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Division(s): Oxford Central, Oxford South, Oxford West

ITEM EX5

EXECUTIVE – 6 JULY 2004

LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES IN CENTRAL OXFORD

Report by Head of Property

 

Introduction

  1. The West End Steering Group in April considered the potential for the City and County Councils relocating some or all of their Headquarters offices and civic functions as part of the West End project, possibly sharing accommodation. The Steering Group agreed to investigate the opportunities for co-location of civic functions (as a priority) and of some front-of-office and back-office functions and to present a single report to the City Council Executive Board and the County Council Executive. A report prepared jointly with the City Council’s Property Co-ordinator, which is also to be submitted to the City Executive Board on 19 July, is attached (Annex 1).

    2. Development Issues

  2. The reorganisation of the County Council's central offices, and introduction of modern workstyle, are currently in abeyance pending the appointment of a new project manager. There are continuing pressures on existing space, which is not used efficiently. Whatever the decision on any possible future relocation as part of the West End project there is likely to be a need and probably a viable business case for some short term rationalisation.

  3. Some months ago, there were discussions with representatives of Capital Shopping Centres (CSC) about the possible provision of a new library on the current County Hall site as a part of the redevelopment of the Westgate Centre. CSC suggested that a replacement for County Hall could be provided on the Abbey Place car park site. This would almost certainly have been on a shorter timescale than any relocation of County/City offices as part of the West End. The Abbey Place car park is now being considered for other uses and it seems unlikely that the proposal as originally discussed will proceed. Nevertheless there are to be further discussions with CSC about options for providing a new or significantly improved library as part of the Westgate scheme.

  4. Discussions are also continuing with Oxford Castle Limited and Malmaison about the proposals for refurbishment of Old County Hall and shared use between the Council and a conference facility managed by Malmaison. Refurbishment and conversion of Old County Hall is also being considered as an option for provision of a corporate learning and development facility as part of the Review of Learning and Development.

  5. It is not possible or appropriate at this stage for there to be any firm decisions about the future provision or reorganisation of the Council's Headquarters accommodation. However, it would be helpful for the County and the City Councils to come to a joint view as to the scope for relocating and sharing accommodation in the medium-term in the context of the West End project.

    6. RECOMMENDATIONS

  6. The Executive is RECOMMENDED to consider the range of options outlined in the joint report and:

          1. indicate preferred options for further detailed investigation;

          2. agree that a joint rationalisation of Headquarters space should be treated as a preferred element of the West End project;

          3. indicate whether sharing of civic functions is likely to be acceptable;

          4. indicate whether sharing of office accommodation is likely to be acceptable.

NEIL MONAGHAN
Head of Property

Background Papers: Nil

Contact Officer: Neil Monaghan Tel: (01865) 815712

June 2004

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