Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Calls to ditch council’s costly HQ
Public cash is being “thrown down a hole” to keep County Hall running during the coronavirus crisis, says a finance councillor.
About £2 million is being spent each year on the safety and basic maintenance costs of Kent County Council’s historic headquarters in Maidstone, which was built in 1888.
KCC’S policy and resources committee met last Tuesday to review the prospect of moving out of the Sessions House building due to mounting costs, high carbon emissions output and inefficient use of space.
In light of the recent Covid budget pressures, Cllr Peter Oakford (Con), KCC’S finance cabinet member, said the council’s cash could be used more wisely, adding: “We are throwing money down a hole because that money should be utilised in a different way.”
A process to consider the options on the future of Sessions House is likely to begin in September following engagement with stakeholders and financial case reviews.
Before the pandemic, only 50% of the space in County Hall could be used but that could drop to as low as 25% given the need for its 1,100 workers to social distance. Screens may have to be installed and desk spaces reduced. However, the entire workforce may not be expected to attend at the same time, with many likely to work at the KCC HQ for a maximum of three days each week while working from home the remainder of the time. KCC’S leader Roger Gough (Con) said the Conservative administration is considering holding “hybrid” meetings at County Hall from the autumn. These would include a mix of councillors attending the meeting virtually from home while others social distance in the council chamber, similar to Prime Minister’s Questions. On the future of the Grade II listed Sessions House building, which could be leased or sold, Cllr Oakford admitted it was a “difficult decision”. But he told the KCC committee: “When you consider that building has £2million annual operating costs and has a huge negative impact on KCC’S carbon footprint, it does lead us to believe that perhaps we should not stay in that building.”