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Doubts about B&NES Council office plan
January 15, 2009 8:30 AM
The Conservative-run Cabinet of Bath and North East Somerset Council has today adopted a report outlining plans for the Council's future office arrangements - including the redevelopment of Keynsham Town Hall and the removal of most Council offices from Bath.
Commenting on this report Councillor Paul Crossley (Lib Dem, Southdown) said, "Liberal Democrats have opposed previous Conservative plans to build a brand-new Council office on a single site because:
1. of the enormous costs involved;
2. centralisation does not favour delivery of local services at a local level;
3. a new Council office is not our residents' top priority for Council spending in the current economic downturn.
"Now the Conservative Cabinet is looking at 'new' proposals which are clearly intended to bring in a single office by the back door. The Cabinet is considering an almost total withdrawal of Council departments from Bath and the creation of a shiny new building on the site of Keynsham Town Hall - to be partly funded by the sale of vacated offices in Bath, leaving the Cabinet open to accusations of selling off the family silver."
As a Councillor representing a ward in North East Somerset, Nathan Hartley (Lib Dem, Peasedown), commented, "Surely there must be an option which would share the benefits of the Council's offices fairly between Bath, Keynsham and Midsomer Norton? The regeneration of the Keynsham town centre would be a much-needed boost to the town; however there is no guarantee that buyers will be found for the vacated offices in Bath. We could end up with four empty sets of offices in Bath and a big bill for new offices in Keynsham."
Councillor Andy Furse (Lib Dem, Kingsmead) added, "If the Cabinet is serious about regeneration then it needs to look for ways to support existing businesses and create new jobs right across the district. Moving staff around like 'chess pieces' is of benefit to no-one, particularly not those members of staff whose jobs will be disrupted.
"We are also concerned that the Cabinet has approved a budget of £0.8M for a 9-month 'viability appraisal' - that works out at nearly £90,000 per month! Is this the right message to be sending at a time when businesses across the district are struggling to survive?"
It was also announced at the Cabinet meeting that the plans will be submitted to the scrutiny process for review. Councillor Dave Dixon, who chairs the Corporate Performance and Resources Panel, said, "We intend to look very closely indeed at these plans - the scrutiny process is an opportunity for in-depth consideration to be given to the Council's possible courses of action. The scrutiny panel will be keen to look at value for money for these proposals, the knock-on implications for the Council's workforce and the impact these will have on residents."
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