Braintree Council wants to devolve power over community halls because they are “a drain on the taxpayer”.
The council owns 15 public halls in the district which cost £391,560 a year to run.
Graham Butland, leader of Braintree Council, said: “We’re one of the few local authorities to have community halls still owned by the council.“We spend significant sums of money to modernise and make the halls compliant with Disability Discrimination Act.
“We need to do something about these halls because they’re a real drain on the taxpayer.”
At a cabinet meeting on July 6, councillors will decide whether to adopt a policy of devolving power and transferring assets to parish or town councils, community associations, community groups or trusts.
One of the financial advantages of a trust being in charge of a hall is that it would be eligible for funding which the district council is not.
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