Thanet District Council is facing fresh questions over its decision not to compulsory purchase Manston Airport after the leak of confidential emails.

The emails detail exchanges last November between council officers and the legal firm that was carrying out checks on the potential American investment partner.

They appear to indicate that checks on the consortium RiverOak, who wanted to team up with the council, showed no concerns about how the compulsory purchase order (CPO) could be funded by the company.

The emails also indicate lawyers were satisfied no questions had arisen regarding the financial background of any of its investors.

One email sent to the council’s finance officer and other senior council officers, stated “investors cleared both sets of searches” – including checks on whether any had involvement in money laundering or were politically exposed.

The exchanges also reveal that RiverOak was in talks with Airbus about using Manston as a possible site as an “aircraft recycling opportunity” but the French-based company, the world’s largest manufacturer of aircraft, was “becoming concerned at the delay”.

“We have maintained from the very outset our abilities and our credibility, both as a business and the individuals involved in it..." - RiverOak's Stephen DeNardo

On the issue of how the CPO would be funded, the council was told that a UK-based onshore account would be set up, with Thanet council being paid in advance “before it occurs [sic] any financial exposure”.

Stephen DeNardo, the chief executive of RiverOak Investment Corp, said: “We have maintained from the very outset our abilities and our credibility, both as a business and the individuals involved in it.

“We have always believed we are perfectly placed to reopen Manston as a viable airport.”

“These confidential emails, leaked into the public domain by persons unknown, underline this credibility as the ‘Know Your Client’ due diligence shows, along with the voluminous information that has been supplied to the council.”?

Thanet council’s Labour cabinet ruled out a compulsory purchase in November.

The council said it had not identified any suitable expressions of interest that met its requirements.

We approached Thanet District Council for a comment but they had not responded by the time Thanet Extra went to press.