Council move faces scrutiny

9.35.05am GMT Thu 4th Feb 2010

NON-EXISTENT staff consultation, refusal to consider alternatives and 'little evidence' of predicted savings - just some aspects of North Somerset Council's £14.6million office move which will be scrutinised by an independent auditor.

The unitary authority encountered widespread criticism and opposition when it voted in January to buy the former Clerical Medical office building in Clevedon.

Council leaders plan to give up eight district offices and move hundreds of jobs north from Weston, although exact details on which departments will move have yet to be made public.

More than 300 people have signed a political campaigner's petition against the move - and Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate Mike Bell now says his appeal to district auditor Brian Bethell to examine the move has paid off.

He has listed six key areas which will be scrutinised by Mr Bethell in his annual review, including the haste of the decision, the apparent lack of staff consultation, and the failure to consider alternative sites.

Other points to be examined include a lack of independent advice, the 'unquantified' details of partner tenants in the new building and lease surrenders on the old sites, and the 'unimpressive' long-term savings.

Mr Bell said: "I'm delighted that the district auditor has agreed to review some aspects of the decision to buy the Castlewood building in Clevedon.

"The council's rush to Clevedon is incredibly bad news for Weston, costing us jobs and hitting regeneration plans.

"But not only that, I fear that the arrogant and out-of-touch way Conservative councillors pressed ahead with this plan will end up costing all council taxpayers across North Somerset very dear."

And he vowed to press ahead with his petition against a move which the council's hierarchy described as a 'no-brainer' because of its projected long-term savings.

Mr Bell added: "My petition to the Prime Minister to get the decision independent reviewed continues - nearly 300 people have signed up online and another 300 have returned petitions to me off-line.

"I'll be out in the High Street this weekend looking for more support. I have rarely seen an issue that arouses such anger across the political spectrum.

"I don't have much hope that the Prime Minister will intervene, but it is important that councillors get the message that local people are angry about this plan and want to hold them to account.