The Cabinet decision item 8 - Shipston-on-Stour Area Office

Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Cabinet today, Monday 6 September heard that joint discussions with Warwickshire Police and the County Council over the provision of a One Stop Shop facility in Shipston are progressing. The preferred location for this service is in the Shipston Library and the normal operation of the library would not be affected.

The old Council Area Office in Shipston was replaced by a mobile service at the Leisure Centre after cost and staffing issues made the Telegraph Street offices unviable. The office building was deemed to be surplus to requirements in January 2010 and has remained empty while discussions on the future of the building were held. The Cabinet have now asked officers to investigate using the building for affordable housing.

Councillor Stephen Thirlwell, Portfolio Holder for Customer Service at Stratford-on-Avon District Council says: "The old office building has a lift which we hope might make it suitable for use as housing for people with disabilities. A strong argument had been put forward by Shipston Town Centre Management Partnership to let them use the building to run a One Stop Shop, but in the light of the progress towards starting a joint service at the library and the small number of residents using our mobile service, this suggestion was felt to be impractical.  Neither the Police, County Council nor District Council wanted to bear the cost or responsibility of operating additional premises.

"The Cabinet originally decided to ask the Head of Resources to decide the future of the old offices in consultation with Cllr John Appleton, Portfolio Holder for Resources. When John became ill, the process was delayed while the discussion over the library proceeded. I thank the STMP for their interest in the building but especially in this current climate two "One Stop Shop" facilities cannot be justified, the joint service with the Police and Councils at the library must be the way forward."

Stratford-on-Avon District Council already has One Stop Shops at Alcester, Stratford upon Avon and Southam. A One Stop Shop is defined as a location where services are offered on a partnership basis and involve both District and County Councils as a minimum.

The Cabinet report - Item 8