WALTHAM FOREST: Critics slam 'scandal' of council offices

5:21pm Friday 3rd September 2010

By Daniel Binns

THE council has been criticised for spending thousands on renting private office space while at the same time leaving one of its own buildings empty.

The criticisms follow the revelation that the authority is spending nearly £45,000 to refurbish sections of the town hall, despite substantial cuts to departmental budgets.

The council says the work will improve efficiency by allowing space for an extra 150 workers in previously under-used offices.

But it has emerged that the authority is paying rent for Silver Birch House in Blackhorse Road, Walthamstow, while leaving Chingford Municipal Offices, which it owns, empty.

Conservative opposition leader Cllr Matt Davis described the arrangement as a "scandal" and has demanded a review of the policy.

He said: "It is just insane. We do have to wonder why they are continuing to spend money in this way just now.

"It is a scandal. It would be far cheaper for the council to refurbish Chingford Municipal Offices and put staff there than continue to pay rent on a building they do not own."

The council is yet to reveal how much it is paying in rent for Silver Birch House, which it has occupied for five years.

Meanwhile David Knight, the branch chairman of Waltham Forest Unison, also criticised the policy and said there is widespread concern over plans to move staff.

He said: "It doesn't make any sense to be paying rent when you have these empty prestigious buildings that could be used.

"But instead Chingford Municipal Offices is left empty as a blight on the community. It's ludicrous.

"We've heard suggestions from the council that they want to have a ratio of 160 staff for every 100 desks, which raises a lot of questions.

"They are considering having 'hot desks' for staff and may make some work from home, which I'm sure will get quite a mixed reaction.

"I don't think the council are looking at this long-term. Once these assets have been sold off that's it. You may get a one-off price for a building but once it's gone it's gone.

"People are very anxious about it, especially coupled with the over-riding worries about possible future redundancies."

Leaked documents obtained by the Guardian earlier this summer showed the council was considering selling off Chingford Municipal Offices as part of its attempts to save money.

The council says it has to make savings of at least £7.2million in order to balance its books by the end of this financial year, along with another £30million by 2012/13.