By Local Democracy Reporter,Lois McCarthy,Twm Owen

Copyright walesonline

A dispute between a council and a charity over a mansion should be resolved with an “affordable and fair” agreement, according to councillors who have been heavily criticising each other. The Bridges charity, which is based in a Grade II listed mansion house, has been embroiled in a disagreement over a future lease agreement with its local authority landlords, leading to a threat of eviction. This was denied at the council’s September meeting, and the opposition councillor who proposed a motion for the council cabinet to seek an affordable and fair agreement with the trustees said he would read from an email sent by the council setting a deadline. The 17th-century Drybridge House was restored by the Bridges Centre at a cost of around £1.5 million, but its 25-year lease, agreed in 2000 at a peppercorn rent of just £1 a year, is due for renewal, with an independent valuation putting the annual rent at £97,000. Landlords Monmouthshire County Council have offered a rent rebate of 90 per cent in the first year and 85 per cent in the second and third years, with a review every three years. The council has stated it needs to review rent rebates to charitable tenants, but the discount will continue as long as the building, which also hosts events and weddings, is used to “support the local community”. However, Councillor Richard John, the leader of the Conservative opposition group, said the charity needs security over the future of its base in the centre of Monmouth. He said: “You can’t rely on a future council being able to extend that goodwill towards Bridges and that rebate of 85 to 90 per cent. There’ are no guarantees, they need to see that on the terms of the lease to have that security.” Cllr John, who said he didn’t believe any administration would want to see Bridges fail, added: “I appeal to you to take the threat of eviction of the table and to get around the table and agree a deal.” He also said it was “clearly not true” for cabinet member, and Labour councillor for Monmouth’s Drybridge ward, Catrin Maby to have told the meeting “at no point has any threat of eviction been made”. Cllr John said he wouldn’t have said Bridges was threatened with eviction if it wasn’t true and asked the chairman, if it was necessary for him to read from the council email which he said threatened eviction if a deal wasn’t concluded by August 29, a deadline that has since been extended. Chief executive Paul Matthews said if Cllr John was satisfied his statement accurately reflected the email he didn’t need to read it out. Cllr John then said he was a “bit surprised” cabinet members aren’t aware of correspondence between officers and Bridges. Labour’s cabinet member responsible Ben Callard said the council has modified its proposal throughout talks but noted that each time it believed an accord had been reached, it was turned down. The councillor nevertheless stated he would back Cllr John’s motion and remarked: “All of us really want Bridges to succeed and agree a lease.” Green Party cabinet member Ian Chandler revealed the charity’s revenue, consisting of grants from either the council or Welsh Government plus payments for services delivered, totalled £600,000 last year and also mentioned it generates income from subletting portions of the premises including stables, an annex and land. Cllr Chandler disclosed its rental revenue stood at £74,000 last year with £60,000 of that coming from commercial tenants. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here Throughout the session Labour councillors blamed Conservatives, who have been campaigning on the matter, of spreading “misinformation” and of “scaremongering”, allegations that were furiously dismissed. Supporters of the centre, which offers a hub for charities, clubs and support services, attended the full council meeting, at County Hall in Usk, and clapped repeatedly when councillors spoke in support of the centre.