PUBLIC halls in Silsden, Oakworth and Denholme have gone from strength to strength since being handed to local residents.

But concern has been expressed that Bradford Council rules could affect the ability of community groups to raise cash for essential improvements.

Controversy over a rent-review clause has delayed the signing of leases that will allow groups to control the buildings for decades into the future.

Some volunteers fear the clause – which allow the council to increase rents if community groups embark on commercial activities – would exclude them from lottery funding.

In recent years, as part of budget cuts, Bradford Council has encouraged local communities to take over the running of amenities and services such as libraries, community halls, toilets, parks and bowling greens.

Across the district, parish councils and community groups have taken on varying degrees of responsibility for council assets.

One of the most complicated handovers has been community halls, with officers spending three years negotiating with community groups for buildings like Silsden Town Hall, Holden Hall in Oakworth, and the Mechanics Institute in Denholme.

Negotiations over permanent leases were not completed in time for the long-awaited handover in April this year, so the council had to issue interim agreements with the groups.

District councillor Adrian Naylor – long-time critic of the council’s delays in finalising the handover – this week slammed the council’s addition of a rent-review clause “at the 11th hour”.

He said: “This appears to be a nonsensical clause. Why not have a single line saying money has to be put back into the building and services? I want to make sure it doesn’t inadvertently cause problems to community groups.

“It is clouding an issue that should be resolved. We were under the impression we were in the final furlong then along comes this clause. The council have had three years to sort this out.”

The Friends of Silsden Town Hall became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in order to take on the running of the building in Kirkgate.

Trustees’ chairman Ray Colling said the Friends were operating with a Service Level Agreement while negotiating a long-term lease. The only remaining discussion point was the rent review.

He said: “A rent review would be triggered if the property was used for commercial purposes where no part of the profits are reinvested in community purposes. This clause is not applicable to our charity, as such purposes would breach our Object and is against the Charities Commission principles.

“Crucially, a rent review clause closes off capital funding from bodies such as the Heritage Lottery Fund. As trustees we cannot allow this to happen as it would hinder our stewardship of the Town Hall over the 125-lease period.

“The day-to-day running of Silsden Town Hall is going well. We have the support of our volunteers, employ three members of staff, and are planning to expand the services we offer. We are compiling a comprehensive list of events for all areas of our community.”

Holden Hall in Oakworth, recently renamed Oakworth Village Hall, is being run by Oakworth Community Trust under a Tenancy At Will agreement, while negotiations continue.

Chairman Robert Payne said: “The trust has been successful in grant applications this year and is still waiting for responses from a few more applications. The trust has also been granted planning permission for a multi-phased modernisation plan of the hall.”

The first phase will be a fire escape, laundry and storage facility, and other stages will include more than 30 kW of solar electric panels, modernised toilets, and a lounge bar.

Mr Payne added: “The fire exit will increase the building’s occupancy to 220 people instead of 120. This will make the building more attractive for events like full wedding packages.”

This year the trust has been involved in a host of successful events. Coming up is an autumn gin festival on September 7 and 8, and Halloween parties for children and adults on October 27.

Visit localcommunitytrust.org.uk to book tickets.

Denholme Mechanics Institute, which hosts several groups and a library, is run by the volunteer DMI Community Centre group under a temporary Tenancy At Will agreement. The group is reviewing the draft lease with its solicitor.

DMI secretary Peter Foster said: “There are a number of clauses that we require amending or clarifying, but at this time we have not identified any serious problem. Our lease does allow commercial use providing the whole or part of the profits are reinvested in community, which we believe covers our situation.”

Mr Foster said the group was developing a business model and had applied for funding from the Big Lottery to cover staffing costs and capital work. He added: “Currently the building is being managed by volunteers but this is not felt to be sustainable in the longer term.”

Several other council buildings across the Keighley area have been successfully transferred to community use in recent years with various types of agreement.

Bracken Bank and District Community Association has run the estate’s Sue Belcher Centre for many years on a long-term ‘peppercorn’ lease. The Association this year formed a new committee specifically to make the centre economically viable.

Silsden Youth CIC was set up last year by residents to take over the running of Silsden Youth and Community Centre. Renamed The Hive, the building now hosts special events as well as regular user groups.

Haworth, Cross Roads and Stanbury Parish Council recently took over the running of the Haworth and Cross Roads public toilets, while in East Morton residents are converting the disused toilets into a community shop.

Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw, the council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said Bradford Council was organising the largest Community Asset Transfer programme in West Yorkshire with the aim of protecting and benefitting the whole community.

He said: “Local groups are successfully running Denholme Mechanics, Silsden Town Hall and Oakworth Community Hall on temporary arrangements with peppercorn rentals.

“Long term leases will allow for revenue income to support the community organisation’s sustainability.

“However, if the building becomes wholly occupied at some date in the future by a commercial organisation, it isn’t fair that it should benefit from a peppercorn rental when their competitors pay market rates.

“We’ll continue to work with local people and ensure non-profit groups can bid for grant funding and deliver whole-community benefits.”