South Kilburn chief resigns during probe

The suspended chief executive of South Kilburn New Deal for Communities has resigned in the midst of an investigation into allegations of gross misconduct at the £55 million project.

Brent Council confirmed they had received the resignation of Jack Davis on Monday, six weeks after he was suspended along with deputy chief executive Bill Husband. The suspensions followed allegations that the pair had used a council owned flat on loan to the NDC as their personal rent free pied-à-terre for three years (Inside Housing, 14 April).

Husband admitted to a local paper that he had lived there during the week for three years. The council, which has a housing waiting list of more than 16,000, was not aware that the flat had been used as accommodation by the NDC chiefs.

The council's director of regeneration and policy Phil Newby ordered the probe by the council's audit and investigation unit. He said on Tuesday that Davis' resignation followed 'a number of further allegations' and would not halt the investigation.

'Jack Davis' resignation is a unilateral act,' he said. 'There's no agreement between Jack Davis, the NDC and Brent Council. The investigation will find out what happened and why it happened, and must pursue any allegations that come to light.'

Newby is awaiting the full report but confirmed he would consider police involvement or action in the civil courts if misconduct was shown.

Davis was not available for comment.