SALISBURY will retake key buildings and services from County Hall, including the Market Place, after a landmark vote.

The asset transfer deal, the first of its kind in Wiltshire, was narrowly voted through by Salisbury City Council (SCC) on Monday.

Leader Andrew Roberts wanted to delay the vote until after the boundary dispute with Laverstock and Ford is settled in July.

But new Conservative mayor Derek Brown brought the discussion forward to Monday night’s meeting under pressure from Wiltshire Council bosses.

It came down to a straight political vote. The Tories, together with Independent Margaret Willmot, voted down the Labour and Lib Dem groups by 11 votes to nine.

Brian Dalton (Lib Dem), Cllr Roberts (Ind) and Cllr Brown, as chairman, all abstained.

SCC will now take control of the Market Place, CCTV, the Poultry Cross, Fisherton clock tower, the Henry Fawcett statue on the square, six buildings, four public toilets, Shop Mobility, and grass-cutting services, once the final details are agreed.

Wiltshire Council will continue to fund the services for four years, but the amount will decrease by a quarter every 12 months. Labour and Lib Dem councillors questioned how the services would be funded in future.

SCC wants another £10,000 a month to renovate 47 Blue Boar Row – currently occupied by Lloyds Pharmacy.

The building is valued at £490,000 and is the most valuable asset in the deal.

Cllr Ian Tomes predicted a council tax rise to pay for the deal and said the city could have got more money by holding out longer.

“It is amateurish, we need to know more details,” he said.

Conservative group leader Matthew Dean described it as a “fantastic opportunity for Salisbury”.

“The message from this council is we are ready, willing and enthusiastic in terms of taking these services on,” he said.

“I worry that anything less than that may be misread [by decision-makers at County Hall]. I do not want the CCTV system in Salisbury down for longer than it has to be.

“We want [the £500,000 new system] to be ready as soon as possible.”

After the vote, Cllr Roberts said he hoped it would send a “positive message” to get the deal finalised.