Council criticised for plans to lease out historic former mayor’s residence

Ted Peskett

A council’s plan to lease out a historic building that was once used as the mayor’s residence but will cost millions of pounds to refurbish has been criticised

Cardiff Council said it plans to explore options for leasing Mansion House on Richmond Crescent out to third parties as part of its wider budget plan to save more than £30m across the local authority.

The building, built in the 1890s for department store founder James Howell, is currently used for functions and events, including those hosted by the lord mayor of the city.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Jon Shimmin accused the proposed move by the council as another example of it “fobbing off” a piece of the city’s history to save money.

At a Cardiff Council economy and culture scrutiny committee meeting on Tuesday, February 27, he said: “[It] shows to me that heritage isn’t safe under this council.”

In response, the council’s cabinet member for culture, parks and events, Councillor Jennifer Burke, said she disagreed with Cllr Shimmin’s comments.

Protected

She said: “The reason we have to consider some of the options [like Mansion House]… is because we don’t have the money to protect it ourselves.”

Cllr Burke went on to add that if the council can secure more money through a lease, the building could be protected for the future.

The council’s head of economic development, Neil Hanratty, said the site has a growing maintenance backlog and a bill “stretching into a couple of million, if not more, in terms of refurbishment”.

Two other members of the scrutiny committee, Councillors Rodney Berman and Jackie Jones, asked if the council had checked if the building had been gifted to the city and if it was protected under a trust.

1912

The building was bought by the council in 1912 and another council officer said documents held by the local authority to date show there are no restrictions on the site.

However, Mr Hanratty added that the local authority would still double check if there are any legal agreements tied to the building before going to the market.

A range of other budget proposals for the 2024-25 financial year are going through a scrutiny process this week before being presented to council cabinet members on Thursday, February 29.

If the proposals are agreed by cabinet members, they will go to a vote at a full council meeting on Thursday, March 7.