Talks to save the future of a historic arts venue in Oakham are moving ahead but rifts appear to be growing between several members of the town council. 

The trustees of Victoria Hall and Oakham Town Council have been in talks for several weeks about the idea of the authority becoming a controlling trustee of the charity which runs the High Street venue. 

The 125-year-old building has been in financial trouble for many months and the town council had to give it an emergency grant last autumn to get it through the winter period. 

At a council meeting on Wednesday night (January 8) the authority agreed to spend around £2,400 on a building survey. 

However, the survey will only be done after the council receives a series of documents from Victoria Hall's trustees, as Cllr Sally Wadsworth raised concerns after council chairman Paul Ainsley said the trustees had so far failed to produce the documents despite being chased. 

Cllr Wadsworth said: "If we are not going to take it any further, I am a bit concerned about spending £2,465 on something that is not going to happen." 

However, Councillor Chris Nix said even if the deal between the council and the hall did not go ahead, the building survey would be beneficial to the town as the hall was a public asset. 

The deal between the two groups will involve the trustees agreeing for the town council to become a controlling trustee. The council may then move its operations out of ROL house on Long Row and back into Victoria Hall, which it left several years ago. 

The town council has been in turmoil for some months, with a number of departures and new joiners and at the meeting it was clear there was still some conflict. 

Cllr Martin Brookes has made a formal complaint against the chairman concerning an allegation he destroyed some paperwork intended for Cllr Brookes. At the meeting Cllr Ainsley said he was innocent of all allegations and would fight it vigorously. 

Cllr Anna Douthwaite, who joined the authority a few months ago, also said she had received 'nasty emails' and had received a private apology. She said she was willing to overlook it but would seek legal advice if it happened again.  

She did not name the councillor who she had received the emails from, but it is understood to be Cllr Brookes.