying how much I was respected and would I consider becoming a trustee with them!”
Councillor Mears, who has been a trustee since 1994 when she represented Marine ward on Brighton Borough Council, said the social club and bar closed in 2012 because it was tens of thousands of pounds in debt.
The association is now debt and mortgage free, but the centre needs repairs. However, campaigners say they would rather take it on themselves than have the council buy it.
The protest was led by two former Labour party members who have been suspended for alleged anti-Semitism.
Amanda Bishop, who proposed the vote of no confidence, said: “If the council purchase it, it will no longer be owned by the community and whatever happens to it will be dictated by the council.
“It would have to be financially viable for them, so the proposed 22 to 28 flats would leave little room for community space.
“A couple of community rooms on offer, perhaps, ‘if the community can prove a need’ in comparison to the huge potential of what we already have, is inconceivable.”
Miss Bishop was suspended from Labour during last year’s local elections after proposing a “march to Hove Synagogue” to protest the suspension of the party’s Wish ward candidate Alex Braithwaite for allegedly anti-Semitic comments, including Israeli conspiracy theories. Today, she told Brighton and Hove News she resigned from the party a month ago.
The meeting was filmed by Dan Harris, who was suspended in December 2017 after posting a joke Happy Hannukah video featuring the faces of three non-Jewish Labour councillors he regularly criticised at meetings and online, superimposed on the heads of dancing rabbis.
East Brighton councillor Nichole Brennan, who is alsp deputy chair of the housing committee which approved the plans to buy the centre before Christmas, said she supported resident plans to keep the centre up and running.
She said: “I was elected by the people of East Brighton and Whitehawk so I am there for them.
“I also believe they should have a community run social space and if they are prepared to get the funding for this I will fully support them.”
Demonstrators! We was allowed at the meeting! Also the trustees said there was no full paid up members or junior members full stop and not just the people present at the meeting!
I was at this meeting with 2 other people we was not told this meeting was going to be filmed? We did not give our permission to be filmed and Dan Harris did not say that he was going to be filming the meeting? We are asking you to take this filming of the meeting downas it is illegal for anyone to film someone without warning?
Please remove this from your article?
Lesley, Dan Harris clearly told the whole room that he was filming, and gave the reason why. You raised no objection. Considering there was roughly 40 people were witnessed this I suggest you remove your comment.
Were you and Dan both suspended from the Labour Party, what was it in your case please ?
This is a terrible article which fails to ask why Whitehawk is being robbed of one of its few community resources.
Dan Harris knows his rights and he would not film anyone without telling them first
Lesley you voted against residents in the no vote of confidence which overwhelming defeated and you should declare your interests In the other organisations you are involved in Lesley here please. I have it recorded on video and mary mears confirms we discussed this prior.
Its a public meeting.
Once we get the valley back into residents hands i will be looking you and your community activities up will be making these public.
Ps lesley you were silent in that meeting, you and others could have raised objections. None did bar you after why because you lost.
I Was there recording as an independent legal observer for the charity commission.
What organisations and residents groups are you a part of please? Me its ETHRAG, Park Life Brighton, Brighton and Hove Housing Coalition and Save The Valley Social Centre Campaign!
Of course people of an older generation will sell. They got to use those facilities and now they’re cashing in now that they’re done with it.
Tell me how often affordable housing promises in planning permissions are kept? I’m sure the council are just as trustworthy…
Should this article be titled “Labour splits with Labour”. Suspended members (for allegations of antisemitism) splitting with the councillors they elected, Councillor Nancy Platts splitting with Councillor Nichole Brennan and even Councillor Nichole Brennan splitting with herself now that she’s siding against a decision she helped make. Can we find out what Councillor Gill Williams thinks so we know who she’s splitting with?
Amanda Bishop proposed that the Labour Party in Brighton and Hove march onto synagogues in the city as a result of the suspension of a deeply racist council candidate. I think it’s legitimate to liken Ms Bishop to being a Nazi. I don’t believe the said individual should have any involvement in any campaign.