Secret talks have taken place to discuss gifting a historic hall in financial difficulties to Oakham Town Council. 

The council had agreed earlier this year to move its headquarters back to Victoria Hall in Oakham's High Street, after several years at ROL house off Long Row. A legal agreement, however, has not been agreed between the hall and the council and so a move is not definite. 

The hall is managed by a charitable trust and has run into financial difficulties in the past year, having to take an emergency bail-out from the town council to help it get through the winter. 

A survey, commissioned and paid for by the town council at a cost of more than £2,000, has revealed that the cost of bringing the Victorian-era hall back up to standard would cost as much as £300,000. This is a cost which would likely be carried by the town council if it took ownership of the hall, as is currently being considered. The council has already agreed to pay for a new boiler.  



Oakham's Victoria Hall has been previously discussed as a space for the council to move into (Photo: Oakham Nub News)

It has emerged that there are concerns from at least one trustee of the hall about the situation and also concerns among Oakham Town Councillors about how the matter is being handled. The council has been in disarray for a number of months due to internal infighting and staff absences.  

Cllr Paul Ainsley had met with the trustees alone recently and has since circulated a report sent to some councillors on a working party set up to look at the Victoria Hall situation. 

The report says: "I recently attended an informal meeting with the trustees of Victoria Hall, during which they proposed to the potential gifting of the hall to Oakham Town Council (OTC). If progressed this would entail OTC assuming responsibility for all major maintenance obligations. 

"The trustees expressed significant concerns regarding OTC's proposed relocation to Victoria Hall. They indicated that, should the move proceed, they would struggle to remain operational. Without resolution they would struggle to remain operational." 

He goes on to say he has invited the chair of trustees at Victoria Hall to the council's meeting in September to make a presentation and 'at this stage we are seeking only an agreement in principle." 

The Local Democracy Reporting Service called Cllr Ainsley and asked why he had met with Victoria Hall without the knowledge of all the council. 

He said: "I asked the working group and none could attend, so I decided to go ahead and have an informal meeting. I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I don't. Am I not free as a councillor to go and chat to these people? It wasn't a working group meeting. 

"This is me and the trustees of the hall, and they were giving me information. I don't see the problem here. There is nothing to report. When Victoria Hall are ready to come and brief the council that is when we can brief the council. But until then, we can't."  

He said he was there not in a councillor capacity. 

Oakham town councillor Martin Brookes is concerned about the situation following the results of the survey. Despite previously backing the move, he now has doubts. 

He said: "I would not support OTC taking over the building which would put the burden of the costs of repair on residents." 

Victoria Hall trustee Patsy Clifton has been involved with the hall for two decades. 

She said: "I do not think we have the authority or the right to give away an asset like that to the town council. 

"I'm not in favour of it. I think they are wrong. I'm not very happy at all. It has always been run by a committee. I think it should be independent and not part of the town council. I shall keep fighting." 

Chair of the hall's trustees Tom Tyler said in a released statement: "We are aware of various speculation amongst Oakham and Rutland about the future of Victoria Hall. We confirm that we have had initial discussions with Oakham Town Council about ways in which we can work in partnership with them to secure the future of the hall. These discussions are at a preliminary stage and we will be making no further comment at this time."  

The hall dates back to the mid 1850s and was originally built as a place for farmers to meet. It is the main entertainment venue in the town.