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The Council House, Bourne Hill

THE predicted cost of the council's Bourne Hill office project has already rocketed by £2m but senior councillors and officers argued this week that it was still the most efficient and cost-effective option for its future accommodation.

Outlining the business case for the scheme which is now projected to cost £13.7m and is set to rise by £50,000 each month until work gets under way project officer Debbie Dixon emphasised that having centralised offices in the city centre was the only way to meet customers' expectations and save money in the long term.

"This plan is an all-round winner," she said.

"After looking at all the issues and alternatives put forward, it shows that Bourne Hill is the best option the offices can house all staff, will be Disability Discrimination Act compliant and will save the council money.

"We currently have seven sites around the city with four public receptions this is appalling customer service.

"Now we shall have one place where the public can resolve all their issues it will be more effective and more efficient."

The council will pay for the project with money it has in the bank following the sale of council houses and will sell its existing office accommodation to raise another £4m.

Financial chiefs say that efficiency savings will top £600,000 each year and that the whole project will have no impact on council tax bills or its ability to fund other services.

However, rapid increases in building costs have already seen the bill rise by more than 15 per cent and, if the plans get called in by the secretary of state and snarled up by a public inquiry, the price will soar.

"We have an £800,000 contingency budget and the cabinet believes that this is right for Salisbury but not at any price," said council leader Richard Britton. "We are committed to this being council tax-neutral."

The council is now waiting for a decision from the government office for the south-west on whether it can proceed with its plans, which could see work start in early 2007 and staff working in their new offices 18 months later.

The swell of public protest against the project was expected to culminate at last night's cabinet meeting, with campaigners claiming that the loss of green space, the appearance of the building and problems with parking and traffic congestion made the plans unacceptable.

"We are aware that this is a much-loved environment and has proved contentious with local residents," added Mr Britton.

"But can they really say that the collection of portable buildings we have at Bourne Hill is really in keeping with the Georgian building?"

The council says it has the backing of English Heritage and Salisbury Civic Society and resources portfolio holder Don Culver said that views on the look of the building would be subjective.

"Change is always unsettling," he said.

"But when I visit other district council offices, I am frankly ashamed of what we have in Salisbury.

"If we want quality staff and to offer quality service, we can no longer work in Dickensian conditions."

10:31am Thursday 8th June 2006

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