Harrogate Borough Council are to hold additional drop-in events as part of the public consultation on the council’s future office accommodation strategy and its proposed plans to reduce the number of sites it occupies in Harrogate’s town centre (currently five).
To date, the council has held four drop-in events in Ripon (1 event), Harrogate (2 events) and Knaresborough (1 event). The additional events will give residents from other towns in the district the opportunity to speak to members of the project team who will be able to answer any questions they may have.
The new events will be held on:
- Saturday 12th July – St Peter’s Church, Harrogate, 10am-2pm
- Wednesday 16th July – Boroughbridge Library, Boroughbridge 10am–12 noon
- Wednesday 16th July – Pateley Bridge Nidd Plus, King Street, Pateley Bridge 2pm-4pm
- Monday 21st July – Masham Community Office, Masham, 10am-12 noon
The consultation provides details on two options which are being put forward for consideration – the council’s preferred option of relocating to a new purpose-built headquarters at Knapping Mount, or alternatively, consolidating down to three buildings: Crescent Gardens, Springfield House and Scottsdale House.
The consultation includes information on the benefits and costs associated with each option, together with other supporting information and FAQ’s, to enable residents to be better informed about the two options being considered. It also includes photographs of the existing buildings in case residents are not familiar with them, and a provisional design concept illustrating what a new building at the Knapping Mount site could look like.
Councillor Richard Cooper, Leader of Harrogate Borough Council said: The council’s proposed plans for its future office accommodation will reduce running costs and realise significant savings, and we are eager to show as many people as possible how our plans will further improve the service the council provides for the council tax payer.
It is important that residents have the chance to fully consider the council’s proposed plans for its future office accommodation before making a decision as to which option they think is best.
Our drop-in sessions have proven to be a big success allowing people to see the plans up close and speak to a member of the project team.It is important that we give residents from across the district, not just Harrogate, the opportunity to ask questions about the council’s proposals and as such we have, or will be holding drop-in events in Ripon, Harrogate, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Pateley Bridge and Masham.
We will also be running a Saturday session in Harrogate for anyone who is unable to attend during the week.
The consultation will finish on 4th August 2014. The results will then be considered by the council and will inform the final decision on its accommodation strategy in early 2015.
The public consultation will be available to complete on the council’s website at: www.harrogate.gov.uk/officeproject
Interested parties who require the survey in a different format should email consultation@harrogate.gov.uk or telephone 01423 500600.
Printed copies of the council report and consultation documents are available to view at the following locations: Harrogate Interim Customer Service Centre, Crescent Gardens, Harrogate; Ripon Customer Service Centre (Ripon Town Hall); Knaresborough Library; Masham Community Office; Nidderdale Plus, Pateley Bridge; Pateley Bridge Tourist Information Centre; and Boroughbridge Library.
