SENIOR councillors have defended a decision to pay £9,665 for a protected species survey for Grade II* listed building Troy House.

Monmouthshire County Council’s (MCC) Cabinet received a call in request as it was suggested the spend could be classed as improper use of public money and poor value for taxpayers.

Concerns were made over the spend at a time when 35 per cent of the discretionary budget is being cut.

The decision to fund the survey was originally passed last month by the former cabinet member for environment, public services and housing, Councillor Giles Howard. A call in was subsequently made by MCC’s Strong Communities Select Committee.

Deputy leader of MCC, Councillor Bob Greenland, defended the spend saying it was the less expensive option. He said: “Troy House is probably one of the most important buildings in Monmouthshire.

“It’s a Grade II* listed building and we have a duty to ensure it’s kept in good condition.

“It’s been in the same ownership for the last 40 years and during that time it hasn’t been substantially used and has continued to deteriorate. It is now a property at risk and with properties at risk we have a legal duty to take action.

“In another case this year we compulsorily purchased a building that has cost us a lot of money.

“Troy House is in another league apart from that building in terms of size and importance. If we compulsorily purchase Troy House we would have to spend a huge amount of money on this building.

“The alternative is to bring it to a point where Troy House is in a condition to be considered by the planning committee.

“If eventually planning permission is granted for the building, what is at the moment a liability could be turned around.

“We could go down the route of compulsory purchase but it would cost a lot of money or we could spend a modest amount of £9,665 to enable it to go to the planning stage.

“We believe this is a pragmatic approach to a problem that could cost us a lot of money.

“I do believe this is the right approach to take at this time.”

Troy House has an ongoing planning application where the building has been proposed to be converted into an apartment block.

Cabinet met yesterday (4th November) to agree a consultant should be employed to undertake a protected species surveys.

Troy House is based in Mitchel Troy and was once a convent but has had several uses over the years.