Government staff will not be moving to County Hall

Earlier this week, the council said Welsh Government staff are likely to join Powys County Council staff in County Hall, Llandrindod Wells, as part of a new agreement between the two organisations.

The Welsh Government and the council will enter into negotiations to lease part of the ground floor of County Hall as a base for staff currently accommodated at the adjacent Spa Road offices.

The two organisations have also declared an intention to enter into negotiations for a new agreement which will see Welsh Government give-up the ground floor accommodation within Ladywell House in Newtown taking out a new lease for its existing accommodation on the third floor of the town centre office block.

As part of its commitment to remaining in its Newtown office, they have indicated they will also be redesigning and reconfiguring the layout of its retained accommodation.

The council said government staff from Newtown would be moving. However that was incorrect.

Cabinet Member for Property, Councillor Phyl Davies said: “I am delighted to announce the start of negotiations that we expect will see new agreements between Powys County Council and the Welsh Government resulting in improved efficient use of public buildings by two government organisations.

Transformation

“We are all facing significant financial pressures and the sharing of facilities is an obvious way to ensure that precious resources are used as efficiently as possible. I hope the County Hall development and the renewed agreements at Ladywell House, Newtown are the start of improved public sector cooperation between different bodies.

“Imaginative use of property management will be an important factor in the transformation of local government services. Agreements like this can generate useful income for Powys and ease the pressure on the council’s finances.

“It is pleasing to see that investment in County Hall’s infrastructure and facilities, which was an important part of attracting Welsh Government to the site, has proved so successful.

“Work to adapt offices in County Hall could start in the summer with Welsh Government staff moving into the building in 2020. Parking is a key consideration and we have plans to increase parking provision on site.

Work replacing windows at Ladywell House will get underway shortly as part of planned building refurbishment work. Contractors Paveaway began the task of erecting scaffolding around the building this week with work expected to last until mid-summer.

“The work has been deliberately timed to hopefully take advantage of better weather, allowing us to replace windows, re-cover the roof and carry out any necessary brick repairs. Existing tenants have been informed about the refurbishment work."