Agenda item

To receive a report by the Director of Environmental and Community Services on the future of Huntingdon Town Hall.

With the assistance of a report by the Director of Environmental and Community Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel was acquainted with the contents of an independent report, which had been commissioned by the District Council into the future use of Huntingdon Town Hall, and included a number of recommendations and a suggested project plan.

Members were advised that the District Council owned the freehold of the Grade 2* listed building. However, Her Majesty’s Court Service (HMCS) was in possession of a 999 year lease for the ground and first floors, which meant that HMCS was responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the building. The Town Council, although having no formal lease, occupied the top floor. Discussions between the District Council and the occupiers were ongoing to seek a practical and viable way to secure the fabric of the building and to identify appropriate uses for it.

In response to Members’ questions, the Director of Environmental and Community Services explained that the building had been maintained by the leaseholder and that the Council, under the current arrangements, had no maintenance liabilities. In discussing the extent to which HMCS had complied with its maintenance obligations under the terms of the lease, Members were informed that specialists had ascertained that the building was not in a condition that would mean enforcement action was required by the Council under Planning and Listed Building legislation. The Panel also noted that it was likely that English Heritage would require any future owner to retain some of the internal court space. This, coupled with the fact that the Council held the building in trust for the benefit of local people, meant that alternative, income generating uses were limited. In addition, it had been estimated that in the region of £2,000,000 would be required to improve and modernise the premises to make them suitable for public uses. However, potential sources of funding were identified in the report by EWC.

Members were advised that the formation of a Building Preservation Trust (BPT) had proved to be best practice in other parts of the country for dealing with premises such as the one in question. A BPT would have access to grant funding schemes, which were not available to a local authority.  As a result the Panel supported the proposal to establish a steering group to oversee the possible transfer of the building to a BPT. The Panel, however, suggested that, owing to Huntingdon Town Council’s interest in the building, the Cabinet should investigate the possibility of exchanging the Town Hall for land currently in the ownership of the Town Council. This would ensure the District Council had achieved the best possible return for the loss of the ownership of the building. In addition, the view was expressed that should the decision be taken to transfer the Town Hall to a BPT, the terms of the transfer should include provision for the ownership of the building should its future operating income be insufficient to make the building viable and the BPT ceased to operate.

RESOLVED

  that, subject to investigations being carried out into the feasibility of an exchange of land in return for transfer of ownership of the Town Hall to Huntingdon Town Council and to adequate provision being made to safeguard against the building failing to become viable and the BPT ceasing to operate, the Cabinet be recommended to accept the recommendations contained in the report by EWC.