Potential move for the city council

Tomorrow, members of the Council’s Executive will meet to discuss the next stage of plans for a potential office move for the City Council.

Councillors are being asked to approve the next stage of plans exploring the council’s move from its existing premises at the Civic Centre in Paris Street to a number of sites it already owns, including the Guildhall shopping centre.

The Civic Centre has been identified as a site for future residential housing, and an office move would free up the site to be marketed for the creation of new homes.

The Council’s Executive will be presented with a report detailing the proposals.

The report highlights that the existing Civic Centre site is too large for the council, particularly after the growing popularity of hybrid working. 

Utilising alternative premises would provide the most cost-effective way to improve working conditions and ensure staff can work in a collaborative way.

A budget of £100,000 has been proposed to develop the plans and obtain costs to enable the council to go out to tender.

This would be funded by surplus funds from the Guildhall Shopping Centre, meaning there would be no extra cost to council taxpayers.

Outline plans have been developed for the council to occupy an office block in the Guildhall Shopping Centre, a floor in Bradninch Place next to the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, and space at Oakwood House, at Exton Road.

Under these plans, a shop in the Guildhall Shopping Centre would also be repurposed to provide face-to-face services.

Council Leader Phil Bialyk said: “We have been considering options for a number of years to free up the Civic Centre site for residential housing and move to new premises while maintaining a strong presence in the city centre.

“The Guildhall Shopping Centre would be a great solution. It makes the council accessible to residents, and the site provides great public transport links for staff.”

Chief Executive Bindu Arjoon added: “We have assessed that because of flexible working and the ability to use our other Council sites, the current Civic Centre site is too big for our needs, and we now have the opportunity to explore a move that will support new and collaborative ways of working.

“Utilising the council’s existing assets is by far the most cost-effective and sensible solution, and we look forward to developing these innovative and exciting proposals further.”