Bid to lift threat of tax jobs move
Campaign aims to reverse HMRC closure decision
HMRC have been warned they could be making an expensive mistake by planning to close their tax offices in East Kilbride.
Plans were announced earlier this year to close Plaza Tower by 2021 and Centre 1 by 2025 and move jobs to a new regional centre in Glasgow.
Union officials and politicians lambasted the proposals, saying the loss of one of East Kilbride’s last major employers would have a devastating impact on the town.
A renewed bid has now been made to keep HMRC in the town with cross-party and union support.
The fresh warning to HMRC came from Councillor Chris Thompson, chair of the East Kilbride Taskforce, after it was revealed the taxmen had not tried to seek a lower rent from the owners of their current offices before they opted to move to Glasgow as part of a national restructure.
Councillor Thompson has now called on officials to think again and has pledged that South Lanarkshire Council will work with all parties to obtain a better deal to keep the tax offices in East Kilbride and secure 2700 jobs for the town.
The battle cry comes after a meeting in the town’s Ballerup Hall on Friday when trade unionists, politicians and tax office workers discussed the impact the loss of the HMRC offices would have on East Kilbride and made plans for a campaign to reverse the decision.
East Kilbride branch organiser of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) Scott Clark told the News:“Before the meeting we wondered just how likely we would be to be able to put up a fight.
“But there is huge support to keep HMRC in the town from the community itself, members of the PCS, other trade unions and from politicians across all three parties, who have put aside party politics for the greater good.
“We are now in with a fighting chance of saving these jobs, which are so important to the town and wider economy.
“The town was built on public service jobs but in the long term it seems towns like East Kilbride are just cannon fodder for government austerity cuts.”
He added:“One in four jobs in East Kilbride could be affected in the medium and long term if HMRC goes.
“We are talking thousands of jobs, which is why we need to galvanise as much support as possible to stop it happening.”
Cllr Thompson, who is also chair of the council’s enterprise committee, said: “I have written to HMRC to express my concern about the proposed relocation of the two major HMRC facilities at Queensway House and Plaza Tower.
“The loss of so many jobs and the associated economic benefit for the town is clearly my biggest concern and it has been estimated that the total impact will include an additional 2000 jobs which are supported indirectly in the local economy.”
He went on: “It has also come to my attention that the business case for relocation may be fundamentally flawed and that the proposed move to Glasgow could actually cost the public purse more money than staying in East Kilbride.
“I know that the owners of Plaza Tower were not given the opportunity to discuss alternative lease arrangements with HMRC.
“I have discussed this with them and considerably better terms would be available for a lease extension. Negotiations with the owners in Queensway House could also lead to a better deal.
“So I am convinced that HMRC can obtain much better value for money by keeping its offices in East Kilbride rather than pursuing a disruptive move to Glasgow, where I believe lease terms would be considerably more expensive.
“South Lanarkshire Council would be willing to assist where possible, including acting as a mediator or facilitator in any negotiations with the owners of the East Kilbride properties. I have made that offer to HMRC and have asked for an urgent response.”
Cllr Thompson said he had also asked HMRC for details of how they had reached their decision to relocate.
East Kilbride SNP MSP Linda Fabiani and Tory Central list MSP Graham Simpson are among those calling on HMRC to think again.
“We have cross-party support and will work together to retain HMRC in East Kilbride and persuade them of the merits of staying in the town,” said Mr Simpson.
“We are under no illusions how hard it will be but I intend to have meetings with HMRC and, working together, to develop a strategy to keep the offices in the town beyond the next 10 years.”