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10
Feb
‘Historic’ deal sees Ripon take back control of town hall
A ‘historic’ deal to transfer ownership of Ripon Town Hall will see the grade two listed building belong to the city again.
The Wakeman’s House and Hugh Ripley Hall will also be returned to local control as part of a double devolution deal agreed between North Yorkshire Council and Ripon City Council.
Councillor Andrew Williams, who leads the Independents Putting Ripon Before Party Politics group on Ripon City Council, said it was a “great deal for Ripon” and a historic moment for the city, which lost control of the buildings to Harrogate Borough Council following local government reorganisation in 1974.
He said:
It’s an excellent opportunity for Ripon with no financial risk to precept payers. The town hall is a huge building that is decaying and largely unused. Harrogate Borough Council didn’t spend anything on it in 20 years. It has huge potential although we are looking at a major project that will take several years.
The Wakeman's House
Cllr Williams said Skipton Town Hall had been revived by a £4 million refurbishment and Ripon City Council would be able to bid for restoration grants to undergo a similar process.
A business plan will consider the options for future use, which could include hosting weddings, displaying art and local treasures and providing a tourist information service.
The town hall, which was completed in 1799 and overlooks the Market Square, has a cellar, an unoccupied caretaker’s flat and land at the back with a nuclear bunker.
A city council meeting last night (February 9) heard a deal in principle had been agreed with North Yorkshire Council to transfer control of the three buildings.
Hugh Ripley Hall is also in line to be transferred to city council control.
The city also agreed to transfer control of the freehold of the Wakeman’s House, which is used as a café, and Hugh Ripley Hall, which can be hired for events, from North Yorkshire Council.
Cllr Williams said the Wakeman’s House, which was the home of Hugh Ripley, the last wakeman of Ripon, would continue to be used as a café.
Ripon city councillors voted unanimously to support the deal last night.
Liberal Democrat Cllr Barbara Williams said: “Everyone felt it was very positive for the city. We are taking ownership back.”
What is double devolution?
Cllr Carl Les, the Conservative leader of North Yorkshire Council, pledged to introduced double devolution as part of the 2023 local government shake-up that saw Harrogate Borough Council abolished.
Cllr Les, who attended last night’s meeting, invited parish councils to submit bids outlining which local assets they wanted to acquire.
The only deal agreed previously was Knaresborough’s Town Council’s bid to take control of the town market.
Ripon City Council’s double devolution bid, which did not include taking on its market, was the most ambitious submitted to North Yorkshire Council so far.
Cllr Les
If ratified, it will see the city council given a 99-year lease on the town hall on a peppercorn rent of £1 a year. The city council can surrender the lease at 12 months’ notice but North Yorkshire Council cannot break the lease.
North Yorkshire Council will continue to pay business rates and will give the city council £55,000 to spend on consultants to work on a business plan for the future use of town hall.
The city council will also be able to bid for the town hall freehold if it chooses to do so.
Cllr Williams, who is a member of the Conservatives and Independents group on North Yorkshire Council, said Harrogate Borough Council had served Harrogate well, but had not been good for nearby places such as Ripon.
He said North Yorkshire Council, by contrast, had provided a “fantastic opportunity for Ripon”.
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