The future of Skipton Town Hall is to be placed in the hands of a trust to manage the building.

The move is designed to safeguard the museum and gallery and provide a home for the tourist information centre.

Formal tenders are now to be sought following the decision to transfer the district council-owned building, including 17 High Street, which was made at a meeting of the policy committee.

The town hall would be offered on a long lease at a peppercorn rent with a requirement from the successful trust to commit to an investment to bring the building up to a required standard. The transfer would have no cost implications for the district council.

Paul Ellis, deputy chief executive of Craven District Council, said: “What is clear to us is that we have to generate investment for the building as there has been nothing over the years and we also want to see some continuation of community use.”