Issue - meetings

[Report of the Director for Customers, Transformation and Resources. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Finance and Strategic Regeneration.]

Update and recommendations on the Council Accommodation Strategy.

The report was introduced by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Strategic Regeneration who set out proposals to make best use of Council owned sites in Wood Green which were appropriate to facilitate a town strategy in order to develop civic functions, maximise the town centre, deliver new homes and jobs. The Council had been working with residents and businesses to develop a strategic framework for Wood Green through delivery of highly accessible places in Wood Green, the only remaining metropolitan town centre in London.

This was the first key decision on Woods Green, focusing on Council accommodation to enable footfall to the areas in Wood Green and unlock buildings and sites for other uses.

In response to questions from Cllr das Neves and Cllr Barnes, the following information was noted:

• There were a number of pieces of work completed by Officers, reviewing Council buildings in Wood Green, including the Civic centre, George Meehan House and River Park House, concentrating on maximisation. The Civic Centre was now a listed building and limited in its use and information on this was contained at paragraph 6 of the report. The Kingfisher site, in the Cultural centre was further considered for maximisation and the Wood Green library site considered as a main site and as a building for co – location of services. Further background information on this was contained in paragraph 6.

• Haringey was not unique in terms of using buildings, such as libraries, for multiple activities. In the main library, it was hoped that the proposals will enable better acoustic environment. Also locating Council services in close walking proximity had the resident in mind and provided improved provision of services in one area.

• In relation to focusing business locations on Station Road rather than the library site, this approach was taken further to considering which sites have the capacity and their attractiveness to potential businesses. There were strong commercial values associated with this approach and this was also based on professional advice.

RESOLVED

1. To agree to the principle of consolidating Council accommodation in Council owned sites in Wood Green to a reduced number of sites to deliver a better and more accessible service, realise cost savings, and provide a more effective working environment for staff, while also releasing land for other uses which will benefit the community and the town centre.

2. To note the results of the Council Accommodation Site Appraisal set out in section 4 and agree that further work should proceed on two options only: (1) the delivery of the Council Accommodation entirely on the Library site and (2) a split site solution which would include both the Library site and the Civic Centre site, recognising that alternative land use options for the remaining sites will also be developed.

3. To note that the next stage will involve engagement with stakeholders including Members, staff and service users bringing together existing workstreams, including the ‘New Ways of Working’ programme, to develop a vision and objectives for how the Council should deliver  ...  view the full minutes text for item 181