Cardiff Council’s Cabinet is seeking a third party to operate Canton Community Hall on Leckwith road, after approving the recommendations of a report read by the cabinet last night.
The report received the approval of the council at a cabinet meeting held last night and this comes after 1,709 residents signed a petition to save the venue after the council had previously announced it would withdraw funding and it may face having to close down.
Recommendations of the report state the council will:
- Agree to the potential future uses of the hall, but has to carefully balance the need to generate receipts to fund further initiatives against the desires of local members and the local community to maintain community based uses for some of the council’s property assets.
- Use its well-being powers to secure a new operator through which the disposal may be at below value of the hall.
- Delegate authority to the director for sport, leisure and culture in consultation with the appropriate cabinet member and the corporate property and estates manager to identify and conclude terms with a preferred operator for Canton Community Hall.
The report also states that any undervaluation of the hall must not exceed £2m of the best price that could be obtained by selling the venue.
A new operator is to be in place no later than September 30, with the council continuing to fund the hall until then.
Canton councillor Richard Cook, who handed the petition to the cabinet told the Cardiffian: “I am pleased that the presentation I made to cabinet members was fully included in the report. Of course I would prefer if the council did not have to cut services like this but I hope we can now keep this one going.”
He then added that he is hopeful a party will be interested in taking over Canton Community Hall.
The council will now begin the search for a new operator.
Quotes from Councillor Richard Cook were added at 10.50am.
