Part of county council’s HQ to be rented out to raise funds

PART of Somerset County Council’s headquarters could soon be rented out to raise money for funding public services.

The council has spent £10 million refurbishing part of County Hall in Taunton, with officials due to move back into their former base by the end of the year.

The council has been negotiating with “a partner” (who cannot be named due to commercial sensitivity) over the prospect of renting out part of the adjoining ‘B Block’ once the refurbishment of ‘A Block’ is completed.

Officials have said the partner could move in by the end of 2020 if negotiations are completed in the coming weeks.

Sian Powell, the council’s project and change manager for business change, said the move would “enable better use to be made of the campus, boost town centre trade and cut the council’s running costs.”

In a report published on the council’s website, she said: “Both sides have agreed terms and subject to contract full agreement will be reached in the coming weeks.”

The council claimed in September 2019 that the refurbishment (which includes the heating system for both County Hall and the neighbouring Shire Hall) would save around £700,000 a year by bringing staff back in under one roof.

Bringing the contact centre back over to County Hall from Wellington House is expected to save more than £100,000 a year on its own.

Council staff will begin relocating in the autumn, barring any further delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic, with all staff from the council’s new partner expected to be based on-site by the end of 2021.