Lead Member – Councillor Steve Charmley – Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support

Report of the Director of Place and Enterprise  TO FOLLOW

Contact: George Candler   Tel: 01743 255003

RESOLVED:

i.      That in principle agreement to move forward the option of refurbishing the entire building and progressing the necessary due diligence and feasibility work to inform the decision making as outlined in the report be approved.

ii.     That following the completion of further work and due diligence a report is brought back to Cabinet and then Council with final recommendations, including final detailed costings.

iii.    That authority be delegated to the Director of Place and Enterprise in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support to progress all works in accordance with recommendations i) and ii) above.

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support presented a report from the Director of Place and Enterprise seeking approval to further develop proposals for the refurbishment of the Shirehall, Shrewsbury.  He added that the Shirehall provided an excellent administrative base in terms of function and location but the building was in need of significant improvement if it was to remain as Shropshire Council’s long term administrative base.

In supporting the proposals, a Member commented on the need to ‘invest to save’ and bring back staff into the building.  He urged that works undertaken to improve the building and its facilities should be offered as far as possible to local companies and stated that he was excited to see the future plans and costings to make the building fit for the future.  Another Member supported this view but expressed surprise at the proposals to remain in the Shirehall given the views of a previous Administration that had sought to move out of the Shirehall.  The Chief Executive commented that this may have been an ‘opinion’ voiced in the past but no consultants had ever been employed to explore that particular option.

RESOLVED:

i.      That in principle agreement to move forward the option of refurbishing the entire building and progressing the necessary due diligence and feasibility work to inform the decision making as outlined in the report be approved.

ii.    That following the completion of further work and due diligence a report is brought back to Cabinet and then Council with final recommendations, including final detailed costings.

iii.   That authority be delegated to the Director of Place and Enterprise in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support to progress all works in accordance with recommendations i) and ii) above.