Forest Heath councillors agreed last night to keep the momentum up on the Office Refurbishment Project and allow delegated operational decisions to be taken by the Strategic Director (Services) in consultation with the Office Refurbishment Project (ORP) Board. The final decision on implementing the project will be taken at a full Council meeting later this year once a final specification and costing is available.
The office refurbishment was agreed by Council last summer and the ORP Board of Members and Officers has been meeting monthly to work on specifications and costs. The process will now be able to move more quickly in reaching detailed specifications and costings and to advise Council on the best option to achieve the essential building refurbishments.
Consultation has already begun amongst Forest Heath staff and likely public sector partner organisations that have expressed a desire to share the refurbished building. Their input will help guide the specification for works and make sure the building will meet everyone’s needs and be fit for the future.
Council Leader, Cllr Geoffrey Jaggard, says: “We need a modern building for a modernising council. This is a great opportunity for our residents to enjoy better facilities with more convenient services and for our staff to have proper working conditions. We are pushing ahead with the preparation work so that a full decision can be made in the next few months and the real work will then begin.
“The existing council building has been in use for over 25 years and staff have had to put up with poor heating and temperature control, ageing electrics, leaking roofs and old-fashioned facilities. The majority of the project will resolve these essential structural issues but, importantly, will also help us create the right building and working environment to attract partner organisations and quality staff which will help us improve the delivery and co-ordination of services for our residents.”
Cllr Jaggard adds: “By using our capital reserves wisely we will make the building a profitable asset that will be an investment for years to come. By careful planning and reorganisation, we will be able to free up office space to rent out to partner organisations to bring in additional income, improve value for money and offer even more public services to Forest Heath residents under the one roof.”