County staff to move into Elizabeth House

Staff from Warwickshire County Council are set to move into Elizabeth House at the start of the new year as the council continues on its property rationalisation programme.

The staff, who work within the newly-formed People Group, provide children's services and adult care.

The move will see staff leave six county council buildings in a relocation programme due to start in January 2012.  These are

• Turnpike Gate  House (already vacated)
• 8 Rother Street
• Arden Court
• Arden House
• Ellen Badger House
• The Grange at Southam (although this may depend on a suitable satellite in Southam being identified).

They will join staff from Stratford-on-Avon District Council in Elizabeth House which has been the district council headquarters since 1984.

The relocation of county staff will further encourage joined up working between county and district.

By vacating the buildings, and paying rent to Stratford-on-Avon District Council, the county council will make a net revenue saving of approximately £120,000 per annum, whilst contributing towards the district council's savings plan. 

Councillor Colin Hayfield, portfolio holder for customers, access and physical assets, said:  “It makes so much sense to relocate county council staff alongside their district council partners.  Bringing services together under one roof will greatly benefit how we work.

“The number of buildings from which we operate our business will become increasingly important as we become a leaner organisation.  This is an excellent example of how becoming leaner will actually help to provide an environment where we can work more efficiently."

Stratford-on-Avon District Council Leader, Cllr Chris Saint says: "By sharing office space with our partners it provides for closer joint working on projects and initiatives and at the same time helps to share the property-related costs between the partners.  This makes better use of the office space we occupy.  Sharing facilities means the public will also have a convenient one-stop-shop where they can access local services.  In these challenging times, our innovative agreement shows how authorities can achieve real savings by working together."