Councillor David Needham asked for a further inspection to be done about the dilapidating exterior.

He wanted to know whether council could issue a demolition order if the building was found to be dangerous.

“My guess is nothing’s going to happen for quite some while and the building is slowly deteriorating,” he said.

A report to the last council meeting stated there was no risk to passers by.

Council staff inspected the hotel and in particular the neon sign on the roof and balustrade around the verandah.

“The results of the inspection indicate that while unsightly, the neon ‘Champagne Glass’ sign and balustrade around the verandah do not present an immediate danger to the general public,” the report says.

Cr Cecil Burgess asked whether council staff had spoken to the owners in person.

“We’ve certainly had some discussions with the owners,” general manager David Rowe said.

He said they had been looking at options for development but the economic climate hadn’t been right to go ahead.

Council’s report says it was impossible to tell what impact the building was having on the local economy.

“However, its ongoing neglect does impact on the attractiveness of the Yass main street.”

It stated the long term future of the building should be considered by an impending ‘main street’ committee to be developed by council.

A development application to change the use of one of the rooms downstairs in the Commercial Hotel has been approved.

Earlier this year an application was lodged to permit a professional consulting office in one of the old shops of the ground floor.

The proposal was approved under delegated authority.