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At
the meeting of Rochford District Council’s Executive this week (Tuesday
19 March), members agreed a series of recommendations that will ensure
Rochford residents will still be able to access council reception
services in Rochford whilst back-office staff will be relocated within
the town to improve their working environment and reduce the council’s
carbon footprint.
The
Council have had a presence in Rochford since 1974 and this isn't going
to change. The Council has been able to secure a partnership with Essex
County Council to co-locate its customer services to a more central
location in the heart of Rochford Town within Rochford Library, where
services will be able to be continued and accessed by the public.?
At
the meeting, councillors were presented with a proposed move of the
main office. The proposal identified that the current facilities are at
their end-of-life with over £570k worth of essential works required
over the next 2 years, which is coupled with the ongoing revenue costs
of the facility and its inefficiency with regards to energy and carbon
use. The move from the South Street office for back-office employees
will be able to achieve a circa £75k saving and reduce the council’s
carbon footprint from approx. 27.6 tonnes of CO2e to 6.3 tonnes of
CO2e.
It
was agreed the council’s back-office provision will move for the short
term (no more than 2yrs) to the new Launchpad facility opposite Cherry
Orchard in Rochford. This will assist the council in reviewing and
securing the best option for the council for its long-term permanent HQ
building. The move will make immediate financial revenue savings (£75k)
and avoid capital costs (£576k), providing a better offer for the
council employee's and reducing the councils carbon footprint by over
21tonnes of CO2e.
The
offices at the Launchpad will be for back-office provision only and
customers will not be expected to attend this facility with the opening
of the new enhanced library provision for the council's customer access
provision for Rochford residents.
It
was also agreed that a commitment was made to hold future council
committee meetings at the Civic Suite in Rayleigh and £30,000 from the
2024/25 Capital Programme is allocated to enable the required works to
reopen the Council Chamber in the building. This will not affect the
front desk reception service in the Mill Hall.
The
move from South Street creates a pivotal moment for Rochford Town as it
starts the journey on what the long-term future and vision of place
could be. The Council has already committed to work with residents,
businesses, and key stakeholders on the vision for Rochford Town and
with this has committed £25k in this year’s budget to support
engagement and consultation which will look to take place ahead of the
summer. This work will also consider the future of the Freight House,
which is seen as an iconic structure in Rochford Town and an important
part of the ongoing landscape.?However, what this is needs to be
decided and the commitment of this money to invest in this overall
direction creates many opportunities.? Any proposal for this or other
assets owned by the Council will be determined through new businesses
cases which will come forward.
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