Agenda item

The report of the Chief Planning Officer is to inform Joint Plans Panel of Buildings at Risk and the efforts that are being made to address this issue by securing emergency repairs and securing new uses.

(Report attached)

Prior to the start of Agenda Item No. 12 Buildings at Risk, the Panel were advised by the Chair that Councillor J Illingworth had sent an email to all Panel Members raising his concerns with Abbey Mills which was on the list of buildings at risk. Councillor Illingworth had requested to speak at the Panel.

It was noted that Joint Plans Panel was not a decision making Panel and it was unusual for anyone to speak at the Panel.

The Panel agreed to hear Councillor Illingworth’s representations after Officers had presented the paper to the Panel.

The report of the Chief Planning Officer was presented by the Team Leader of Design and Conservation in the Sustainable Design Unit.

Members were advised of the definition of a building at risk was that of a building at risk from neglect and decay rather than alteration.

It was noted that the Risk Survey was now complete and found that 120 listed buildings were at risk in the city. However, 11 listed buildings had been removed from the register since the last report in 2017.

Members noted that 15 of the buildings at Risk were owned by the City Council.

Members were advised that the Council was taking active measures to deal with buildings at risk which should result in the repair and re-use of several listed buildings before the next report.

The Leeds Civic Trust were thanked for their work on the provision of information for the Buildings at Risk Register.

The ‘Big Five’ White Cloth Hall, Temple Mill, Stanks Hall Barn, Hunslet Mill and Thorp Hall priorities for 2018/19 were set out at Appendix B of the submitted report.

Updates were also provided at paragraphs 5.3.4 and 5.3.5 of the report in relation to York Road Library; Former High Royds Hospital; Former Chapel Allerton Hospital; St John’s Church, Roundhay; and Former Cookridge Hospital.

Councillor Illingworth addressed the Panel raising his concerns and opinions in relation to Abbey Mills and Abbey Villa as follows:

·  Abbey Mills was in danger of collapse

·  Abbey Villa was threatened by the current proposals for Abbey Mills

·  He was of the opinion that the purchase of these sites had been a misguided attempt at protecting our heritage. It was his view that the buildings were in a state of collapse due to the council’s muddle and incompetence.

·  Repairs had not been completed

·  Inventories had not been taken when the buildings had been tenanted resulting in repairs that the Council paid for.

·  He expressed the opinion that reports to Executive Board relating to Abbey Mills and Abbey Villas had contained errors

·  A proposed access road leading to Abbey Mills would destroy a part of the Abbey Villa garden and wall

Councillor Illingworth set out some proposals as to how Abbey Mills and Abbey Villas may be used which include: library; community hub; artist’s workshop; homework club; rehearsal space.

The Chair and the Panel thanked Councillor Illingworth for his attendance and presentation.

Members discussed the following points:-

·  Roundhay Park Lodges – it was noted that these were currently shuttered up. However, Councillor A Wenham informed the Panel that discussions were on going to look at redevelopment.

·  The state of repair of the Eleanor Lupton Building

·  List of other vulnerable buildings to be made available to Members

Members requested an update on those buildings that had been removed from the Buildings at Risk Register.

It was suggested that a Member Working Group be established with a view to monitoring the Buildings at Risk Register.

The Chair suggested that small items on the list such as fountains, plaques or statues could be sent to the Community Committees to seek funding for repairs.

It was noted that the appropriate forms would need to be submitted to secure any necessary funding.

RESOLVED - To note the report, in particular that work is progressing towards reducing the number of Buildings at Risk in the City and report to Derelict and Nuisance Sites Steering Group on the findings of the pilot Buildings at Risk survey.

(Councillor D Cohen vacated the meeting at 4:00pm and Councillor G Wilkinson vacated the meeting at 4:15pm during the consideration of this item).

(Councillors D Collins and J Shemilt vacated the meeting at 4:25pm at the conclusion of this item).