Checks delay decision on hall

Attempts to resolve the ownership battle over the Renwick Community Hall have come to a halt as the Marlborough District Council's lawyer pores over the hall committee constitution.

The committee is split over whether ownership of the hall should be transferred to the Ministry of Education and Renwick School.

Some in the committee oppose the idea while others believe the decision would make financial sense, allowing for the hall to be maintained.

Marlborough Mayor Alistair Sowman said council solicitor Peter Radich was looking over the committee constitution to make sure the committee had been formed properly.

"He thinks it's not."

The decision on what to do with the hall would be made by the committee, he said.

The committee is made up of 12 people – three elected from the community, three from the Renwick Returned Services Association, three from the Renwick School board and three appointed by the council.

Mr Sowman said there was "some concern" over the process of electing members from the community, which was what Mr Radich was "working through".

If it is found that the meeting to elect them did not follow correct procedures the members would need to be re-elected. Mr Sowman hoped a resolution may be reached by this week.

Mr Radich said some procedures, including the election of the committee, had not been followed since the original deed for the hall was created in 1984. He did not think that was deliberate, but "in the process of time the requirements of the deed were progressively overlooked".

Committee chairman James Cresswell said no progress could be made until the committee had heard back from the council.

There had been mistakes from all sides in the running of the hall and in following the original deed, he said.

Committee member Rata Harper, one of the members against handing over the hall, did not wish to comment. But in a letter to the editor published in the Express yesterday, she said the community hall was an asset that needed to be protected and that no asset should be given to the government for free.

More than 1000 people had signed a petition against the transfer, she said.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 11:30 17/11/2011