COLCHESTER Council meetings could be held at Firstsite, if the town hall chambers are rented out.

That was one of the ideas put forward at a meeting of the council’s policy review and development panel, which discussed plans to lease out parts of the Grade I listed building to save money.

Other venues, including the Weston Homes Community Stadium conference rooms and Angel Court, were also suggested as possible alternatives to the town hall chambers.

The historic building in the High Street, along with the magistrates’ court, could be rented out to private groups to save on utility and repair bills of £200,000.

A report by a group set up to recommend ways the town hall could be used to develop income suggested the council should listen to expressions of interest from outside companies.

Speaking at the panel meeting, the chairman of the group that produced the report, councillor Bill Frame, said: “We looked at parts of the building that could be utilised for the benefit of the taxpayers of Colchester.”

The group identified several vacant or under-used areas of the town hall which could be rented out. These include the former caretaker’s flat at the top of the building and members’ rooms.

The panel voted to accept the group’s report, but voiced concerns over how the facility would be used by a private company and how much control the council would be giving up.

It recommended looking into using Firstsite, the town’s new art gallery, as an alternative meeting place and turning the town hall into a visitor information centre.

Councillor Lesley Scott-Boutell said: “There are a lot of places we could meet. Firstsite has state of the art conference rooms.”

A complete sale of the building and car park was ruled out by the panel.

Mr Frame also recommended any deal should preserve the council’s right to use rooms, such as the Moot Hall and the council chamber, for major meetings and events like the annual Oyster Feast.

The proposal will be looked at by cabinet members before being debated by the full council.