DARTMOUTH Town Council is looking at ways of sprucing-up its home. Councillors want to explore other community uses for the Grade II-listed Guildhall as finding a property developer interested in buying the Guildhall seems unlikely. And Cllr Tony Fyson said he didn't want to see the council scuttled off into some modern building but was strongly in favour of retaining the Guildhall. 'Not just for economic reasons, but for the historic connection and image of the council,' he said. Although the Guildhall may be somewhat eccentric and difficult to maintain, it had ambience and substance, he added. Creating a work hub in some of the rooms and developing the letting potential of the ballroom are among ideas being looked at. For years, the town council has been examing the possibility of selling off the Guildhall, which is said to be costing taxpayers at least £20,000 a year to run. Much of the income it used to earn from the public by hiring out sections of the old building – which includes a ballroom and meeting rooms as well as a council chamber and council offices – has slumped since the building of the Flavel complex. Last August it looked like a decision had been finally been made when councillors voted to sort out putting the building on the market. But since then, despite inspections and valuations to see how much the building is worth and what it could be used for, nothing has actually happened. Valuations from three independent valuers said the building was worth something between £400,000 and £500,000. Cllr Andy Carter told this month's meeting of the town council that the council's Guildhall working group was trying to take things forward. 'We need to try and do something for change rather than talk about it,' he said. 'This place is worth nothing and we have to push it forward and make the best of a bad lot. 'Money from Devon County Council may be available towards setting up a business hub with computers for self-employed people who work from home. 'A similar idea seems to work well in Totnes,' he said. 'It would require an injection of money to set up, but I don't see why we can't do it in stages. 'We are also all aware that the place needs decorating. Perhaps we could come down one Sunday and put some paint on the walls.' Cllr Carter said the bottom has fallen out of the housing market, the feasibility of selling a listed building was not good and developers were not interested. 'We agreed to have a re-think,' he said. Cllr Roger Chilcott said they seemed to be no further ahead than when they discussed the building back in December. 'We are almost back to where we started,' he said. Cllr David Gent said the most successful part of the Guildhall was its ballroom. 'We should build on our strengths,' he said. Cllr Francis Hawke called for firm costings on ideas to take any project forward. 'Otherwise we will go round and round in circles,' he said. But Cllr Steve Smith said: 'We should sell it and cut our losses. 'It will cost mega bucks to bring this place into the 21st century.'