Agenda item

To consider the report.

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive agreed:

1.        To relocate services from Petters House Yeovil to Yeovil Library.

2.        To relocate services from Williton Childrens Centre, Williton Library and Beckett House to West Somerset House.

3.        To delegate authority to Service Director, Strategic Asset Management in consultation with the Lead Member for Economy, Planning and Assets to appoint professional services as required, go to tender, evaluate, and award contracts up to £700k in line with approved capital bids, to make layout changes to Yeovil library and West Somerset House to facilitate the co-location of services.

4.       The case for Appendix B of the report to be regarded as exempt information and to be treated in confidence, as the case for the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing that information.

The Leader of the Council, Cllr Bill Revans, invited the Lead Member for Economic Development, Planning & Assets, Cllr Ros Wyke, to introduce the report. 

The Lead Member for Economic Development, Planning & Assets, Cllr Ros Wyke, presented the report, highlighting: the office rationalisation work to bring together the former five Councils assets and accommodate services; the co production of the report and consultation including Division members, Parish Councils and Trade Union staff, the due care and attention and work to address consultation comments and feedback.

The Programme Manager, Property Rationalisation, Strategic Asset Management, Sara Kelly, further added to the above points, highlighting:  that post covid working had seen a dramatic change in the way that offices are used and had resulted in significant under-utilisation of office buildings; that now the five former Councils have merged to form one Somerset Council there is an over-supply of office accommodation; that a property rationalisation programme is underway, with an initial focus on office / customer service sites; the large and complex programme that is being broken down into manageable phases in order to generate capital receipts and revenue savings from reduced running costs; summarised phase one projects identified - moving the existing customer service provision from Petters House, Petters Way, Yeovil into Yeovil Library and moving the services offered at Williton Library and Williton Children’s Centre into West Somerset House; and summarised input, feedback and actions following feasibility studies, engagement with staff, members and public consultation.

The Leader of the Council, Cllr Bill Revans, invited comments from other Members present, questions and points raised included: public security, protection and mitigating actions in the Yeovil proposal; Yeovil future investment and development plans; West Somerset House proposal including, past under utilisation, business users requirements and support, use as a sustainable, flexible long term facility for West Somerset,  the need for increased member and public engagement throughout projects, the multiple impacts on third sector organisations, face to face customer service provision and public meeting space.

The Executive proceeded to vote on the recommendations, which were agreed unanimously.???? 

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive agreed:  

1.     To relocate services from Petters House Yeovil to Yeovil Library. 

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2.     To relocate services from Williton Childrens Centre, Williton Library and Beckett House to West Somerset House. 

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3.    To delegate authority to Service Director, Strategic Asset Management in consultation with the Lead Member for Economy, Planning and Assets to appoint professional services as required, go to tender, evaluate, and award contracts up to £700k in line with approved capital bids, to make layout changes to Yeovil library and West Somerset House to facilitate the co-location of services.? 

4.    The case for Appendix B of the report to be regarded as exempt information and to be treated in confidence, as the case for the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing that information.? 

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED: As set out in the officer report.???  

REASON FOR DECISION: As set out in the officer report.? 

The Leader of the Council thanked all for their work and contribution to the meeting and confirmed the next meeting of the Executive to take place 8 May 2024.