The Conservative-run Cabinet of Bath and North East Somerset Council has 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.

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 it’s 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.

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?