Issue - meetings
Consideration of Options to bring about the Renovation of The Unicorn, Great Rollright
Meeting: 11/10/2023 - Executive (Item 99)
The Unicorn, Great Rollright - Listed Building in Poor Repair
Purpose:
To review previous decisions to take action to conserve The Unicorn (former Public House) at Great Rollright, a listed building in disrepair, and agree whether the Council should proceed with any action to secure the protection or renovation of the building, based on the financial risk this poses to the Council.
Recommendations:
That the Executive Resolves to:
a) Continue to work with the building owners who are responsible for its condition and renovation. To monitor the structural condition of the building as set out in Option 4 to comply with its statutory duties but not proceed with discretionary legal action (covered in Options 1, 2 and 3) due to the significant financial risk to the Council and burden on the taxpayer, of doing so.
b) Note that should the structural stability of the building deteriorate further placing people and property at risk from collapse, the Council will have to take action to remove the risk.
Additional documents:
- Restricted enclosure 2
- Webcast for The Unicorn, Great Rollright - Listed Building in Poor Repair
Minutes:
Councillor Geoff Saul, Executive Member for Housing and Social Welfare, introduced and gave an overview of the report, which reviewed previous decisions to take action to conserve The Unicorn (former Public House) at Great Rollright, a listed building in disrepair.
The report also sought to agree whether the Council should proceed with any action to secure the protection or renovation of the building, based on the financial risk this poses to the Council.
In debate, the Executive highlighted that problems relating to The Unicorn were not uncommon to the Council, and that ongoing work with officers and the owners of the building had previously been troublesome. The Executive were reassured by Officers that work would continue to find an appropriate and reasonable solution, notwithstanding any related financial implications for the Council, with current market positions taken in to account.
Councillor Geoff Saul proposed that the Executive agree to the recommendations as listed on the report. This was seconded by Councillor Alaric Smith, was put to a vote, and was agreed unanimously by the Executive.
The Executive Resolved to:
1. Continue to work with the building owners who are responsible for its condition and renovation, and to monitor the structural condition of the building as set out in Option 4 to comply with its statutory duties but not proceed with discretionary legal action (covered in Options 1, 2 and 3) due to the significant financial risk to the Council and burden on the taxpayer, of doing so;
2. Note that should the structural stability of the building deteriorate further placing people and property at risk from collapse, the Council will have to take action to remove the risk.