View Full Version : New HQ for Warwick District Council
Sounds like a good plan; 2 buildings that basically need rearing town will be replaced by housing, car parking and what sounds like much needed new council offices: http://www.warwickcourier.co.uk/news/local-news/new-district-council-hq-and-650-space-car-park-could-be-built-in-leamington-town-centre-1-7330743
rebbonk
15-04-2016, 05:05 PM
Well, Coventry's figures don't stack up for their new headquarters, I hope these do.
I doubt the £300,000 the council claims it will save will translate into reduced council tax bills: http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/new-50-million-council-hq-plan-for-leamington-town-centre-is-unveiled-1-7961827
rebbonk
16-05-2017, 08:58 PM
...the new Council headquarters should cost the council nothing plus £300,000 a year saving: what's not to like?
It's high time those suggesting these figures should be held accountable. And when the savings don't materialise (because they won't!) they should be held for malfeasance in public office and face doing time for misleading (lying to) the general public.
Get a political party to put that in their manifesto and you have the UK political system sewn up for years to come.
If this goes the way public sector projects tend to, the sale of the old offices will be significantly less than expected, the cost of the new building will be significantly over budget, and any savings will just disappear in the general inefficient governmental machine (maybe with a bit left over for a couple of vanity projects, or something actually useful just before an election).
rebbonk
17-05-2017, 06:53 PM
Which proves that those doing the jobs aren't doing a very good job at all.
Of all the projects I have run, I've never run over budget and I've only over run on time a couple of times, and those times were down to ever moving goal-posts.
This lack of performance in the public sector is not on, and we ought not allow it. People must be held accountable to their promises.
Office sharing's been rejected: http://www.stratford-herald.com/73490-council-relocation-plan-pause-rejected.html
The plans have been submitted. I'm not convinced the numbers work out, but no doubt the scheme will be waved through anyway: http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/new-council-hq-and-housing-development-plans-for-leamington-submitted-1-8161014
rebbonk
22-09-2017, 09:33 AM
The leader of the council ought be held personally responsible for this. If (when) it doesn't pan out as the electorate are led to believe, his assets ought be up for grabs.
It's all going ahead: https://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/council-hq-move-and-major-riverside-house-development-in-leamington-given-green-light-1-8323428
rebbonk
10-01-2018, 07:38 PM
I stand by my previous comment.
There'll be a lot of parking disruption for a couple of years while the building work takes place: https://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/tennis-courts-could-make-way-for-car-park-as-part-of-council-hq-plan-in-leamington-1-8354539
More controversy around the scheme: https://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/anger-over-number-of-trees-to-be-felled-as-part-of-council-s-leamington-hq-move-project-1-8362683
cathidaw
02-02-2018, 11:25 PM
plus £300,000 a year saving: what's not to like?
It's high time those suggesting these figures should be held accountable. And when the savings don't materialise (because they won't!) they should be held for malfeasance in public office and face doing time for misleading (lying to) the general public.
Get a political party to put that in their manifesto and you have the UK political system sewn up for years to come.
I ts time all councils were accountable for every penny. Businesses have to do it , so why not them.
From money gleaned from developments, the extortionate cost for getting plans passed. handouts for permission for building student homes money-its not done for nothing, and rents from these. in fact everything which goes both in and out. Car parking, parking fines and hundreds of other costs too numerous to mention.Oh , and all grants received.
We'd find there is enough money to do everything without all these 'cuts' dreamed up every other week.
This would include grants, so that the public could keep tabs onhow it is spent.
How many grants has the council received for roads and pavements and lighting over the past ten years or so? What has it been used for?
We need to know exactly where the money comes from and where it goes.
Perhaps every two years would be kinder knowing how slow they are.
And--everyone should be able to receive a copy.People work hard to keep their homes going and pay for the services.
I d like to see how my money is spent.
A bit of a U-turn on the parking plans: https://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/breaking-news-tennis-courts-in-leamington-will-not-be-turned-into-car-park-as-part-of-council-hq-plan-1-8361118
A bit of a spanner in the works for WDC:https://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/breaking-news-warwick-district-council-hq-move-plan-placed-on-hold-until-government-review-takes-place-1-8442656
A public meeting is planned regarding the new HQ. I have a feeling this whole situation is going to drag on for years: https://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/public-meeting-to-be-held-about-controversial-council-hq-plans-in-leamington-1-8528518
rebbonk
11-06-2018, 06:46 PM
Coventry council claimed substantial savings for building a new HQ. I don't believe those savings will ever be realised and personally think the whole scheme was just to get a vanity project off the ground.
I'm unsure as to the background with this scheme, but I'll bet at some stage someone will claim 'savings' from the public purse.
£300,000 has already been bandied about!
rebbonk
12-06-2018, 10:57 AM
I wonder just how realistic that figure is?
Some people aren't happy about the plans: https://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/council-leader-says-public-exhibition-for-new-leamington-hq-plans-was-extremely-worthwhile-1-8532615
rebbonk
13-06-2018, 09:20 PM
I note they call this an ongoing consultation when in reality it is a brainwashing exercise. The new building is going to go ahead come what may.
The campaigners aren't giving up yet: https://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/save-leamington-from-warwick-district-council-group-vows-to-fight-on-against-hq-after-judicial-review-setback-1-8584582
Charges will solve the parking problem - it'll drive people away (literally!) from Leamington: https://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/politics/district-council-to-spend-330-000-as-part-of-parking-strategy-for-hq-move-plan-1-8638748
rebbonk
19-09-2018, 10:31 AM
Ask Coventry about what their parking charges have done for the city!
A new front in the battle: https://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/aubrey-allen-launches-petition-against-council-s-leamington-hq-plan-1-8670700
rebbonk
16-10-2018, 07:15 PM
The council won't give a sh*t. They'll do what they want, and stuff those paying their wages.
cathidaw
18-10-2018, 04:39 PM
plus £300,000 a year saving: what's not to like?
It's high time those suggesting these figures should be held accountable. And when the savings don't materialise (because they won't!) they should be held for malfeasance in public office and face doing time for misleading (lying to) the general public.
Get a political party to put that in their manifesto and you have the UK political system sewn up for years to come.
(plus £300,000 a year saving: what's not to like?)
Ha! very Ha!.
The Tories have decided what's going to happen, and don't care what anyone has to say: https://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/council-hq-move-slammed-at-public-meeting-in-leamington-1-8686248
Part of the parking plans have been kicked out: https://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/controversial-car-park-plan-for-leamington-is-rejected-1-8696233
The top of the slippery slope of delays, budget overspend and general farce has been reached: https://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/postponed-closure-of-covent-garden-car-park-in-leamington-now-set-to-take-place-two-months-later-than-planned-1-8706976
The decision on the new HQ has been delayed, with economic uncertainty being quoted. Things may not be much clearer in July, and I suspect the local elections might have something to do with the delay too: https://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/breaking-news-controversial-council-hq-plans-postponed-1-8781993
I wouldn't hold my breath about the scheme being scrapped: https://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/people/warwick-and-leamington-mp-expects-flawed-hq-plan-to-be-scrapped-by-new-look-council-1-8919899
rebbonk
08-05-2019, 07:19 PM
I think it depends just on who stands to make money if it goes ahead!
rebbonk
29-09-2020, 11:57 PM
Project shelved for the time being.
Controversial plans by Warwick District Council to relocate its Riverside House HQ in Leamington have been shelved, the authority has confirmed.
Courier (https://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/people/council-confirms-it-has-shelved-controversial-plans-move-its-leamington-headquarters-2987453)
Could be a case of, like a lot of organisations, WDC has realised it's cheaper to get people to work in their spare bedrooms.
rebbonk
03-10-2020, 11:55 PM
I think we're going to see a lot of this in the future, Lex. I hope those working from home are properly insured! I'm also interested in how many homeworkers are going to be making claims for heating/lighting as the winter comes in.
Mister H
04-10-2020, 09:57 AM
Yes indeed.
'Working from home' was the rallying cry 25 - 30 years ago when the digital revolution got going.
It's happening now - but not in ways we thought of back then.
Now firms are sub-contracting to the State.
That's why IMHO none of these employment claims will succeed because - hey - this is a national emergency but an emergency which the whole system wants to call the 'new normality.'
I think we're going to see a lot of this in the future, Lex. I hope those working from home are properly insured! I'm also interested in how many homeworkers are going to be making claims for heating/lighting as the winter comes in.
Apparently, you can claim tax relief for working from home. It only amounts to a couple of hundred pounds a year, but better thsn nothing.
rebbonk
04-10-2020, 07:41 PM
I wonder how long that relief will last once the government realise how much society is going to lose in other taxes as companies downsize premises and people downsize their cars and fuel them less, not to mention many local support businesses (food etc.) ceasing to trade? - The consequences of this move to working from home will be very far-reaching and I don't think things have been thought through properly.
The consequences of this move to working from home will be very far-reaching and I don't think things have been thought through properly.
That's something that's been niggling my mind for a while now. However things work out, I have a feeling I'll be paying more tax - still having to drive to the office to work, being someone who believes in working for a living, has no dependents & doesn't tick any 'diversity' boxes.
The plans for a new HQ have been dropped, and the council are looking to redevelop their current offices: https://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/people/public-can-now-give-their-thoughts-on-the-regeneration-of-warwick-district-councils-riverside-house-headquarters-in-leamington-3324285
rebbonk
26-07-2021, 06:25 PM
Quelle surprise!
The refurbishment of WDC's offices is underway: https://leamingtonobserver.co.uk/news/councillors-move-out-as-renovation-begins-on-leamington-town-hall/
Some offices are moving into the Pump Rooms - not a popular move: https://leamingtonobserver.co.uk/news/residents-stand-firm-in-objection-to-leamington-pump-rooms-plan/
rebbonk
11-10-2023, 08:30 PM
I really wouldn't have thought that move appropriate
A better use could be made of the building.
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