In Stonehaven we would refurbish offices in Viewmount, while releasing Carlton House and office space in Arduthie School, while providing a public-facing service point at Allardice Street. Plans are progressing at pace and work is likely to begin in the second half of 2018.
At Ellon, the council will release all existing offices and consolidate in a new office to be built on the site of the former academy in the town.
In Inverurie, the town hall will be refurbished and extended to provide offices for staff as well as a service point. Gordon House will then be released. This will bring 450 staff from Blackhall Road directly into the town centre.
Council office staff can work flexibly, depending on the needs of the service they deliver and the community they serve. Part of the plans include wider dispersal of staff across Aberdeenshire who can utilise office space and hot desks in offices and locations in all towns across the area.
Now that this option has been chosen, a move to Harlaw in Inverurie has been taken off the table. The SNP/Labour opposition had wanted the move to Inverurie to be kept on the table and Woodhill House to be released – but they lost the vote.
The plans will see the following number of staff in each location:
• Inverurie – 450
• Woodhill – 800
• Stonehaven – 245
• Ellon – 163
• Peterhead – 183
The office space strategy is based on a sustainable financial model i.e. this is not new money as savings will be generated from the disposal of old properties, and through the modern, cost efficiency of new buildings – saving on large repairs and maintenance, in particular on Gordon House in Inverurie. The preferred option retains Woodhill House with a large income stream of both existing and potential new tenants.
This was a milestone in the journey to have offices suitable for council staff, and gives certainty as officers seek to turn the plans into a reality.
By the way, one councillor “no voted”, which means he did not agree with either the motion from the administration (Liberal Democrats / Conservatives / independents) or the amendment from the official opposition (SNP / Labour). In our North Kincardine ward, Councillor Pike and I voted with the administration while Councillor Bews (SNP) and Councillor Evison (Labour) voted to dispose of Woodhill House and continue with efforts to move to Inverurie.
i thought Aberdeenshire were terribly short of money !!
Indeed we are, as Aberdeenshire is one of the lowest-funded councils in Scotland. However we have to provide suitable accommodation for staff, and some offices are well past their best. The plans will also allow the council to release surplus property, with the income from sales helping to pay for the new buildings.