KIDDERMINSTER Town Council will takeover management of the historic town hall as part of a Localism agenda.

Wyre Forest District Council’s Cabinet last night agreed to transfer the operation and management of the Grade 2 Listed historic landmark building as part of its Localism agenda to Kidderminster Town Council.

Kidderminster Town Council already owns the building, which transferred when the town council was created in 2015.

The district council has agreed to pay a decreasing grant to the town council over the next five years.

Kidderminster Town Council will take over all day to day management of the hall, including running events, hiring out the hall and hosting the ever-popular heritage weddings from April 1.

Members of Kidderminster Town Council unanimously approved the transfer at its meeting on Wednesday 30 January.

Negotiations have been taking place between the two councils to ensure a seamless transfer and a financial agreement has been reached which will involve Wyre Forest District Council paying a grant to Kidderminster Town Council which will decrease year on year over the next five years.

The total grant over the five year period amounts to £272,860.

Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Community Protection Councillor Juliet Smith said: “Taking on the operational and management responsibilities will give Kidderminster Town Council greater autonomy over one of the town’s most important and much-loved cultural assets.

Kidderminster Town Mayor Councillor Martin Stooke said “Our intention to continue the work of Wyre Forest District Council to develop Kidderminster Town Hall for use by all the community and to have an outstanding venue for the area.”

Wyre Forest District Council Leader Marcus Hart, who leads on Localism, said: “Our Localism programme has been extremely successful in giving town and parish councils and local organisations a greater say in running local services which meet the demands of different parts of the district.