Future of Dingwall council offices under spotlight
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TWO Highland councillors have sought a commitment from the local authority that it will retain its offices in Dingwall town centre, following a major property review.
Ahead of a full Highland Council meeting in Inverness next week, opposition members Margaret Davidson and Janet Campbell have lodged a notice of motion.
It states: "We move that the Highland Council commits to retaining offices in our city and town centres as a clear commitment to their economic success."
The SNP-Liberal Democrat-Labour administration will respond to the motion during the meeting.
It emerged last year a major shake-up of council properties could see the number of council offices in Dingwall shrink from eight to just two by 2020.
The cost-effective move, which could transform the way the council does business, proposes a new central four-site council office and service point development in Inverness and Dingwall.
There are 22 separate council buildings used by 1,509 staff in both Inverness and Dingwall and many of them are not considered fit for purpose.
The eight current local authority premises in Dingwall include the well-known landmark of the County Buildings and Ross House, both on the High Street.
But the future of these two main buildings is uncertain as new builds and the refurbishing of current offices are both options under consideration.
Councillor Campbell (Inverness Central), of the Independent group, said it was worried at the economic impact of staff being possibly shifted out of town centres and Inverness city centre, into out-of-town bases.
"Town centres are really struggling and we want Highland Council to be committed to them," she said. "We are setting down a marker with this motion so there is a clear commitment to their economic success."
Steve Barron, the council’s depute chief executive and director of housing and property, said last September the details of the rationalisation were not expected to emerge until this autumn because crunch talks with councillors, consultations and discussions with partners would have to be carried out.
Councillors have already been told that cutting the number of offices in Inverness and Dingwall from 22 to four by 2020 has the greatest potential to deliver significant benefits and improve value, compared to retaining the current office estate.
