Councillors not to renew community hall lease

Town Councillors have decided that it will not renew the rolling lease for the Northside Community Hall, casting doubt on the future of the community hall.

This decision was made during a a full council meeting this week, with town councillors opting to work together with the hall's management committee to find alternative ways to secure its future.

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Currently, the town council has a "held over" lease arrangement with Powys County Council. However, an initial offer of a community asset transfer of ownership has been revised to a medium-term community asset lease lasting between 25 to 30 years.

One of the primary factors contributing to this decision is the urgent need for a new roof for the Northside Community Hall. Members were informed that this replacement could come with a price tag ranging from £50,000 to £85,000.

During the council meeting, councillors learned that the lease for the Northside Community Hall had been assigned to the town council in 1999. It was initially established on a peppercorn rent basis and was subject to a rolling 12-month agreement.

The Town Council's recently review into community spaces in Newtown highlighted that nearby Mill Close Hall is currently underutilised. With significant investment required for repairs on one of the halls, town councillors questioned whether it was justified to have two halls operating simultaneously.

After careful consideration, the council approved the recommendation put forth by the Resources Committee. The decision stated that the lease for Northside Community Hall would not be renewed with Powys County Council. Instead, a transition period of up to 12 months would be established to explore other options for the hall's future.