'Disproportionate impact on the local community' Pudsey Town Hall sale plans challenged
The sale of an historic town hall building could be re-considered if a challenge by councillors is successful.
Leeds City Council decided to put vacant Pudsey Town Hall on the market, saying it was costing too much to maintain.
Last summer more than 1,000 people signed a petition against selling the hall, which has been closed to the public since 2016.
But the Robin Lane building was deemed surplus to requirements and council bosses said it would be sold by the end of March.
Now the move will be debated at a council scrutiny board after a request by opposition councillors, led by Conservative Andrew Carter.
A formal request for a “call-in” of the sale decision said: “There has been inadequate consultation with local members regarding the disposal of Pudsey Town Hall.”
Leeds City Council was in talks with non-profit Pudsey Town Hall Community Interest Company (CIC), but said no viable way forward could be found.
The call-in request said there had been a “failure to fully engage effectively with the CIC over the past two years, particularly in a timely manner.”
The councillors said the sale would also lead to a loss of historic memorabilia at the 19th century hall.
The call-in report said: “The proposed course of action aims to realise a capital receipt, however the disposal will have a disproportionate impact on the local community.
“Since closure to the public in 2016, the council has failed to find alternative uses for the building and properly explore viable alternative options.”
The call-in will be debated at a meeting of the council’s Infrastructure, Investment and Inclusive Growth scrutiny board on January 5.
It means the sale decision could be referred back to the council for re-consideration, or released for implementation.