Bradford workers get warning of fresh round of council office closures

Bradford Council says it is making progress with cutting its building maintenance backlog, reducing office space and supporting economic activity, according to a report to the Executive on May 7.

The programme to address a backlog of repairs at all council-owned buildings has reached year six.

Since it started in 2008-09 through to the end of 2012-13 the project has delivered £21.2m in capital receipts from the disposal of surplus properties, £3.8m in revenue savings on building running costs, and £25.5m of spending on maintenance and improvements to buildings.

The authority has saved money by vacating properties and consolidating its work into as few buildings as possible. The money generated is being re-invested into the buildings which remain on the council’s books.

To further reduce the need for office space the project has introduced new ways of working such as “hotdesking” (several workers using a single work station at different times) and working from home.

The project has boosted regeneration in the city, according to the report.

Previously under-used land or property has been put to use by new owners. One example in the report is Mumtaz creating a new food factory on land at Greyhound Drive and Legrams Lane.

The project has also increased the number of council employees working in the city centre.

This year’s funding of the project was agreed in February as part of the council’s budget for 2013-14.

At its meeting on May 7, the executive will be asked to release funds for the latest schemes. These are:

Essential repairs to the council’s properties amounting to £4.5m.

A £300,000 scheme to make improvements to the Wakefield Road depot and eventually dispose of part of the depot called the Tramshed.

A £300,000 investment in Silsden Town Hall providing disability access and relocating Silsden Library into the refurbished building. This will enable the vacation and disposal of the current under-occupied library building and Wesley Place – a nearby derelict building.

A £350,000 scheme to relocate Festival Lights, which carries out work on lighting features for Christmas, and Asset Recovery staff from a leased building on Venlo industrial estate to improved vacant space at the 
council-owned Shearbridge depot.

A £450,000 scheme to dispose of a museum store at 62, Saltaire Road and consolidate the store with an existing facility at 35, Back Saltaire Road which is council-owned.

An £80,000 scheme to relocate the Connexions service from Victoria Arcade, Keighley, which is leased, to Keighley Town Hall.

Further feasibility work on a £250,000 scheme to relocate the Registry Office to City Hall, and consider other uses for the current registry office.

A £60,000 scheme to enable the vacation of 39, Kirkgate, Shipley, by relocating children’s services to Shipley Town Hall.

A £500,000 scheme to refurbish the fourth floor of Britannia House which will complete the revamp of the building and increase its capacity.

Each of the schemes will be subject to further feasibility work and consultation, including with trade unions, as they progress.

Councillor Andrew Thornton, executive member with responsibility for assets, said: “We are using the receipts from sales of property we no longer need and investing it in the property we wish to keep.

“This means we can cut the backlog of maintenance and provide more ‘flexible’ spaces for people to work in, which will result in longer term savings.”