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21
Apr
What will today's historic deal for Ripon Town Hall mean for the city?
In a move which has been described as a “huge day” for Ripon, the city council has regained control of the city’s town hall.
This morning (April 21), senior North Yorkshire councillors voted to hand back control of the the grade two listed building to Ripon City Council for the first time since 1974.
The decision is seen by city councillors as a key move in helping to create a focal point for residents and visitors and to open up opportunities for investment.
But what will it really mean for the city and what happens now?
What has been decided?
At today's executive meeting at Ripon Town Hall, leading Conservative councillors on North Yorkshire Council voted to hand the management of Ripon Town Hall to Ripon City Council.
The move is part of a 'double devolution' deal agreed between the two authorities that aims to devolve power to local areas.
Under the terms of the transfer, Ripon City Council will be given a 99-year lease on the town hall on a peppercorn rent of just £1 a year.
Caretaker Martin Rodgers (left) and Cllr Andrew Williams outside Ripon Town Hall.
North Yorkshire Council will continue to pay business rates for 2026/27 and will give the city council £55,000 in initial funding.
The city council can surrender the lease at 12 months’ notice but North Yorkshire Council cannot break the lease. Ripon City Council can also request the freehold of the town hall at any time.
However, North Yorkshire Council would reserve some rights such as running a Tourist Information Centre in the building.
Why does the city council want it?
The city council hopes the move will be a catalyst for the redevelopment of the run-down town hall to make it a focal point for residents and visitors.
The city lost control of the buildings to Harrogate Borough Council following local government reorganisation in 1974. North Yorkshire Council succeeded Harrogate Borough Council in 2023.
The decision to give it back to Riponians is a personal triumph for Cllr Andrew Williams, who has brokered the deal with North Yorkshire Council.
Cllr Williams is a member of the Conservative and Independents group led by Cllr Carl Les at North Yorkshire Council.
Cllr Williams, who also leads the Independent Putting Ripon Before Party Politics group on Ripon City Council, said the borough council had not invested in the building for 20 years.
Cllr Andrew Williams speaking at a Ripon City Council meeting.
He has highlighted how Skipton Town Hall's £4 million refurbishment and restoration to wider community use could act as a template for Ripon, which will need to bid for restoration grants.
A business plan will consider the options for future use, which could include hosting weddings and displaying art and local treasures.
What happens now?
Ripon city councillors were jubilant after today's decision.
Cllr Jackie Crozier, who represents Ripon Spa ward, said it was a “huge day” for the city.
In a post on Facebook, she said:
This marks an exciting new chapter, with the town hall set to once again become a focal point for residents and visitors alike — helping to revitalise the heart of our city.
The work to attract external investment will soon start in earnest.
Cllr Williams told this morning’s executive meeting the city council will now look to draw up a business case to put to potential funders.
He said:
Our double devolution bid in Ripon was perhaps far more extensive and far more ambitious than any other parish in North Yorkshire, but our ambitions here are to try and bring building back into proper and constructive use in much the same way as has been the case in Skipton.
We recognise that North Yorkshire Council does not have the financial ability to put the investment into this building that would be needed to bring it up to that standard and that the city council would be in a position to bid for funds that North Yorkshire Council are debarred from bidding for.
So we hope to put forward a strong business case to funding partners to be able to bring a whole new lease of life into this building and for it to act as a generator of economic activity in the city centre.
The project is expected to take several years and begin with a consultation asking local people what they would like to see the town hall used for.
You can read our feature length article on our tour of Ripon's historic town hall amid hopes for a multi-million pound regeneration here.
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